Little Fish - Chapter 5

Four days later, they finally reached New Air City. Each time a city fell to a gate, a new one would be constructed and renamed, the notion meant to promote hope through such turbulent times. Sitting in the back of their stolen four-wheel drive, they’d come to New Air City as Gun Wen had been busy. Spending two days at the coast, Wei Zangchen stayed in the hotel, unable to face the ocean outside. Thanks to Gun Wen, they’d connected one of the data tablets he’d taken from the institution and previously wiped clean years ago. The poor relic struggled to keep up with the online news as the esper threw himself into studying what had been going on in the outside world.

The world had changed so much. Gates now allowed video access to footage from the inside. People he’d known during his days of training had made legacies for themselves. People he’d once gotten along with had died. Protests seemed to be held biweekly, and the amount of stress on the Bureaus had only grown.

Parking at the train station, Wei Zangchen lifted Xiao Li out of the back. The three of them had had a complete makeover—Xiao Li now dressed as the precious daughter, Wei Zangchen as the father who still lived as if he were young, and Gun Wen as the younger brother, with his hair bleached and his lip pierced, coupled with a dozen fake piercings hanging off his left ear. The car they’d taken from the institution was abandoned a day’s drive away, parked in thick forest that would keep it well hidden. The car they’d taken from the rest stop had enough fuel to get them where they needed to be, and in return, they’d left a thick stack of cash in the glove box.

After a cursory wipe-over, they geared up, donning caps and masks as they headed into the building. Driving had been surprisingly relaxing as he’d eased back into things, though it hadn’t been without its few near-death experiences. Hundreds of people ensured the crowd swallowed them up as they followed the pull like a fish headed downstream in the current. Reaching the machines, Gun Wen bought their N-Line tickets. Wei Zangchen was now along for the ride, as he’d promised that it was past time for his friend to start getting things his own way.

From the N-Line, they made two more transfers, followed by taking the bus to just short of their destination. Finding a discreet hotel that accepted cash, his friend had still been picky enough to review every hotel review before settling on one that seemed the best of the worst.

The place lived up to its name. Settled between a night food market and a club district, the staircase up was swallowed by overhanging wires. Heading inside, the desk was unattended, instructions left for key access and payment. Having already called to book, Gun Wen had made arrangements with the owner on where to leave the cash. The bills had been wiped clean, their original bills swapped in batches along the way. The generosity of their former colleagues was the only reason they had cash to make it this far.

Entering what seemed to have once been a jail, they found their room on the second floor. To the left was the bathroom for the four rooms of that area, as well as the overflowing shoe locker and a very full power board. Tearing his gaze away, he followed Gun Wen into their temporary new home.

Their new home held two single beds dressed with depressing yellow blankets. A desk was wedged between the two, with an older-style fan bolted to the wall above it. Its yellowed pull cord seemed to be barely holding. On the desk was a radio clock and a black lamp. The sole window of the room was two feet by two feet, painted with peeling yellow paint, then covered with old newspaper. Wei Zangchen didn’t know why he’d been brought here. This was nothing like what he’d expected from Gun Wen. He hadn’t promised opulence, but if a rat came running out, he wouldn’t be surprised.

Ignoring the way he stood there, Gun Wen carried their gear to the bed near the window.

“Don’t worry. I know it looks bad, but consider this the waiting room.”

What “waiting room”? The waiting room for depression?

“What the hell? This place is worse than the last place.”

Gun Wen took off his hat and mask, grinning.

“Not necessarily. It’s got jammers. A signal can go out, but it can’t come in.”

Wei Zangchen nearly said something he’d regret because his own situation was about as bad as everyone else around them. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he was honest.

“I expected nice.”

“It’s an esper-free zone. Seriously. So many espers got into fights that the military banned them. That’s not to say they can’t enter, but if they’re military, they’re going to be punished. Provided they even find this place.”

“How did you even find that out?”

“Prepaid cards and a bit of digging. You’re the one avoiding talking about your friend. I still think he could have helped.”

Knowing exactly who Gun Wen meant, Wei Zangchen glared coldly. The smartness of buying the cards was overshadowed by Gun Wen’s big mouth.

“We were never friends. I don’t know where you technicians got your information, but we never got along. Not to mention my family cursed him out and threatened to deport me if I talked to him because he was a guide. So no, we weren’t close. I doubt he’d remember me, let alone want to help if he did.”

Amongst the papers was an A-grade alpha guide that he’d gone through training with. It wasn’t that the alpha was one of those with a chip on his shoulder about not being an esper, but going to him would lead to questions that Wei Zangchen didn’t want to answer. Worst of all, that alpha seemed to be Cai Dan’s boss, and Cai Dan wasn’t exactly going to be open to a civil conversation.

With everything placed on the bed, Gun Wen turned around and sat down, bouncing lightly half a dozen times to test the springs.

“I know you met him, but I only heard the good rumors. Gu Lang was a bit of a legend to everyone at work.”

“That’s because you guys never caught him in a foul mood. He once gave a whole team laxatives on the sly because one of their junior members got coffee on a trainee’s shoe.”

Gun Wen gaped at the news. Yeah. Gu Lang had his good side, but anyone who crossed him was always taught a hard lesson. After disappearing then showing back up… Wei Zangchen didn’t want to think about the punishment he’d get.

“Shit. I mean, I never heard anything like that. I always heard he was straight-laced…”

“You weren’t in training with him. Seriously, if you come across his name again, run. He’s not someone we can face.”

Nodding at the news, his friend opened his arms for Xiao Li. Wei Zangchen released the boy’s hand so he could run to his uncle.

“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll see the building owner later today. He owns two places, and this one seemed best to get everyone off our tail for now.”

Alright. It wasn’t as if the room was completely uninhabitable. Wei Zangchen simply wished Gun Wen would be more selfish.

“Okay. I’ll leave Xiao Li to you. I’m going to take a shower. Make sure he can’t get out that window.”

Gun Wen waved him off, so the esper got his things and headed to shower.