Zhan's Pov.
Meng was explaining some witchy stuff to me in her room at the time, and I was sitting there listening to her when suddenly the front doorbell rang.
I was so surprised, I almost tripped while rushing to the door. I was expecting Wang to come back soon, but instead I found Cheng standing outside the door, grinning like a fool.
Zhan... Cheng shouted my name and hugged me tightly. I could feel his excitement as he exclaimed, "I have missed you so much! Omg look at you, you look so adorable!" I was taken aback by his sudden appearance and couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm.
I finally got the chance to hug him back and before I knew it, he had twirled me around like a sack of potatoes, his laughter echoing in the hallway.
Good to see you Cheng. He must be the gift Wang talks about. He is so thoughtful, and I am glad he brought my friend here. I was so relieved that I could finally see Cheng after all these months. I had missed him dearly and I was so thankful that Wang had thought of this surprise for me. I was grateful for the chance to finally catch up with him and spend some quality time together.
This is Meng and her brother Yu Bin. I pointed to them, and this is Cheng, my friend I told you about in Uscana.
Meng and Yu Bin greeted Cheng warmly. I pulled Cheng in from the doorway, and we all took a seat and started talking.
How are your siblings? I asked as we settled on the couch.
They are fine, both are at school. Wang called and said you needed me. I was worried something had happened to you. When you left a lot of people asked questions about you. Who are you again? Cheng asked curiously.
I don't know who I am, Cheng. To be honest, I question my own life. In the past couple of months, a series of events have left me questioning my existence. If someone narrated these experiences to me, I wouldn't believe them. However, I saw them happen with my own eyes, and that has left me feeling lost and confused.
Tell me everything. Cheng raises his eyebrows.
"I will tell you everything, Cheng, but not now," I replied, raising my eyebrows in response.
Meng got up from the couch, a mischievous look in her eyes. "I'll make some tea," she said, heading to the kitchen.
Okay, thanks. I'm sorry I forgot you were here for a moment, I mouthed as she smiled at me. Cheng nodded and looked at me, while Meng continued to the kitchen humming a tune.
There was a loud bang and Wang stepped into the house with what I believed to be my mother.
Wang, why is she here? I inquired, rising from the couch.
"I don't have time to explain now, but I will explain on our way out." Wang's voice sounded strange, almost as if he was trying to hide something.
What's wrong with your voice? I asked.
"Nothing," Wang said hastily, his voice strained. He cleared his throat and forced a smile. Had a fight with Wen, he is on his way here. Jackson and Liu hold them off while I take you to a safe place. "Let's go."
Oh my gosh, are they okay? I asked, checking him out for injury.
"I'm fine," he snapped at me. "But we need to leave now, and I will explain everything, okay? I promise." I nodded in agreement and Wang grabbed my hand, leading me out of the room as quickly as we could.
Wang, Meng said as she dropped the tray with teacups in it on the table. Are you okay? Where's Liu?
"We need to leave." Wang said.
Meng nodded in agreement, and we all left. A car picked us up and took us through the meadow. As we continued our journey, we arrived at an open field.
We boarded the plane, but it looked different from the last one. The plane was sleeker and more modern, with advanced technology and comfortable seating. The flight attendants greeted us with a smile and led us to our seats.
Is this another plane? I asked.
Yeah, it belonged to Liu. Wang replied and walked through the plane's isles.
I didn't look at my mom. I walked three seats away from her before I sat down and was expecting Wang to sit beside me, but he went and started talking with my mom. I could hear snippets of their conversation as Wang explained the features of the plane to her.
Cheng sat beside me while Meng and Yu Bin sat opposite us. We took in the beautiful sights outside the window, pointing out interesting features to each other. The air was crisp and clear, and the sun shone through the plane, creating a stunning rainbow effect.
We buckled our seat belt before the plane took off smoothly, and we began our journey. The view from the window was breathtaking, as we passed lush green fields, majestic mountains, and sparkling lakes. The cabin crew provided excellent service, ensuring our comfort and well-being throughout the flight.
Wang seemed different. Yu Bin said and shrugged his shoulders.
