Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 280

“Excuse me? Uh, um, I’m lost. I, uh, can’t find my parents.” Stuttered Zhen Qu. The men turned around, and gave
Zhen Qu a weary look. They started to snicker and one started to laugh. Zhen Qu started to back away. One man, who
seemed like the leader of the group, hushed the gang. He put his hand on Zhen Qu’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry. We saw your parents. They headed down that alleyway over there.” as he pointed towards a dark and
murky path. Zhen Qu’s heart leapt with joy. “Thank you sir! Thank you!” The man smiled.
“Don’t worry, we are glad to help anyone in need.”
Zhen Qu reached the narrow lane and as he turned into it, came up against an old man who took up all the space
between him and the path forward. Snapping out from his state of trance, the old man smiled, baring his chipped and
jagged yellow teeth. He began to move his mouth.
“This place is a lost secret, with lots of twists and turns. The dangers here can just make your stomach churn. But don’t
be disappointed because behind this curtain there is a golden light. It can either make you smile with delight or make
you shriek with fright.” With that, he slumped to a side and dozed off.
Unfazed by the poem, Zhen Qu continued to walk along the slushy path. Only when he came to the end of the street,
did the words begin to start making sense. There, at the foot of an ancient Chinese building, stood his parents. However,
his joy evaporated as he spotted a machete-wielding man with a straw hat standing in front of them, clutching his
mother’s bag in his hand.
Zhen Qu, was speechless with horror, which in this situation, was a good thing. He dove behind some wooden boxes,
and peeked through the slits in the wood. The stranger brandished the kn ife in his parents’ faces, and let out a maniacal
laugh. Zhen Qu could pick up a few words. “Thanks...Money...Kill...Man... Woman...Nice gift…For…The Boss.” As
Zhen Qu put these together, a middle aged man wearing a shiny suit and tie walked out of the building. “Ah! What a
beautiful couple! Yet, completely and utterly useless since I have their money now. Finish them. But not in front of me.
You know how much I hate blood.” said The Boss as the straw hat man nodded eagerly.
Zhen Qu, desperate, screamed at the very top of his lungs “HELP!”
Startled, the men turned around. The straw hat man was lightning quick as he lunged for Zhen Qu and pinned the boy
down. The Boss spoke, “Tut Tut. Never interfere in my business boy. And my business is with your parents. Let me tell
you a story. Do you know who Du Yuesheng is? No? Well, he was one of the most powerful gangsters in the old city in
1887. He ruled this land and was the leader of the criminal underworld. When he died, my grandfather took over.
And that’s family business now. Kiddo, I’m Du Yuesheng’s great-grandson. I own this city. Your parents have a lot of
money, all their savings that they brought over from Xiushui. Money that I want. Money that I need. And your father
tried to play smart by going to the cops. He doesn't realize that I can do whatever I want here. Your parents need to be
taught a lesson and become an example for others. You won’t be seeing them again.”