Fiction: Group 4
television to respond. Suddenly, without warning, the television screen cut from the shot of a woman
sobbing to a ‘Breaking News’ newsreel. The familiar introduction of the ‘TVB News Company’ could be
seen followed by a somber looking news reporter staring grimly into the camera. Scarlett looked around the
table, first at Grandma Wei then at Yan, baffled as to what was so serious it required the delay of a regular
TV show.
“A rare parasitic virus has hit the very heart of Macau, situated on the west side of the Pearl River Delta.
The examination of this virus is still ongoing but victims have suffered internal bleeding along with the slow
impairment of the kidney. Almost 200,000 people have been infected with 200 already dead. Scientists are
doing the best they can to figure out a cure but this virus is a malignant one, and has contaminated us out of
nowhere; they predict that it will spread very quickly, most likely through the air of Macau. Although
Macau’s neighboring city, Hong Kong, has shown no signs of this epidemic, it is advised that everyone stay
home for the next few days as a safety precaution. Mary-Jane Ng, reporting for TVB News.”
Scarlett and Yan’s eyes broke away from the television as they heard the sound of porcelain plates being
shattered into smithereens. Grandma Wei’s face had turned a sickly pale and her lips were now quivering in
apprehensiveness.
“What is it Grandma? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Scarlett had a look of concern stamped across her
face.
“I… I don’t know if I should say. It would kill you.”
“Just say it for gods sake, it’s not like we’ll be leaving any time soon.” Stated Yan.
“Scarlett, when you and Yan came to my door it was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I could
finally become a mother, and I just want you to know that I wouldn’t change
anything.
I love both of you
girls with all my heart and I know you won’t want to talk to me after this but,” Grandma Wei paused, on
the brink of stopping but deciding not to. “Scarlett? You’re not an orphan. Your parents didn’t die in a car
accident like Yan’s. They’re still alive – they live in Macau. Your mum is Xi-Jiang Long and your dad
Wei-Tse Long.”
Scarlett’s line of sight wavered for a brief moment, the room spinning in a blur of emotions. Angry,
heartbroken, sad, happy, the list went on and Scarlett was at loss for what to feel, how to comprehend the
situation.
“Please don’t beat yourself up about it. I can’t imagine anyone who’d want to leave you, they’re just
incredibly stupid and don’t know a jewel when they see one. I just wanted you to know because of the
epidemic that’s hit Macau. If they were to die before you knew about them, I’d feel terribly guilty. It’s your
right to know who they are.”
Yan put her arms around Scarlett, in an attempt to give her solace, while Scarlett ran her fingers through her
hair, trying to hold up the weight that had been dropped upon her shoulders.
“Thank you for telling me Grandma Wei. I know you mean the best but if it’s alright with you, may I be
excused?”
Grandma Wei nodded, knowing that words were superfluous and Scarlett needed all the space she could get.
“Should I go see them? Are they alright? What if the virus has already gotten to them and they’re already
dead? What if they don’t want to see me?” Questions raced through Scarlett’s mind as she lay on her bed,
staring up at the vacant ceiling. It was questions like these, which finally caused her to doze off, a land away
from her troubles.
“Scarlett… Scarlet… Scarlet…” A sonorous voice resonated throughout the room, causing Scarlett to wake
in a frenzy. She shrieked. At the front of her bed was a cloud-like figure with a wrinkled face of a Chinese
deity. His eyes were perfectly round and the most prominent feature on his face was his long and wispy
moustache.
“You have to go. Now. While the lives of Macau can be saved, including your parents. This may be the
only chance you can get to see them.” He was the perfectly chiseled notion of a God, floating upon what
seemed to be a cloud with the outline of his body somewhat obscure.
“Hold up. Who are you? How do you know so much about me? Why do you want me to do this job? It’s
not like I have super powers or anything.”
“Can’t you tell? I’m a Chinese God. There’ve been generations of rubbish Chinese myths about me, so I
won’t bother with my name. All you need to know is that you’ve been chosen to do this whole saving the
