Chapter 3

Something is Definitely Wrong

After the bell rings, signifying the end of the school day, Zhan Shi De gathers his stuff from his desk, stands up, and calmly walks out into the crowded hall teeming with students eager to start their weekend. He walks through them and stops only when he reaches a classroom that is slightly set apart from the others. Opening the door, Zhan Shi De is assaulted by the smell of various chemicals. Slightly wrinkling his nose, he walks in and quickly spies the teacher completely absorbed in a book. He walks up to the desk where the teacher is sitting in and clears his throat. Startled, the teacher looks up and exclaims in a pleasantly surprised voice as he closes the book. "Zhan Shi De! What brings you to my humble experimental abode?

Smiling at the teacher's sense of humor, Zhan Shi De replies, "I have some good news." Leaning forward, the teacher raises an eyebrow as if to say continue. Handing a piece of paper to the teacher, Zhan Shi De waits for him to read it.

The teacher looks up and asks, "Does this mean…" He leaves the question hanging.

Zhan Shi De replies. "If you still have a need, I can drop my usual study period to be your TA "

"A need…a need? Zhan Shi De!" The teacher exclaims as he burst into a grin. "I'm always completely swamped with work! I'd be delighted to have you as my TA when my class starts."

Zhan Shi De opens the door of his house and goes to step inside when a stab of pain shoots through his head. He looks around and the entryway seems to spin, Clutching at the doorframe, he holds himself up with one hand and presses his other hand against his temple to try to relieve the pain. Crying out as another spasm hits him; he sinks to his knees. A bright light flashes and he sees a brief scene of the student and the locker he helped unlock. Another flash and he sees his father on the phone, yet another flash and he sees the students who he had met at the food stall. Moaning he falls inside the house and starts to violently thrash around. His sight blurs and he passes out.

"Whistling, Dr. James drives into his driveway and parks his car. He gets out, grabs his things, shuts the car door, and locks the car. Turning the corner, that the bushes form, he sees the door to his house wide open. He stops walking and looks around. Seeing nothing, he cautiously starts to walk forward again when he sees a body lying halfway inside the house. Startled, Dr. James drops his stuff, pulls his gun and takes cover behind the bushes. When he deems it safe, he sprints to the house and puts his back to the outside of the house. Taking a deep breath, he glances inside. Seeing and hearing nobody, he steps inside and over the body, crouches down, and feels for a pulse while keeping an eye out for danger. Feeling a pulse, Dr. James glances down and starts. Pulling a shaking hand away, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cell phone and Deals 119* and says in a professional tone "This is Dr. James…yes…I need an ambulance and the police." He explains the situation calmly, gives the dispatcher his address, and hangs up. Hearing clothing rustle, Dr. James looks down to see his son starting to regain consciousness. He puts a hand to still Zhan Shi De's head, fearing a concussion or a broken neck.

Moaning, Zhan Shi De lifts a hand to his head and feels someone else's hand holding it. Unable to focus his eyesight, he can only make out that a grown man is next to him and is holding his head still. He hears the man say something, but he can't hear clearly. Suddenly, Zhan Shi De sees a bunch of figures appear over him and the man is crowded out of his view. He can hear people asking questions, but it is as if he has cotton stuffed in his ears and he cannot make out what they are saying. He feels himself lifted. Becoming more and more aware, Zhan Shi De feels a soft thump, hears a dull double slam, and feels a rumble underneath him. He tries to sit up, but is immediately restrained by a pair of hands. Looking over, he can see clear enough to see the person who is holding him down and to see that the guy is moving his lips. Half-hearing what he says and lip reading the rest, Zhan Shi De makes out the words, "Hold still kid, just hold still and relax. You are going to be fine."

*119 is the emergency contact number in Taiwan.