Fiction: Group 3
A Night In Guangzhou
The British International School Shanghai, Puxi Campus, Thibaut, Pauline - 13,
Fiction: Group 3
walk alongside the river, gentle ripples of water kissing the concrete. A gentle breeze ruffles the leaves
and sends them dancing in the corner of my eye. I breathe out the air I kept in, leaving a trail of steam
in the atmosphere. Everything here beside the river is calm, like the pink in the sky or the reflections of
city lights in the water. I look up to watch the sun disappear through the buildings on the other side of the
river, casting red and orange rays of sunlight. The red triggers something in the back of my mind, something
I would’ve hoped to keep hidden for the rest of my life. A flash of red against white, a drop of wine hitting
the floor in a dead silent room, fingernails painted red biting into my shoulder. The sting of tears is hard to
ignore and I let them fall; let them trickle down the side of my cheek. Red signifies something horrible for
me. It signifies my ignorance, my fault, and my mistake. It signifies the day I lost my family.
I remember every detail of that day as if it was burned into my mind. Maybe it was, and it will
leave a permanent scar that will never fully heal, that will never fully disappear. My eyelids flutter shut, and
the face of Dershan Li flashes. His electrifying grey gaze never detaches from mine, the crease in between his
eyebrows never softens. His face haunts my dreams nightly, causing sweat-soaked sheets and screams
muffled by my hands and teeth. I wake up everyday to a tangle of sheets, am greeted by sweeps of coldness
through my veins, hear good morning from the echoes of the city outside my window. Every time I look in
the mirror, the person staring back is hardly recognizable. My brown eyes were once lit with excitement
and adventure, but now stare back at me without a trace of emotion left.
I leave the side of the river to the road, busy with cars and pedestrians. I forgot what it felt like to
be at ease, to wake up in the morning with a clear head. I keep overthinking until I wave a taxi over and
hop in. He pulls up and I drop him a tip, the first generous thing I’ve done today. I walk slowly, drawing in
my breath. The lights had blinded me before, but now they seem dimmed. The sounds of cars and traffic
had blared in my ears, but now it fades to a distant hum. My heart is running laps and my mind has lost its
ground and I’m hearing that same police siren on loop. I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and retell myself
the story.
It was a warm day of April, with the warm air blowing across my exposed shoulders. My blonde
hair was tied back in a straight ponytail at the base of my neck and tickled its way down my bare back. My
low-cut golden dress glittered under the moonlight, shone when I walked in my black high heels. My red
lips were a sharp contrast against my teeth, my eyes dry and bright. I was jealous and not thinking straight
after my breakup with Dershan. I wanted to show Dershan he never should have left me for Rachel, my
best friend. I had told Rachel of Dershan’s dangerous and mysterious history with dealers and gamblers, but
she hadn’t believed me. Fine. I’d catch him in the act, and I would save Rachel before she got involved in
his business. I casted a quick look in the mirror of my taxi, and tossed the driver some money. My heels
clicked against the pavement as I walked towards the casino. I walked up to the guard, and whispered into
his ear. After a far-away look and a nod, the guard unhooked the entrance and let me pass. I gave myself a
mental highfive.
I easily slipped through game after game, mastering the poker face and earning several death glares
from my opponents when I took their money in my hands. I continued rolling the dice, testing my luck.
Seeing how far I could go. After finally having enough of gambling, I gathered my things and prepared to
leave. I had just stepped outside when a black cloth obscured my view.
A big hand muffled my shout of surprise, clenching around my jaw and pressing painfully against
my mouth. The men hooked both my arms behind my back, ripping my dress slightly with the harsh
movement. I cried, screamed, bit and kicked at the men until I was tossed to the ground. The cloth was
taken away from my eyes and the light blinded me that I lifted my arm to cover my eyes.
“Have you been snooping around, love?”
I
