Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Location: Wan Chai, Hong Kong
It was a rainy day in January, little people wandered in the streets of the old town. Some stood under shelter to wait for the rain to stop but it seemed it would be a long storm. Wearing a black trench coat, she walked with quick steps. Glancing at her watch, she noticed she was late. Silently cursing to herself, she fastened her pace to beat the chirping light across the street. Umbrella in hand, she knocked a few people in the head with the edges. But she didn’t have time to stop, she had a destination to meet.
Turning her back slightly, she made sure she was not being followed before entering an alley most women would never be caught dead in. Ignoring the beggars’ cries for spare change, she skipped through the puddles, oblivious to her now wet pant legs. Knocking on the third shack to the right, she waited for another knock before giving the three knock code.
The door opened and appeared one male associate, he waved her in hastily as he took her umbrella and shook most of the water out “You’re late.” The man sitting by a limping table said sternly.
The girl lowered her head slightly “Sorry, traffic was horrible.”
“I don’t want to hear excuses.” He snipped. Pointing to a chair in front of him, she sat down and waited for her partner to sit “Did anyone see you?”
She shook her head and sipped the tea he poured for her “No, its pitch black and the rain hasn’t stopped in hours, I doubt anyone had time to pay attention to me.”
“Good.” He hummed with satisfaction. The room was dark, but she could see the white on his teeth “Do we need to go over the plan again?” he asked the two.
The other male nodded firmly “Just to be sure.”
“Do you think they’re on to us?” the girl wondered out loud.
The leader of the three shook his head “No. They are so cocky, thinking that they are well aware of their surroundings. Wait til’ we pounce on them. The P.R.A. agents have no idea what’s coming to them.”
“Serves them right.” The other male sneered “When they don’t obliged to our requests, it is exactly what they get. I’ll take care of the guys.”
“I’ll take care of the women.” The girl advised.
“Okay. Since Cancer lives on her own, I’ll handle her.” He said firmly.
“Suit yourself.” The girl was not fighting with him over their set out plan “Operation Take Out starts tonight?”
“Are you scared?” he asked her with leering eyes.
The girl laughed in the eye of danger “Please, fear is my middle name. I eat fear for breakfast!”
“Good, then we’ll split now. I’ll see you all tomorrow afternoon at the set location.” The leader nodded as he was the first to leave “Be careful, they can put up a good fight.” He gave them the last bit of advice before melting into the rain.
***************
“Jenna!!!” Ryan screamed her name from the foot of the stairs for the fifth time “Dinner time!!!!”
Erin turned her head with a disapproving look “Must you scream like we are all old with impaired hearing?”
“That’s how we communicate.” Ryan chuckled.
“Maybe she got stuck in the toilet?” Doug came out of the kitchen with the chicken wing in his hand.
“Thanks for waiting.” Erin nodded sternly “I’ll go find her. You guys start first.”
“Done.” Doug grinned as he took a huge bite of the chicken, tearing the skin and juice came splattering around his lips.
Ryan winced in disgust “I should tape this for Jessie to see, maybe she’ll come to her senses and dump you.”
“Maybe I should put salt in your drink and let you drink it.” Doug teased.
Erin knocked on Jenna’s door and entered when there was no answer. Her room was empty, she turned and found steam coming from the bathroom door. She noticed it was not locked and opened it. Jenna was taking a bubble bath “Its dinner time.” Erin sighed with exasperation.
“I’ve had a hard day.” Jenna replied as if it was enough “Anyways, I already ate.”
“When?” Erin frowned, she enjoyed their dinner time together.
“Those cookies that were delivered from Michael in the U.S. They were sooo good.” She moaned at the thought of the delicious chocolate chip cookies that tasted hand made.
Erin sighed “You ate them? I was yelling at Luke because I thought he ate half of them. I lectured him about sharing and how selfish it was for him not to tell anyone about them. I only got one after Doug and Ryan got to them.”
Jenna giggled “Poor Luke, you should go apologize to him.”
“Thanks to you!” Erin shut the door and jogged down the steps. She reached the kitchen and opened the door “Luke…I owe…” suddenly, she felt queasy in the stomach.
“Erin?” Luke got up from his seat and rushed to her side “Are you okay?”
The pain grew with horrid pain as she eventually fell to her knees. She looked up and found Doug and Ryan too were in the same position “The cookies…” she realized before falling into Luke’s arms. Ryan and Doug too came crumbling down on the table, head first onto the food.
