Big trouble in little india

[Tai_zi21]

Originally Posted by ilikeoldchangke

sorry. not today.

Trying for tomorrow. Still editing.


James

Patiently waiting my fav story teller 😊

[otamay]

Originally Posted by ilikeoldchangke

sorry. not today.

Trying for tomorrow. Still editing.


James

No worries, patiently waiting for more updates.

[HorYiPeng]

Originally Posted by ilikeoldchangke

sorry. not today.

Trying for tomorrow. Still editing.


James

Patiently waiting ….. thanks bro!

[dudick]

Patiently waiting another 42 mins to tomorrom and counting down.

[Sigg4]

Games of throne one week only 1 episode leh.jon snow finally know he true identity. Here in bro ilock stories is as exciting as got.

[Thunder God]

Aiya .. fxxk GoT lah! The plot of the whole season 8 is oredi out on you tube.
John Wick chapter 3 the way to go .. closer to the plot of this story,
Bro ilock.. no need edit until queens english leh.

[hycoffeetic]

Originally Posted by Thunder God

Aiya .. fxxk GoT lah! The plot of the whole season 8 is oredi out on you tube.
John Wick chapter 3 the way to go .. closer to the plot of this story,
Bro ilock.. no need edit until queens english leh.

Simi queens English? Le er hiao tak ang mo bo?

[Brobojio]

It’s ok bro. I’m eating old Chang Kee and patiently waiting for your update. Thanks for the fantastic plot and twist so far.

[diputs1269]

Standing by for more updates, cheers!

[ahtiko]

I’m refreshing this page once every 30 mins lol

[evel_god]

Cannot wait... checking every few hours...

[ilikeoldchangke]

I don’t remember what happened next.
I was in a constant daze. My mind could hardly function.

I knew I was half dragged along the warehouse until we got to a flight of stairs leading to the basement.



Xuehua left me on the floor as she unlocked a large blast door with a key pad on the side of the wall.

I could hear the hiss of the hydraulics as it releases the bolts in the solid frame.

I had sank down on my butt with my feet on the ground as I stared blankly at the corridor beyond. I could see a couple of people walking around. They cast us a disinterested look before getting back to what they were doing.

Xuehua took the wall opposite me and she too leaned back before sliding down onto the floor, bring our faces to the same level.



I wanted to speak but I can’t.

There is just so much going on in my head.

I almost killed my girlfriend, and the man I was working for for the past years turns out to be the man that killed my father.

Xuehua did not say anything either. She pulled off her gloves that are soaked with dried blood. I could see the bruises immediately.

The knuckles, the back of her wrist, I could only imagine the amount of burst blood vessels underneath the skin.

She saw me looking at her fingers and she brought them away from my line of sight, as if she’s suddenly aware that she’s no longer Jane in front of me.



Jeff : I…..i….

Xuehua looked at me, waiting for me to finish what I wanted to say.

She bit her lips, and pouted and I could see her holding back her tears.

Jeff : I’m…. I’m sorry…..

Xuehua : I’m sorry too…

She wanted to hug me but I could see she was in pain. The amount of abuse our bodies have been through that night is unimaginable.

I saw a man in white coat approach us from down the corridor.

He’s in his late fifties I reckon and he gave Xuehua a nod as he came closer.

When he knelt down, I could see him checking Xuehua out, shaking his head slightly.

He looked at her, starting from the bottom of her legs to her head. His hands reached out and touched her gently on her head.



Xuehua : Hi… Dr Cheong….

Cheong : You’ve grown prettier….big girl already….

Xuehua smiled.

Cheong : It’s been so many years since I last saw you….

Xuehua : it has… I’m… I’m sorry I didn’t come visit….

Cheong : that is suppose to be a good thing isn’t it…. Never a good thing to visit your doctor…

Xuehua laughed.



Cheong : and who do we have here… ?

Xuehua : Dr Cheong… meet Jeff….. he’s my boyfriend…

Cheong : Hi Jeff…. You look terrible….

Xuehua : We just tried to kill each other today….

There was a moment of silence before Cheong immediately lightened up the mood with a well-timed joke.

Cheong : I can heal the body, that’s covered under the company……….. matters of the heart is a separate charge…..

Xuehua smiled and she tried to stand back up. Cheong offered me a hand and I took it.


Despite his age, I could feel the firmness in his grip as he pulled me off the floor.

Cheong led us to his clinic. Set under the warehouse, Xuehua told me that the location has been actively in used for close to 40 years. Ron inherited it from someone else and he struck a deal with the operator of the warehouse.

No questions asked. Just money changing hands.
The warehouse operator will not bother what is going on in the basement. At the same time, they provided the perimeter security and keep people from poking around.