Do you sense anything? Meng asked, moving closer to him.
"I don't know," Yu Bin said, scrunching his eyebrows together in thought. "There's just something off about him. I can't pinpoint it." Meng nodded, her eyes narrowing as she studied Wang.
Before we knew it, the plane was high up in the sky, and the strangest thing happened. Cheng was the first to drift off, followed by Yu Bin and Meng. I was struggling to stay awake, wanting to talk to Wang to ask about his brother and friend if they were okay. However, I closed and opened my eyes. Soon, I too was asleep, and the plane continued its ascent into the night.
I woke up in an unfamiliar place, unsure of how long I had slept or where I was. To my dismay, I discovered that I was shackled and strapped to a bed. I struggled against the restraints, but only hurt my wrist.
I was filled with fear and confusion. Was it possible that I had turned into a beast in my sleep and that's why I was tied up? Everything seemed fuzzy and I couldn't remember what had happened before I fell asleep. I felt a chill run down my spine as I wondered if I was now a dangerous creature.
I found myself again entangled in despair chains. The weight of my emotions seemed unbearable, and the urge to break free from the shackles that bound me was overwhelming.
With a trembling hand, I reached for the chains around my wrist, gripping them tightly in my determination. But as I exerted all my strength, the chains refused to yield, remaining unyielding in my grasp.
In that moment, a voice broke the silence, resonating with a mixture of empathy and understanding. "Don't worry, we all tried," Meng's voice echoed from beside me.
I looked around and noticed that everyone was in chains and strapped to beds. It was unsettling to see, and I understood why Wang had done this to me, but I couldn't believe he had done it to them as well.
I whispered, "Meng, use your magic."
Meng hesitated for a moment, and then shook her head. "I tried my magic, but it didn't work."
I urged her, "Try again, please."
Meng hesitated, and then took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and focused, but nothing changed.
She tried over a hundred times, but nothing changed. Cheng hissed in frustration, "It's no use, there must be something blocking her magic."
Frustrated, I whispered, "We need to get them out."
Meng nodded.
Wang did this? I can't believe he'd ever treat me like this. I wonder if it has anything to do with the curse my mom was talking about. But despite that, I trust Wang enough to talk to me about anything that's happening.
At the time, I was deep in thought when I heard a loud creaking sound. The door opened far from us, and the sound echoed through the room. It sounded like we were in a warehouse. However, after a few moments, the door creaked closed again.
A loud voice thundered from a distance, its words cutting through the air like a knife. "Walk fast, old man! Faster!"
The urgency of the voice echoed in our ears, sending a shiver down our spines. We strained our eyes, hoping to identify the speaker's location. But we saw nothing.
Suddenly, a jarring sound pierced the silence. It came from the heels worn by the woman approaching us. With each stride, her shoes struck the ground with a resounding thud. The sound grew louder and louder, drowning out any other noise that might have been present.
A figure emerged. It was a daunting sight - a woman dressed in a crimson dress, her attire contrasting sharply with the black heels she wore. Her hair was disheveled, framing a intimidating and amusing face. The eyes that stared back at us were a peculiar combination of different colors. This was almost as if they were painted by an artist with a peculiar sense of humor.
Behind her was an elderly gentleman pushing a cart laden with food. The cart creaked and groaned under his weight, an indication of his advanced age. However, something caught our attention. It was as if he knew exactly what awaited us in this unknown place.
As the woman drew closer, the air around us grew heavier. Her presence exuded an aura of mystery and danger, making it difficult to breathe.
He placed food on the bed in front of each of us, along with bottled water. Suddenly, the lady turned around and left. I decided to talk to her.
Excuse me, can I please talk to Wang? I'm Zhan.
I was taken aback by her sudden reaction and force of the slap. I could feel the heat on my cheek and I was stunned and speechless. She glared at me and said, "You only talk when spoken to. I know who you are. You won't see Wang for a while." With that, she wiped her hand on the bed and left.
Meng hissed, "Your mouth is bleeding. And I was too shocked to even notice it or feel the pain that came with it."