Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
She was led down the familiar corridors that morning by the officer. Erin passed the solitary rooms and noticed the faces clamped over the tiny square window, the only contact to the outside world. Her brows knitted together when she realized that they had moved him to a solitary room “Thank you.” She nodded politely at the guard.
“If you need me, yell.” He eyed Ah Gam sternly before leaving. The door was closed and locked after Erin walked inside.
He was beaten up pretty bad, bruises all over his face “They told me you started a fight with a few other cellmates?” she began.
He snickered at the irony “Yes, I started the fight.” Standing up, he walked over to his small bed as she noticed the short limp in his left leg “Getting strangled from behind and a plastic fork jammed into my leg. Sure, I provoked them to beat me up cause I was standing in line to get food.”
“Did you explain your story?” Erin felt bad for the guy. She believed what he said.
He looked naively at her “It’s three against one, who do you think got the last laugh?” lying on the bed, he made himself comfortable “I guess this is better. No one to bug me or kick me off the bed.”
But she knew he hated being in jail. How could anyone enjoy the treatment? Pulling a chair next to his bed, she sighed “I would help you get out sooner but your file is permanent.”
“Cut the soft hearted crap. What do you want?” he closed his eyes to rest the throbbing pain.
“You can disregard if you want but I was being sincere.” She said solemnly “Ah Kiu was almost attacked.”
He shot upright and took a hold of her arms “Is she okay? What happened? I thought you guys will protect her?”
Erin smiled “She’s safe. Someone by the name of Sum Gor wanted to start trouble with her. Our team came on time and was able to make him leave. But I have a feeling this could happen again.”
“That asshole has got balls!” he snapped angrily “When Hung Gor was alive, he sucked up to him constantly but the true face of the snake is finally revealed.”
“You have anything on him?” she asked.
Ah Gam tilted his head “Like a threat?”
“More like blackmail.” She grinned.
He nodded in reply “Yeah. He’s got a ring of brothels in Sa Tin. Hidden behind these Video stores but it’s a prostitution operation going down.”
“Really?” Erin was interested.
“Yeah, I had promised Hung Gor not to reveal it but since he’s no longer here and Sum Gor is not respecting the dead. I don’t need to respect him. His money comes from these businesses and if you find them all, he’ll be out. No money, no gang.”
“That simple?” she wasn’t sure that would take out the Tigers.
Ah Gam tapped his temple “Don’t think too complicated. Gangs need money to operate. You kill the only tool for business, you kill the head…everything will be gone before you can wish that Brad was still alive.”
Striking a chord in her heart, she frowned “Don’t be an ass. I was beginning to like you.” She stood up and walked towards the door. Nodding to the guard, he began unlocking the door to let her out.
“Hey.” Ah Gam stopped her before she pass through the door “Thanks.” Lying down, he rested his worry head. He didn’t see the small smile that appeared on her face.
*************
Late that afternoon, at home Luke strolled across the living room, one arm behind his back and one at the waist “Yeung Lin, I will not allow you to disrespect me in my own home. I will have to ask you to leave.” He pointed to the door haughtily.
“My Lord, it is not disrespecting if what I say is true.” Carmen read from the script page he made a copy of.
He sneered with a raised nose “We will continue some other time. Now please, leave.”
Carmen looked at the page strangely. She bit into her half finished peanut butter sandwich “I think the line is: Now please, excuse yourself.” She corrected with a mouthful.
Luke frowned uneasily “Damn it! I always mess that line up. I suck!”
She quickly moved from the couch and over to him “Don’t be silly. You did very well. This is not an easy role. The ancient era can be very tricky to play.” She assured him.
He smiled “Thanks, I don’t know if I could give this acting thing a second try without you.”
She laughed while he hugged her “Don’t remind me. I was so angry that you didn’t tell me about this secret passion for acting. I always thought you’d be perfect.”
“I know!” he agreed quickly while glancing at the wall clock “Crap, I’ve got 15 minutes to get there and sign in.”
“I’ll go with you.” Carmen offered.
“Really? You don’t have work?” internally, he knew with her support he would do fine but at the same time he knew that the P.R.A. was more important.
She nodded “Yeah, we’re on call. I’ll just leave if I get a page. But I want to give you some moral support.”
“You’re the best girlfriend!” He exclaimed.
When they reached the station, Carmen was not allowed inside the audition area, so she waited in the halls for Luke. She silently prayed that he could hold it together and get through the audition. He told her how he bombed at his first audition and was too embarrassed to show his face. But after a few more acting classes, he found the courage within and decided to fill her in. She recalled how surprise she was.
After standing around for ten minutes, she decided to take a walk and find the cafeteria to get a snack. She was stopped at the door when there was a sign that read ‘Quiet, filming’. She snuck inside and watched as a movie shooting unfolded before her eyes.
Luke finished his line and felt confident that he did well. The lady excused him and said they would be in contact. He was flabbergasted, that was a callback. Unlike his first time, he was asked to come back. Ecstatic, he rushed outside to find Carmen. He spun around in circles outside the hallway but she was nowhere in sight “Are you looking for your friend? The girl with the short hair, cute smile?” a guy in a jean jacket asked.