The heavily tattooed men shaking their legs and eye balling passer-by at the main gate works better than a commercial security guard.
The word is that the site belonged to some local triads that Ron works with.

Jeff : triads ?



Xuehua : It used to be a big group… but over the years it has splintered into many factions…..without a unifying leader… it’s a far cry from it’s former glory…now they just focus on earning money….

Jeff : I never thought they would still exist in today’s day and age…

Cheong asked Xuehua and I to undress and I felt a tinge of jealousy when I realised Xuehua had to undress in front of another man. As we pulled off tops and our vests, the extend of our injuries made Dr Cheong shake his head.

I could see the large bruises underneath the black sports bra she was wearing.

From torsos, to forearms, to shoulders and our backs. There is hardly a spot without a bruise or a scratch. Even our legs, thighs and calves were not spared the swollen reddish and purple plague of bruises.

Cheong made us take a few xrays and we waited in a small lounge.
It was sparsely furnished, a couple of old sofas with a modern looking fridge that looked totally out of place.



Xuehua and I finished a whole 1.5 litres of water each and I opened a packet of almonds to share.
There’s a lot to talk about between us but neither of us know where to start.

Xuehua : How long … have you been working for Owen…. ?

Jeff : 10 years… give and take… I don’t know…right around my enlistment period I think … how long have you worked for Ron ?

Xuehua drew her legs up and hugged them, bringing her chin to her knees.



Xuehua : Since I was 10 i think.... i don't remember.....

Jeff : What ?!!! you’re shitting me… 10 ?

Xuehua : My parents…. They passed on…. And I was…I was adopted…by my dad’s cousin…..back then….

Jeff : Eddy ?

Xuehua : no… I have no blood relation with Eddy… but he’s the closest person to being a father to me…. My dad’s cousin,…he took me in…. but things didn’t work out…

Jeff : what happened ?



Xuehua : he raped me…

I dropped the packet of almonds on the floor as I watch a drop of tear roll down Xuehua’s cheek.

Jeff : what…



Xuehua : Not only did he raped me….. he got his friends….to…. to do the same…

Jeff : you’re 10….

Xuehua nodded.

I could feel the pick up in my heart rate as I suppressed a animal like growl in my stomach.



Jeff : where are they now… ?

Xuehua chuckled before looking up at me.

Xuehua : I killed my dad’s cousin….i hit his head in with a hammer…. I hit him again and again until his face caved in…..

I got out of my seat and went over to Xuehua. I hugged her and tears continued to flow from her eyes.



Xuehua : I would have kill the rest… but I was just a little girl… I was over powered…. They beat me….and they raped me again….. I wanted to die…I wished I was dead…

I kissed Xuehua on her head and held onto her.



Jeff : It’s all in the past…. It’s all in the past….

Xuehua : Eddy….. finally found me after a few months…. He was my dad’s sworn brother….

Jeff : he saved you…..

Xuehua : He did…. He came with Ron…. And he killed everyone… with his bare hands….sobzz…

Xuehua broke down in my arms and I squeezed my eyes shut tightly. In that moment, I realised we are all broken in one way or another.

If we are not broken, we will not be doing what we do.

Xuehua : i….i tried to kill myself…. I wanted to cut myself…the pain… I just didn’t want it anymore….sobzz… Eddy…..Eddy knelt down and begged me not to….that was the 1st and last time I saw him cry….

Xuehua told me that Eddy blamed himself for being late, he should have found Xuehua earlier.



Xuehua : Ron, cleaned up the scene and covered everything up….and….and I …. I started working for him….

Jeff : oh my god…

Xuehua : I told Ron I never….ever want to feel weak and vulnerable…. Ever again…. That I will do anything…. To make sure no one can hurt me…

Xuehua sniffed and wiped off her tears with the back of her hand, and she chuckled, looking a little embarrassed.

Xuehua : I’m sorry…. I got a little too emotional…. You ok ?..

I nodded.

Jeff : I will be….



We were left alone for a while before Cheong came into the room with a tablet.

Cheong : ok… thankfully… no broken or cracked ribs…. The bruising will take a while to heal though….your bodies took a beating but otherwise…. Both of you are in great shape…. Painkillers….. something to help you sleep… some cream for the cuts….anything else you guys need ?

We shook our head.



Cheong : room 5B is all yours…Ron asks me to pass along a message…. Meeting at 8am…. This gives you….4 hours to catch some quick winks…

Xuehua and I walked almost naked towards the room assigned to us. She was just wearing her black sports bra and I’m in my boxers. No one bat an eyelid when they walk past us.

Xuehua and I showered together in the attached bath. It only comes with cold water and we shared whatever warmth our battered bodies could afford to spare. We kissed, we fondled with each other’s body.

