Chapter 12 - CAPTAIN BINH'S DOCK
By 4:00 AM, the rain had settled into a thick, bone-chilling mist hanging over the coastal salt marshes of the outer bay.
Three shivering figures dragged themselves out of the mudflats half a mile east of Pier 4. Rosy was barefoot, her red dress caked in grey silt, while Linh wrapped her arms around both children, keeping them moving through the dense mangrove roots.
Ahead, flickering through the fog, was a single amber lantern mounted on the mast of an aged wooden junk boat named The Golden Dragon.
Standing on the deck, smoking a hand-rolled clove cigarette, was Captain Binh—a weathered old sailor with a face lined like carved teak and a deep scar running along his jawline.
As the heavy footsteps squelched through the mud, Binh drew a heavy steel flare pistol from his oilskin vest. "Who's there?"
"Captain Binh!" Minh called out weakly, stumbling into the lantern light while holding Rosy’s hand. "It's Minh! Mai's son!"
Binh’s eyes widened. He dropped his cigarette, rushing to the side rail and hauling the drenched children onto the deck, followed by Linh.
"Merciful skies," Binh gasped, wrapping dry canvas tarps around the kids. He looked up at Linh, his sharp eyes narrowing instantly. "Who are you?"
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"I'm Mai's sister," Linh said, her teeth chattering as she held up her left wrist, revealing the silver wing bracelet. "And my sister was taken by Detective Han last week."
Binh stared at the bracelet, taking a long, slow breath before lowering his pistol. "So... the older sister finally woke up."
