When Bright Moon Encounter the Dark Clouds

The barrel of a gun stared down at me as I became briefly distracted. My mind blanked as I went all out, grabbing Zhu Shuyun’s arm and twisting it toward him. Amidst the chaos, I heard the cracking of bones and flickers of fear, anguish, confusion, and realization flash before Zhu Shuyun’s eyes.

Bang!

I became dumbfounded and noticed a small bloody hole in Zhu Shuyun’s chest when I looked down the next second. The latter had probably pulled the trigger before he realized the gun was aiming at himself. I kicked the gun away from Zhu Shuyun’s strengthless hand before promptly rolling my tank top to press on the gunshot wound.

“He’s dead! He’s dead!” yelled someone from the pit. Simultaneously, as if the birds had realized this fact as well, they quickly took to the air before vanishing from our sights.

Tan Jiao stood in a daze behind me before she plopped to the ground after some time. “Are you alright?” she asked.

“I’m fine.”

Cries of help echoed from the pit as the Zhu family pleaded, “Please help us! Please come quick!”

With cries from the Zhu family and the accompanying faint sounds of police sirens filling the air, I looked at the pale and motionless Zhu Shuyun. His life force seemed to be fading away before my eyes. “Stay with me! Tell me, where did the birds come from? Why do they listen to you?”

Zhu Shuyun listlessly opened his half-closed eyes and said in a weak voice, “B-birds...someone gave me.”

“Who gave them to you?”

“C-can’t… tell you.”

“Was it you that gave Tan Jiao the letter?”

“D-don’t know. What… letter? T-Tan Jiao… who...?” Zhu Shuyun’s voice faded as his eyes rolled back. He seemed to have passed out, and his breathing had become weak. I turned to Tan Jiao, fixing my gaze on her jet black eyes that reflected the dancing flames. I figured she must have heard my exchange with Zhu Shuyun.

Shortly after, I heard the sounds of footsteps as the police arrived.

I was held in the police station for one night and a day. Then finally released me when the skies had darkened down once more. I knew the Zhu family was also questioned. As such, I was not worried about the clarity of the issue or the police giving me a hard time.

It seemed that this serial abduction case would finally be solved.

I asked one of the policemen as I exited, “Where is the lady that came in with me?”

“Oh, she’ll come out soon.”

Standing outside the station, I recalled the fact that Tan Jiao’s car would be temporarily held by the police for investigation.

I called Xiaohua to drive my motorbike over and bring two helmets.

I figured it would be an interesting experience for author Tan to ride on a motorcycle. After all, she had always driven a car, and she did not seem too picky about things.

Xiaohua came with my bike in no time. After I persuaded him to go away, I parked the bike on the road outside the station and waited for my lady while enjoying a cigarette.

I got wind of Zhu Shuyun dying not long after arriving at the hospital. As such,the case seemingly came to an end. Everything along with the mysteries Tan Jiao and I had been pursuing seemed to have come to an abrupt stop as well. Yet, something felt amiss about the fact that Zhu Shuyun alone managed to execute such a complicated plan with perfection. And, those birds that flew away right after Zhu Shuyun was shot. Will they reappear?

Two policemen that passed by interrupted my thoughts as one of them said, “When Shen Shiyan was reporting to the captain, he said he used to date that lady. He said she’s his ex!”