Page 5 - My FlipBook

I know nothing about. She had a good point, after all—if Yong
is really dangerous, wouldn’t he have shown it by now? Anyway,
I hate that she’s mad at me. “Please, Ming,” I say. “I just have to
know that she’s safe.”
He sighs. “You could try looking for her at Cradle Club
tonight.” The name’s familiar. I went there once before with
Yun and her roommates. I hadn’t liked the pulsing lights and
the loud music thumping in my ears, and when the girls dragged
me out to the crowded dance floor, I had felt stiff and mechani-
cal. I flinch, thinking about going back there. “I’m not sure I
remember the way,” I say hesitantly, and Ming sighs again.
“I’ll go with you.”
***
After dinner, Ming and I head out to look for Yun. Though it’s
full dark, the factory entrance is bright as day, lit by the plaza’s
floodlights. The gatekeeper with the thin moustache pulls it
open for us as we approach. When he gets a good look at me,
recognition comes over his face.
“Hey!” he barks at us. “Tell your friend she needs to get
her stuff!” He steps over to the guardbox, flings the door open,
and points at three large plastic bags shoved into a corner. Yun’s
bright pink comforter overflows from one of the bags. “She
should have gotten it last night.” He glares at me like this was
my fault. “I told the other guard that I’ll throw it out at the
end of my shift if she doesn’t pick it up by then. That’s in a few
hours! I don’t mind doing her a favor, but I won’t get in trouble
for it.”
I look at Ming, who only raises his brows. I nod to the
guard, and as we hurry through, what he told me begins to
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sink in. I wonder if Ming feels the same worry—that Yun has
been without her things since last night—but his face shows
nothing. I speed up to keep pace with him as he leads me
through the streets.
At the club, we have no trouble getting past the bouncer,
even though I’m sure I don’t look eighteen. I’ve quickly
learned that most places like this don’t enforce the drink-
ing age. Although it’s pretty early in the night, several people
are already standing at the high tables with their drinks, the
women swaying on their heels, the guys smoking and leaning
on their elbows. I scan the faces, searching for Yun. Colored
dots of light swirl around the dark room. Bright strobes flash
like lightning and make everyone on the dance floor look like
they’re seizing. I feel dizzy myself. The wup-wupping music and
flashing lights make me feel strange, disoriented. Though I’ve
been here before, I feel deeply that I don’t know this place.
Ming grabs my elbow and quickly leads me on a circuit
through the club. The music thunders in my ears. When Ming
says something to me, I can’t hear him.
“What?” I shout.
He leans in and cups his mouth near my ear. “She’s not
here! Let’s go.”
“Where?”
Ming shrugs.
I sigh. We just got here and rushed through the club. I do
want to leave, but I’m not ready to give up. “Maybe we missed
her. Let’s go around again!” I shout. I don’t know what else
to do.
Impatience creeps into his face. “It’s no use. She isn’t here.”
“Well, we came all this way. It won’t hurt to go around one
more time.”
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