Jenna winced in pain as she struggled to get out of the slippery tub. She had enough time to reach for a towel and wrap around herself before slowly fainting onto the bathroom floor.
******************
“Mmm, these cookies are so good! Yuk Jei, you have to show me how to make them.” Mia groaned with pleasure as she handed one to Darren “Try it.”
Yuk Jei returned as she cleared the rest of the dinner dishes “I didn’t make them, Madam.”
“Really? Then who did?” Mia turned to her husband with raised brows.
He laughed “Don’t look at me, I don’t even know what a cookie is made out of.”
“They were delivered this morning.” The long time Chiu family cook answered. She pulled the card from her pocket apron “I forgot to give this to you.”
Mia read the card inscription and sighed, “Aww, how sweet of Michael and Julie. They ordered them from the U.S.”
Darren chewed the last bite of his first cook and nodded “This is good. Are you sure it’s from Michael? I find it strange that they would buy us cookies for no reason? It’s not Thanksgiving and it’s not Christmas.”
“Maybe it’s early New Years?” Mia suggested as she finished yet another cookie. She pushed the box away suddenly “God, I can’t eat anymore. I’m going to balloon into a pig.”
He laughed while tempting her with another half bitten cookie “Aww, come on Mia. It’s not fattening. I think it’s made from low fat sugar.” He ate the other half hungrily leaving crumbs on the table.
Mia narrowed her eyes at her husband with annoyance “You just love to taunt me don’t you? Even though you know I’m not suppose to be snacking. Didn’t you hear Devin the other day? I have the worst running record out of the whole team. It’s because of this!” she raised her shirt and patted her puffed up stomach.
He ignored her pain and reached for another cookie. Before he could take a bite, Mia snapped it from his hands and devoured it “You are a pig.” He said wryly.
“Thank you.” She muttered through the crumbs.
After the two finished more than half of the box of cookies, they returned to the comfortable spacious living room to watch television. Bonnie was asleep on the couch “Can you believe she’s turning five this year?” Darren whispered, careful not to wake her.
Mia smiled at their precious jewel of a daughter “Yeah, she’s going to be the most popular girl in school.”
“That’s not important Mia…popularity is not...” Darren began the speech only to be interrupted by a doorbell. She chuckled as he was forced to get up and open the door “We’ll continue this.” He warned with a wagging finger. When he opened the door, he was surprise to see Matt and Reina smiling back “Hey guys.”
“Hi. Can we come in for a minute?” Reina asked.
Mia was quick to be on her feet as she bounced over to her long time friend “Of course, you guys are always welcome. Want some cookies? Michael sent them over from the U.S.” she nodded to the box on the coffee table.
“No thanks, we got some too.” Matt smiled “Reina finished four of them.”
“Mia could beat that, she ate eight of them.” Darren shook his head with a laugh.
“Seven and three quarters.” Mia corrected. Reina shook her head with a laugh “The last bite would have sent me to the bathroom if you know what I mean.” She nudged her with an exaggerated wink.
Darren was about to sit on the couch when he felt a pang of pain hit his stomach “Ow…” he fell to his knees in an instant.
“Darren.” Mia got up worriedly only to fall to her knees in excruciating pain “What the hell…” she turned to Reina and Matt, who too were holding their stomachs in pain. Her eyes turned to the box of cookies and slowly she fell to the carpeted floor with a thud.
****************
Carmen was out of the shower in her pajamas as she toweled dried her hair. She sat on the couch and switched on the television. Her eyes skimmed passed the telephone, she was waiting for Luke’s call. It was routine for them to talk before she went to sleep. Glancing at her clock, she realized he was late. Curious, she picked up the receiver and dialed his number. After five rings, the machine picked up “That’s funny.” Carmen said to herself as she placed the phone back to its socket “Monday is family dinner night.” she tried again but get the same message.
She shrugged it off lightly, maybe they were having too much fun, she thought to herself. Getting up, she headed to the small kitchen to get a drink when the doorbell rang. It was almost ten, why would anyone come to visit her? A smile crept on her face as she guessed it might be Luke. Opening the door, she was faced with a male dressed in a black trench coat and black gloves.
She opened the door and tilted her head strangely. Before she had a chance to question, he covered her mouth with a cloth filled with anesthesia medicine. Carmen struggled a bit but wasn’t powerful enough to fight the medicine. Slowly, her arms slumped down and she slid into unconsciousness.