By the time we dried ourselves, we were groaning in pain as we made our way to the bed.

Every position we wanted to adopt came with it’s fair share of pain. I wanted to fuck to numb my mind. Xuehua wanted the same thing but it was too painful for us.

Xuehua :argnnhhh !! god… it hurts…

Jeff : arghhh !! ouch… arguuhh… fuck…



We ended up laughing with Xuehua straddling me. My erected cock entered her vagina and I could feel that familiar gasp of her breathe on my face.

We kissed for a very long time, breathing into each other’s face.

Jeff : I love you dear… I’m sorry… I didn’t know…

Xuehua smile as she caressed my face.

Xuehua : I’m sorry… I didn’t know too…

We kissed for a while longer before Xuehua said she was only brought in onto this situation recently. She sort of recognised Owen from his past visits to the café but she did not know who he is.

Xuehua : I know you work for him…. But… not in this capacity….you… you just don’t look like….

Jeff : don’t look like what ??

Xuehua : hahaha… you don’t look like someone who can do what you can do… haha



I tried to tickle Xuehua but the pain in my arms made my movements slow. Xuehua caught hold of both my wrist and pinned them down above my head and I could feel the squeeze of her vagina walls.

Jeff : ernghhhhhh!!! Ohhh… I didn’t know you are into this… holding me down like that.

Xuehua ; hahhaa….i believe I’ve let you hold me down in more ways imaginable the past few weeks… ahhaa..

Jeff : ernnang…arghhh

Xuehua : erngh… ernhhh….

The gyrating of our bodies lasted less than a minute as Xuehua and I are more satisfied by the touch of our bodies than the thrusting of my cock into her vagina.

[ilikeoldchangke]

Looking at Xuehua in her eyes, I told her I still can’t believe how madly in love I am with her.

Xuehua : Even knowing what I can do to you in your sleep ? hahaha

Jeff : haha… especially…. Knowing what you can do to me in my sleep…

Xuehua : I think I’m madly in love with you too….. Hibiki….



She whispered softly like a seductive siren by my ears as she chuckled.

I could feel the wetness of her tongue in my ear as it slowly drags down the side of my neck.

Then I felt it.

It came without warning.

The tongue stud felt different.

It was then I realised what that stud is hiding all this while.



I froze as I felt that sharp blade on my neck running dangerously close to my artery.

I felt more aroused than ever, my cock getting so hard that I could feel Xuehua’s vagina squirming as her love hole tried to accommodate me.

When she finally got to my lips, the blade is gone, in it’s place is once again that teasing metal stud that made my knees go weak everytime she employs it on my cock.



Jeff : i…. don’t know what to say…..

Xuehua smiled and we kissed again.

When she pulled back , she gave me the sweetest smile ever and she said to me in such a soft soothing voice. It was almost like a coo you use on a baby but there is no hiding the seriousness of her statement.



It was a warning.

A warning that made me want her even more than ever.

Xuehua : If you ever cheat on me…… don’t let me find you…

Jeff : hahahhaa…

I laughed and I hugged onto Xuehua tightly rolling over so that I’m on top.

I blocked off everything in my head, I mentally shut down all the pain and so did Xuehua.

We fucked.

Amidst groans of pain came moans of pleasure.



I remembered I came raw inside Xuehua, depositing my semen deep inside her vagina as her legs griped tightly onto my back.

We felt asleep naked.

I don’t know what time it was but there was that constant knocking on the door.

I had to crawl out of bed with a splitting headache.

When I opened the door, I saw Ron and his men looking at us impatiently.

Ron : get some fucking clothes on….



I could not be bothered with myself and I walked with my cock dangling towards Xuehua. I covered her with a old looking gown before shaking her awake. She woke with a jump and her right hand went straight for my neck, clamping down before I could say anything.

Almost immediately, she regained her composure and apologised.

Xuehua saw the gathering of men outside the room and quickly got dressed while I threw on some old ill fitting pants from the cupboard.

Ron and his men did not wait for us to get ready, they were already in the room and they made themselves at home, sitting and settling down on whatever surfaces they could manage.

I could see their bloodshot eyes. They no longer mask their faces. It’s obvious none of them had any sleep.



Ron : We have to get the evidence from the office……Owen knows what we want… that building will be heavily guarded…. Let’s not forget there will be other civilians in that building as well. ….

Ron’s plan was for Xuehua to stake out the office surrounding in a couple of days time.

Ron : the bruises on your face should heal a little by then, allowing for easier cover with makeup…. You will be our eyes on the inside….. no one knows who you are….

Jeff : No.. it’s too dangerous for her….

Ron : Shut up… I make the plans… not you….

