The Heir of Shanghai
Maryknoll Convent School ( Secondary Section ), Chan , Miuccia - 17
S ometime later , in front of the building that blinked back at me with its blinding neon lights and flashing billboard , my legs filled up with cement . Despite being a casino hotel , the guards that lined the red carpet seemed to only welcome people who looked like business big shots in their stifling business attire with chubby fingers that donned a dozen expensive rings .
Petrified , I backed away slowly , hoping to slip away before anyone caught sight of me - and bumped right into a guard . Just my lucky day . The guy glared down at me ferociously and at the moment I knew if he actually wanted to eat me , he ’ d have no problem with it .
I managed to squeak out , “ smibodwdcfdgfk .” Frowning , he eyed me suspiciously from head to toe . Following his line of sight , I glanced down in curiosity as well . Apparently I was in a suit , the purpose of which I had no idea , along with the fact that I had somehow ended up wandering here unconsciously .
“ Ya look real familiar , chicken ,” The guy bent down to get a good look at my face , his scowl twisting into an even uglier scowl . Stifling a yelp , I shrunk back even further , trying to dodge his intense gaze . Something about that ticked the guy off , and he grabbed my wrist angrily , “ Don ’ t squirm - ” He froze up all of a sudden and looked down at my wrist with an expression that wrote ‘ you ’ re joking , right ?’
Without warning , he let go on my arm like it was a snake or something , and gave me a rude look of disbelief . “ Well , c ’ mon in , sir . The rest of ’ em are waitin ’,” he said , beckoning me in the fancy building . And just right then , my body moved of its own accord , carrying me in a dignified way which I had never done so before to follow the guard in .
…
The place might have looked like luxury on the outside , but I could spot security cameras tucked away subtly in the darker corners . Chandeliers hung above my head like a knife , and bingo machines screamed into my ear wherever I went . I didn ’ t know where we were going , but the unwelcoming atmosphere forced down any question that I had in my mind , and the guard ’ s cautious glances at me didn ’ t help ease my mind any more than the pistol stuffed in the back of his pants did .
We turned into a long hallway flanked by authentic doors , and from some of the half-opened ones I could hear moaning and panting sounds , and I turned my head away embarrassedly . A woman stepped out one of the rooms , wrapped in nothing but a bathrobe and holding her curvaceous body and legs in such a provocative way that she knew exactly what she was doing , as though she had been doing this her entire life . Despite her ravishing appearance , bags hung like weights under her eyes , and when she smoked her cigarette , it sounded almost like she was sighing . Smiling tiredly , she called out to the guard . “ New guy there ? Let me have him . He doesn ’ t look all that fresh to this . It ’ d be a nice change .” For some reason , that comment stung more it should , and I bit my lip to hide how upset I was . Funny I should feel that way ; I don ’ t even remember my name .
“ Sorry , beautiful . He ’ s booked ,” the guard grinned toothily at the lady and waved . We carried on in silence . Many questions tugged at my throat , but I daren ’ t ask . The guard stopped suddenly in front of the last door in the hallway that looked the grandest , and knocked thrice on the heavy doors . He turned to me and bowed , to my utter shock .“‘ Ere we are , sir . Have a nice evening .” As the guard walked away , my voice refused to budge as I tried to call out desperately , Hey you ’ ve got the wrong guy or Why am I here or What is this place . Nothing came out when I needed it to .
The door creaked eerily as a servant in a suit poked his head out . “ Welcome , sir . The nine circles have assembled .” Just as the guard had done so , the man bowed once and ushered me into the wrong . What is happening ? I wanted to scream , but something was holding my voice back , as though it didn ’ t want me to destroy this moment .