He broke into a smile. “Let’s go find He Bao.”

  Zhu Zhu pulled away, but her eyes shone of hope. She stood up, noticed Brendan who respectfully watched from a distance, and ran over to introduce herself to him. On the other hand, she kept a careful distance away from Diane.

  “What’s your role in this?” she asked Brendan.

  Brendan scratched his head. “Actually, the only reason I came here is to accompany Aiden.”

  Zhu Zhu pondered for a bit. “Oh!” she cried. “You are the friend that Aiden literally broke out of the house to go meet up with.”

  Brendan turned his head in instant confusion at Aiden, and Aiden stood up in a panic.

  “Details—details not worth getting into.” He waved his hands out and screamed at Zhu Zhu with his eyes to not give away the chain of events that happened.

  Zhu Zhu backed off. She looked back and forth between the two of them and smiled coyly. Her hair bounced with every step she took, and she left the room with the first real smile that Aiden had ever seen. “We should hurry or He Bao might burn this house down to escape.”

  “He broke out of the house?” Brendan persisted.

  “She’s not going to tell you anything!” Aiden called in frustration.

  “Young people.” Diane rolled her eyes, dragged the unconscious man into the room, and left him on the floor.

  The scent of blood still tinted Aiden's nose, but the air breezed around him despite the suffocating walls. His stepmother was still alive, and Mr. Chen survived. He helped his brother accomplish what he died for, and now Aiden stepped toward the light to catch his dream inside his own hands with Zhu Zhu by his side—a family free from the curse of Infinite.

  Chapter Eighteen

  A piece of furniture smashed against the other side of the door right as they approached the room where they trapped the young men. “I’m telling you that something is wrong! Please! Help me break down this door. You have your family in danger as well!” He Bao pleaded on the other side.

  How ironic that he’s the only one who has a sense of danger, Aiden couldn’t help thinking to himself. The doorknob shook, and the edge of the door barely lifted outside the frame before slamming back into place by the electronic lock.

  “You’re overreacting. There was a traitor in Infinite. The gunshots were to murder the traitor, and the locks were to ensure we would stay safe. They’ll come get us soon,” one of the boys said inside.

  The door rattled even harder.

  They stood in position, with Brendan and Zhu Zhu a good distance away from the door. Zhu Zhu looked to Aiden for the cue, and when he nodded, she sent a single text to her brother, “Cover your mouth and nose.”

  A beat later, Diane unlocked the door. Aiden pulled it open slightly to toss a small ball over the threshold, and a foul-smelling gas released in green smoke. And back away immediately. He leapt back, covering his nose. The door released, and He Bao stumbled onto the ground with tearful eyes. Diane kicked the door shut, and the sound of unconscious bodies hit the ground.

  Aiden brushed the stinging air away. “It didn’t get to your nose, did it?” he asked Zhu Zhu.

  Zhu Zhu’s eyes widened. She pulled away from him and ran toward He Bao, whose heavy footsteps pounded against the floor. His shoulders braced, and his fists clenched.

  “He Bao—wait, let Aiden explain.” Zhu Zhu threw herself in front of her brother, but He Bao bulldozed past her pacifying attempts with a laser focus on Aiden’s face.

  He's just worried, he tried to reassure himself. Diane’s right over there. Besides, I can protect myself.

  Burning hatred rolled off of every inch of He Bao’s body. “I knew you were the traitor. What did you do to Ma? I’ll kill you if you did something to her!” He raised his arm in a flash.

  Aiden jumped back and placed his feet into position, but He Bao stepped forward faster than he calculated. It’s okay. Readjust, and then just—

  A familiar shadow fell over his face, and the impact of the fist against skin echoed in the air. “Brendan!” Aiden cried, heart stopping at the loud crunch.

  Brendan stumbled away in pain. Blood dripped from his nose.

  All thoughts of self-defense evaporated. He reached for Brendan. “Let me see.” Gently, he pulled Brendan’s hand down, wincing at the stream of red trickling down the poor boy’s face, brighter than usual against his pale skin. Brendan continued to reel from the impact.

  He Bao eyes narrowed. “You bought undercover police with you?” He stomped forward, arms bulging.

