Chapter 2 Accepted, but Can’t Afford the Fare

Staring at the results on the screen, Clara tightened her grip on the mouse, her eyes blurring with tears.

Alice rushed forward and hugged her. "We're saved! We have a future now. We can finally leave this place!"

Clara didn't hear a word. Only one thought remained.

Only Alice had been accepted. Not both of them.

She couldn't leave. For the rest of her life, she'd be trapped in this rundown town, repeating Katherine's fate.

Her body went stiff as Alice held her and rocked back and forth.

Alice's tears of joy dripped onto her collar, but Clara barely noticed them.

After a long while, Alice finally sensed something wrong. "Clara, what's the matter?"

Alice turned to look at the screen. When she saw it, she gasped.

She grabbed the mouse and checked again, her voice panicked. "How can this be? The system must have made a mistake! How could you not be selected? I don't believe it. I'm calling them right now."

Clara took a deep breath and held Alice's arm. "Don't. At least you can leave here."

Clara couldn't say more. She couldn't wish Alice well or ask her to come back. One more word and the tears would fall.

Alice's joy vanished. She stood there, lost.

Clara said nothing and got up to leave.

Alice grabbed her wrist. Clara stumbled, losing her balance.

Just as she was about to speak, Alice shouted, "Clara! You've got a new email!"

Clara's voice was flat. "It's probably just a credit card bill."

"No, it's not!" Alice gripped her hand, refusing to let go.

Clara reluctantly moved closer to the screen. When she saw the sender's name—Ironhold Prison—her heart skipped. They had sent another email.

Clara stepped forward and clicked it open.

Alice read aloud, "We apologize, Ms. Thomas. Due to an error on our part, we sent you an incorrect notification. You have successfully passed the selection process, and we look forward to working with you. We wish you all the best and offer our sincere apologies for this oversight."

Clara could hardly believe it. She hadn't been rejected—the system had just sent the wrong result.

She looked at Alice, unable to hide her excitement. "We both got accepted!"

They embraced and cried, but after the joy came a tricky problem.

They had no money. The job was on an island. To get there, they could only take a boat.

Clara and Alice looked at each other, swallowed hard, and tentatively suggested, "How about... we each go home and steal some money?"

Alice's body trembled. Her voice shook. "If we do that, we'll be in trouble."

Clara looked at her. Thinking about finally escaping this cage, she felt a surge of courage. "If we miss this chance, our lives will still be hopeless."

Alice was moved. She gathered her courage. "Then let's try it together. Tomorrow morning, we'll take the first boat out."

Clara nodded. They parted ways and each returned home.

When Clara got back, she first watched from the window to make sure Samuel wasn't inside. Then she took out her key and pushed the door open.

Her aunt Katherine's face bore both new and old bruises. When she heard the noise, her body instinctively trembled. Only when she saw it was Clara did she relax a little.

"Samuel didn't hurt you yesterday, did he?" Katherine came forward.

"No. I ran far away." Clara shook her head.

Katherine sighed softly and sat down on the sofa. Just as she was about to speak, tears began to fall.

When she bore it alone, she could hold on. But with someone to confide in, all her strength crumbled.

Clara stepped forward and hugged her gently, then spoke after a moment's hesitation. "Katherine, I'm leaving here."

Katherine's body stiffened. She wiped her tears and looked at Clara. "What happened?"

"I have to leave this town. I don't want to end up like the other women here, trapped in this kind of life." Clara let out a long sigh. "I really can't take it anymore."

Katherine closed her eyes and nodded. "Congratulations, Clara. I hope you can live the life you've always wanted."

Clara felt a lump in her throat and said hesitantly, "It's just... I don't have enough money for the fare. The job is on an island, and I need to take a boat. I promise, once I get my salary, I'll pay you back."

Katherine froze, silent for a moment, then slowly withdrew her hand.

"Katherine..." Clara wanted to say more, but the words stuck in her throat.

Katherine raised her hand to interrupt and patted the back of Clara's hand. Her own hand was wrapped in gauze.

"Clara, I'm truly happy for you. I have some savings. Take them and use them. I support your decision."

These words stirred mixed feelings in Clara's heart. She hugged Katherine tightly and finally said what she'd buried for years. "Katherine, you can leave Samuel too. Start a new life."

Katherine gave a bitter smile. "Let me get the money for you."

As she turned to get it, Samuel came home.

He was still drunk, and his gaze locked onto the few bills in Katherine's hand.

"So that's it! I knew she would give you the money!" Samuel flew into a rage and raised the bottle he was holding.

Clara reacted quickly and pulled Katherine to the ground.

The bottle flew over their heads, splashing alcohol onto Clara's cheek.

It crashed hard against the wall behind them, glass shattering everywhere.

Katherine shoved the money into Clara's palm, shouting in a trembling voice, "Clara, get out of here! Don't worry about me!"

Clara stopped, her heart full of conflict. She knew that if she escaped, Katherine would face terrible retaliation—might even lose her life.

Samuel rushed forward and used his brute strength to pin Clara to the ground. He reeked of burnt weed. Clara struggled with all her might, but he wouldn't let up.

He raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face. A wave of dizziness hit her, and a strong taste of blood filled her mouth.

Clara felt dizzy and collapsed to the floor.

Katherine screamed in terror, "Clara!"

Samuel let out a cold laugh and shouted at Katherine, "Stop screaming! You're next!"

Clara tried to get up, but she couldn't.

Samuel kept kicking her. Intense pain swept through her body. She could feel that her ribs were badly injured.

Seeing that Clara had lost the strength to resist, Samuel bent down and reached out to snatch the money clutched in her palm.