"Do you want to tell me where we're going now?" Lin huffed, irritated after spending hours wandering down side alleys to avoid Dai Li agents. It was almost dark and there was no way they were going to be able to avoid them forever.
"We're almost there, Lin. Don't worry," Kya said, peeking around the corner of the building to make sure the coast was clear. She pointed at an apartment building across the street, "There. I've got some friends who used to live over there. Hopefully they still do."
"You're not even sure if they still live here?" Lin yelled, causing a fruit vendor to glare angrily at them.
"Well, they probably do," Kya answered, running across the street and up the stairs to the top floor of the apartment building. Lin reluctantly followed her.
The building was fairly decrepit for the middle ring. Lin assumed whoever lived here was probably not family friendly company. In front of her, Kya was knocking on the door to the last apartment on the floor.
"I don't know about this, Kya. It's not the best neighborhood," Lin said hesitantly, shifting between her feet and casting nervous glances at the windows of the building. She could swear she saw someone moving the curtains.
"No, no. It's fine. They're good people," Kya said, cupping her hands against the glass to peer through the window. She stumbled backwards as the door opened.
"Kya? Is that really you?"
"Hansuke! It's been so long!" Kya exclaimed, drawing the large man into a hug. He seemed surprised at the contact, but pulled her along into the apartment anyway, "Wait! I want to introduce you to someone."
"Who's this then?" Hansuke asked, folding his arms across his chest. He was intimidatingly muscular, an impression that was reinforced by the fact that he was not wearing a shirt.
"This is my friend Lin. We're kind of in a bit of a tough spot so if we could come in?" Kya said, pushing Hansuke into the apartment and pulling Lin along with them. She pushed the door shut behind her. A lone lamp dimly lit the single room apartment. There was a couch pushed up against one wall and a bed mat on the floor underneath the window. A cat angrily glared at them from the mat. Hansuke gestured for them so sit on the couch.
"A tough spot, eh? What have you done now?"
"Nothing! I don't think… Well, to tell you the truth, I don't really remember," Kya sighed, plopping down on the couch. Lin hesitantly sat down beside her, "There's some Dai Li agents following us-"
"You," Lin interrupted.
"Fine. Me. But she's with me, so they're following us. I'm assuming it's because of something I did the last time I was here, so why don't you tell me about it," she said, gesturing for Hansuke to talk.
"You don't remember?" he laughed, "She doesn't remember."
He nudged Lin's shoulder and squeezed onto the couch beside her. Uncomfortable, Lin shifted on the couch closer to Kya.
"Hansuke. Please."
"You and Jin went exploring in the old prison under Lake Laogai. From what I've gathered, some guards confronted you and told you to get out. But you were… uh… a fair way away from sober… I don't know, Kya… the place ended up flooded. I don't think anyone was hurt. But the Queen probably wasn't too happy with you for flooding her secret underwater compound," Kya at least had the decency to look a little ashamed of this revelation.
"Oh. Well, shit," Kya said.
"That's all you have to say for yourself?" Lin yelled, jumping up off the couch to glare down at the woman who had gotten her into this mess, "This isn't just some misunderstanding, Kya. You destroyed an historical site!"
"Lighten up, Lin. They weren't using it for anything and if they ever did end up using it, it probably would have been for something malicious anyway!" Kya yelled back, standing up and invading Lin's space. Lin threw her hands up and growled at her, turning around and walking towards the other side of the small room.
"Look, just find a way to get us out of this fucking nightmare and then we can go about our separate lives. I'll be outside," Lin snarled, stalking out and slamming the door behind her.
