New Tales of The Old Shanghai
Island School , Ching , Mathew – 14
A mere observer . An agent of natural order . That is what I see myself as . My one rule is to never intervene . I have no name , though you humans have made many . Anubis , Vanth , Thanatos , Tarakeshwara , Grim reaper . You humans think I cause death . That I am the one that reaps their soul . The one that executes them . Misguided , for I merely wait . I wait for the last breath .
The last beat .
The last thought .
Only then do I approach , ferrying the soul to the beyond .
Tonight I am Yama . I sit myself upon a crate in a warehouse not far from downtown . This city port has always been a bountiful harvest . Tonight is no other . I wait as men of both sides scurried into the warehouse , ready to die . I have always found humans interesting . Why do you fight ? Why are you so willing to die ? Is it for honor ? Rewards ? What is there that can be more precious than the gift that the Absolute one has given you ?
Gun fight ensues .
As I approach the fallen souls , I hear them whisper . They always whisper . To ameliorate their own deaths . Most , dying of old age and disease , would tell themselves they have lived a good life . Some spoke of love . Chivalry . Glory . Honor . I do not judge . I cannot judge . The passage of life and death is equal to you all , dear reader , unbiased and true . Whether you are good or bad , kind or cruel , all souls go through the same route .
Today I hear the same . These men , they had the chance to start over , to lead a good life . Instead they spent their years trying to find their boss . Their childhood idol . Trying to revive him . And When they discovered that it was too late , They rebelled . They echo to themselves that they are avengers . I look down , as 38 names disappear from the list . Each with their own life . Each with their own story .
Next on the list is Lily Chan .
蓝玫瑰 ( Lan Meigui ). Blue rose , they called her . She always wore blue . Born to a hostess and a triad boss . Being pregnant was a no go for a hostess ; she was given 2 choices : Abortion and stay , or keep it and leave . She chose the latter . Lily , being her favourite flower , became the daughter ’ s name . Upbringing was hard . With the little income the mother got from prostitution she spent it on alcohol . Each night after school , Lily would be scowled at , sometimes beaten , with the occasional Why didn ’ t I abort you ? But Lily did not lose hope . She studied hard . Aced tests . Eventually , her mother screamed at her less , until one day , she died in a drunken fight . My daughter she echoed . Lily had no other family , and with nowhere to turn to and no hope to look upon , she went back to her roots . At age 15 she rose in popularity at record rate , and at age 20 , was the richest hostess with in the area , marvelled by men and envied by women . So envious , that it transformed into anger . Tonight is Lily ’ s 21st birthday . Unbeknownst to her , her drink , given by her closest friend , was spiked with cyanide . Death by cyanide is not a kind one . To those unfortunate enough to encounter it , I , will become a blessing . The convulsions . Desperate gasp for air . Blood froth rushing out of mouth . Only then , after minutes of suffering , comes unconsciousness . Lily is no different . The trust of the innocent is the liar ' s most useful tool .