Threshold of Time

[Guo Xiang]

Prologue

"Hah...hah...hah..." a girl panted as she ran on the corridors of a long row of shophouses. She stopped when she came to a stairway marked with a rusty plaque that says '421'.

The girl looked up the tiny and dimly-litted stairway and stood there silently for a few moments before she walked up the stairs which creaked at her every step. The girl looked at the doors on her left and right. The right door was slightly ajar and a stream of light had escaped from it. There were laughter from what sounded like a dozen people and noises from the television. She turned to the left door and it was another different thing altogether.

While the right door was new and sturdy and the room within had signs of life, the left door was shut tightly with both paint and wood peeling off. 421-2, the small door plaque says.

Silently, the girl stepped up, grasped the doorknob and turned it slowly. The door creaked as it opened reluctantly.

The girl slipped her finger to a switch and pressed down gently. Dim lights flushed across the room, revealing a mininally furnitured but clean and tidy living space. There were only three cupboards that were lined against the walls, an old table with four chairs and a tilted and slightly shaky ceiling fan. The only untidiness present in the living space was probably the two shirts that someone had tossed onto the chairs rather carelessly.

Sighing softly, the girl stepped into room and shuts the door quietly behind her, which also shuts out the noise from the neighbour at 421-1. She walked slowly towards the bedroom door that was left half-closed.

The bedroom's lights were off, but some of the light from the living space had flowed into it, giving the girl some visibility. The room had an old wooden wardrobe, a wall cupboard, a king-sized metal bed that had a scrubby mattress on it.

"You are late," a boy's voice said. The girl's eyes slowly drifted to the left of the bed where an old television was sitting comfortably on a worn cupboard. The television was on but the screen was blue. A boy in a white shirt and jeans was stooping over the cupboard as he pushed a tape into the VCR.

He stood up and turned to look at the girl who stared right back at him. After a few seconds, the boy looked at his wristwatch and said, "... It's already nine".

The girl said nothing as she walked over slowly and tossed her school bag onto the bed. The boy did not say anything else as he bent down slightly and pressed the 'Play' button before sitting down on the bed. The girl joined him, sitting on his left.

The screen flickered as the blue screen was replaced with a coloured picture with large words that reads 'All About Ah-Long'. The two kept their eyes on the movie but their minds were not there; there were other things to worry about.

The boy stole a glance at the girl in the corner of his eyes; she was only fifteen and still schooling... he cannot give her anything but yet he has dragged her into his awful life. Perhaps it was a mistake... no... it's fate but twisted fate it is. Just like the main characters in the movie.

There was a loud screeching sound as the motorbike skidded on the racing course before it eventually exploded. The scene made the boy shudder, his hairs standing on ends. He turned to the girl, and saw that her eyes were fixated on the movie's tragic scene but that her face appeared to have paled. He looked down and felt a wrench in his heart when he saw that she was clutching onto her school uniform tightly. He knew what she was thinking.

He placed his hand onto the girl's right hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. The girl looked at him and for the next minute, they stared at each other.

"... You won't end up like that, would you?" she asked softly as her eyes lowered.

"No... I won't..." the boy promised as he held both her hands tightly. The girl looked up and into his eyes and she knew he's not lying. Slowly she slipped into his arms as he embraced her tightly.

The movie begun to roll its credits.

[Guo Xiang]

Chapter 1

"Good morning, Dr. Masune."

"Good morning, Ma'am."

"Good morning, Dr. Laswoski."

"Good morning, Dr. Choong."

"Good morning, Mister."

Twenty-seven years old Pan smiles as he pushes the trolley along the corridor. It was his first day of work at St. Rengumo, the number one state hospital that all hopefuls in the medical world wants to work in. A technologically highly-advanced hospital that employs only the medical elites, it was most certainly a dream come true for Pan. How and why he was picked to work here, however, was a mystery to him; he was only an average nurse who had been sacked by the previous hospital he worked at, not exactly a beautiful track record.

The intercom music rang through the hospital halls.

"Pan la Defoe, report to the director's office right away."

Pan's happy footsteps came to a stop.

"Repeat - Pan la Defoe, report to the director's office right away."

Pan broke into cold sweat. What now? Is he going to be fired on his first day of work? Wait, he did not make any mistakes and the director has no need to see a nurse just to give him the sack.

Losing the initial spring in his walk, Pan pushed his trolley into the nearest lift and pressed the button for floor 30 and the lift seems to be taking its own sweet time moving up.

"Floor 30," the lift programme announced coldly.

Pan pushed his trolley out and made for the director's office according to the available direction plaques on the cream yellow walls. As he neared the office, his heartbeat began to accelerate. His heartbeat could have won the gymnastics segment for the Olympics when he knocked on the office door.

"Come in," a voice said.