  “Wait, wait, wait!” Aiden stepped in front of Brendan, holding out his arms. “He’s just a white boy in his first year of college from a well-off family. He’s not undercover!”

  “You sure have the nerve to make up such a ridiculous story.”

  “It’s true,” Brendan interrupted with a muted voice. He pinched his nose and leaned his face upward. “I am a white boy in my first year of college from a well-off family.”

  “It sounds even more ridiculous coming from you! You’re here to profile us.”

  “I swear we’re telling the truth.” Aiden flashed eyes of help to Diane, but she remained in her comfortable position leaning against the wall in the background with an amused grin on her face.

  “They’re telling the truth, He Bao.” Zhu Zhu tried to grab her brother, but he shook her off.

  “I’m not profiling anyone. I’m here because I love Aiden.”

  Time screeched to a halt.

  Aiden whirled around to see Brendan still more focused on stopping the nosebleed than reacting to the words that fell from his mouth. Zhu Zhu and He Bao stared in fascination and disbelief, and finally feeling enough eyes, Brendan turned around and looked to Aiden—those blue eyes that hid nothing. A sea of complete calm twinkled at his bold proclamation. Aiden’s face flared with heat when Brendan nonchalantly shrugged at the others’ reactions.

  “I love Aiden,” he reiterated, tentatively letting go of his nose.

  A squeak fell out of Aiden’s mouth.

  “Pfft.” Diane covered her mouth, thinly veiling her laughter.

  “Is—is now really the best time to say something like this?” Aiden stuttered.

  “Well, what else am I supposed to say?” Brendan rubbed his punched face. “It’s the truth.”

  Danger screeched from the steam rising from He Bao’s head. Aiden stepped in front of Brendan. “Is this a joke?” He Bao practically screamed. He raised his fists. “Do you think this is time to be funny?”

  “You listen to me, right now!” Zhu Zhu circled around He Bao, punching him in the arm. Instantly, everyone froze aside from Diane, who raised an eyebrow and continued to lean comfortably against the wall. “You are being such a child. Aiden’s not the traitor.”

  “How do you know that?” He Bao glared.

  “Because it wasn’t Aiden who betrayed the group. It was Hui Ye.” She stepped forward, and her brother stepped back. “You were wrong. Ma could hurt people. She did. She killed Hui Ye.”

  “You’re lying. You don’t have proof.” He Bao’s eyes darted to Aiden’s and rushed back to Zhu Zhu. “They’re lying to you, Zhu Zhu. Who are you going to trust? Your family or strangers?”

  “Aiden is not a stranger.”

  “He is a stranger! He barely interacts with us!”

  “Ma’s the one who wouldn’t let us get close to him.”

  “It’s not just Ma. Admit it. He never wanted to be one of us. He runs away from his family and responsibilities at every chance he gets. Even when Hui Ye was alive, he did nothing to help out. He’s ashamed of who he is!” He Bao pointed his finger at Aiden, but his eyes betrayed what he really felt inside.

  Surprised, Aiden watched He Bao. The increasingly short breaths, the sweat dripping from his forehead, the constantly straying eyes, and the legs that bounced against each other screamed of panic. He knows Zhu Zhu’s telling the truth. Aiden realized. He Bao continued to scream at Zhu Zhu. He just doesn’t want to believe it.

  “You’re such a child! Accept reality for once, won’t you?!” Zhu Zhu’s shrill voice rang. She kicked at He Bao’s legs, forcing him backward, and once far enough, she shoved him into the wall. Shaking, He Bao sank to the ground, while Zhu Zhu towered over him.

  “Being part of Infinite is not what makes us Chinese! Ma’s the one who put that ridiculous notion in your head!” Zhu Zhu pulled at her hair. “We’re miserable because of her. Just let her go! We’ll both be happier, and you know it!” The words exploded from her mouth, leaving Zhu Zhu gasping. She looked down at her brother. “Infinite and Ma do not get to define our identities. We do, and it’s time that we do.”

  Aiden’s chest clenched. The memories of his torment in the basement resurfaced in his bones. The rationalization of what his stepmother wanted from him, his self-reassurance of his place in the family, and the sinking hopelessness that simmered below the surface, waiting for his spirit to drop below and drown. Aiden watched the same torment released from Zhu Zhu, but He Bao grab onto his own misery even harder.

