"Sang Zhi!"
She had her earpieces in, dancing carefreely as she walked. She couldn't hear me.
Instinct took over. I jumped to my feet and ran with all my strength toward the bike.
"HEY! STOP!"
Now, I was right beside him. The rider's full-face helmet turned toward me for a split second–shocked. Then he faced forward and twisted the accelerator.
He was going after her.
I ran faster.
I jumped at him. He swung at me. I dodged, ducking under his hand.
PAH!
My fist slammed into his left rib cage.
Still moving forward, I crashed into him.
He flew off the bike and hit the concrete with a LOUD thud.
I landed on top of him as the bike skidded across the ground, screeching as it slid and stopped right in front of a very stunned Sang Zhi.
She froze.
Then, she slowly turned and saw me pinning the motorcyclist to the ground.
"Doctor! Doctor!" I shouted, holding him down. "Call the police!"
Sang Zhi kept staring at us, trembling.
"Wake up!'
She fumbles for her phone. It slipped from her hand. She caught it, then quickly dialed and put the phone to her ear.
"Hello! There was an accident!... At the university teaching hospital… Oh–I'm actually a doctor and-"
She glanced at me, confused.
Covering the microphone, she whispered, "Why am I calling the police? I am a doctor-"
Baaaaaaaang!
A gunshot ripped across the park. The bullet struck the concrete a few feet from Sang Zhi.
She froze.
"GET DOWN!"
But she just stood there, her eyes wide with shock.
The shot came from the dark woods beside the hospital. The chance of another shot was high.
PAH!
I slammed my fist into the motorcyclist's neck. He is knocked out cold. I jumped off him and sprinted towards Sang Zhi.
I slammed into her, wrapping my arms around her as we hit the ground.
"What… what is going on?" she whispered, trembling with every word.
I dragged us behind the fountain and crouched low, placing her behind me. I watched the trees for any sign of movement. Where was the shooter? Why was anyone shooting at us?
No, not us. At her.
The hospital entrance was on the other side of the park. If we made a run for it, we'd be completely exposed.
Shit!
For now, we can only hide.
I glance at the motorcyclist on the ground. I had an idea.
I turned back to Sang Zhi and grabbed her shoulders. She was completely out of it.
"Hey… HEY?!" I shook her.
Finally, she focused on me. She was pale with fear.
"See that motorcycle?" I asked.
She nodded.
"I will make a run for it. If I get it, we can get out of here."
I searched her eyes to make sure she understood. Suddenly, she grabbed my hand.
"No!" She whispered urgently. "What if they shoot you? What if you get hurt?"
I smiled. She cares about me.
"Don't worry?"
I cupped her face gently. "I will be back before you know it."
I slipped out from behind the fountain and moved silently toward the bike.
Just as my hand touched the handlebars–
BANG!
I jumped back. The motorcyclist's head snapped sideways. The bullet had gone straight through his helmet. He was dead.
Behind me, Sang Zhi clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle a sob.
Alright.
This has gone on long enough.
I grabbed the bike and dragged it towards me.
"STAY DOWN!" I shouted to Sang Zhi just as–
With one swift motion, I swung onto the bike and kicked the engine back to life.
Vrooom!
The engine roared.
BANG!
A bullet sliced just past my shoulder.
That was not a warning shot. He was trying to kill me.
I swerved hard, sharply. Pressing for the woods.
Another shot.
I leaned low over the handlebars. Now, the shot rang fast and wild.
The shooter was panicking now.
Good.
I dodged two more shots. The distance told me he was using a pistol. Which meant–
He was probably running out of bullets.
I accelerated.
Then, I saw him.
A man in a black helmet and leather racing suit stood behind a tree, fumbling for a reload.
Perfect!
I accelerated again. Closer.
Closer. Now!
I jumped. The bike kept going.
Crash. The powerbike slammed into his chest.
The shooter fell backwards, clutching his chest in pain.
The gun slipped from his hands.
I was on him instantly. My fist drove into his jaw. Anger gripped me. No way was I letting him get away with just that little pain.
I pinned him to the ground and started punching.
Left. Right.
Left. Right.
He stopped moving.
But I didn't stop.
"Police! Don't move!"
My fist froze mid-air.
I glanced down at the motionless body beneath me. Rage still burned in my chest.
"Hands up, or we will shoot!" The voice ordered again.
I wanted one more punch.
Just one more.
"Don't even think about it, Lin Wen!" Fei's voice faded– a little. I raised my hands.
"I'm unarmed!"
I stood up and backed away from the attacker.
A police officer rushed forward and slammed me to the ground, cuffing my wrists.
"Stay still! You are under arrest."
I smiled. He is good at his job.
His partner, a very tall man in his fifties, checked the attacker's pulse.
"He is alive!" the partner called.
"What are you doing?!" Fei shouted at the officers.
"Step back! Police business!" the older officer barked. "He's suspected of murder. He's under arrest!"
He removed the attacker's helmet.
"She is a woman!" My arresting officer blinked in shock.
I was surprised too.
That didn't mean that I felt bad. It didn't change anything. An enemy was an enemy. Man or woman.
"You are the worst type of man," the older officer sneered. "You beat up women!"
"She killed… she killed the motorcyclist!" Sang Zhi shouted.
She stood a few feet behind us, shaking in fear, but her fist tightened, determined.
"She tried to kill us!" she added.
The officers glanced from me towards the unconscious woman.
"Why didn't you say anything?" the partner demanded. He looked embarrassed and pissed.
I shrugged.
"I didn't see a reason to," Then, I smirked. "But could you ask your partner to get his foot off my back?"
The paramedic wheeled the unconscious woman onto a stretcher, but not before the partner cuffed her.
My arresting officer loosened his hold, allowing me to stand.
The older officer stepped closer, staring directly at me.
"I know you," he said coldly. "You are Lin Wen."
For the first time. I really looked at him. Officer Cho Ben.
Bile rose in my throat.
"What did you do this time?" he spat. "Who did you kill now to make a woman try to shoot you?"
Something inside me snapped. Memories flooded back. How dare he smile like that? After everything he has done?
I ripped my hands free from the cuffs. My officer behind me stumbled, nearly falling.
Before anyone could react–
I grabbed Cho Ben by the throat with one hand.
My eyes burned with fury.