Who is he?
1125 Words
"THIS IS NOT OVER!" Cho Ben whispered close to my ear.
I waved my hands over my nose, brushing away his stink. My cold gaze never left him. Yi Shen started pulling him away.
Cho Ben's face was red with anger. He was fuming. He looked as if he was about to explode.
"I don't know how you did this, but I will get you!" Cho Ben shouted.
He pointed a finger at me while Yi Shen half-dragged him toward their police car.
Yi Shen started the car and pulled out of the park.
Two of the other police cars also left, except one. The officer who had brought the order.
"Miss Sang, you need to come to the station to give your statement," he said, turning to her as she stood there looking lost.
"O—okay?" Sang Zhi nodded, glancing nervously around.
I watched her wrap her hands tightly around herself. She must be terrified. Most Chinese would never experience a shootout in their lives, and she had just gone through one.
She must have been rattled, yet she was not running away in fear.
That took courage.
"I will come with her to the station," I heard myself say.
"But you just—" the officer objected.
I shook my head quietly, signaling him.
He stopped speaking.
"I will take my leave now," he said, giving a salute.
I glared at him.
He awkwardly turned the salute into a wave–then started dusting the air above his head.
What the hell was he doing?
Fei shook his head, covering his face, embarrassed on the officer's behalf. His shoulders trembled as he tried to hold in his laughter.
I turned to find a pair of confused brown eyes staring at us.
"Who the hell are you guys? You guys are suspicious," she said, pointing at us.
I gave her a reassuring smile. I was used to handling situations like this.
But her deep gaze almost made me lose my composure.
I bit the inside of my cheek. Pain helped keep my mind in check.
"What type of question is that?" I asked innocently.
The first rule of dealing with situations like this is never to assume. Make sure you understand exactly what the other person is asking. Assuming it can make things worse. When it might be something, just a harmless question.
"The police just let you go, just like that. Who are you, people?" she pressed.
I sighed quietly.
Second rule: Always trust your instincts. If your gut thinks you are in trouble, you probably are.
"Who do you think we are?" Fei suddenly appeared behind Sang Zhi, his eyes full of mischief.
My eyes flashed with anger. I didn't like the game he was playing. If she found out who we really were, we might have to silence her.
So why was he escalating things?
"Don't mind Fei," I said with a forced smile, noticing him lift a knife behind Sang Zhi's back.
"Lin Wen is right. Don't mind Fei!" the officer added quickly.
I stepped forward until I was standing directly in front of her–
Close to Fei.
My eyes darkened as they met him over her head.
Fei tilted his head and smirked.
He brought his hand to his lips, making a silent oopsie.
'Stop!' I shouted in my mind, my eyes almost popping out.
Then his nose twitched as he leaned closer, lowering the knife slowly toward her neck.
Sang Zhi's eyes stayed locked on mine, completely unaware of the threat behind her.
"I am listening," she said, rolling her eyes.
's**t! I need to end this!'
"We know that officer," I said quickly. "He's corrupt. We have history. I tried to expose him once."
It was only half the truth. The whole truth would get her killed.
Her eyes softened, and she stepped closer to me.
I was caught off guard and instinctively stepped back.
"What is it now?" I asked cautiously.
"You look like he hurt you," she said gently. "Did he hurt you?"
She asked as she took my hand in hers and patted it so softly.
My throat tightened. I swallowed. Memories I had buried forced their way back.
My eyes filled with tears.
I shook my head, trying to hold them back. I wasn't going to cry in front of her.
I tilted my head back and wiped my eyes, then placed my hand over hers.
"You have a beautiful soul. Anyone with eyes can see it," I said quietly, my thumb brushing against her hand.
"At least someone thinks so," she muttered with a forced smile. "Tell that to the people trying to kill me. That was the fourth time this month someone tried to hurt me. This is just the only time someone has actually died."
"The police will find whoever is responsible," the officer said.
"That would be great," she replied.
Then she glanced back at Fei.
He quickly hid his knife and smiled brightly at her.
She studied the officer and me for a moment, then suddenly slapped her forehead lightly.
"I can't believe I suspected you guys. You both look so nice. Imagine thinking you might be the mafia or something."
The officer and I burst into nervous laughter.
"Mafia!" I laughed a little too loudly. "Imagine that!"
Fei ran a hand through his hair, smiling as well.
"That's a dangerous thing to say in front of people you suspect," he said casually. "What if we actually decided to hurt you? You shouldn't trust people so easily."
"Am I in some kind of trouble?" she whispered,
But the fear in her voice sounded almost like a shout.
She took a step back, giving us a suspicious look. Something about us suddenly didn't sit right with her. Fei, the officer, was a weird combination that didn't feel right, and at that point, she noticed how alone she was with us in the park.
So, she took another step, backing away.
And another.
While smiling nervously.
"You know… just in case you are…you know… like if you are…" she stammered. "I didn't see anything."
Her eyes darted around, searching for an escape as she slowly retreated from us.
Step by step.
Until–
She bumped into a tree.
Her eyes slowly lifted behind her. There is no escape. She looked back at us.
Fei was still smiling.
Slowly… he began twirling the knife in his hand like he was bored. He tossed it into the air and caught it mid-spin.
Then he winked and licked his lips.
"Relax. We won't hurt you," he said gently.
The color drained from her face.
She screamed.
Then she whispered, almost to herself–
"Please… I just want to go home."
- Writer
