Siren wails filled the air in downtown Wuying city.
The smell of blood, smoke and something sharp and dirty - lust and danger - mixed ginto the night air. It made the breathing hard.
Lina hung into the windowsill of a fifth floor building.
Her right arm bled heavily and her breathing fast and uneven.
The pain did not hit her yet, but this weak body was not built for any roughness.
She pulled of the scarf masking her face, ripped it apart in two pieces and tied tightly around her arm.
The bleeding slowed down.
She leaned against the wall on her back, took a deep breath and tried not to faint.
She'd been through worse. In her old life, she could take a knife to the gut and still run a mile. She'd once taken down three armed men with a broken arm and fractured ankle.
Her eyes as sharp as ever scanned the surroundings for an escape.
Then her gaze stopped, fixed at a route, at a dark alley on the far right corner below.
Pulling all her remaining strength, taking one last deep breath, she launched into the nearest rooftop just below, sprinted towards the rightest corner and a soft thud! Barely audible.
The sun was peeking from the east and the first rays of sunlight crept over the building tops. The golden light fell on her right shoulder and blood-streaked pale face, radiating an ethereal glow.
She brushed her dust off her body. Stood straight but her legs wobbled. But this was not the time to stop.
Gritting her teeth, she slowly took a step at a time. Limped forward until she reached the end of the alley. An opening.
Just before she could take a turn, a car screeched to a halt in front of her.
A figure alighted.
Lina tensed, instincts kicking in. Her hand shot to the blade at her waist.
The figure stepped closer.
With each stride, his features grew clearer, until the early light spilled across his face.
And then their eyes met.
Too familiar. Too cold. Too calm. Just like him.
Lina's hand stopped midway. Her eyes focused on him.
But her body gave away.
Everything blurred as she felt lightheaded, ready to fall on the ground until she felt something firm.
Before she could process anything, she fainted.
Royce looked at the girl on his arms.
So vulnerable.
He carried her into the car and gave instruction.
"Drive."
The car sped off leaving behind the alley and the chaos.
The slender Lina rested against him. One arm hung limp at the side, the other clutching his coat weakly.
"She is bleeding." He muttered.
"Faster. Call Simon." He said. His tone strained with urgency.
The one driving the car stepped harder on the gas and the one sitting in the shotgun hurriedly dialed a string of numbers and urged the person on the other end of the phone to come at once.
After passing through the bustling city and two miles away from the edge of the Wuying town, the car turned onto a narrow, unmarked road concealed with the dense woods.
No sign of a life and the road seemed never ending until the car reached in front of a secluded villa, hidden behind a stone wall and tall trees.
The villa which looked completely ordinary yet the sharp glint of cameras in the corners and subtle shift of the shadows at the gate told a different story.
Soon after, the gates opened, apparently recognizing its master, the car entered and stopped by the polished dark wooden door.
Royce stepped out with Lina in his arms.
He carried her inside, strode towards the room on the second most corner, settled her down on the bed very carefully.
"Hey, man. What's wrong! Please, you need to watch the time. " Simon said, clearly annoyed.
Being dragged out of his once in a blue moon deep sleep was something he despised very much.
"This better be something serious." He trudged forward putting his glasses on, ready to check on Royce.
"Not me. Her." Royce pointed at Lina who laid on the bed, completely pale.
Simon's gaze followed and he stepped towards the bed.
No more questions. No more complaints.
Simon got into his work mode.
Royce stepped aside afraid of interrupting Simon. His eyes never leaving her.
"How long has she been bleeding?"
Royce didn't blink. "Too long."
He leaned in, checking her pulse, examining the wound. "She's lost a lot of blood. You got lucky she didn't pass out sooner."
There was a pin drop silence. Only the sound of Simon untying the scarf from her wound can be heard.
He sterilized the wound with his practiced hands and did the dressing. Then he took out potion bottle from his bag and forcefully fed her a spoon.
He prescribed some medicines and handed over the paper to Royce.
"That's my new formulation. Stops the bleeding faster and induces the regeneration of new blood cells, enough to cover up the lost. This girl should consider herself lucky. She just needs rest for a few hours. No disturbances in between" Simon flashed a proud smile, clearly satisfied with his work. But soon his smile stiffened, sensing the cold stares coming from the other.
"But, who is she?" Now that his work as the doctor is done, the best friend in him took over. His eyes shifted from the unconscious Lina to Royce who had an unreadable expression.
Then, a sudden realization hit him. He blinked.
'Wait a second. This... This is the first time Royce had ever brought a girl home, right! Is his infamous hibernation period really going to be over! for once and all!' Simon gaped and covered his mouth dramatically. His fingers then reached out his cheeks wiping away the imaginary tears.
"My boy is finally becoming a man now." He sobbed in happiness.
Royce shot him a glare. Simon stopped with his pretense.
"Okay, then. Take care. Don't be so hard on her." He gave a gentle top on Royce's shoulder, packed his things and took off faster than ever.
He should not disturb the privacy of a couple.
Royce leaned forward, adjusted the blankets on Lina, switched off the bright lights only keeping the dim lights on. One last look and then left the room.