Ron turned to Xuehua, ignoring me totally.



Ron : You’re sleeping with him…. I hope you know what that means…. If he sells us out…. You will be the one to kill him….

Xuehua : Ron stop it…. Don’t say things like that…. Jeff isn’t that kind of people…. Owen killed his father for god sake….

Ron : As far as I’m concern… he is your responsibility …. Did you get anything out of him last night….? Besides the contents of his testicles…

Xuehua grabbed the table lamp and sent it towards Ron but his men caught it without hardly batting an eyelid and put it aside.



Xuehua : you can be such an ass sometimes… !!

Ron took a deep breath, aware that he might have gone a little overboard.


Ron : Owen will be busy… trying to cover up the mess from last night for the next few days…. He lost many good men too….we have a bit of time….

Ron got up and pointed at me with his walking stick.

Ron : I’m only going to ask this once….look at me in the eye and answer me…. Are you going to stop Owen …. ?

I nodded.

Jeff : Yes… whatever it takes…

Ron kept his gaze on me for a while trying to get a read on me. After he was satisfied that I was telling the truth, he nodded his head.

Ron : good….

Ron started to lay out the plan for us.



Ron : There will be questions for Xuehua when she goes back to the café…. If Owen’s people know you guys are dating, you can be sure Owen does too…. Jeff is dead…. As far as the rest of the world is concerned….. everyone will want to know how you are dealing with a missing boyfriend….

Xuehua will resume her daily routine. Owen no doubt will increase the number of people he has guarding the office after this incident. There is no way we can safely get in and out without suffering heavy causalities on both sides.

Ron : We lay low for a while….and I will be making sure Owen stays busy…Owen is aware we know something…. He knows his plan will be compromised if he does not change them…. My take is he will be changing his plans , his hit locations and probably the place he is housing his private army as well….

Ron’s plan is to keep Owen busy by stretching his resources thin.

Ron : I know the kind of jobs Owen has to undertake…. The kind that gets thrown to him…. I’m going to stretch him thin on all fronts….this is the only way….. once I’m sure his resources are stretched…. We will make our move…

Jeff : How long will this take ? a week ? two ?



Ron : No… a month… maybe two ??

Jeff : What ?

Ron : I will not send…. My men….. nor Jane… to their deaths….. storming a fortress that is filled with Owen’s men….we will do it covertly….

Jeff : What do I do in the meantime ??!! play dead ??!!!



Ron gave me a look before turning to look at Xuehua.

Ron : maybe try to be get better…. So you don’t get beaten up by your girlfriend…

Jeff : You !

Xuehua gave an irritated ‘Tsk’ at Ron and held me back.

Ron : I will be thinning out the occupants of the building in the meantime… as many as I can manage… companies not associated with Owen will be made to move…. One way or the other…. Owen cannot keep an army at the office indefinitely….

Xuehua : What about Aiko ?

Ron pointed to me.

Ron : Jeff will stay here…. Aiko’s safety is his responsibility ….

Jeff : what about you… ?



Ron : I’m leaving after this…. I will run this Operation remotely ….

Jeff : wow… you’re serious…

Ron : one day… perhaps you would get the chance to see everything from another perspective….that Owen is just another small problem in a big fucked up world….

Ron asked to speak with Xuehua in private and they left the room.

I turned to the closest man standing behind him. He was trying hard to stay awake.

I could not help but notice his weapon. There is something amiss about it.

There’s a large claw like scratch cutting diagonally across the butt of the weapon. The scratch even cut into the metallic part of the weapon housing.

He saw me looking and he swung his weapon behind his back. I turned my attention to his uniform. There were no names, nothing to identify him but there are 4 hydra like symbol etched to his collar.



It’s round with 4 serpent like lines stretching outwards all contained within a small circumference of a 20 cent coin.

Jeff : what is that ?

He stood up and walked out of the room, ignoring my question totally.

That really made me draw a conclusion of sort with the prerequisites Ron is looking for if you want to work for him.

Have a fucking attitude problem.

Xuehua returned to the room 10 minutes later and Ron left with his men.

Jeff : Everything ok ??


Xuehua : yeah….

Jeff : What’s going to happen now… ?

Xuehua : We have to bid our time….wait for Owen to let his guard down…. It’s the only thing we can do…

I nodded.

Xuehua : you have to stay here…..


Jeff : I know… what about you ?

Xuehua : I’ll be here…. At least for the next few days… hahah…




…………………………………………………………………………………..

Whenever I had time to allow my mind to wander, I would think of what Ron said. What he told me. I read the recruitment brief several times, it was all there. Written and signed off by Owen himself.

