Chapter 7 Completeness

As the convoy continued its trek, Shui, disguised in the uniform of one of the soldiers, remained perfectly still, blending seamlessly with the others. His sharp eyes tracked the movement of the vehicles as they split up into different routes, each one assigned a particular search area. His pulse remained calm, his focus unshaken.

When the vehicle he was in veered off the main route, Shui seized the opportunity. The soldiers in the back were momentarily distracted, scanning the roads ahead. Shui moved with the speed of a serpent. He pulled a concealed knife from his belt, swiftly cutting through the air, plunging it into the throat of the driver in a single motion. The man gurgled as realization struck him, before slumping forward.

The two soldiers in the back barely had time to react. Shui was already shot them with a silenced pistol, quick, silent, and lethal. One by one, they fell. His movements were precise, each shot calculating and efficient. He discarded the bodies before taking control of the vehicle.

He had sent them on the wrong trail, but Shui knew the military would keep looking and would eventually notice the disappearance. With a calm that matched his inner resolve, he gripped the wheel and revved the engine, pushing the vehicle forward. Miles stretched ahead as he drove through the wilderness, away from the mountains, towards the nearest town. The rhythmic hum of the engine was a reminder of his resolve; he was not running, as that would imply he was in danger, instead, he was simply enjoying his vacation from the Lab.

The midday sun cast sharp shadows over the bustling streets, the air crisp with mountain freshness. Shui walked with measured steps, blending into the crowd, his black shirt clung to his lean frame, his cargo pants marking him as someone either military or simply a traveler with an eye for practicality. Shui's sharp gaze scanned the town, it was small but lively, with signs in both Mandarin and English, most likely a tourist spot, as expected with the proximity of the Himalayas.

The aroma of freshly ground coffee drifted toward him, leading his eyes to a modest cafe nestled between a bookstore and a mountaineering gear shop; the perfect place to sit, observe, and plan.

MeiLing had worked at the café for over a year, and in that time, she'd seen all kinds of people, tourists, mountaineers, weary travelers stopping for a brief moment of rest, but this man was different.

She had noticed him the moment he walked in, his movements controlled and deliberate. He wasn't stiff, but… careful, like someone who knew how to be invisible yet chose not to be. His black shirt fit snugly, accentuating a lean, athletic build. His pants were military style, but not in a way that screamed "soldier", more like someone who valued function over form.

When he approached the counter, she had hesitated for just a second, caught off guard by his gaze. His eyes were sharp and alert as they swept the cafe in a way that didn't seem casual. Yet when he spoke, his voice was calm, steady. "Green Tea."

As she turned to prepare his drink, she found herself glancing back at him. He had taken a seat by the window, positioning himself in a way that allowed him to see the entrance, out to the street, and most of the cafe without moving his head too much. It wasn't normal behavior, not in a paranoid way, just… unusually intentional... Or maybe she was thinking too much?

When she brought the coffee over, their eyes met for the second time.

"Here you go," she said, setting the cup down.

He looked up at her, and for a moment, MeiLing felt something unexpected, a quiet intensity, like he was seeing past the surface, like he was studying her just as much as she was studying him.

"Thank you," he said simply with a smile.

She hesitated, then took a small risk. "You're not from around here, are you?"

The slight pause wasn't the usual small talk response she expected.

"No," he said, then, after a beat, he added, "Just passing through."

His voice had a depth to it, not overly rough, but controlled. MeiLing smiled and leaning slightly against the chair across from him, pretending to clean stain on the table she happened to notice. "Most people passing through don't order plain green tea."

He tilted his head slightly, considering her statement, he had come to enjoy it at the temple of the monk and the doctor would also offer it. "What do they usually order?"

"Caramel lattes, Mochas, Something sweet usually to make them forget how cold it is outside."

A hint of something, maybe amusement, flickered in his eyes. "I don't forget things easily."

That answer made something tighten in her chest. There was weight in those words, even if she didn't understand why.

She wanted to ask more, but something told her he wasn't the type to offer much, at least not yet. So instead, she just smiled. "Well, if you're planning to stick around, maybe try something different next time."

His fingers tapped lightly against the ceramic cup. A small gesture, but she caught it.

"Maybe."

She wasn't sure why that single word sent a tiny thrill through her. Maybe it was because, for the first time in a long time, someone in this small town actually intrigued her.

Suddenly, Shui shivered, the warmth of the cafe faded and the scent of coffee, the soft hum of conversation, the flicker of curiosity in MeiLing's eyes disappeared.

The world around him fractured like glass, like shards of illusion dissolving into nothing.

Then, the cold sterile hum of fluorescent lights, the suffocating weight of reality had returned to him together with the metallic scent of antiseptic that filled his nostrils.

His body was motionless, just as before. His limbs, twisted and frail, refused to obey his will.

A voice sharp and clinical cut through the silence.

"What have you learned, Subject 314?"

Shui's mind reeled, trying to hold on to the dream, but it was slipping through his fingers like sand; he wasn't in a cafe, he wasn't free, he had never been free.

His breathing quickened, his fingers were weak, barely capable of movement, but he dragged them against the cold floor. His nails cracked and skin tore, but he didn't stop.

Slowly and painfully, he traced the words:

KILL ME.

Over and over until they were written in blood.

His throat was too dry to speak, but he didn't need to, the crooked words carved into the ground were enough.

The doctor sighed, the same sigh he always gave, disappointed, indifferent, as if 314's suffering was nothing more than an inconvenience.

"Reset his dosage," the doctor said, his voice void of sympathy. "He's becoming unstable again."

The last thing Shui felt was the sting of a needle, then, everything faded once more.

The End

Afterword from the author, Thrice Reckless:

It hurts to be alone. If you gained the world, but lost you're soul, isn't it all for naught? If you seek something, don't lose track of honor, not the honor others perceive, but the honor and conscience within you. To be insulted doesn't tarnish your honor, to insult does.

It's a great day outside, why do you stay here with me? Isn't the warmth of the sun or the cleansing of the rain a much greater poet than me? Neither the books, nor the monk can claim to be the master or the teacher, for it is the very creation that speaks to those who listen and question.

This story ended in tragedy, but I challenge you to give it a happy ending, this story will remain free for anyone to add to it, if you're interested in seeing Shui's dream to the end, write a fan fiction, if you can't finish it, maybe someone can continue it in your stead, however it may be, we should carry our honor forward.

(In honor of another great poem, I wrote this one)

"Would that we could live a long life together, and under the moonlight, share a lifetime." - The mortal said to the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, standing by his side.

"Dusk has come to take what's ours, and the leaves have changed." She replied as a tear slid down her wrinkled face.

"Life carved in memory, memory cast to the wind." The mortal said with unwillingness.

"Fear not the wind that sweeps, for the embrace will ease the cold." The old woman wiped her tear and filled herself with resolve.

"Lonely in the field is no warrior, but I return home." The mortal let go of his grievances and lay to rest on her lap.

In long dreams they spent their time in each other's company, no longer weary, no longer sad.

Youth had returned to them, at a loss.

The shore cradles the waves washing away promises in the sand, but deep in the heart we are still holding each other's hand.

For those who question, but had their curiosity stifled: Ask not those who say they know, for they know nothing like it's supposed to be known.

To who have read and understood, I offer you the blessing of faith, honor, and completeness, please accept it. I may not have much to bless with, but I will share it with all who ask.

Parting music: Blue - Yung Kai