Big trouble in little india

[ilikeoldchangke]

We got to Xuehua’s place in no time and I checked out her unit up close. Her plants provided a wall of green, giving her the privacy she needs staying in such a compact development.

My heart beat a little faster as I watch the door opened up to reveal the interior of Xuehua’s house.



Jeff: You stay alone ?

Xuehua : yeah… don’t worry… Eddy’s not here.. hahaha..

Jeff : hahah ok…

Walking into her house feels like stepping into another world.

The warm coloured walls and the sound of water greeted me immediately when I step into that cosy abode.

The walls are filled with photos of Xuehua when she’s overseas. A nice comfortable sofa with cushions neatly arranged sat to the right on the living room. She does not have TV, what sat in the space meant for the TV cabinet and console is instead a easel for her painting.

There’s a white dining table meant for only 2. I guess she seldom have guests over.

She shut and lock the door behind and I helped her bring the food into the kitchen.
The kitchen is old school, with all the cabinets tucked onto 1 side of the walls, leaving the walkway clear.

Condiments and sauces were neatly arranged on the countertop and I could tell she cook often.



There are a variety of knives displayed on a magnetic board.

Jeff : Wow… this is a damm pro kitchen man….

Xuehua laughed and says it’s for display only.

Jeff : Do you know how to use all those knives ? all different ones you know.

Xuehua gave me a smirk and says she’s an expert.



Xuehua : Don’t try to be funny ok…. I know how to use them…hahah

She picked up a paring knife with a short blade, it’s great for intricate work, peeling fruits , deveining shrimps.

Xuehua : This 1…. Is call bao gao liao knife ( everything can do knife ) ….just right side for my hand… can cut, can chop… can do everything !!..

Jeff : ahaahahaha.



I laughed and she went on to pick up the one with serrated edge. It cuts cleanly though fruits and vegetables without tearing them, it’s good for bread and bagels too.

Xuehua : This 1…. Is a saw…. Meant for irritating boyfriends who bother me when I cook…

Jeff : hahaha

Xuehua picked up the cleaver.

Xuehua : This…. For zombie outbreak ..



I could not resist laughing as she gave me an irritated look and asked me to go to the living room and leave her alone.

I shook my head as I watch her deliberately use the cleaver to open up the plastic wrapping for the steak.

Jeff : Can i… check out your room…

Xuehua : sure…go explore on your own….


It’s a small and cosy 3 room flat.

I turned the corner towards the sleeping area and saw that Xuehua converted one room into her wardrobe space. The amount of clothes she has is staggering.



There are like dresses on the walls with plastic wrappings, stacks of neatly folded clothes on shelves. 2 of the 3 cupboards could hardly close it’s door fully.

Stacks of drawing pads are arranged neatly according to date on one side of a low shelf. A variety of pencils and brushes took the next half.

It’s mainly a storage room from what I can see.

I looked to the room opposite and I could hear the firing up of the gas cooker in the kitchen.

Xuehua’s room has a queen size bed taking up the centre of the room.
A small study table with her laptop plugged in and charging sat at the edge of the bed.

Without a wardrobe in the room, it’s actually quite spacious. I Saw 2 yoga mat on the floor, a kettle bell, some weights and resistance band. She does a bit of workout in the room.

I could smell the aroma of meat being grilled and I asked Xuehua if she wants to close the door to her rooms.



Xuehua : oh yes… please… and don’t stay inside…. I don’t want you messing with my lingerie… I’ve read online on sex forums what men like to do… hahaa

I laughed and shut the door to her bedrooms.

I helped to cut the fruits and set the table.

It didn’t take long before Xuehua finished the simple dinner in front of us.

A nice piece of steak garnished with fruits I cut. Looks colourful but weird but it’s cooked by Xuehua.



I cut the steak and tucked in, nodding in satisfaction at Xuehua who beamed proudly with a smile. It’s a good piece of marbled meat. You can’t get it wrong. Just need to watch the timing.

