Chapter 7 Then Come With Me
At last, Elsa’s trembling fingers clutched a half–rotten tin of expired cookies.
She shoved the crumbs into her mouth, devouring them hungrily.
The sour, rancid taste exploded across her tongue.
“I have to get out of here…” she muttered under her breath.
If she stayed, she’d die.
She looked around, searching for something to help her reach the window.
Panting, she dragged a wooden crate beneath the glass.
Wobbling, she climbed on top and reached for the rusted iron bars.
Crack–the corroded metal snapped with a screech.
In that moment of free fall, the cold wind stabbed through her lungs.
Elsa squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for a fatal landing.
Thud!
But the pain never came.
Instead, she landed in someone’s warm arms.
Did I… die?
Dazed, Elsa opened her eyes–only to see a face she recognized.
“You’re…?” she blinked up, stunned.
Johnson Zach’s jaw was tight, his eyes dark behind his glasses.
Though his arms trembled from the impact, he pulled her in tighter, gripping her as if he’d never let go.
Nestled against his chest, Elsa could feel his heartbeat thudding against her cheek.
Before she could speak, he gently set her down on the grass.
“Drink some water.” He opened a thermos and brought it to her lips.
Starving, she didn’t hesitate. She grabbed it from his hands and drank greedily, tilting her head back to gulp it down.
Warin water slid down her throat, and she choked up tears.
“Cough–cough!”
Johnson quickly reached out, patting her back. “Slow down.”
Then he reached into his backpack and pulled out two lunchboxes.
He carefully opened them and placed them in front of her. “I brought these for you.”
Once she’d caught her breath, Jolinson spoke again. “I’ll take you back to your room.”
“No…” Elsa tried to rise, panic filling her bloodshot eyes. “If my father finds out, you’ll be dragged into this.”
“Then come with me.”
He suddenly grabbed her wrist, hard enough to hurt. “Elsa, are you really planning to stay here and die?”
Chapter 7 Then Come With Me
E
Half an hour later-
Johnson parked the car, his posture stiff as stone. “Elsa, I helped you because I couldn’t stand seeing them treat you like that.”
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“Requesting memory trial,” came the judge’s firm voice.
Johnson finally looked up. The moment their eyes met, Elsa saw the same inner struggle that had flickered behind his gaze that night at the beach three years ago.
The screen came alive.
In the damp basement, Elsa stared blankly at the ceiling.
She wondered how long her life would stay like this.
After finally filling her stomach, she turned her head to meet Johnson’s eyes.
He couldn’t hide the emotion in them.
“Ugh, he’s totally just a scumbag.”
“I need to rinse my eyes–how is Johnson this full of himself?”
“Let’s be honest. He treated Elsa well at first.”
“If it were me, trapped in hell, and someone showed up with food and warmth… it’d be hard not to feel something.”
“Still, what a sleaze. No integrity at all.”
Suddenly, Johnson stood up from the audience with a pale face and stormed toward the witness stand.
“Enough!” He grabbed the mic, knuckles white. “Elsa was never anything to me but dead weight! The one I really wanted… was Quinn!”
Quinn gasped, covering her mouth, but the gleam in her eyes said otherwise.
Elsa’s memory flashed back to that summer-
Quinn had worn that exact same look.
Back then, Elsa hadn’t understood it.
Now she did–Quinn had been showing off.
“Is the dance club president list confirmed yet?”
Inside the office, the music teacher’s voice floated out.
Elsa stood outside the door, clutching her application form tightly.
She’d tried so many times to knock–but hadn’t dared.
Her fingertip traced over the words “President Application.”
Hurried footsteps sounded from inside.
The door swung open, and Elsa found herself face to face with Quinn.
Startled, she instinctively hid the form behind her back.
Ms, Sarah, the dance teacher, never liked Elsa to begin with. Seeing her there made her frown.
Quinn noticed too,
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Chapter 7 Then Come With Me
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She smiled sweetly and walked up, feigning concern. “Elsa, what are you doing here? You looked like a thief just now.”
Ms. Sarah glanced over her glasses and snorted.
“Who knows? Quinn, let’s head to the studio. We still have to prep for the competition.”
“Okay!”
As they passed Elsa, Quinn suddenly snatched the form from her hands.
Reading it, she burst into laughter.
Ms. Sarah turned back. “Quinn? What is it?”
“Ms. Sarah, my sister wants to run for president of the dance club. This is her form.”
She handed it over. The paper, already crumpled, now looked even worse.
Ms. Sarah wrinkled her nose in distaste.
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Seeing Elsa defeated gave Quinn immense satisfaction.
She fought to keep her grin in check and spoke for Elsa, “It’s her dream, Ms. Sarah. Could you consider it?”
“Quinn, you know our dance club has a special status at this school.”
“Being club president isn’t a role just anyone can take.”
Her gaze landed on Elsa like a slap. “Especially not someone who can’t even count to the beat–let alone lead choreography.”
Elsa stared at the floor, biting her lip hard.
She reached out to retrieve the form-
But Ms. Sarah’s indifferent voice stopped her. “Next month we’re holding open elections. If you can get two–thirds of the club’s vote, you can be president.”
For a moment, it felt like a beam of light pierced the darkness in front of her.
Quinn trailed after Ms. Sarah.
When they reached the corridor’s corner, she whispered, “Ms. Sarah… are you really considering letting Elsa be president?”
“Quinn, you’re my top student. Of course I want the role to go to you. But school policy demands a vote. Still… do you really think she can beat you?”
Late at night, the dance studio glowed faintly.
Elsa lifted her trembling leg in front of the mirror, her wireless earphones playing the piano track.
And once again–she tumbled down the practice steps.
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