Downtown, Republic City 168 AG.

Fong Sho, emerged from the small end-terrace house where he still lived with his only sister and stared up the high street in the dark rainy night, streetlights are dimed. Impossible to see at night, especially he could hear the transportation nearby where the railroads. He pulled a packet of cigars from his trousers and lit up. It had rained all day and was still falling. The Central City Station was closed due to weather; possibly the radio mentioned about the incoming storm?

Fong had been unemployed since leaving school two years ago, but the old good days of lacking on the dole was over. The Council was cracking down on the long-term unemployed and Fong now had to work full-time for his dole. He'd been given a fairly cushy work placement as a waiter at the Kwong's Cuisine, just a fifteen-minute walk from his house. He'd wanted to stop home this morning like everyone else. Waiting for any letter or phone call, but he'd heard nothing from other jobs that he'd applied and interviewed. In the blazing row that had followed, his sister works twice as hard than Fong and she got a better job as an engineer at the Future Industries. Her pay is great too. His sister had said if he didn't show up, his dole would be stopped, and he'd have to find somewhere else to live.

There was a bang on the front window and his sister's pinched face appeared, shooing him away. He gave her the finger and set out in the rain to work.

Three pretty teenage girls were coming towards him. They wore blues and greens oriental style dresses long Cheongsam short sleeve floral Qipao, hair bun up and straight black shoes. Their whole getup was ruined by this raining day, including make-up all smeered. They were holding each other umbrella. They chatted away moaning in their grunting tone about how they'd plan their night. If they had listened to the weather broadcast, they wouldn't be in this situation. Fong vaguely amused.

They crowded the pavement en masse and didn't part when Fong reached them, so he forced to step down off the kerb into a huge puddle. He felt the dirty water seep into his working shoes and shot them a dirty look, but they were distracted in the tribal gossip, screaming whine.

Stuck up bitches, he thought. As he reached at Kwong's Cuisine back door and the sign says Employees Only.

Fong spent time on his induction day with his employer around the restaurant. The inside stands four stories tall and exhibits highly extravagant exterior. The building's design mimics various traditional structural styles, including that of a temple and pagoda, though it also encourages more modern influences as a symbol of Republic City's multinational culture. A wide green door on the ground floor is used as the main entrance into the eatery and is bordered on both sides by two large panes of glass.

Luckily he'd had his uniform ready to collect from his employer and, informs Fong that he will receive a free lunch, and start getting ready his first shift starts in half an hour.


Seven hours later

Fong had finish his shift at eleven, he'd started getting feet ached, but worth rewarding and he enjoys it too. He starts to collect his belongings and he's getting paid every Friday. The employer and colleague were very pleased with Fong. Hopefully, he would ask his sister about reconsidering of staying with her for the time being. When he finds a decent flat, so he won't bother her anymore. While his collecting umbrella, he bids farewell to his colleagues and shut the door behind them.

Luckily, the rain has gone less, Fong decides not to use the umbrella, he kept it under his arm and walking path around the dark alleyway. Before he turns through a narrow alleyway, he nearly freaked out at the sound of a black cat squeal out of the garbage bins tumbled to the side with all the bits is rolling the floor. Unpleasant sight and foul smell gave out too. His stomach was about to churn, yet he had a free lunch. He quickly moves along and was about to bolt out the alleyway, when a noise broke the silence. It was small and distance, coming from the direction of the opposite of the dark alleyway.

Hello? he shouted, his voice emerging low-pitched. It was only when the noise ceased and seconds later began to repeat, that Fong thought it was sounded more like a man and human voice too. Unfortunately, he had no torch, so he would rely on the moonlight from the patchy rain clouds, and the alleyway was too dark. Putting his left-hand on wet wall for support, fearing he would not break a fall in some shady alley.

Fong can hear it and sounded like someone in pain and heavily panting, but he is getting there close. His eyes twitched. He could see the man on the corner, laying on puddled floor. His stomach was faced-down and saying "What did you...do to me?!" The man agony man was speaking to someone, but whom?

Fong was confused at first, he'd decides to help the man, but halted. He could see a figure emerging from the dark, standing before the man on the floor and grueling in pain. Fong hid himself against the wall and he was completely transfixed at the dark figure, whose stepping out slowly like a predator from the shadows.

His heart racing, he slowly turning back from way he came and gently.

"I can-I can't bend..." he slowly lift his head from the wet ground. Fear began to trickle through his body. He couldn't move, his whole body was paralyzed.

The figure place a thin plastic strip encircling his wrists, pulling them tight behind his back, grunting in pain. The figure shifted down his body, quick and lithe, muscular legs now pressing on his tied wrists. The pain in his twisted ankle intensified as thick rope was unfurled with a juddering sound and his ankles were bound together.

A flash a fear gave this poor man a surge of adrenaline, sharpening his mind. "Please don't hurt me and I'll pay you...Please!" he begged. "I swear-I'll won't tell anyone!"

But the figure shifted round, knees now on his back, forcing the air out of him. A shadow moved in the corner of his eye, and something hard and heavy came down on the back of his head. Fresh pain and stars burst in front of his eyes. The arm rose and again came crashing down and then everything went black.

Fong stood there frozen in fear, holding his breath, unwilling to move or run. The figure hadn't notice Fong, but leaves the scene. Fong cautiously steps out from his hiding place. The dark alleyway remained silent and empty as the first specks of rain drops began to stop. He silently kneel down at motionless body. He lay for a moment, stunned. Then he heard a faint squeaking sound. Panicking, he jumped, trying to get far away from the dead man as he could, but his legs gives way and break a fall from a broken banana rip. He tumbled over the dead body. He somehow managed to heave himself away to the nearest wall.

All he wanted now was to call for help.