Jeff : It’s amazing… I love it..

Xuehua : really ? hahah…. Thank you !!.

Nothing out of the blue happened over dinner but I noticed something about the way Xuehua holds her knife. Each cut she made on the steak is precise, a single stroke, severing the small piece of protein from the steak.



Almost with surgical precision. Well, she’s was going to be a doctor.

Jeff : You hold your knife like a surgeon or something hahaha…

Xuehua : hellow…. What is with your fasciation with knives ? … are you a serial killer or something ? hahaha… would you rather I eat like this ??

She stuck her whole fork into the meat and brought it up to her mouth before taking a large bite, staining the sides of her lips with the fats of the meat.



Jeff : hahahah.. that’s disgusting… hahah..

She ignored me and chose to use her hands this time round. Holding onto the meat and taking another bite.

Xuehua : whatever… hahaha… I’m not as ladylike as many people think I am underneath…. Not to late for you to run now…

Jeff: Not gonna happen… hahaha…

I helped to wash the dishes before we settled into the sofa in the living room with anouth bowl of fruits.

There’s no TV, no radio, no distraction.



It was a chat over fruits, Xuehua started first, bringing me up to speed about her live so far. She skipped her entire childhood portion, choosing to start only at the part she first went to medical school.

The men she dated before, the assholes she came across.

Some people can just tell a story so well and Xuehua is just one of them. Relating her past seemed like she is narrating me into her life, at some points I even imagined myself inside her past, as if I’m right along side her.

We continued into the night and when the clock struck 11pm, Xuehua stretched at the sofa, her t-shirt riding higher and exposing her slim waist.



She exhaled and looked at me.

It’s as if she was dropping me a hint.

Not to get into bed but it’s late. Reading her body language, I knew this was a test of sort.

Am I going to just bulldoze and ask to stayover on the very 1st date or I know how to play the gentlemen game and bid my time ?

I have a feeling she is open to both but it’s too soon to make my move.

Jeff: Well.. it’s… late… I better make a move…

I could see a subtle sign of relief and affirmation from Xuehua.

Xuehua : hmm ok.. it’s pretty late…

She walked me to the door and waited for me to put on my shoes. She held onto the metal gate and I stood up to look at her.

That familiar seconds of hesitation from both of us is obvious.

We were both expecting it but since this being the first time, there is bound to be some awkwardness.

Jeff : Goodnight… Thank you for the dinner…

Xuehua : You’re welcome…

I decided to make the move and I leaned closer to Xuehua, she did not shy away. Her eyes darted shyly as she closed the rest of the distance and planted a kiss on my lips.



Xuehua : goodnight.. !

She shut the gate slowly and I could see she was waiting for me to say something.

Jeff : Are you doing anything tomorrow ?

Xuehua : NO! ..haha

I laughed and asked if I can pick her up at noon for lunch.

She nodded and wave me off before shutting the door.




I drove back home and picked out a change of clothes. After that I drove straight to the columbarium in Mandai, not too far away from the zoo.

Heading up to a niche with a fake picture, I checked my surroundings to make sure I’m alone.

I pushed the marble niche inwards and it snapped, the magnetic ball bearing catching the weight of the slab immediately. I pushed the side and it rotated, revealing an empty space where I kept some cash and a dagger.

It’s not my weapon of choice but it’s the closest stash I have to the meeting spot.

The meeting may be set at 5am but I’m not walking through the front door of the zoo.

I need a few hours to get to the spot.

The only reason why I need to mask myself is because there will be other people there. Not just Owen.

You can never be too cautious when it comes to stuff like this.

I went to another niche and pulled out a night vision goggle I smuggled into the country from Thailand. I checked the battery and it’s only 1/3 full. It’s been a while since I charged it. I got changed and left the columbarium

I parked my car along one of the small roads bordering Mandai road and lifted the bonnet up to give an impression that the car has broken down. I finished an entire bottle of water, 1.5 litres in all. It’s going to a while before I get to drink again.

