Chapter 2

2

Chloe was dressed like the perfect little angel, a sweet, innocent smile on her face.

But when she looked at me, her eyes were laced with venom.

I was used to this. I walked past her without stopping.

Chloe called out to me. "Ashley, where are you going? It's Lantern Festival, Mom, Dad, and I are making dumplings."

"The filling is special. You should join us."

I replied coldly, "No thanks, I don't celebrate."

"It's a feast, you'll regret missing it." Chloe's tone was suggestive.

My heart skipped a beat. I felt a sense of unease.

But the urgency to find Buddy overwhelmed me. I quickly left the house.

When I returned after putting up the posters, the lights were on inside, the windows fogged with steam.

Mom, Dad, and Chloe were sitting at the dining table, laughing and chatting.

Chloe saw me and waved, her smile bright.

"Ashley, come eat dumplings! They're delicious."

Mom gave me a reproachful look. "Where have you been? Chloe saved a big portion for you."

I frowned, about to refuse, when Chloe held up a bowl.

"I've been busy all afternoon, the dog meat stew is perfectly tender. Are you sure you don't want to try some?"

Dog meat.

I froze, wondering if I was hallucinating.

My eyes moved mechanically across the table, landing on Chloe's face.

A nightmarish thought took hold.

I tried to find a crack in her expression. "Where's Buddy?"

Chloe blinked innocently. "You mean the dog? He's right here."

I stared at the bowl of fragrant, white dumplings bobbing in the broth, my head spinning.

"I wanted dog meat dumplings this morning, so Mom and Dad helped me take care of the dog."

"There's plenty left in the freezer. We can have dog meat hot pot tomorrow."

Chloe continued chattering, like a demon whispering in my ear.

I suddenly knocked the bowl from her hand, ignoring the cries behind me, and ran to the kitchen.

Inside the freezer, the only place I hadn't checked, lay large chunks of bloody red meat.

Bones and flesh were frosted with ice.

There was even a strand of fur that hadn't been removed, Buddy's color.

I doubled over, vomiting uncontrollably.