As Ru walked inside through the winding dark hallways, it was like those blank pages from her memory book were suddenly being re-written. Or more like the invisible words on those blank pages were finally visible to her eyes.
And the more details came to her mind, the more rage surged within her heart, soul, and body! At this moment, she was even ready to tear someone's limbs off with her bare hands. It was almost like something cynical caged within her was being teased slowly and screamed to let out. Ru could only clench her hands to hold herself back from doing something she'd regret.
However, the fight with those grotesque memories was getting tougher within her heart. She couldn't let her inner beast take over. Not just yet! She first needed to rationally get to the bottom of everything.
She was breathing through her mouth as she completely ignored her surroundings. And by surroundings, she meant the cages that held deformed humans staring at her like she was some kind of a meal for them. It was really not easy to keep herself from wanting to do some bloodshot. The sight was horrible beyond words could describe!
As she finally crossed the maze of winding hallways lined with cages, she found her way to the innermost hall. However, what she saw made her blood boil all over again, and yet there was something prickling her heart as well.
"Zhiren!" She exclaimed as soon as her eyes caught sight of that familiar figure.
Xiao Zhiren was tied to the chair specially made for torture. Blood was oozing out of his wounds while his head was just hanging down. His body was listless and even her voice didn't stir him a little. He was unconscious.
Ru ran to his side and opened the chains that were holding him on and cutting his flesh so painfully. Her heart ached to see him in this condition. She crouched down before him and held his face in her hands.
"Zhiren! Wake up!" She slapped his cheeks to wake him up but it didn't work. In the end, she had to press his acupuncture point and his eyes immediately opened while he coughed. Blood sprayed out of his mouth as he coughed which even fell on Ru's face. However, she didn't even flinch. Simply, she lifted her hand to wipe her eyes to avoid the blood from dripping into her eyes.
*Cough! Cough! Cough!*
His coughs didn't stop for a while and when it did, with great effort, he lifted his eyes to look at her with misty eyes. As his eyes met hers, his lips curled upward.
"My... Little... Chilli..." he breathed out almost in disbelief.
Seeing how his blood-stained hands were trembling as he tried to touch her face, she didn't hesitate before bringing his hand against her own cheek and leaned into it.
"It's really you," he whispered as if he was finally enlightened that this wasn't a dream. She was indeed right here before him. Tracing her facial features, he asked, "Why are you here?"
Ru's hand was still clasping his as she said, "Shouldn't I be asking you that? I just talked to you a few days ago. And you were at home. Why did you come here? How did you come here?"
Xiao Zhiren's breathing was harsh as he told her, "After the last time I talked to you, I was informed by Qin Qu that Yuan had been kidnapped. My thoughts were all jumbled up and I didn't even think of informing you. But you know how much Yuan means to me. I couldn't idly sit by."
Ru's expressions twisted, "Qin Qu?"
"Yeah. He is my most trusted subordinate. He had been taking care of my business in the US for the last few months."
Ru's frown deepened. She remembered this Qin Qu. At least, she had some impression of it since she had seen him around Xiao Zhiren when he came to the Mainland. However, she realized that she hadn't seen him in a while. And if what Xiao Zhiren said was true then how did Mr. Qin Qu in the US found out about the kidnapping in Europe?
She couldn't help asking, "And how did Mr. Qin Qu found out about Yuan's kidnapping?"
Xiao Zhiren tried to answer but his mind couldn't process it for a while. It took him a while before he said, "He heard it from the team of security I left with Yuan."
Ru snickered at his reply, "That's interesting because every member of my squad said that your security team had been killed. How can dead people inform? I didn't know dead could talk as well."
Xiao Zhiren gasped, "You mean it was a trap? Did they lure me here?"
Ru wiped his face with her sleeves as she went on, "Most probably there target had always been you. So, yes. You indeed fell in a trap." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Something was unsettling. Why? She couldn't figure it out at all. "Why do I feel like there is more to it?"
Thinking to herself, she stood up and turned around, darting around at this white maze that only had bright bloodstains everywhere. White and red made a bright contrast.
"Or maybe you're overthinking again," he stated. His voice didn't seem strained anymore but Ru was too absorbed in her own thoughts that she overlooked this abnormality. Besides, her trust in Xiao Zhiren was beyond someone's imagination now. "Why are you here?" he suddenly asked.
Ru's eyes flashed with malice as he replied honestly, "There is a woman who owes me a debt. I'm just here to collect it."
"How are you gonna collect it?" he probed.
"By slashing her flesh off of her bones..."
Ru didn't mind saying that out loud. The beastly side of hers had already begun to overwhelm her senses. Why would she hide her true intentions now when she was becoming a whole different person after all those years, all over again.
She heard the jingling of the chains and assumed that Xiao Zhiren was trying to stand up. Thinking he needed help, she turned around and opened her mouth to say, "I'll help- Ooompf!"
Just as she said two words, something sharp pierced through her stomach making her body convulse. Not from pain rather from the shock.
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