We're Safe! Or Are We?

***LEI***

Just as the door closed I stood agape at the sight of my friends (or at least some of them). My eyes caught Jessa who was pounding the door.

"Allen! Allen!" she cried. The remaining three henchmen comforted her. Surprisingly, so did Calvin.

"Kyle-ge!" Artemis yelled and hugged her older brother. "You're in one piece!"

"Thankfully. But we lost one good man."

We asked them what happened and they told us about the small adventure they had; Kyle pushing Calvin into the water despite knowing the kid couldn't swim, Calvin saving Jessa, getting followed by a wave of white scorpions, and finally, Allen getting swallowed by the same scorpions.

"I thought monsters are off-limits in the correct path." I questioned Liu Fen who was only silent at a corner.

"Only the most dangerous ones. They released a few to be a challenge to whoever tries to venture this place."

I sighed in disbelief.

"Who is he?" Kyle asked.

"And why does he look like me?" asked Calvin as well.

My eyes met Liu Fen's and he only gave me a sad smile.

"The tomb is dangerous… you know that yourselves and deaths are inevitable. I am sorry about your friend but you should've been ready for the death toll the moment you decided to come in here." he said with a low voice.

I thought Jessa or any of them would argue but they just stayed silent. The entire chamber was enveloped in silence.

"Anyway, as for who I am… My name is Liu Fen and I am Calvin's ancestor."

They eyed him suspiciously.

"By Liu Fen, you mean…"

"The same Liu Fen in the records, commander of the Imperial Guards and Emperor Yue's younger half-brother. Calvin, your grandmother Liu Li, your mother and you, are my descendants."

"Ghost." Calvin muttered and fainted.

"Oh boy." Seven sighed. "Let's rest here then."

Calvin woke up a few seconds later and he talked to his newly-found ancient grandfather.

I saw a handcuffed Fa Xiao Min inspecting the coffin of Emperor Yue with Ally just behind him. My friends and I just continued catching up.

"Xander's a witch?" I questioned. "As in wand-waving kind of witch? Harry Potter?

"Why did you even think of Harry Potter?" Xander digressed.

"Well, it's an English book in an English setting."

"Dude, that's just stereotyping and no not that kind. And besides, I don't use magic myself okay? Or more accurately, I can't."

"But you still know about it." Artemis replied.

"Well… I guess. I mean my mom's a witch. My sister as well, but I never had the talent for it." Xander said dejectedly.

We continued our conversation when Fa Xiao Min suddenly interrupted us and came at us screaming.

"Where is the book?"

"What are you talking about this time Mister Fa?" asked Kyle who seemed to be running out of patience.

"The Book! There's supposed to be a book inside Emperor Yue's coffin!" he growled.

I noticed Fen stiffen while the rest of us just looked at the creepy thin man skeptically without making a sound. We just observed the angry yet panicking man in front of us.

"How did you know about that?" Fen asked.

"He said… he said it will be here! He said there will be a book made of jade inside the emperor's coffin! And that… that book is the only thing that can help me!"

I saw Liu Fen's eyes widen and charged at the thin man then held him by the collar.

"Who told you that?" he growled. His anger was very obvious on his voice. "Who told you about the book?!"

"So there is a book. Where is it?"

"It does not belong to you and it never will."

"No! NO! NO! I need that book! Let go of me!"

Mister Fa escaped from Liu Fen's grasp and lunged at Vince, one of the henchmen he brought. He took the gun holstered from Vince's hip in a flash and then took Xander hostage.

"The book! Give me the book or this kid dies."

"Uhm… guys?"

"Shut up!"

The two of them kept stepping backward until they reached the wall and all of a sudden we heard a click.

"Oh no. He activated a trap." Liu Fen said.

"What trap?" Seven asked.

"Trust me you don't want to know or rather you'll know soon." he snapped his fingers and the lid of the coffin placed itself back.

'Wow. Seven and I struggled to get that lid when he could only snap his fingers to make things easier.' was my thought before I heard the sound of water.

"BRACE YOURSELVES! AND HOLD YOUR BREATH!" Liu Fen announced.

Water poured out of nowhere and started flooding the chamber. The water was spinning and the force swept us off our feet and dragged us.

We went spinning round and round, and personally it wasn't a good feeling but I kept holding my breath. Unfortunately I hit my head on something and I blacked out.

***

I was going in and out of consciousness and I couldn't make sense of what was going on.

The first time I regained consciousness I felt like I was being transported somewhere but it was too brief and too blurry and it was more like a glimpse because I lost consciousness again.

When I woke up for the second time I was being spoon fed by Artemis with Seven and Kyle behind her. I thought that time that maybe I hit my head too hard and had a really bad case of concussion.

Two days passed with my condition like that I was finally able to fully wake up. Although the moment I did I regretted it because my head stung a lot.

When I opened my eyes the first thing I noticed was the white motif of the room but my attention on the color of the room did not last because my throat felt very dry and my mouth felt like I chewed sand. I looked to the side and saw a glass and a pitcher of water. I helped myself a drink.