He nodded vigorously “Yeah, have you seen her?”
“I saw her walk over there.” He pointed, “I’ll take you.”
“Thanks.” Luke was glad for the friendly stranger as he walked him outside of the set and into an empty hall. He walked inside the dimly lit room “Hey…I don’t think…” before he had a chance to finish, the door locked leaving an echo in the hollow room.
He spun around slowly to see the guy pull out a sharp shiny knife “Well, look at that. She’s not in here after all.” The guy mocked. He toyed with the knife while taking small steps towards the fearful Luke.
Looking around, he tried to look for another way out but he was unfamiliar with the station “What…what do you want? I don’t even know you.” He tried to talk his way out but the tremble in his voice only added to the guy’s confidence.
“Never mind that!” he snapped “Get over here!” He ordered.
Luke backed away in circles, keeping a good distance from the guy “No, I like it over here…and I want to live to see tomorrow. I might get that gig!!” he pointed out.
“Shut up!” the guy barked as he lunged towards Luke, who yelled at the top of his lungs and ducked. He didn’t expect Luke to lower into a ball as he tripped over his curled body. Luke thought fast and ran for the door, he only had a chance to unlock it when the guy charged at him again “You’re not getting away that fast…” he sneered.
Luke backed away slowly “At least tell me who’s trying to kill me…”
“I don’t know. I was given money to do a job.” He answered coldly and took a sharp stab at his ribs. Luke missed it by a hair as the sharp edge sliced through his shirt.
Suddenly, the door swung open appearing Carmen. She returned to learn that Luke was done with his audition and someone saw him leave with a guy. She followed the way and heard screaming “Carmen!” Luke cried happily.
She didn’t give the attacker time to take another stab at Luke as she dove at him and pushed him to the ground. Taking a hold of his arm with the weapon, she forced it out with a few bangs against the floor. He tried using his feet to push her off, but she was well prepared with a punch into the gut. He rolled in pain as she got up and pulled him to his feet “Who sent you?!” she ordered.
He leaned on his knees to relieve the pain, but at the same time, pulling out a second knife as he spun around and tried to swipe it at her. Carmen reacted quickly as she moved her head back and let go of his sleeve. The guy quickly ran for the door. Luke rushed over to Carmen, looking terrified “Are you okay?”
She nodded “Are you?” he nodded and thought about it, then shook his head. She took his hand “Come on.”
“Maybe we should tell Erin?” he whispered when they made their way out to sunlight.
Carmen nodded in agreement “Yeah.”
They called home but when no one picked up, Luke tried her cell phone. She was at Chuck and Eve’s for dinner. The two walked inside with Eve greeting them at the door “Hey guys. Perfect timing…” her smile faded “Luke, you’re pale as a ghost.”
“I was almost killed.” He whispered while Carmen hid her smile.
Erin peeked her head from the dining room “Hey, what’s the rush you guys had to find me?”
“Erin!!” Luke wailed as he rushed over to hug her “I thought I’d never see you again.”
She was use to his dramatic entrance but that was ridiculous. He felt heavy against her shoulder as she threw Carmen a look “He was attacked at the TV station.”
“You what?” Erin pulled him away “What happened?”
“Well, Carmen thought I should give this acting another try. So I was in the run for this ancient general role and—”
Erin cut him off “Focus.”
“Someone tried to kill me!” he widened his eyes.
“Dear God, won’t it end?” Eve clamped a hand over her mouth “You’re not hurt?”
Luke turned to her and showed her the slit on his shirt “Another millimeter and it could have been me.” His lips quivered “Good thing Carmen was there.”
Carmen walked over to them “Don’t know who did it. The guy wouldn’t say.” She read Erin’s questioning face.
“Dinner time!!!” Chuck called as he wore an apron and brought out a plate full of lobster “Aww…I don’t have enough for two more.” Erin turned to her uncle and shook her head solemnly “Wow, I was just kidding. You can stay.” He widened his eyes.
“Luke was attacked today.” Eve informed her husband as she walked into the kitchen to help him finish setting the table.
Chuck rolled his eyes “Another husband of a woman you slept with but you didn’t KNOW she was married?”
“What?” the girls said in unison while looking at Luke.
“He’s kidding.” Luke laughed nervously as he walked over to Chuck and clenched his teeth “She doesn’t know about my player past.”
“Oh, right…” Chuck laughed “I was kidding.” He assured the girls “Did you get a good look at the guy?” Luke nodded “Good, describe him to me after dinner and I’ll draw it on my computer. We’ll find that son of a bitch.” He assured the shaken guy.
Eve shook her head sternly “Honey, don’t use that language in front of the kid.”
“It’s okay Eve. I’m use to the vulgar language.” Luke said with a laugh.
“She means that kid.” Erin nodded to Eve’s stomach while taking a seat next to Chuck.
“You’re pregnant?!” Carmen exclaimed. Eve smiled with a shy nod “Congratulations!”
“Thank you.” She grinned happily.
“I didn’t know your soldiers had it in them.” Luke snickered and began digging into the food.
Chuck used his chopsticks to stop Luke from picking the best piece of the crab “This is for my beautiful wife, mother to be.” He took the meaty section and passed it onto her plate.