Wang Xing ushered Aiden away before his fingers could brush against Hui Ye’s jacket. He glanced back, watching Hui Ye grab the wounded man by the hair, turn him over, and stomp hard on his leg—right where the bullet was lodged.
The growing cries of pain and his brother’s increasing cruelty invoked nails dragging against Aiden’s skin. He stumbled to the ground and covered his ears, but the calm words still resonated clearly from his brother’s lips.
“Diane, shoot him again.”
Who’s Diane?
A gunshot. The wails of a dying man.
“Just listen to this song.” Wang Xing shoved a set of earbuds into Aiden’s ears and dialed up the volume.
Electronic beats pounded against his eardrums, but not even the highest setting could drown out the thumping of his heart. He heard every groan, every plea, and every drop of blood that fell onto the floor. His nails dug into his head. He tried to focus on the lyrics blaring in his ears, but instead, he filtered out the noise to catch the two words he dreaded coming from Hui Ye.
“Kill him.”
• • •
Aiden tore at the towel spotted with blood. Silence hung heavy as Wang Xing sped on the fastest route back to the apartment. His brother leaned away from him.
Lights blinked around them in colorful advertisements. The people outside roamed the city, unaware of the car that passed by with a dead body in the trunk.
How do normal people live without thinking about these things?Aiden wondered, watching a family raise their child up high in the air.How would someone usually react after they’ve been kidnapped and rescued?
His heart didn’t quicken at the sight of Hui Ye and Wang Xing wrapping up the body. Instead, he already strayed toward the car to settle down on the comfortable leather seats, waiting to be driven back. When Wang Xing began the engine, and the world slowly passed, Aiden knew a body, tied and wrapped, rolled behind him, and sickeningly couldn’t find himself to care.
Aiden tugged harder at the towel’s frayed edges.How do you leave this world when you’re so wired to react to it?The questions continued to haunt him as the car pulled back.
• • •
The two brothers filed back into the living room in silence. As Aiden wandered with the towel in his hand, his brother stepped forward and snatched it away. “I’ll take care of it.” Hui Ye disappeared into his room.
With nowhere else to go and nothing to say, Aiden shuffled into the guest room and turned on the light. He lowered himself onto his bed and pressed his face into the nearest pillow.
He hated this world he was born into.
The truth swallowed him whole—to leave this world was to also leave his brother behind.
But without him, I am alone.
He looked up at the quiet knock on his door. Hui Ye entered but kept his eyes on the ground. He held a package. Sitting down in the chair opposite from Aiden, Hui Ye opened his mouth, hesitated, and looked away.
I can’t end my visit like this.
“Are you with someone right now?” Aiden blurted.
His brother blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“Are you dating someone?” When his brother continued to stare blankly, he continued, flustered. “I saw a dress in your room today. Unless you’ve decided to wear dresses for fun?”
A chuckle left his brother’s lips. “No. And no, I’m not dating anyone.”
“Well, she’s not a fling,” Aiden pressed. “I know you have your flings away from your place.”
“Should I be concerned that you know that?”
“Who is she?”
His brother sighed and rubbed the back of his head. Seconds ticked by, but Aiden held strong, staring at his brother. Hui Ye sighed again and looked back with a crooked smile. “Her name is Celia.”
