Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 651
Future Adventures of The Greater Bay Area
Yew Chung International School Secondary, Chen, Chia Yi - 16
The year was 2035. Millions of people sit in their homes, eyes fixed on their screens. The ceremony was
about to begin. This cool October morning marked the beginning of a new era, one where Guangdong,
Macao and Hong Kong became one. This was the start of the Greater Bay Area.
“That will be 234 GBD, just scan the code on the desk to pay.” Gu Yun said to the pot-bellied man behind
the counter. He waited patiently as the man fiddled with his phone in an attempt to pay. He looked to the
collection of demonic looking antique dolls sitting on the counter, their soulless eyes staring into nothing.
Why someone wanted to buy one of those things was still a mystery to him, but there was a high demand
and he - being one of the only antique sellers in the area - needed to provide. After scanning the code on
the man’s phone, he wrapped the antique and handed it over the counter. The man took it and stumbled
out of the shop with the wrapped doll tucked under his arm. Shortly after he left, Yun glanced at the clock
and said “Close shop”, which gave the signal for the shop’s AI to lock the door and flip the sign from open
to closed. He sighed and leaned back against his chair, business had been rough these couples of months, he
didn’t know if he would have enough revenue to make it through the year.
His eyes landed on an old antique rotary phone sat on a display stand in the corner of his shop, probably
dating back to the 20th century. The phone was simple, unassuming, made of black plastic with a gold
number plate engraved with swirling patterns. It had been sitting in that corner ever since he took over his
parent’s shop. No one was really into old electronics anymore so it had been sitting in the corner for over 20
years collecting dust. Maybe it was time to take it off the shelves and put it to rest in one of the various
storage boxes behind the shop, but there were more important matters to deal with now. Standing up from
his seat at the table he picked up his tablet and began walking around the shop, cataloging items and
inspecting them for damage. He occasionally stared longingly at the restaurant across the street serving local
delicacies such as roasted suckling pig and the best Portuguese seafood rice in the entire Pearl Delta,
counting down the minutes before he could finally close up shop and go eat. He had just finished inspecting
a selection of antique cigarette cases when he heard a faint ringing sound. He walked over to his desk to
check his phone and realized that no one had called. He glanced over at the antique phone sitting on the
stand. It couldn’t be, right?
Hesitantly, he shuffled over to the phone that was sitting on the display stand in the corner, wondering if
that ringing sound was just a figment of his imagination. As he stepped closer, he found that it was actually
ringing. How was this possible? Looking around, he saw that the phone was not even plugged in, with the
end dangling inches from the bottom of the stand. Who could possibly be calling? He stood there for a few
moments, staring at the piece of plastic, pondering if he should pick up. “Well, what’s the worst that could
happen right?” he thought to himself as he picked up the phone and held it up to his ear.
“Hello?”
“Hello? Who’s there?” came a gruff voice on the other side of the line.
“I should be asking you,” Yun replied, shocked that he was actually talking with someone on the other side.
“Who are you? How are you calling me?”
“This is Detective Lu Yi With the Hong Kong Police force” said the voice “The phone I am using to talk
to you now was found at the scene of a murder that occurred 2 years ago at small house located near Tai Po.
The victim Bai Ling-Ling was found dead in her home on May 30th 2017. I would like to ask you some
questions regarding it.”
What was the Hong Kong Police Force? He thought, Hong Kong hadn’t existed for more than 70 years
now and how could two years ago be 2019 if it was now 2100? The person on the other side clearly had to
be insane.
“What are you talking about?” he replied “there hasn’t been a Hong Kong for almost 65 years. If this is
some form of a joke or scam I’m not buying it.”