Wow, how many times am I going to tease you, readers? About saving Alyssa, could this be the one?

Chapter 8: Don't Be Cute

No one's p.o.v

Shanti ran like there was no tomorrow. She turns around, still panting to see if the killer had followed her. He didn't.

She sighs in relieve and leans against the corridor walls. But now that her mind can focus, the first thing she's thinking is about what happened to Shen Rao.

" He deserved it," she muttered. " After all, who made the dare in the first place. Suddenly, a pair of arms grabbed her from behind. Shanti screamed until a hand close her mouth. To her relief, it was her friend Nala.

" Don't scare me like that!" snaps Shanti once Nala lets go of her. But she noticed the frantic and worried on her friend's face. Now it's her turn to know what's going on.

" Nala," she whispered. " Where's Alyssa? And stop shaking, you're making me nervous!" Nala calmed down, slowly as if she just got out of a coma. Shanti supports her with an arm.

" What happened?" she asked. Again she repeated it with a slow tone.

" I-it's Alyssa," Nala finally found her voice. She told Shanti as quickly as possible about what happened to their friend. Shanti listened with care while her eyes are already clouded with fear and anxiety.

After Nala's story, Shanti told her about her situation with Shen Rao. Now, it was Nala's turn to panic. " What?!"

" It's true! Shen Rao and I were chased down by a killer with a bat. I must have escaped because Shen Rao went into one room. I think the killer is busy with him."

Nala had an evil grin on her face. " Well, it's about time he has a punishment. That's what he gets for blackmailing us into this dare."

" But," she continued this time with a serious tone. " Let's go and save Alyssa!"

The two girls ran back towards where Nala had been. But both of them stop at a particular smell. It smelled like a type of herb. Not the kind for cooking, but something like a medicine or drug.

Before Shanti could react, Nala grabbed her hand towards a different direction. " What the hell?!" Shanti cried. Nala stops her. She told Shanti about the smell.

" Yeah, I know there's a smell," Shanti told. " But isn't saving Alyssa more important than this?"

" I know. But if there's that smell, that means that there's herbal medicine. We could take some for Alyssa if she's injured."

" Okay," Shanti sighs. " But let's hurry."

But little did those two know, taking herbs would have cost them their lives.

Shanti and Nala follow the smell and found an open room. The room was bright red, like fresh blood from a fresh kill. There are different types of herbs, medicines and even those long pipes that are use for smoking.

Before they could take some, a man came into the room. He's wearing a red Changshan with a black military cap on his head. Shanti could tell that the man is a Chinese by the features on his face and his long black hair that was tied.

His dark brown eyes were looking at the both of them. The atmosphere was intense. " Aiyah! What are the both of you doing in here?" he asked.

Something about the voice made Shanti shudder on the inside. " W-we were looking for some herbs," Nala stammered. The man arched an eyebrow. " Oh, and why do you need my herbs for?"

" Our friend," Nala replies. " Right, Shanti? Shanti?"

But Shanti was too petrified to say anything. " Now, stealing is not the way," the man tuts them. " Come, have seat while I brew some tea." Nala drags her friend towards the antique-looking sofa.

" Shanti, what's wrong?" Nala asks her friend. " He's just being nice, so cut some slack okay?"

Still no answer.

The man came back with two cups of tea with a bowl of sweets. Nala thanked him and hands a cup to Shanti. Shanti just stare at the man, with the warm cup in her hands. He sat on the opposite chair, facing them with a long, thin pipe in his mouth. He puffs a few smokes from the pipe.

" So what brings both of you to this house?" he asked. " It's been a while we haven't had guests. Don't be shy, have a sweet!"

Nala did not hesitate. She took a handful and ate them hungrily. " Mmm..this is good!" she moaned, savouring the taste. Shanti looked at her and took a sweet. She eyed the sweet and look back at her friend.

" Nibbling the sweet, she could taste a bit of flower with a mix of something you would take when you have a cough. Don't want to be rude, she swallowed the sweet with a pang of sickness in her stomach.

" What's in this sweet?" she wondered to herself. " Oh, the best!" the man sighs in content as he puffs some more. Shanti looks at Nala, who is chugging down her tea and asking for more.

" I don't know about you, but I feel awesome!" she screams.

" Anyways, why are the both of you here?" he asks again. But his voice is more demanding than asking.

Shanti told him about the dare, how the others are here and the situation she's in. The man closes his eyes as he puffs some more from his pipe. " Why are you friends with them?"

" What do you mean?"

" Why would you be friends with them if one is insane, another's a baby and another one old enough to be a wife?"

This made Shanti pissed. " Hey, don't talk about my friends that way! We're all different but that's what make us special."

" Cute," he murmurs. " I. HATE. CUTE!"

Now Shanti's scared. Nala was standing on the sofa, pounding her chest like a gorilla. " What did you do to her?!"

" Nothing," the man replied innocently. " Just a spoonful of coke and a sprinkle of anesthetic. In your term, opium."

" SHIT!" she cursed. Now that both she and Nala were drugged this whole time, she has to find a way to escape.

The man took out a cleaver from his Changshan. " Now, be good girls while I will fix your face."

Shanti quickly dodges the swing of the cleaver. With adrenaline pumped into her, she splashed her cup of hot tea on his face. While the man was screaming, she grabs the cleaver and...

HACK!

HACK!

HACK!

She took a deep breath and collapse next to the butchered man. She gets up, drags Nala as the both of them walk out of the room. " I hope my mind's still functional," she muttered.

" Where's the ice cream?" asked Nala.

'Not to self: when a strange man offers you candy you've never seen, do not eat it. Plus, don't be cute!'

Haha, fool you again! Don't worry, someone's going to save Alyssa. But, who?

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