Chapter 12
830 Words
Su Hongxiu did not look back.
She knew what lay behind her.
And she knew what lay ahead.
But she did not stop.
Her fingers descended.
The Enter key.
Send.
The screen displayed: "Delivered."
Recipient: Unknown.
She leaned back against her chair.
And rubbed the bridge of her nose.
She was tired.
But she could not sleep.
The door to the back room remained closed.
Silent.
Like a tomb.
Like a sanctuary. Su Hongxiu picked up her cold coffee.
She took a sip.
Bitter.
Astringent.
She swallowed.
Her throat burned.
She looked out the window.
The black sedan was still there.
Its headlights flared to life.
High beams.
Blinding.
Su Hongxiu drew the curtains shut.
Completely sealing off the outside world.
The room grew dark.
Lit only by the glow of the screen.
A faint, spectral light.
Illuminating her face.
One side bright.
One side shadowed.
Like a mask.
She reached out a hand.
And touched her neck.
There was a scar there.
A relic from her childhood.
Her father had claimed she'd gotten it from a fall.
Later, she learned the truth.
It was a mark left by the Demon Hunter trials.
She, too, carried tainted blood.
Though not the blood of a wolf...
It was filthy all the same.
Su Hongxiu withdrew her hand.
Tightening her grip on the mouse.
Click.
Refresh.
The surveillance feed updated.
The black sedan began to move.
Slowly.
Creeping forward.
It came to a halt directly in front of the clinic entrance.
The engine died.
A car door opened.
A foot stepped out onto the pavement.
A dress shoe.
Black.
Gleaming.
Su Hongxiu stared at the screen.
Her hand rested on a scalpel.
The handle felt cold.
A chill seeping into her palm.
Footsteps sounded from outside the door.
Heavy steps.
One after another.
Drawing closer.
They stopped right at the threshold.
A knock.
Three distinct taps.
Dull thuds.
Just like the way Qin Lie had knocked earlier.
Su Hongxiu remained motionless.
Holding her breath.
The person outside did not knock again.
Silence.
A tense standoff.
A few seconds passed.
The sound of footsteps receded.
The engine roared to life once more.
Headlights swept across the curtains.
A beam of light shifting...
Then vanishing.
Su Hongxiu unclenched her hand.
Her palm was slick with sweat.
She picked up her phone.
And sent a text message.
"The fish is in the net."
Send.
Delete message history.
She placed the phone back in the drawer.
And locked it securely.
She glanced toward the back room.
The door remained shut.
Qin Lie had not emerged.
Good.
Su Hongxiu reopened her document.
And resumed typing.
Her fingers flew across the keys.
The rapid-fire clicking of the keyboard...
Sounded like falling rain. Like a gunshot.
Like a heartbeat.
The night is still long.
But dawn will surely break.
Even if it must be washed in blood.
Su Hongxiu paused.
She gazed at the screen.
At the very end of the document.
A single line of text.
"Subject 001: Status—Stable."
She deleted it.
And changed it to:
"Target: Alive."
Save.
Exit.
Shut down.
The screen went black.
Reflecting her face.
Pale.
Weary.
Resolute.
She rose to her feet.
And walked toward the back room.
Her hand rested on the doorknob.
She didn't turn it.
She stopped.
Turned around.
And returned to the desk.
She picked up her scalpel.
And slid it back into its rack.
*Click.*
Restored to its place.
She sank back into her chair.
Closed her eyes.
To rest.
Five minutes.
Just five minutes.
The alarm clock sat on the desk.
Its hands moved.
*Tick.*
*Tock.*
Like a countdown.
Like life itself.
Like hope.
The sound of the rain began to fade.
A pale gray light appeared on the horizon.
Dawn was breaking.
Su Hongxiu opened her eyes.
They were bloodshot.
Yet bright.
Burning like fire.
She looked toward the back room.
Beneath the c***k in the door, the light remained off.
Qin Lie was still sleeping.
Or perhaps only pretending to sleep.
It didn't matter.
As long as he was alive...
He was useful.
Su Hongxiu rose again.
To boil some water.
The kettle began to whistle.
A piercing shriek.
Rending the silence.
She poured herself a cup.
And set it on the desk.
Waiting.
Waiting for Qin Lie to emerge.
Waiting for the next battle.
Waiting for the dawn.
She placed her hand against the cup.
It was scalding hot.
She didn't pull away.
She endured the heat.
Until the water had cooled to the perfect temperature.
She took a sip.
It was warm.
It flowed into her stomach.
Dispelling the chill.
Su Hongxiu set down the cup.
And looked out the window.
The rain had stopped.
The street lay slick and wet.
Reflecting the light.
Like a mirror.
Reflecting the ugliness of the city.
And reflecting the hope hidden within it.
She turned around.
And walked toward the back room once more.
This time...
Her hand turned the doorknob.
*Click.* It's open.
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