  Not even his sister can reach him, Aiden realized. He walked over and lowered himself to the ground to sit across from He Bao. “Your mom’s still alive.” Aiden smiled softly at him. “I know you’re angry because you think I got her killed or that I want to kill her, but it’s not true. She’s alive, and I’m relieved that she is. Let’s go find her.”

  He Bao stared back warily. “Is that the truth?”

  “Your mother’s an exceptional survivor,” Diane interrupted for the first time since the whole confrontation. “She made it out of that room without any wounds.”

  “Then she will come looking for us,” He Bao said. “We don’t need to look for her. We can just wait here until she arrives.”

  Diane tipped her head. “You really believe that?”

  “She’s our mother. She would never abandon us.”

  Diane sighed, shaking her head. “Your mother will not be here.” She stared down coldly, leaving Aiden shivering under a gaze not meant for him. “She’ll be trying to escape, because that’s the type of person she is.” Without another word of acknowledgement to He Bao’s existence, she walked away, motioning at Brendan to follow her. “Catch up when you’re ready,” she said to Aiden.

  I wish she’d be kinder. The apathy in Diane’s voice only grew the pain Aiden felt for his stepbrother. He offered his hand to He Bao. “Let’s go look for her.”

  Diane’s cruelty only enhanced the invisible vines tying He Bao’s feet to the ground. His stepbrother relaxed his whole weight against the wall. “I’m going to wait right here.” He turned away.

  Zhu Zhu rolled her eyes. “Get up right now.” She yanked He Bao’s arm, but the boy remained a boulder.

  Aiden continued to offer his hand. “I think it’s better if we look for her. The sooner she sees you, the more relieved she’ll be.”

  He Bao looked his way.

  I hope I’m right. The wish lodged into Aiden’s heart. He stood up with his arm outstretched. I really hope she’s looking for him.

  He Bao slapped the hand away, but the invisible chains gradually loosened around his legs. The fury on his face dissipated. Unhappily, He Bao allowed Zhu Zhu to drag him away.

  It was okay that he didn’t fully trust Aiden. Aiden gripped his hands together, watching a cloud of despair follow He Bao. More than anything, his heart broke at He Bao’s face, his eyes scrunched and his brows furrowed. She’s looking for him. Aiden tried to will it into existence. For He Bao’s sake, I’ll believe she’s looking for him.

  “If I were to guess, she’d try to escape the way we came in. Easier to get in means easier to get out,” Diane said aloud once Aiden caught up. She climbed down the stairs to the first floor.

  Brendan’s hand curled around his. He stared straight ahead, grasping back. “I hope Diane’s wrong.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded. “It’s hard. For Zhu Zhu and He Bao.” He glanced at his two stepsiblings trailing behind them. “I don’t want them hurt the way I’ve been.”

  Brendan’s hand tightened. “You’re a better person than me.”

  How is that possible? Brendan, who dived headfirst into dangerous territory. Brendan, who helped everyone feel heard and important. Brendan, who was so unafraid to say what his heart felt, no matter the circumstance.

  A sly grin spread on Aiden’s face. He peered at Brendan. “What you said earlier…”

  “Hmm?” Brendan kept his face straight, and Aiden almost laughed out loud at how transparently his embarrassment revealed itself in the obviously tightened skin.

  “I’m not letting you take it back.”

  The fluttering panic washed away from Brendan’s face. “Okay.”

  “Will you two boys get your heads out of the clouds? We’re trying to catch a slippery fish!” Diane called from the bottom of the stairs.

  Brendan jumped, dashing down the stairs without him. With laughter tumbling in his stomach, Aiden followed. They headed directly to the playroom. His heart soared. We probably won’t find her in the playroom. His breaths quickened. I bet she’s upstairs, looking for her children.

  However, whatever hope existed vanished once he caught sight of his stepmother furiously working at the locked door. Shoving it in and out, shaking the doorknob left and right, she swiveled her head around and kicked hopelessly at the door. She noticed the electronic lock, and her fingers grappled with it stuck to the side. Cursing, she looked around again and saw the group staring at her.