Checking to make sure the coast is clear, I dove directly into the forested area bordering the zoo compound.

It’s going to at least a 2 hour walk by my estimate, I want to stake out the meeting place even before the time Owen scheduled.

This entire meeting stinks of trouble.



The moon is generous with it’s light piercing though the thinner part of the jungle and I proceeded slowly, stopping every minute or so to make sure I’m alone.

Aside from the sound of the jungle and the occasional scurrying of small mammals, it’s just me as far as I could tell.

3am.

[ilikeoldchangke]

I got to the perimeter of the zoo at 3am in the morning.

Recalling the map I downloaded before my trek, there’s still a distance before I get to the amphitheatre Owen wanted to meet. I could see the entrance of the Zoo from where I was, there were several cars parked at the entrance.

Using the night vision googles, I could roughly make out a few of Owen’s men.



Owen would have made sure the place is clear but I’m not walking through the front door.
I trust my instincts more.

I closed my eyes and tried to remember the animal enclosures I will be trespassing. The last thing I want to do would be to jump into the enclosure of a fucking lion or a tiger.

Even an angry hog would spell trouble for me. I popped in salt pills and washed it down with a sachet of isotonic drink in my pocket.



Checking my bearing on my compass once more, I started on my slow trek towards the meeting spot.

I reached the perimeter of the amphitheatre at 3.50am in the morning. My night vision googles is almost out of battery having used it more often within the zoo compound.

I found a spot I like and I got on my belly and waited. As far as I could see, there was no one else in the vicinity.

I pulled on my mask and my cap. Only my eyes are exposed.



I tried to slow down my breathing and I kept my ears open. The jungle did not sound right to me.

Having stayed in one for almost a year, I know the noises, the sound, the calls of the insects and nocturnal animals.

Something is off in the same forested area I am in.

It’s quiet.

Too quiet.

The animals know they are not alone.

There are predators near them.


I pulled out my dagger and stuck it into the soft ground in front of me.

The call of the insects came and went periodically. I could see a couple of marquees looking at me from a tree few steps away.

4.30am


The jungle got quieter, the crickets stopped singing for some reason.

My senses are on fire.

I could feel that weird sensation I get before a kill creeping into me.

I felt a tinge of fear.



I’m not alone.

There are predators and hunters among the darkness. It’s not just me.

Men like me.

Colleagues.

The excitement turned into anticipation as the clock ticked closer to the appointed time.



Owen made no attempt to be quiet. I could hear him even before he stepped into the amphitheatre. He walked right to the stage empty handed.

He looked around the empty structure but said nothing.


He simply leaned against a table and waited with his arms folded.

4.55am

Barely 5 minutes to the appointed time, there were absolutely no signs of anyone arriving.

Owen had his head down, looking at his feet with his arms still folded.

I checked my perimeter visually, I could not see anyone near me but I know I’m not alone.

4.59am

Owen stood up and stretched himself as he walked to the edge of the stage, looking at a still empty space.

5am


I watched Oven take out the same scanner from before and did a check on the outgoing signals in the area, satisfied that he’s alone, he kept the device and literally spoke into thin air.

Owen knows. He knows whoever he invited is already there. Just that none of us showed ourselves yet. His voice boomed loud in the quiet of the night.

Owen : I know you are all here…. None of you have ever been late before…

There was no response but it did not stop Owen from going on.

Owen : You must be wondering why I ask to meet so urgently…. And at this place… well…

Owen sighed and added.

Owen : An unprecedented crisis is upon us… and we need to response accordingly.



Not only am I listening to Owen, I had gotten up on my feet with my dagger in my hand. Every few seconds, I visually checked my surrounding again.

Owen : I know all of you have always worked alone…and none of you have ever failed…. Ever…

My heart started beating faster. Owen sounds a little worried. I could almost catch a hint of desperation in his voice.