I’ve had a few good days of rest spending time with just Xuehua. We fucked so many times that I was doubtful the bruises on our body would ever recover but it did get better.



4 days after the incident she’s gone, leaving me all alone at the stall.

We have our story ready. Xuehua would be contacting Billy asking for my whereabouts. That I stood her up on a date a few days ago and she hasn’t been able to contact me since.

She was busy preparing for some art exhibition the past few days and there’s absolutely no word from me.

I could not help thinking about Billy and Belinda. Whose side are they on ?

If Owen goes to the trouble to lie to us, there’s a high chance he’s keeping them in the dark as well. Well, the way I see it, base on the scale of the operation he is planning, there’s no way he’s doing it on his own.



He will definitely have someone on the inside helping him with various aspects of the planning.

Probably someone lower down the hierarchy. I’m pretty sure he did not tell any of his top 5 operators. I doubt any of my past colleagues is that sick to start blowing up schools. If only their ego did not get better of them, they would still be alive.

No. If it wasn’t for Owen, they would still be alive.

He knew from the start Aiko had help, he just didn’t know from who but he knew. He knew she had help from someone who was good enough to kill an operator of his. That was why he sent in all of us.

He went all in and lost.



I asked around the compound for access to the internet and there was only one terminal available that is secured enough for me to use. Even then it was to be supervised.



I had to tell the staff the site I wanted to go and what I’m looking for. I was not allowed to even touch the terminal.

It was more of a formality. The staff attending to me is close to 50 years old. He typed at the speed of a snail .

[ilikeoldchangke]

When he logged into the surveillance system I had set up for my house, I was surprised to see an empty shell. My house has been cleared out.

Not even a piece of furniture remain.



I directed him to go back in time as I scanned through the archives for the past few days.

We paused when I saw Owen entering my place at 3am in the morning. He walked around my place, looking at the things in the house.

I don’t know what to feel. I don’t know what to think. Anger. Disappointment. Sadness. Regret. I don’t know.

Owen paced about for a few minutes before grabbing a bottle of whisky from my shelf.

He poured 2 glasses, presumably 1 for me.

I could see his lips were moving. He’s talking, he’s saying something but I have no audio for the footage. I never thought it was necessary.

5 minutes later, he touched my glass and finished his drink then he left.

At 8am on the day of that footage, a team came in and started clearing out my stuff.



I directed the staff to switch to another camera. One I had trained on my front door from opposite my flat.


Owen’s men stripped my place clean.

Cold and surgical, that flat is now a resource that I no longer need from his perspective.

I thanked the staff for his help and told him I’m done.

I walked around the perimeter of the warehouse everyday, there was nothing much I could do.

Eventually I settled down into a routine.

I wake up and I would join Aiko and her daughter Miki for breakfast.
They are very shy and reserved.

They hardly spoke. No matter how I try to engage them, they would just nod shyly and avoided extended conversation.

I don’t blame them.



Imagine being told the man that was initially sent to kill you is now protecting you and your daughter. That’s a pretty fuck up thing to say to a pregnant mother. I gave them space, the only time we meet everyday are during meal times.

All the staff within the small facility eat together at a small canteen.
It was a whole week before Aiko finally allowed me to help her with their dishes after the meal.

2 weeks later, Aiko trust me enough to let me read to her daughter.

Just a short reading session, but I enjoyed it. It helps take my mind of things.



I could only keep in touch with Xuehua via a landline. She would call every alternate nights at 11pm.

Security at office building has been beefed up several notches. With so many additional people, the business at the café is buzzing.

Xuehua : we sold out at 3pm… can you believe that ?

Jeff : well… Eddy must be happy…

Xuehua : he’s not… he’s fucking cursing because it’s so hectic…. Hahaha

I laughed as I played with the cord of the old phone. I felt as if I had travelled back in time. Having to speak with some high school crush on the phone, tethered to the device by that black cord.



Jeff : Eddy……

Xuehua : yeah ?

Jeff : He’s one of the 4 pillars….. isn’t he….

Xuehua laughed.

Xuehua : are you more afraid of him now ? haha



Jeff : hahaha… I’ve always been afraid of him… haha

Xuehua : your girlfriend is Jane… what’s there to be afraid of ? ….

We would end our phone banter at 11.30pm before I go for my run. I can’t leave the compound, but that doesn’t mean I can’t work out. The warehouse sits on a pretty big piece of land. It’s about 80m in length and 30m across.

With a clear perimeter around all sides, it gave me all the space I needed to get my heart pumping. I did 60 rounds every night before I sleep.

It was during this period I got acquainted with the people that ran the warehouse.

The tattooed men with blonde hair, all of them are chain smokers.
They watched in amusement from their small table where they drank their beer when I ran.

