Half World by Hiromi Goto Read Free Book Online

the police officer demanded.
    â€œAhhhhhhhh.”
    Melanie could hear Ms. Wei’s voice, but she didn’t sound like she normally did. She sounded like she was confused and frightened. Melanie cast a quick glance over her shoulder.
    The police officer had reached the old woman and she was holding on to his arm with a grip far stronger than her voice.
    â€œPolice officer,” Ms. Wei wheedled. “Old woman lost. Old woman lost!” She began to wail.
    â€œYou! Running down the tunnel! Stop!” The officer remained undeterred by Ms. Wei’s performance. The sound of tussling. Melanie began to sob.
    â€œLucka, lucka, lucka,” she gasped, her breath jagged in the filthy air. Melanie coughed and coughed as if she might spew her lungs from her chest. She ran along the raised walkway, toward the emergency exits that lined the inside of the wall. The arched doors were made of heavy wood and looked like something that would house large animals. What if, she thought, there were beasts behind each door?
    She ran fearfully past the first door, for she could hear behind it a sound deeper and larger than the semitrailers that roared past her. She was running as fast as she could, but it felt like she covered hardly any ground. Melanie knew she should just keep going, but she couldn’t stop herself. Sobbing for air, she glanced fearfully over her shoulder.
    The police officer was forcing Ms. Wei into the back of his car. Her pale face glared at Melanie from the rear window. “Go!” she mouthed furiously.
    Melanie began to sprint.
    â€œStop!” the cop bellowed down the tunnel. His voice echoed, resounded, and Melanie ran harder, passing DOORTWO, which uncannily reeked of lily of the valley. The heavy wood seemed to emanate a sickly sigh, and Melanie held her ragged breath as she stumbled past.
    She could hear the police officer’s footfalls, much faster than hers, and drawing closer. Two late-night delivery trucks roared by, whipping grit into the air, snapping her hair wildly.
    She wouldn’t make it. He would catch her. He would take her to Child Services. Her mother would die.
    Something slithered around Melanie’s neck. She would have shrieked if she had the air, but all she could do was continue running.
    Something clutched her hair and her ear. Something prickled with claws and whiskers.
    â€œDon’t give up, child,” a small, hoarse voice whispered into her ear. “I will do what I can.” A small weight leapt off her shoulder, and in a few seconds she heard the police officer bellow.
    â€œHoly shit!” he shouted. “A rat!”
    Melanie looked back.
    The cop was leaping about, trying to use his nightstick to smack at the dangling animal that clung to his sleeve.
    Melanie clamped her hand over her mouth. She watched in fascination and horror as the rodent leapt, scampered over the policeman’s head, and scrabbled down his back. The rat looked up and glared at Melanie. In the strange light of the tunnel its eyes seemed to glow green. “Flee!” the rat screeched, before crawling around the other side of the officer’s torso.
    Melanie redoubled her efforts.
    â€œThis is your last w—” the officer started to bellow but ended in a scream as the rat clamped down on some tender part of his anatomy.
    Melanie ran even faster. Her heart pounded in time with her feet. White stars burst in her vision. She could scarcely breathe. She passed the door marked DOOR THREE, where a mound of clothes was humped against the wooden slats. She thought she saw an overblown hand, the skeletal remains of a foot. . . .
    The sharp report of a gun rang out, whining as it ricocheted. A second shot.
    The tunnel seemed to pick up the outer waves of the sound, and the air began to vibrate, like the inside of a bell. The noise expanded exponentially, and Melanie was rocked by the force.
    Then it was silent.
    Melanie’s steps slowed and finally pattered to