I am here with you

Swinging his feet, he kicked his body forward towards her until he reached her. He sat up after a few struggles and leaned next to her, ''Alice...'' he nudged her shoulder, calling to her again and again until her eyelashes trembled.

Her eyes slowly opened. 

Up so close, he could see the dried tear stains on her cheeks. 

''Brother Chen, you are awake?" her voice was hoarse and more tears rolled down her cheeks. 

Her hands and legs were tied as well but the little girl somehow managed to find the strength to pounce on him. She buried her tiny face in his shoulder as she cried, ''I tried to call you so many times yesterday but you did not listen to me at all. Those bad people said you died. I was scared but then they checked you and said you are alive...'' 

''There there...'' Helian Chen consoled, his voice gentle enough to put the little girl's worries to rest. 

Once she was calm, he asked her about the bad people she was talking about.