Chapter 24: Missing
He shook the front gate frantically when no one answered his call for about the past 5 minutes. Looking around to see if there was anybody around he could ask about the whereabouts of the girl living in that particular house at that precise time was shattered when no one bothered to show any interest in the banging and his shout. Finally, making a drastic and unusual action for his own self, he climbed over the gate and went straight to the main door.
Knocking and calling the girl's name, he still didn't get any response. Walking around the house perimeter, looking through the window glass, the result was still the same. No one was in the house. He took out his phone and dialed the girl's number again for the 30th time. This time, he faintly heard the sound of the ringing tone from inside the house. Hoping that someone would pick it up, his hope dropped when he heard the mailbox machine's voice on the other line, indicating there was no answer.
Trying to keep calm and being positive of the situation, he climbed back out of the house ground and got in his silver BMW. Driving around the housing area, he slowed down when ever he saw any girl walking at the sidewalk to take a peek of them, to see whether she was the girl he was looking for. After making rounds for four times and still no sight of her, he went back to the girl's house. Calling and dialing her phone number again and again for two to three minutes, he began to panicked when the result was the same as previous.
Finally, he dialed another number, "Hello, Ah Si, Shan Chai's missing."
~~~*~~~*~~~
Shan Chai woke up in a black room. Finding that she was in an unfamiliar surroundings, she sat up instantly on the bed. She remembered what had happened to her earlier, before she blacked out. Pulling her legs near to her body until her knees touched her breasts; she scanned her surroundings slowly and cautiously. Seeing there were no other people in the same room as her, she began to relax herself.
Getting off from the bed, she walked slowly to the direction she thought was the window, with her hands spreads out-front to feel her surroundings; just in case there would be any furniture around that she might bumped into. Once she was in front of the window, she grabbed the curtain and slid it to the side. It was indeed the window but it was barred and impossible to try and escape through it. Outside was the color of sunset, red and orange. From the scenery, she knew she was now in a house by the seaside.
'I've been out for the whole day, from morning to night. They must have put chloroform on the cloth they clasped on my mouth and nose. Where am I? Who are they? Why do they capture me?' she questioned herself, unable to understand the reason of the whole incident.
Looking away from the window, she turned around and looked at the room she was kept in. It was quite luxurious. A queen size bed, side table and a table lamp, a cupboard and makeup table equipped with comb, powder, mirror and other small things she can't really recognized from the distance. With little light left coming in from the window, she searched for the light switch. She found it at the left side of the window. Switching it on, she gasped.
The room was actually luxurious indeed. The walls were hand painted of the scenery of sakura trees during spring, bloomed with their pink colored flowers. In addition, the ceilings were painted the color of the night sky, full with stars. If she was kidnapped, why does she was put inside this beautiful room. Sitting back on the bed, she can't help to adore the interior of the room. That was when she realized there was a camera at the corner ceiling of the room, opposite the bed, a 14-inch television beside the makeup table and another door at its side. The other one was at the side of the bed, which obviously to her was the entrance door since it was locked.
Walking to the direction of the door, she opened it and inside, it was the most beautiful bathroom she had ever seen. The tiles were light blue and there was also a bath tab and shower. The bathroom, like the room, was equipped with all the things she will need, shampoo, soap, shower gel and others. However, there were no windows in it and gladly, there was no camera as well. Going back to the room and close the bathroom door behind her, she switched on the television and sat on the bed.
Her stomach growled. She was hungry. Looking at the camera, she sat up, walked towards it and stood still. In her mind, she battled whether she should speak out she was hungry or make gestures. Finally, she decided to do both. Saying out loud and making eating gesture, she asked for food, politely.
They understood her when not long after that, there was a knock on her door and it opened up with one of the big man she saw came out of the car that morning, holding on to a tray. Looking up at the man, she took the tray and before she could ask anything, he shut the door and locked it again.
Sighing, she placed the tray on the bed. Sitting down, she opened it up and saw a bowl of rice with cooked vegetables, chicken and tofu together with a glass of juice and a plate of cut fruits. Looking up again at the camera, she said thank you before picking up the chopstick and started to eat.
~~~*~~~*~~~
In the living room at Ah Si's mansion, sat four guys on the sofa looking very glum and spaced out from reality as if thinking something important very hard. The place was in total silence even if a needle were dropped would clearly be heard.
"I can't stand this anymore! We should be doing something!!" cried out Xi Men, depressed by the current situation they are having.
He looked over at Xi Men. He understood how Xi Men felt because that was exactly how he really felt. He doesn't want to sit there doing nothing. He wanted to find his beloved Shan Chai. In his heart, he was hoping nothing bad had happened to her. He hadn't told her yet how he really felt about Shan Chai. How he really loves her and can't live without her. After so long searching for the one to love him and for him to love, he doesn't want to give it all up just yet without knowing how Shan Chai's reaction towards his love.
"Xi Men's right! This is killing me... what are waiting for anyway? It's already night. She has been gone for the whole day. Let's go and find her, man," agreed Mei Zhuo, looking at Ah Si, Xi Men and also at him.