I heard one of them commented I was probably crazy.

Far from it actually.



I know my body, I need to get better, faster than I already am.

I know we’re going to the office and I’m sure Owen will be ready for us.

I’m not worried about myself, I’m worried about dragging a heavily pregnant Aiko with me.



How the fuck am I going to do that ?

Would she be covered in blood by the time we get to the office floor ?
It would be a traumatic experience for her if she had to see people die along the way up.

I found a old piece of wood to practice my knife work at the back of the warehouse. The only way I would allow myself to fall asleep every night is from exhaustion.


30th Sep 2013

It’s been more than a month since the night at the school.
Xuehua visited twice in the dead of the night before leaving right before the sun comes up.

The security at the office is still tight, there’s a drop in the number of men posted there but it’s still much higher than normal.

Ron is true to his word. Xuehua told me that 4 companies vacated their office that month.

I wonder what he did.

Owen is kept busy by Ron. He has his bag of tricks that he can employ.

A group of hackers are wreaking havoc in the country, hitting government linked sites and shopping malls. It’s Ron’s doing no doubt.



Owen has his men chasing blind leads that Ron had set up. They would not find anything. Eventually a few fall guys would take the blame so an answer could be given to the public.


31st October 2013



I lost 4kg and I look like a damm hippy with the mop of hair on my head.

It’s been more than 2 months since I had a haircut.


I found new joy being cooped up within the compound with a new friend.

A middle age man. Uncle Ben.

He saw me playing with my knife one night and he walked over with a swagger.

I will never forget the manner he spoke. He reminded me so much of a Hong Kong actor, with his slick hair and gangster like demeanour.

I saw him approaching and I was immediately on guard.

Not only is he walking towards me slowly. He had something in his hands.



He was holding onto 2 metal pole.

Uncle Ben : Xiao Peng You !!!! ( Young man ! ) …..

I looked at him, unsure of what he wanted.

He pointed at me with a metal pole of his.

Uncle Ben : Playing with that piece of wood… you will never get better… whahahahahahahhaha….

His laughter was cut short by his sudden lunge towards me.

He’s fast, and he’s unpredictable. His swings, the way he handled the makeshift weapon. You could tell this is someone who grew up in the streets.

He fought his way up in the streets literally.

I blocked off his initial strikes and by the 3rd time I ducked his swing , I could feel the rush of adrenaline in my body. He moves differently. He counters my attempt to tackle him down in a different way too.



The way of the streets. There are no proper locks or submission with Uncle Ben. He just fucking know where it hurts most.

Just when I thought I had him his hands grabbed onto my head and I felt his thumb sink into the soft side of my temple by my right eye. The pain was instantaneous, I dropped my guard and the next thing I knew, I was sent sprawling onto the ground on my back.

Uncle Ben : hahahahahahaha…. Hwhahahahaha….. again …. !! again !!! whahahhaah….

I have never felt so excited in a long time.

That was the first night with Uncle Ben and it will not be the last.

Once a week, Uncle Ben will join me at the back of the warehouse.

He fights dirty, he bites, he claws and he hit below the belt. He even stormed on my feet, he dug the heel of his shoes into my ankles.

Instead of hard hitting jabs to vital organs, Uncle Ben taught me how to inflict pain on different scale. It does not matter how you hit or how much it hurts, as long as it gives you an advantage over your opponent.



November 2013



Ron was wrong when he thought he could effectively thin out the people at the office to the point it would be easy on us.

Owen had more resources than anyone imagined.

He now has metal detector set up at the entrances of the office.

The side entrances are sealed off on pretext of upgrading works. The only way in are through the front door and the loading/unloading bay or carpark.

Xuehua told me there are a lot more security guards now but they are not from the same company engaged by the company’s management.

They are a mix of Indians and Japanese.

Xuehua : Ah Leng is pretty happy though…. With so many people,… he hardly needs to do anything…. Just watch his hong kong drama on tablet everyday….

Ron made an unexpected visit in November.



20th November 2013
10.20am



Aiko has given birth early to a boy earlier that day.

Dr Cheong delivered the baby within his clinic and no one expected Ron to visit.

After a cursory visit to Aiko and her child, Ron gathered everyone in the dining area for a meeting.

This includes all support staff, even Dr Cheong.

Ron : I’ll go straight to the point….

I could see Ron looking better than the last time I saw him. He was no longer using his walking stick. His voice got better too and there’s no hiding the renew vigour in his eyes.

Ron : I’ve kept Owen pretty busy the past couple of months…. My men… those that I can spare …. Have been trying to prod at the office every now and then….. the security arrangement currently is at it’s lowest….. it’s time for us to act….

