Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 467

a patchwork of of old rags roughly sewn together. A single drop rolls down his face and splashes into the still pool, and creates
ripples in the still water. His face is oddly distorted, like some type of inhumane monster. A guai shou. It reminds him of the
Old City. In his mind’s eye, he sees young orphans huddled on the steps, their hands outstretched in a silent plea. It is such a
big contrast to the beautiful, ornate mansions that the rich live in. A tall man in a tailored suit steps out from one of the gigantic
mansions and waves his hand imperiously at him. “Rickshaw! You, come here.” The young man glances up at him with wide,
startled eyes. Bowing slightly, the young man hurries towards him, and the tall man gets on the rickshaw. He notices his
customer discreet glances at his expensive golden pocket watch. Noticing the signal, the young man quickens his pace, and in
no time they are at the racecourse.
The man gets off the rickshaw, and dusts off his new clothes before quickly disappearing into the crowd. He turns around,
and the young man realizes that his customer has left his pocket watch on the rickshaw seat. His eyes grow as large and he gapes
at his newfound treasure. If he sold that, he could live off that money for ages. He’d never have to work anymore. If he was
caught, though… he didn’t want to think about the consequences. His mind struggled between the two: doing the right thing,
or money. He sits there, blanketed by the noise of the roaring crowd. His hands move numbly, drifting over and slipping the
watch into his pocket. He leaves the rickshaw at the side of the road, and doesn’t look back.
He is dragged back to reality by the pain in his chest, and he doubles over, coughing hard. He reaches up to wipe the
blood from his mouth. Even the smallest of actions hurt so much. He knows that his days are numbered, and counting down
fast. Tears drip down his cheeks, and he tries to hold on, to slow down the clock. Time is another element in his life, like luck,
that was never in his control. They have never been on his side, he thinks bitterly. “Why does it have to end like this? Why
does I have to rot and die in a lonely cell?” he yells at the wall. He distantly remembers waking up here, his whole body
throbbing and aching. The watch was too good to be true. It was a test, and he failed. He remembers the pawn shop, the loud
voice of the angry customer with a horde of policemen on his tail, and desperately trying to escape. It was wrong, but he was
just trying to survive, like everybody else.
He thinks back to the first time he stepped foot into the Northern City. It was like heaven. It was a surreal
experience. If someone told him that there was somewhere in this perfect city exactly like the Old City, he would never have
believed it. Diseases always spread like wildfire in these places. Now he’s going to die here, in this hell. Hell in heaven --
isn’t that ironic? As his life flash past him, he wonders what it would be like if he was rich. How different everything would
be. Maybe in another life, he would get to experience these luxuries. Maybe in another life, luck would be on his side. The
world dims, and he sees his mother and little sister happily skipping towards him. As the ground beneath him vanishes and his
eyes close, he thinks, who will inhabit this cell after I’m gone?
The Ghosts of Peace Hotel
The Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Kwong, Codi
-14
“Mm! What a delicacy” Xiao Yi took small sips of Oolong tea and nibbled on the deep fried buns elegantly placed on
a bakery basket, as she overlooks the ravishing night view of the Huangpu River from the cafe of the Peace Hotel. Xiao Yi
thought to herself, “Who is such a genius and built this hotel.” Suddenly, several voices said, “I DID!” Xiao Yi was shocked, so
shocked that she dropped her bun on the ground which took a waiter to pick it up. Her eyes didn’t blink and her mouth was
opened so big you can fit those deep fried buns easily. After Xiao Yi collected herself, she came to a conclusion that she was too
tired, and needed a good night sleep.
In the midnight, thunder started to roar and heavy rain hit her window like thousands of hooves pounding on the
ground. Xiao Yi started hearing voices saying “I did it!” The voices filled her head. They just like the ones in the cafe. She was
irritated by the voices and tried to shake it off by shaking her head, but the voice just got bigger and then boom! Xiao Yi was
traumatised by the voices and woke up, only to know she had some guest awaiting her.