Ah Si looked over at Lei. He was worried and annoyed at his two friend's remarks. Lei understood Ah Si's look.
'He cared for her but he can't do anything for now. He can't just call his mother and ask about Shan Chai... This waiting is eating him inside as well,' thought Lei.
"You still haven't heard from the private investigator?" asked Lei, looking at Ah Si trying to lessen the tension.
Xi Men and Mei Zhuo looked over at Lei, shocked to hear him speak after being silent for the whole day and also because of the words that came out from his mouth. They both looked back at Ah Si.
"You've hired a private investigator? Still no news? That is why we stayed here and wait? Well... I just can't wait anymore. I'm going to search for her," Xi Men proclaimed, standing up.
"I'm going with you! Where could she be?" said Mei Zhuo, standing up as well.
"Where are you two going to find her? Tell me?!" shouted Ah Si, looking very annoyed and displeased with the two.
"We don't know. Probably the hospital, the streets... as long as we're out there and searching for her is enough for us."
"She's not at the hospital. She's not anywhere on the streets either. Please sit down... and wait," Ah Si demanded out loud, impatient with Xi Men and Mei Zhuo.
The both of them looked at each other. Their expression was readable. They were curious on how Ah Si could know that Shan Chai was nowhere around the streets of Taipei and in the hospital. They turned to look at Lei but he just looked at them with a blank expression, not interested to answer any of Mei Zhuo and Xi Men's questions.
Sitting back down on their seats, Xi Men blurted out what was playing in his mind, "You know something, right? Ah Si, what is it? How did you know we won't find her at those places?"
Ah Si, looking at Lei and then back to Xi Men and Mei Zhuo, finally let out his suspicion, "I think it has something to do with my mother."
"With your mother? What is this all about?" exclaimed Mei Zhuo, looking lost and surprised.
Leaning his back on the seat and sighed, Xi Men closed his eyes before he spoke next, "This fast? So, what should we do then?"
"What? WHAT?!" Mei Zhuo shouted, feeling very annoyed when no one answered his question or explain to him what was going on.
Xi Men looked over at Mei Zhuo, "Remember that I told you Ah Si's mother has arranged Ah Si's marriage and he was using Shan Chai as his delay? Well, these two suspect Shan Chai's disappearance has something to do with the Empress's doing."
Mei Zhuo slumped in his seat, "Oh boy! This is getting harder. So, what should we do?"
"I'm thinking of calling Zhuang and my mother. So, I'm waiting for the right time to do so. I don't want them, especially my mother to suspect that we had suspected this has something to do with her. Things might get worse."
The other three just nodded and sighed.
He shook the front gate frantically when no one answered his call for about the past 5 minutes. Looking around to see if there was anybody around he could ask about the whereabouts of the girl living in that particular house at that precise time was shattered when no one bothered to show any interest in the banging and his shout. Finally, making a drastic and unusual action for his own self, he climbed over the gate and went straight to the main door.
Knocking and calling the girl's name, he still didn't get any response. Walking around the house perimeter, looking through the window glass, the result was still the same. No one was in the house. He took out his phone and dialed the girl's number again for the 30th time. This time, he faintly heard the sound of the ringing tone from inside the house. Hoping that someone would pick it up, his hope dropped when he heard the mailbox machine's voice on the other line, indicating there was no answer.
Trying to keep calm and being positive of the situation, he climbed back out of the house ground and got in his silver BMW. Driving around the housing area, he slowed down when ever he saw any girl walking at the sidewalk to take a peek of them, to see whether she was the girl he was looking for. After making rounds for four times and still no sight of her, he went back to the girl's house. Calling and dialing her phone number again and again for two to three minutes, he began to panicked when the result was the same as previous.
Finally, he dialed another number, "Hello, Ah Si, Shan Chai's missing."
~~~*~~~*~~~
Shan Chai woke up in a black room. Finding that she was in an unfamiliar surroundings, she sat up instantly on the bed. She remembered what had happened to her earlier, before she blacked out. Pulling her legs near to her body until her knees touched her breasts; she scanned her surroundings slowly and cautiously. Seeing there were no other people in the same room as her, she began to relax herself.
Getting off from the bed, she walked slowly to the direction she thought was the window, with her hands spreads out-front to feel her surroundings; just in case there would be any furniture around that she might bumped into. Once she was in front of the window, she grabbed the curtain and slid it to the side. It was indeed the window but it was barred and impossible to try and escape through it. Outside was the color of sunset, red and orange. From the scenery, she knew she was now in a house by the seaside.
'I've been out for the whole day, from morning to night. They must have put chloroform on the cloth they clasped on my mouth and nose. Where am I? Who are they? Why do they capture me?' she questioned herself, unable to understand the reason of the whole incident.
Looking away from the window, she turned around and looked at the room she was kept in. It was quite luxurious. A queen size bed, side table and a table lamp, a cupboard and makeup table equipped with comb, powder, mirror and other small things she can't really recognized from the distance. With little light left coming in from the window, she searched for the light switch. She found it at the left side of the window. Switching it on, she gasped.