Owen : There will be a project coming up….one we cannot afford to fail….the audit team has given their in principal approval but we are awaiting final approval documentations…..i just want to say we cannot afford to wait on this one…. The intel is time sensitive….when it’s time… we need to do it…. Approval or not…



Still faced with the chilly silence of the night, Owen went on, unfazed by a lack of reply.

Owen : Some of you have ongoing projects… some don’t…. those that do, I’m confident you can finish whatever you have on hand in a week or two…. Those that don’t , there will be none for you from now till the arrival of this project I am talking about.

Owen went on to say that he has never forced us to take on a project we are not willing to.

Owen : I have never forced anyone to take up a project you don’t want to…. Never have…. And I never will….it’s still your choice to make…you are still free to choose….



Owen jumped off the stage and started his way up the steps slowly.

Owen : Target is female. A terrorist. She might have an assistant… we don’t know…

Owen stopped at the 2nd tier of the amphitheatre.

Owen : The bonus for this project is 470k…..each…

What the fuck
I was starting to doubt what I just hear when Owen repeated it again.

Owen : 470… each…regardless how many of you decide to do it together….as long as the target is eliminated….intel suggest target carries about 1.6Mil in various currencies for funding purposes…. Split those… keep it… whatever… I don’t care…

That’s almost half a million in bonus. This is crazy.

The highest bonus I’ve receive so far is just shy of 110.



Owen : I know some of you are thinking of quitting…. This project…together with what you have from previous engagements…. Should set you up properly…. A new life…if you wish to that is….. your choice… I won’t stop you….

This is definitely a tempting proposal.

I’ve stashed away close to 2million during the course of my work. This project could be the golden handshake before I stop for good.

Owen : As I said before…. I say it again now….your choice…. I’m not forcing you..

I looked around the amphitheatre, there are still no signs of anyone around.

It’s as if Owen is talking to the air.

Owen took a deep breath and he said nothing, as if he was giving whoever is listening the time to think and consider.

At least 3 minutes of silence followed before Owen spoke again.


And when he did, all the hair on the back of my neck stood on it’s end.

Owen : Iron ….. ?

My heartrate went up a notch as I saw the black figure of my colleague step out from the shadows on the other side of the amphitheatre.

Owen turned to look at him, clad in the same manner as I am, a full face mask and a hoodie over his head, Iron said nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

He simply nodded.

I’ve heard of his reputation. Iron is a hard striker. He once punched a man to death.

Owen called out another familiar name.

Owen : Raptor ?



I tightened the grip on my dagger as another figure stepped out from the shadows barely 30 feet away from me. He was so close, yet I’m not even aware of him.

Raptor is an old hand in this game, having started earlier than I did. He’s fast. Owen once told me he did 3 projects in 3 days.

Raptor stepped out with his hands in his pants pocket. His black balaclava had black spiked studs near the head.

I could see that nod as well. A nod without a word.

Another name.

Another call sign.

Owen : Gourmet ..?



The figure appeared at the top of the amphitheatre, coming down the steps with a swagger like a boss.

Gourmet was once known as Urchin, but he changed his callsign after a project.
His target was a serial rapist who terrorised a preschool, at least 6 toddlers were sexually violated by the target I one of the biggest cover up in the country.

Gourmet hunted the rapist down and kept him alive for 6 months, ignoring Owen’s repeated orders to kill him.

He cut pieces off that fucker and fed it to him, the meat from his own body being the only subsistence for half a year before Gourmet finally choked him to death with his own intestine.

Word is that the 1st clean-up crew vomited and had to be replaced by the 2nd crew barely 30 minutes into the job. For the 1st time ever in the history of the company, 2 crew had to rotate in a clean up for a mess left by the gourmet.


The gourmet gave a slight bow in a dramatic way like what a stage actor would and nodded his head as well.

Still, Owen did not stop.



Owen : Butcher..