The Olympic-winning heart came to a stop.

Pan opened the door and entered the office reluctantly, leaving his trolley outside.

"... Director..." Pan greeted weakly as he walked slowly to the director's desk, his head lowered. All he could see was the floor carpet for he dared not look at the director or to even look at how the office looks like.

"Hmm, Pan la Defoe?" the director asked.

"Yes."

"Look up."

Pan looked up reluctantly. The director was a charming man in his sixties who has a head full of hair which had turned grey. Pan's heart nearly gave way again, when he saw his photo on the file the director had on his desk - it's his personal particulars!

"... You used to work at Fancesia Hospital?" the director asked as he leaned back on his leather chair comfortably.

"... Yes."

"You were fired after six months of work. Prior to that, you've worked at another three hospitals and all fired you within a year."

Pan gulped nervously.

"So you must realise that you are far from the elite that St. Rengumo always hires."

Pan lowered his head in shame.

"Do you know why we still hire you, despite of your... less than glamorous track record?" the director asked.

"... I assume it must have been a mistake..." Pan muttered, trying his best to hide the great disappointment and sadness in his voice.

"No, young man. Do you think we just hire anyone without a good reason? Do you think our human resources are so poor to this extent? In St. Rengumo??" the director questioned, his brow arched in disapproval. "Since we hired you, of course there's a reason for that."

Pan looked up at the director again, his eyes hopeful but doubt crept into him as he wondered if the director was trying to cover up some ugly human resource mistake.

"We hired you for the sole purpose of this," the director said as he handed a black file to Pan who hesitated for a moment before flipping it open. However, he quickly puts it down when he noticed that it's a patient record.

"Sir, I don't think..." he started but the director interrupted him, "Look through it."

Pan pursed his lips as he picks up the file and opened it again.

The patient was a fifteen years old girl by the name of Midori and had been in comatose for unknown reasons since 1992. She was a student at St. Joan's Convent, blood type is O negative and had no kin that the hospital knows of...

Pan browsed through the rest of the file while wondering why he was shown this file. Weren't patient records supposed to be private? After five minutes, Pan was finished and placed it back onto the director's table.

"You see... the hospital is hoping that you can be this girl's personal nurse," the director said. Ignoring Pan's bewildered look, he stood up and walked to the door, "Follow me."

"Wait! I..." Pan called out but the director ignored him, leaving him with no choice but to follow him. He was about to take the trolley along when the director said, "Leave it. You will have no need of that."

Pan followed the director to the ground floor where the latter walked all the way to the hospital's old section that had been shut down many years. Many questions were burning in Pan's mind but he did not ask the director because he knew the answers would not be given to him. At least, not yet. The director would tell him when the time comes.

The old section was closed and secured by an electronic lock. This was obviously an area that only authorised personnel could enter. The director stood in front of an electronic panel and a red beam appeared, scanning his eyes.

"Identity confirmed. Welcome, Dr. Valeth."

The doors slide open with a soft hissing sound and Pan shuddered as cold air greeted him. The director entered the section and Pan followed promptly. The insides of the section startled Pan - its iron-clad black walls and shiny black tiles make the section looks so mysterious and... dark. The place also looks like it's well-maintained, not looking like a shut down building at all.

Were they keeping the girl called Midori here? Why?

Pan passed by a few doors with name plates - there were the 'Data Room', 'Medicine Room', 'Rest Room'... This was definitely no closed building.

At the end of the single-storey section was yet another door - the plate reads "1047".

Unlike the previous rooms, this door had the same security as the entrance door. As the panel scans the director's eyes, he said, "Your data has been created for this section so that you can enter on your own."

Pan looked at the director curiously. It appears that he had no second choice.

BEEP.

"Identity confirmed."

The door slides open and Pan followed the director into the small room where the girl called Midori was lying on the bed, with numerous tubes attached to her frail limps. Pan was shocked the moment his eyes were set upon her face - despite being in a coma for years, Midori did not look as though she had aged the slightest - she was still the fifteen years old girl in the photo.

The director looked at Pan and saw that he's staring at Midori in disbelief. He nodded his head, "... So now you see why we have to keep her here. She's a wonder to the hospital... but the consequences of it all should the outside world know about this..."

Pan nodded as he swallowed thickly, his mind quickly weaving up a conspiracy theory that the girl could have been whisked off by some science institute for experiments if her case was made known.

"Your job is to stay here and look after her. Of course, the hospital will pay you for this service accordingly," the director said.

Pan hesitated.

"... This is why we employ you... because we feel that you are trustworthy. Isn't honesty the bane of your worklife thus far? This is the only place where you can be honest and not be penalised for it. Where else can you go if you refuse this offer?" the director said softly but his points had hit Pan hard as his eyes watered.