The room was actually luxurious indeed. The walls were hand painted of the scenery of sakura trees during spring, bloomed with their pink colored flowers. In addition, the ceilings were painted the color of the night sky, full with stars. If she was kidnapped, why does she was put inside this beautiful room. Sitting back on the bed, she can't help to adore the interior of the room. That was when she realized there was a camera at the corner ceiling of the room, opposite the bed, a 14-inch television beside the makeup table and another door at its side. The other one was at the side of the bed, which obviously to her was the entrance door since it was locked.
Walking to the direction of the door, she opened it and inside, it was the most beautiful bathroom she had ever seen. The tiles were light blue and there was also a bath tab and shower. The bathroom, like the room, was equipped with all the things she will need, shampoo, soap, shower gel and others. However, there were no windows in it and gladly, there was no camera as well. Going back to the room and close the bathroom door behind her, she switched on the television and sat on the bed.
Her stomach growled. She was hungry. Looking at the camera, she sat up, walked towards it and stood still. In her mind, she battled whether she should speak out she was hungry or make gestures. Finally, she decided to do both. Saying out loud and making eating gesture, she asked for food, politely.
They understood her when not long after that, there was a knock on her door and it opened up with one of the big man she saw came out of the car that morning, holding on to a tray. Looking up at the man, she took the tray and before she could ask anything, he shut the door and locked it again.
Sighing, she placed the tray on the bed. Sitting down, she opened it up and saw a bowl of rice with cooked vegetables, chicken and tofu together with a glass of juice and a plate of cut fruits. Looking up again at the camera, she said thank you before picking up the chopstick and started to eat.
~~~*~~~*~~~
In the living room at Ah Si's mansion, sat four guys on the sofa looking very glum and spaced out from reality as if thinking something important very hard. The place was in total silence even if a needle were dropped would clearly be heard.
"I can't stand this anymore! We should be doing something!!" cried out Xi Men, depressed by the current situation they are having.
He looked over at Xi Men. He understood how Xi Men felt because that was exactly how he really felt. He doesn't want to sit there doing nothing. He wanted to find his beloved Shan Chai. In his heart, he was hoping nothing bad had happened to her. He hadn't told her yet how he really felt about Shan Chai. How he really loves her and can't live without her. After so long searching for the one to love him and for him to love, he doesn't want to give it all up just yet without knowing how Shan Chai's reaction towards his love.
"Xi Men's right! This is killing me... what are waiting for anyway? It's already night. She has been gone for the whole day. Let's go and find her, man," agreed Mei Zhuo, looking at Ah Si, Xi Men and also at him.
Ah Si looked over at Lei. He was worried and annoyed at his two friend's remarks. Lei understood Ah Si's look.
'He cared for her but he can't do anything for now. He can't just call his mother and ask about Shan Chai... This waiting is eating him inside as well,' thought Lei.
"You still haven't heard from the private investigator?" asked Lei, looking at Ah Si trying to lessen the tension.
Xi Men and Mei Zhuo looked over at Lei, shocked to hear him speak after being silent for the whole day and also because of the words that came out from his mouth. They both looked back at Ah Si.
"You've hired a private investigator? Still no news? That is why we stayed here and wait? Well... I just can't wait anymore. I'm going to search for her," Xi Men proclaimed, standing up.
"I'm going with you! Where could she be?" said Mei Zhuo, standing up as well.
"Where are you two going to find her? Tell me?!" shouted Ah Si, looking very annoyed and displeased with the two.
"We don't know. Probably the hospital, the streets... as long as we're out there and searching for her is enough for us."
"She's not at the hospital. She's not anywhere on the streets either. Please sit down... and wait," Ah Si demanded out loud, impatient with Xi Men and Mei Zhuo.
The both of them looked at each other. Their expression was readable. They were curious on how Ah Si could know that Shan Chai was nowhere around the streets of Taipei and in the hospital. They turned to look at Lei but he just looked at them with a blank expression, not interested to answer any of Mei Zhuo and Xi Men's questions.
Sitting back down on their seats, Xi Men blurted out what was playing in his mind, "You know something, right? Ah Si, what is it? How did you know we won't find her at those places?"
Ah Si, looking at Lei and then back to Xi Men and Mei Zhuo, finally let out his suspicion, "I think it has something to do with my mother."
"With your mother? What is this all about?" exclaimed Mei Zhuo, looking lost and surprised.
Leaning his back on the seat and sighed, Xi Men closed his eyes before he spoke next, "This fast? So, what should we do then?"
"What? WHAT?!" Mei Zhuo shouted, feeling very annoyed when no one answered his question or explain to him what was going on.
Xi Men looked over at Mei Zhuo, "Remember that I told you Ah Si's mother has arranged Ah Si's marriage and he was using Shan Chai as his delay? Well, these two suspect Shan Chai's disappearance has something to do with the Empress's doing."
Mei Zhuo slumped in his seat, "Oh boy! This is getting harder. So, what should we do?"
"I'm thinking of calling Zhuang and my mother. So, I'm waiting for the right time to do so. I don't want them, especially my mother to suspect that we had suspected this has something to do with her. Things might get worse."
The other three just nodded and sighed.