Kai could not speak then. He could barely move his legs. He only cried, again and again, until his throat gave out and the sound dissolved into weak gasps. Tied loosely around his wrist was a faded red string bracelet, rough against the skin, and tucked beneath it was a folded scrap of notebook paper, soaked and smudged, with words that were almost unreadable.

Please protect this child if you can.

His name is Kai.