Part 2Locked Out of Warmth

"Dad! Help me! Please come open the sauna door... I'm really going to die..."

Dad's face on the video call was filled with disgust.

"Stop pretending. Trevor said he gave you the sauna key before he left.

"Take pictures of your math notes and send them to him right now. Math is his weakest subject."

Trevor had never given me the key.

Before leaving, he had leaned close enough to whisper only one thing.

"Die in there."

I could barely breathe, but I forced myself to explain.

"No, Dad... He didn't give me the key. I'm still trapped in the sauna... I'm going to die. Please come save me..."

Dad grew even angrier, convinced that I simply didn't want Trevor to have my notes.

"What are you pretending for? You're slandering Trevor again! Are you afraid he'll beat you on the final exam? You're supposed to be a man, yet you're this petty?

"Send him the notes before I lose my temper."

I was almost unable to speak, so I turned on the camera and aimed it at my burning red face.

It was an unnatural red, as though blood might seep through my skin.

"Dad, look at me..."

Instead, he immediately turned off the video, looking furious.

A theatrical sigh came from the other end. It was Trevor.

"See? I told you Micah fought me for my scarlet stage makeup. He obviously wanted to smear it on himself and make you feel sorry for him. Aunt Melissa, Uncle Richard, don't be too hard on him. He's always liked playing these delicate little tricks."

Dad said, "Fine," three times before delivering his final threat.

"If I don't receive pictures of those notes within five minutes, I'll have Rosa burn every page.

"You refuse to share them because you're afraid Trevor will score higher than you. You're my own son. Do you think I don't know what kind of person you are?"

I shook my head in terror.

Those weren't just notes. They contained three years of work and everything I needed for the final two months of review.

Before I could answer, Dad ended the call in fury.

I had no chance to explain.

Five minutes later, I heard the housekeeper's footsteps outside.

Joy flooded through me. I had assumed Rosa had gone with them to wait on Trevor. My voice shook as I called to her.

"Rosa... Please save me..."

She sounded conflicted.

"Micah, honey, your parents locked you in there themselves. Please don't make this difficult for me."

I pressed a hand against my heart, which felt ready to leap from my chest.

"Please, Rosa. You watched me grow up... Please save me..."

In this house, Dad and Mom only loved Trevor. I had believed Rosa was the one person who truly cared about me.

During an earthquake years earlier, my parents instinctively ran outside with Trevor. Rosa was the one who shook me awake and carried me out barefoot.

At last, she seemed to soften.

"Oh, you poor child. But your father is in a hurry. Tell me where your notebooks are first, so I can finish what he ordered. Please don't blame me."

I knew the notes couldn't be saved, but to save my life, I hurriedly told her where I had hidden them.

Her footsteps gradually faded.

The heat was unbearable. While I waited for her to return, I crawled to the opposite wall and pressed my entire body against it.

Then I accidentally overheard Rosa speaking in a lowered voice.

"Sir, I burned all of Micah's notes. Trevor is guaranteed to score higher than him now."

"What about Micah? Is he still trapped in the sauna?"

Excitement rushed through me. Dad might not believe me, but surely he would believe Rosa.

Then I heard her answer.

"No, sir. Micah is sitting on the couch with a giant tub of ice cream, playing video games."