Ron paused and searched the room for Aiko. She was sitting on a wheelchair and holding onto her newborn son.

Ron : My men will create a diversion…. At the perimeter of the site…. We are going to seal off the entire neighbourhood……
Jeff : How is that possible ?

Ron : We just need to set things in motion….. Owen will take care of the rest…

Jeff : What do you mean ?

Ron : We have a very short window of opportunity…. Once Owen knows we are there… he will respond immediately…. He will know the temporarily chaos is a diversion… our target is still the office…..

Ron told us that we can expect Owen to close off the entire district.

Ron : He will not let us leave….not with the evidence…. If I were him…. I will bring all public transport to a standstill…..cut off the flow of people in and out of the neighbourhood…..

Ron’s men put up a large map with multiple highlights of the neighbourhood surrounding the office on the notice board.

Ron : We’re right smack in the centre….Hastings road, Campbell Lane….Dunlop street… right up to Dickson road…where the junction meets at Serangoon road…. All these will be sealed off….

Ron took a yellow highlighter and cut across the map to bring attention to the junction he just mentioned.



Ron : On the other end,…. Where the streets meet Perak Road… you can be sure these will be sealed as well…. Our way out… will be by the star shaped junction where multiple roads meet… over here…..

Everyone looked at the unique shape of that cross junction Ron was talking about.

[ilikeoldchangke]

Shaped like a star fish extending it’s reach into the heart of Little India, 5 different streets converge at that point.

Ron : Head to the carpet shop over here…. You can cut through the shophouse to the exit at the back…….where the open air carpark is….Vehicular movements will be near impossible…. But I will have men stationed there to cut off anyone that may be in pursuit….




Ron used a different coloured marker and drew a line towards the HDB estate bordering Little India. The block where Xuehua is staying.

Ron : cut through the estate….. and get to the Rochor river Canal…. A boat will be waiting …. It will be the only way out of the city…. Questions….

I put up my hand immediately.

Jeff : How do you expect Aiko to do this ? She just gave birth….

Ron : Aiko’s job does not involve any heavy lifting…. You just need to get her to the terminal…. And get the evidence….

Jeff : how do you expect her to run out of this mess in her state ??

Ron : don’t underestimate what a determined woman can do….. Aiko ?

All eyes turned to her who was cradling her son close to her chest. Miki was holding onto her mother’s hand.
She spoke in a weak and accented English.



Aiko : yes…. For my husband… I can do this….


Ron nodded his head and looked to Jane and me.

Ron : Jane and you…. Has a good lay of the ground….the 2 of you will bring Aiko in….i’ll leave it to you 2 to find the best way to do it…..

I felt a skip in my heart as it dawned on me that it’s going to just be the 2 of us.

Ron : We will strike on a Sunday…. The office will have minimum occupants….

Ron planned to broadcast the evidence he has currently to all company employees a few days before we hit the office. Not only is he sending the evidence out, he planned to announce our intention.

Ron : it might sound crazy….. , but I’m hoping the smart ones will be able to see what is going on…..I hope it would make some of them think twice about stopping us.

Jeff : this is madness….



Ron : exactly…. And we’ll need someone crazy enough to pull it off….

I turned to look at Xuehua.

She had turned a chair around with it’s backrest facing forward. She sat with her legs open and arms resting on the top of the backrest.

She gave me a smile that turned to a chuckle.

Ron : I have limited resources….but I will do what I can to keep Owen’s men at the perimeter as long as I can….

Jeff : what if they are already within the perimeter itself.

Ron : Then you’re fucked…

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..




I went back to my room with Xuehua after Ron’s briefing.

I saw Xuehua pulling a trolley behind her as we walk down the corridor.

It’s been a while since I saw her and I know we’re definitely going to fuck.

Ron has set the date on 8th December. That’s about 3 weeks away.

It would give him enough time to get things ready and for Aiko to recover a little after her delivery.

Jeff : What’s inside that trolley ?

Xuehua : I made something for you…

Jeff : Really ? … like a… birthday card or something ? … a painting… ?

Xuehua : hahaha…. No…

We shut the door and we kissed immediately.

Xuehua : I missed you….



Jeff : I missed you too…

She pulled herself out of my embrace and brought the trolley case up onto the table.

When the zip was removed and the trolley opened up, I froze.

I was at a lost for words.



Jeff : What… the…what… the fuck….

Xuehua : tsk…. Can’t you say something nice…. I made it for you…

She gave me a playful kick as my hands touched the mask inside the trolley.

It’s a set.

It looked amazing.

Sitting beside Jane’s mask is another.

The curves and lines are a lot more masculine. The jaw lines are more defined. Where Jane’s mask had 2 spikes on the top, mine had none.