I was very dizzy so I just stayed seated and wondered everything that happened but as I did the pounding headache became more intense. I remembered that I only hit my head on something but why did I feel so weak?

"Oh you're awake." I heard a voice say. "I'll call Doctor Hunter."

A few minutes later Artemis arrived together with a familiar looking man. Now, no matter how much she said that he was a nice guy I still couldn't help myself but be cautious because of the things I remembered about him.

"Tell me how you feel?" she asked.

"Dizzy. What is Lucas doing here?"

"You know me? I believe we have never met though." said the blonde-haired-blue-eyed man in front of me. He was obviously taller and older than me. Then there was also his high-bridged nose that all girls must've obviously loved.

"Err… It's complicated."

"You met him there didn't you?" Artemis asked in which I nodded in return. "Was he my stepbrother as well?"

"Yeah and he was a real nasty piece of sh- I mean he was a real piece of work."

Lucas scoffed. "Please don't talk about me in that way like I'm not actually here. Anyway I think introductions are due. My name is Lucas Hunter, Artemis' older brother."

I sighed and shook the hand he held out to me.

"So what are you doing here?" I asked. "And where are we?"

"We're in Shanghai. You were out for two days." answered Artemis.

"Shanghai?! How- Wait what about Chen and the others?"

"That is why I'm here for." said Lucas. "Niccolo and I were able to rescue them yesterday but I immediately left for Hainan when Artemis hit the panic button. They're on their way here."

I sighed as a sign of relief but I remembered his words.

"Panic button?"

"Well we were getting flushed out from a tomb and were floating in a river. I had to get help. Good thing he was able to fish us out."

"Oh. Well in any case Thank you for that Lucas. I guess you're not that bad in this world."

"You're talking weird. You probably still have concussion."

"You are in for a surprise soon brother." Artemis commented.

"Wait," I interrupted. "What about Fa Xiao Min? Jessa? Her friends? Liu Fen?"

"Uhm… Jessa and Liu Fen are hanging out in the hotel suite we booked for everyone. Jessa's friends are out on an errand. Fa Xiao Min on the other hand…" Artemis looked worried.

"He escaped." I guessed.

"Unfortunately. We don't know how he did it but when we got flushed out, I can't believe I just said that, anyway, when we got out he was nowhere to be found. Despite looking like that he was fast at getting away."

"We already have all our contacts on the lookout for him. Then there's also the Triad who's keeping an eye on things. We'll find him." assured Lucas.

"We better find him soon. I have a bad feeling about everything. It feels like he was only a pawn for someone."

"I think that as well." Artemis said. "Are you dizzy again? You better get more rest. You have a concussion. I'll have you thoroughly examined next time you're awake."

"Okay."

I was in a dreamless slumber but I was woken up by the sound of footsteps. I thought it was Artemis checking up on me, but it was a nurse.

"Oh sorry I woke you up Mister Zhang." she said.

"It's fine. I'm just a light sleeper." I glanced at the clock and saw that was already midnight. "What's going on?"

"Just doing my rounds and administering your medicine."

"Oh." I looked up and saw her inject something on my IV drip. "By the way, what is that?"

"Just a painkiller. Doctor Hunter mentioned you hurt your head and shoulder."

"Is that so." I glanced at the floor and noticed something suspicious. "Nurses don't wear rubber shoes when on duty."

I heard her scoff.

"Too late to notice that don't you think?" I suddenly felt really drowsy.

"What did you…"

"My boss wants to see you. Count with me Mister Zhang. One… Two… Three…"

Darkness claimed me.

I found myself in a dream. I was inside a vast space with nothing but darkness. The only thing I could see was myself since I was sort of glowing.

"Hello?" I called but it only echoed.

I talk a few steps and noticed that ripples were made on where I stepped but I kept walking.

"Hello? Is anybody there?"

A chill suddenly washed over me. It made me look back and what I saw terrified me. Strangely, it also made me feel relieved.

In that expanse of empty space, a figure was glowing in violet aura but he was wrapped in chains. The chains were big and black, and it looked very intimidating. The figure it kept bound was a young man that wore a set of silver armor that was bathed in violet light. He was pale-looking and his hair was white.

"Okay… This is creepy." I said to no one in particular.

The empty space suddenly shook and the big chains rattled. A few of them even got cut off. The bound figure stirred and slowly opened his eyes which revealed dark purple orbs that was outlined with gold.

"You…" he snarled in a deep voice.

I suddenly heard a snap and the shaking stopped. The figure also froze and slowly went back to his slumber. I felt a hand on my shoulder and saw a familiar face I never thought I would never see ever since I was born.

"Xiena."

Xiena. Until recently she had only been the goddess of light, life and creation in Agymista, but it turned out she was also the goddess of transmigration. In Agymista she was also the chief goddess of the deities. She was still the same the last time I saw her; she still held the same regal aura, wavy golden hair that reached her ankles, golden eyes which seemed to gaze at your very soul and a pure white dress that always looked brand new.