I heard the rustling of leaves to my right and the large build of the butcher came into view.

His name alone left nothing much to imagination. I could see clearly the meat cleaver strapped to his left thigh.



Butcher is a vegetarian according to Owen. He is violent, has a short temper and the clean up crew always had difficulty accounting for all the body parts after he’s done.

Butcher nodded and he was the only one that spoke.



His voice boomed low in the quiet of the night.

He has a voice that would surely give kids nightmare if they hear it.

[ilikeoldchangke]

Butcher : Let me guess the last one…. Hahahha.

Owen nodded.


Looking around the amphitheatre, as if trying to guess where I am, Owen finally called out to me.


Owen : Hibiki…

I got up and stepped out into the light.

All eyes were immediately on me.



HIbiki, the one holding the coveted top spot in the organisation. I could smell the bloodlust in the air.

The ego, the ambition, and the allure of being the best at what we do. Among the looks of admiration my colleagues gave, I detected the urge, that need to be better.

The need to be the best.



Butcher : hahahhaha….. Hibiki……finally…. We meet….

I stood about 10 steps away from Owen and he waited for my reply.

I felt a certain excitement in my veins.

One I cannot describe. I felt like an animal.

How apt given the location we are in.



Owen did not choose the spot randomly. He choose it because he wanted the animal inside all of us.

And he has 5 of the worst predators the country has bread right in front of him.

I wanted to consider longer, I have questions, questions that needed answers but the animal inside me made the decision for me.



I nodded without a word and Butcher’s low laugh filled the amphitheatre with his hollow echo.

I have only 1 question on my mind.


What kind of prey justify the need for so many predators like us ?


………………………………………….

[ilikeoldchangke]

Originally Posted by Baboonator

Correct me if I’m wrong, but This is the same building that Jude worked in if I’m not wrong. The one that housed the Facility.

This story happens after it got tore down by Jake and White Snakes I presume? And Lynn works for them? Because after they shifted to Tuas for the Altenate Facility, they left only the Specialist clinics around still on the 3rd floor of the same facility. Which is the floor where Lynn’s Clinic is located.... and I remember reading somewhere that this building is newly renovated or something iirc...

So is this also the same Aaron that was in charge of the R&D in the facility? The snobbish character sure feels the same.... And could it be also that Xuehua was part of the Facility? Either as a staff or a breeding cow?( I’m inclined [and prefer]to think it’s the latter if she really was part of the Facility.)

So Jeff is also part of the Facility without himself knowing it? since Lynn’s Clinic is linked to Jeff’s “company”?

Interesting theory haha.

Facility has no links to the building we are in

[Ericgamer]

For all you know, Xuehua could be a train agent oso!

[Tai_zi21]

Damn it.... as good as ever

Thank for the Long part on a fri

So see u next weekday for the next update ya

[Dddnoob]

Originally Posted by Ericgamer

For all you know, Xuehua could be a train agent oso!

Or the female terrorist

[diputs1269]

Originally Posted by Dddnoob

Or the female terrorist

Anything is possible since she is quite expert in handling various type of knives.

[Xxxwingstar]

very very addictive story. Cant stop reading

[Hardaway1818]

Wow this is like the Marvel Avengers........The Old Changkee Killers

[Baboonator]

Originally Posted by ilikeoldchangke

Interesting theory haha.

Facility has no links to the building we are in

Haha, no la, just that I remembered the details of The Facility and it was specified then that they moved everything except the specialist clinics on the 3rd floor. So knowing that you like to surprise us with unexpected links to your previous stories, I was wondering if this could be one of those times.

[otamay]

Originally Posted by Hardaway1818

Wow this is like the Marvel Avengers........The Old Changkee Killers

Ya you are spot on! Camping here for more updates.

[luvuass]

Thks bro ilock for the update, waiting for the next

[Icecass]

Holy smokes... the hunt is on!!!

[NewsHeadline]

The story is heating up!!