  “Ma?” He Bao asked with quivering lips. He pushed past all of them and stood before her. “What are you doing?”

  “Oh, He Bao! Thank goodness you are ok!” She tried to fling herself at her son, but He Bao took a step back. She stopped in momentary surprise, but her wide eyes and open mouth were replaced with a shining smile. “I didn’t know if you were okay! I was worried about you and Zhu Zhu, but I can’t help you first if I don’t find us a way out. That’s why I was trying to get out of here.”

  He Bao continued staring, but she gazed upon him with open arms.

  The invisible chains Aiden watched He Bao loosen clamped back around his stepbrother’s limbs.

  He Bao broke into a relieved grin, his shoulders slumping with a sigh. “I knew you weren’t trying to abandon us!”

  “Of course not! Why would I?” Her voice turned stern. “Are these people trying to ruin the relationship between us?” She pointed at Aiden. “You are the enemy. I expected personal attacks, but I cannot believe you would go so low and make my son believe that I would ever abandon my own children.”

  “Zhu Zhu, look, it’s ok. Ma was still thinking of us.” He Bao reached for her, but she hid behind Diane. “Zhu Zhu, what are you doing? You can’t believe them still, can you?”

  “Zhu Zhu, do not let them take advantage of you,” Yin Mei coaxed. She lowered herself to the floor with her arms open, bowing her head low. Diane openly groaned, rolling her eyes, but Aiden remained silent, watching her theatrics. How far can she go? he wondered, though he knew the answer since she murdered his brother. Hui Ye’s own lessons reflected like a mirror in his stepmother. “I know I have been harsh on you, and that we will often fight, but you cannot think to take their words over mine, do you? I am your mother.”

  “Did you kill Hui Ye?” Zhu Zhu asked, still clutching onto Diane.

  Aiden's stepmother’s eyes widened, and equally surprised, Aiden turned his head toward his stepsister. Zhu Zhu continued clinging to Diane, but she poked her head out with a face left streaked by tears and her lips cracked. Her eyes remained leveled on Yin Mei, not even blinking.

  Chest swelling, Aiden turned back toward his stepmother.

  A laughing smile smeared across his stepmother’s face, but her eyes remained large and unblinking. Her voice threw barbs. “What is the meaning of that ridiculous question?” She turned toward Aiden. “Hui Lang—you still believe that? Do you really think I’d put such terrible risks on my own children? Because of Hui Ye’s death, our lives have been unstable and dangerous since.”

  She inched closer to him. With every bit of distance she closed, Aiden’s heart jumped to his throat. Memories of her condescending eyes, her disappointed voice, and her forceful hands that shoved him down a basement arose, and he instinctively backed away with his mind screaming to appease her.

  He bumped into Brendan, whose hands held his shoulders steady. He glanced back, gaping at Brendan’s glare, his blue eyes a swirling depth of malice wishing to drown his stepmother. His hands tightened, shaking of fury, and Aiden could see the thoughts threatening to rush out of his mouth. You need to shut up. You treated him like trash, and everyone who knew Aiden knows that. His friends know that. Your own children know that.

  It was his first time seeing Brendan angry.

  The shivering fear faded to nothingness. Aiden removed Brendan’s hands from his shoulders and smiled. He stepped forward, and when he did, his stepmother stopped moving.

  Her eyes were the only indication of her surprise. Still, she reached her hands forward and grabbed his with her death grip. “I know I’ve been hard on you. Harder on you than Zhu Zhu, but I am just human after all. You should understand even if you are more integrated with American culture. Nothing is more important than family. I am willing to forgive you if you are willing to devote yourself completely to us all like it is your duty to do.”

  “Pfft.” Diane hid her face behind her hand, but her shoulders shook. The trembling of her shoulders soon transferred to her entire body, and finally, she dropped her hand and clutched her stomach instead. Tears sprung to her eyes, and Diane howled with laughter. She laughed so hard that she started coughing. Her gleaming eyes stared down at Aiden's stepmother. “Ah, I missed this so much. You are a perfect example of the worst of humanity. Using emotions like love, and you excuse yourself with traditions and culture without any context to get what you want, no matter how many people you need to hurt to get there. Bravo, my lady. Bravo.”