I do not have glowing slits for the eye sockets, mine isn’t sewn shut.

The entire construct is just a different texture and gradient of black.

It’s sleek, the eye shape with the expressionless face reminded me of the mask a mime wears. It’s terrifying the longer you look at it.

Jeff : wow….i…I’m speechless….

Xuehua : well…. I don’t think you’re a couple t-shirt kind of guy anyway…. So… hahaha… I made this for you….

Jeff : It’s…it’s amazing…. I love it…thank you…

Xuehua laughed as she asked me to try it on.



I grabbed her towards me and she screamed.

Xuehua : no !! NO!... no!! no way !!.. NO!! arghh.. ernghh !!!

She tried to struggle but I pinned her to the bed effortlessly.

Jeff : why are you pretending to struggle….? Haha

I knew if she really wanted to refuse, she could easily get out of my grip of she wanted to.

Xuehua : Because…… I know you like it….. Hi…..bi…. ki……


She said my call sign out softly like the purr of a seductive kitten. Xuehua chuckled as I removed my clothes.



Jeff : when we fuck…… call me Jeff….



She laughed and the rest is history.



………………………………………………………………………………………………….



8th December 2013
Sunday


7am

It was the first time I left the compound in almost 4 months.

And I knew the first place I wanted to go.

Chinatown.

Xuehua had rented a car. I told her I needed to pick up some kit and I drove us to the pawn shop in Chinatown.

It was too early and the door has yet to open but I know they are operational 24 hours a day if I need to get something.



I knocked on the door and looked up at the camera.

10 seconds later the heavy wooden door opened and I could see the staff giving me a nod. His eyes immediately went over to Xuehua.

Jeff : She’s with me….

He said nothing and shut the door behind me.

I could smell the aroma of spices being pounded a few steps away. Stepping into the courtyard I tried to do a mental inventory of what I have. No guns, they make too much noise and we are in the middle of a dense residential and commercial estate.

A stray round could be fatal on passerbys.



Jeff : Don’t talk to anyone…. Don’t touch anything… I’ll just be a minute….

Xuehua : orh…

I entered the courtyard and I was greeted with the familiar sight. It never changed.

The boss is still there playing with his bird.


Someone walking towards him with tea.

There are men huddled in the corner as I walk towards the waiting attendant.

I got to the attendant and waited for him to unlock the door to my locker.

He didn’t move.

He was looking past me.

Jeff : errr…. Are you going to open the door ?

The attendant stepped past me and paused.



When I turned, I felt as if time had stopped in the courtyard.

The old ladies stopped pounding chilli.


The huddled men in the corner stopped talking.

The boss stopped playing with his bird.

Jeff : what the fuck…

Everyone, and I meant everyone in the courtyard looked at Xuehua.

The boss got up off his seat and walked slowly towards my girl. He had a shocked expression on his face.



It’s like he could not believe what he was seeing.

Boss : you… you came back…

Xuehua : hi Uncle Yeo….

My Jaw dropped an inch as I watch the boss embraced Xuehua as he burst into tears.

Boss : I always knew you will be back….

The rest of the staff bowed, and I looked on in sheer astonishment. If there is an overwhelming aura that is to be felt within the courtyard, it’s one of respect.

The respect the older people are giving to Xuehua.

They exited the courtyard without a word as Xuehua smiled at them. Even the attendant left after unlocking the door for me to access my cabinet.

Jeff : fuck me….



I felt like jumping inside a hole as I watch the boss personally unlock the biggest storage unit his facility offered. The door right behind his seat.

Boss : my family owes you a debt…. We can never repay…

Xuehua : don’t say that Uncle Yeo…. That’s all in the past.

I can’t bring myself to look at this. There is nothing left of my ego after this episode.

I opened my cupboard and grabbed my knife.
A situation like this calls for both of them and having spend some time with Uncle Ben.

I started to fall in love with wielding both at the same time.

Clothes, boots, socks, cash, I had everything.

I changed on the spot, throwing aside the old clothes I brought along from the warehouse. Xuehua had gone inside her storage facility. An entire fucking room.


After I was done, I sharpened the edges of my knife on a grinding stone.

I adjusted the sheaths behind my belt and got acquainted with the weight of the knives behind me. My hands reached back and I could easily touch the reassuring grip of my weapon.



I threw on a jacket with a attached hoodie and I was good to go.

Moments later, I saw Xuehua exit her storage room. She’s dressed totally in black with matching boots. The tapered and figure hugging pants accentuated her sexy legs and beneath that windbreaker at the small of her back, I have no doubt she has her hudiedao tucked away.

Those were not the only things she carried. In her right hand held a massive cleaver. Almost 1.5 times the size that butcher wielded.