Fiction: Group 4
earth thing. No particular reason, just that you were there at the right time and you just so happen to have a
very valid reason to – to meet your parents. Better to have some kid with willpower and purpose do the job
than some random kid off the streets, right?”
“That’s some pretty strong conviction. How do you know I won’t just turn you down? And how do you
expect me to stop a virus that even professionals haven’t found the cure to?”
“All you have to do is go to the Pearl River and collect the pearls there; they have a special healing power
when ingested. It isn’t hard at all. And I know you won’t turn down the job - it’s not in you.”
“How will I know where to find the pearls? The Pearl River’s massive.”
“Just remember, looks fade but in the essence of it all, character remains.”
Before Scarlett could respond to the seemingly futile phrase, the deity disappeared in a flurry of smoke.
Although the concept of rejection didn’t appeal to her, Scarlett knew turning down the job would be a
waste of a perfect opportunity to meet her parents. Making her mind up, she started to pack everything
she’d need into her satchel. She wouldn’t need much – the Pearl River was only a 20-minute trek away
and Macau a mere 30 minutes on ferry. Scarlett knew Grandma Wei would do everything in her power to
stop her from going so she left her a note instead and went in to Yan’s room to explain everything.
“Yan! Yan, wake up!” She shook her awake as Yan started to groan.
“What? Go back to bed, I’m tired.”
“I’m going to see my parents.” Yan’s eyes widened in disbelief and her jaw dropped in awe. Before she
could say anything, Scarlett started to explain everything from scratch.
“How do you even know that wasn’t just a dream?”
“Well, it’s better than doing nothing. What’s the worse that could happen?”
“Uh, you catch the virus yourself? You’re walking yourself straight to your deathbed! You can’t go. I won’t
let you.”
“You know me well enough to know that nothing you say or do can stop me.”
“Fine. But get a pearl or whatever it is for yourself too – I don’t want you dying on me.” Exchanging their
goodbyes, both sisters hugged each other and Scarlett set off.
Even at night, the Pearl River was teeming with life, the crickets chirping concomitantly and the birds
tweeting transcendently amongst each other. Everything was at odds to how Scarlett felt. Standing on the
shore of the river, she let the granules of sand seep through the cracks of her toes. How could the world be
so tranquil, so calm, whilst her whole life was in turmoil? She scanned the horizons, noting the
distinguishable skyline of Macau, but to no avail, the pearls that the God had deemed ‘easy’ to find were
nowhere to be seen.
“Looks fade but in the essence of it all, character remains.” The phrase incessantly crossed Scarlett’s mind
but gave her no indication as to where the pearls were.
“Ugh! Why did I even come here? This is stupid, there’s no such thing as pearls with healing powers.”
Blind with rage, she kicked a shell against the trunk of a tree, expecting it to bounce right back. To her
bewilderment, the shell cracked in half, allowing a miniature-sized ball no bigger than a pollen grain to slide
out. Light coruscated off of it, its sparkle scintillating into the jet-black night. Scarlett yelped in
astonishment. Suddenly, it hit her.
“Looks fade but character remains. The God was referring to the shell!” From the outside, the shell looked
nondescript with hues of greyish undertones but encased within it was the jewel of the sea. Wading into the
river, Scarlett peered through the water catching a glimpse of the seabed, covered with a cornucopia of
shells. Acting swiftly, she picked up three pearls and conjured up a plan to notify the officials of Macau.
Scarlett took a deep breath and looked towards the glistening lights of Macau, preparing herself for the
journey ahead.
Chapter 3
Macau, 2013
Upon stepping off of the ferry and entering Macau, Scarlett could already feel something amiss. It was still
dark out and the atmosphere could only be described as melancholic. The air was heavy with sorrow and
the clinical scent of anesthetics. She hurried along, shielding her face with a mask so as not to breathe in the
air. ’52 Shanghai Street, Building 1A’ read the scrap of paper which the God had given her. After a lengthy
