A child crying.
Yan Cijin stopped.
Bai Li looked at her.
"You heard it."
"Yes."
They entered the alley.
The crying led them to a locked service door.
Behind it were four people.
A mother, a teenage boy, a younger girl, and an elderly man.
The mother was holding the girl's mouth shut to keep her from crying loudly.
Yan Cijin crouched in front of them.
"It is safe."
The mother hesitated before opening the door.
"You are not with them?"
"No."
The woman looked at the bodies outside.
"You did that?"
Bai Li glanced away.
"Mostly."
The woman swallowed.
"We have been trapped here since yesterday."
The teenager looked at Bai Li with open admiration.
"How did you move that fast?"
Bai Li shrugged.
"Practice."
Yan Cijin almost rolled her eyes.
They escorted the family back toward the main road.
The mother kept thanking them.
The old man walked slowly.
At one point, he stumbled.
Yan Cijin caught his arm.
"You okay?"
"I am fine."
"You do not look fine."