"It's been a long time Lei Zhang." she greeted.

"What are you doing here? This is not Agymista."

"True but your soul originally belonged there and as the goddess of life and creation it technically belongs to me." she winked at me which sent shivers up my spine.

"Maybe but I've never seen you for the past twenty years of my life here on earth."

"I couldn't. This world you are in is ruled by different divinities. It has different laws and ways. Imagine Zeus or Odin or even the Jade Emperor getting ticked off because I keep interfering in this realm."

"So basically you couldn't do what you wanted."

"Bull's-eye! They're already miffed that your soul is here." she sighed. "By the way you're not supposed to be here."

"I don't even know how I got here. Speaking of… where the hell are we? And who is he?"

Xiena's gaze shifted to the sleeping figure in front of us and surprisingly her expression softened.

"His name is Greine. Greine Vosmas."

"How is he related to you? Is he your boyfriend or something?"

"No… but I guess I liked him but he liked somebody else. You know the usual scenario. But I regretted what happened to him and to the girl he loved." she sounded sad and bitter, almost sorry even. "Anyway, who he is will be revealed in the future. The new Witch of the Void has already received her inheritance and the wheel of fate has shifted. Brace yourself Lei everything is about to change."

"I hate it when people get cryptic and say a bunch of things that is basically foreshadowing." I grumbled.

"Still has that attitude. I blame Artemis for that one. You should wake up you have more pressing matters to worry about."

"No kidding. The last thing I remembered is getting drugged… again."

She snapped her fingers and I woke up. Even though I wanted to think about Xiena's cryptic words I was not in the position to do so.

I found myself inside a room. A plain room with grey walls and a white ceiling and a block dot at the corner that was obviously a camera. That wasn't the worse of it.

I found myself bound with leather straps on the bed I was lying on. I tried to squirm around but it wouldn't budge. My mouth was also sealed with duct tape.

The lone door opened and a Chinese man older than me walked towards where I was. He had black hair in a barber's cut and lightly tanned skin which contrasted on his white doctor's coat.

He checked the IV drip that went unnoticed by me a while ago and then scribbled on his notebook.

"Mister Fa said we'll get rid of the straps once the IV drip is done. You still have a concussion so I advise you not to move around too much." he said in Cantonese.

"Hmmp!" yep. That totally made sense.

He gave me a pointed look the sighed and immediately took off the duct tape.

"Thank you." I gasped. "It was getting unbearable. Now where am I and who are you?" I retorted in the same dialect.

"The name's Fa Yuan Qi and I'm a doctor."

"Look man, I mean Doctor Fa, Fa Xiao Min is a total wacko! It will be better if you don't work for him!"

"I know."

"Then-"

"You don't have to know. The drip should be done in two hours just stay put until then."

He left the room.

"Hey! Doctor Fa!" I called and struggled with my binds at the same time. "Fa Xiao Min! You bastard! Let me go!"

When the IV drip emptied out Doctor Fa came in and took it off my hand. Behind him was Fa Xiao Min who was wearing a smug look on his face. I also noticed the cut he was sporting on his face.

"What happened to you?"

"Nine of your concern." he tapped my face. "Now… you're a valuable hostage but hear this Mister Zhang; if your friends do not give up the Book of Jade, I will not hesitate to kill you."

He pulled out a phone and started dialing a number.

"Hello Wu Fen." he put it on speaker. "I have your son in my custody. If his friends, and I know they're with you at the moment, do not give what I want I will kill him."

"What makes you think he cares?" I asked. "Since I am a stain in my family's name do you really think he'll come rescue me?"

"Your father… probably not. Your friends on the other had are a whole other thing."

"You're out of your mind Fa Xiao Min." replied my father's voice.

"FA XIAO MIN!" yelled a furious Artemis on the other line. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?! KIDNAPPING PEOPLE AND THREATENING THEM? DO YOU WANT BAD KARMA IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE? I SWEAR… IF I FIND YOU I'LL DRAG YOU THROUGH A ROAD FULL OF HEATED SPIKES AND FEED YOU TO MY BROTHER'S DOGS!"

Doctor Fa, Fa Xiao Min and I were just silent and it was very awkward.

"Arty I think Aurum, Noir and Vale don't eat human carcass." I heard Lucas' voice say.

"Hey guys!" I called. "I would appreciate it if you stop with the threats and actually save me!"

"Don't worry Lei-ge!" said Chen's voice. "We're doing everything we can!"

Fa Xiao Min, who seemed to have regained his composure, continued to talk.

"If you want Lei Zhang back alive you better comply with my demand."

"And what would that be?" I heard Seven's voice say.

"I want the Book of Jade that's in your hands in exchange for Lei Zhang's life. You have until tomorrow midnight to deliver the item to me."

"Lei! We'll get you back! Don't worry!" Artemis said.

"I know. Just hurry up though."