"Yes, director."

"Excellent. Now follow me back to the office where all necessary arrangements would be made."

[Guo Xiang]

Chapter 2

Taking care of Midori is boring work. Pan has little to do except to keep watch over her, feed her and to clean her. The last part of the job was the hardest and each time he cleans Midori, he wonders why the hospital doesn't get a female nurse and how Midori would react when she learns of this.

If she ever wakes up, that is.

Pan leans forward as he watched the 'sleeping' Midori on his computer screen in the Data Room. Her medical file said she was found in a comatose state in an old shophouse in Chinatown and the reasons were unknown.

Since taking up this job six months ago, he could proudly say that Midori has been well-taken care of. However, the building was like a prison and its black walls occasionally made Pan depressed. In such occasions, he would go to Midori's ward and speak to her, telling her of things that happened around him. Although she could not respond and possibly could not hear him as well, Pan was still grateful for her 'listening' which at least helped to lift his spirits a little.

Pan looked at the clock and it says 6pm.

// Time to go home... //

Pan packed up and switched off the computer. He glanced at his watch before making for the Medicine Room, where he filled a syringe from a large bottle of orange liquid. Pan took the syringe into Midori's ward where he placed the needle onto her arm's vein.

"Dinner time, Midori," Pan said as he injected the liquid into Midori. The orange liquid packs sufficient nutrients that would last for 12 hours, until Pan returns the next morning for the next 'feeding'. Midori was attached to a machine which would automatically feed her medicine and the orange liquid should Pan be gone for more than 14 hours.

Pan smiles as he brushed Midori's hair away from her forehead. He stared at her and blinked slowly, tears in his eyes.

Pulling himself violently away from Midori, tears rolled down Pan's cheeks as he was overwhelmed by shame, disgust and guilt at what he had done. Wiping his tears with his sleeves, Pan bolted out from the ward and fled from the building.

He never ever want to return there again.

***

"Take it easy, rest a while
While you slip, slip slip slip away
I shall embrace your very being
Till the day you reopen your eyes"

Pan woke up groggily as he sat up on his bed, scratching his head.

"I fly away, to the Heavens
While you breathe, breathing softly
I kiss you what else to do
Till the day I close my eyes"

Yawning, Pan took his mobile and pressed the 'Receive Call' button. Before he could even utter a greeting, an icy voice spoke through the mobile.

"Where are you, la Defoe?"

The cold voice send a chill down Pan's body as his back straightened subconsciously. "Di... director!" he uttered, stunned that the director had called his mobile. Not so surprising, since the director had his file with him... but he had never called before.

"You did not give a report today".

"Report?" Pan repeated blankly. What was the director talking about?

"The daily report you were supposed to give me every evening before knock off... A report on Midori's progress and condition..."

Blood rushed in Pan's brain as he struggled to remember how that was possible but his heart dropped when he recalled that he had left so hurriedly he forgot to submit the report. Did he even write the report?

"Anyway, come back immediately, la Defoe. There is a situation - Midori's gone missing".

Pan's mind blanked out and his body went cold.

"What?" he muttered, unable to believe what he was hearing.

"I said, Midori's gone missing".

Pan remained silent as he tried to think how that was possible. The building's security was perfect! The doors have an automatic lock and no one could access the building unless their eye scan were uploaded into the system, which Pan knew was only possible through the director...

Midori's missing. That comatose girl... the one who always listened to his stories as she laid helplessly on the bed.

Pan clutched a bunch of his hair with his free hand as he felt a terrible headache. Midori's pretty face flashed in his mind and he felt all fired up. Jumping to his feet, he said in a determined voice, "I'm coming right now".

***

The moment Pan reached the hospital, he did not go to the building as told by the director. He nearly did, when something in his mind nudged a different but impossible idea to him; Pan thought whoever took Midori away must still be in the hospital. He was not sure why he felt so confident of that notion that he practically began to search the more secluded hospital spots.

"Take it easy, rest a while
While you slip, slip slip slip away..."

Pan switched his mobile to silent mode, unwilling to be engaged in another icy conversation with the director who would surely berate him for not appearing as promised. It was an ungodly 3am in the morning, but thank goodness Pan had slept right after he reached home, which gave him all the necessary energy to look for the kidnapper. Upon thinking that someone had taken Midori away, a silent rage burns in Pan.

Perhaps it was coincidence but Pan just looked up instinctively and saw a shadow at the roof level.

// Hah! I got you now! // Pan thought triumphantly as he ran into the hospital lobby, pushed his way through a stunned and angry crowd into a lift and pressed the roof level button.

"Roof Level," the lift programme voice said coldly.

Stepping out of the lift, Pan's eyes scanned the area before walking cautiously. He had not expected to find his target so easily but he was right there, standing just at the right of the turning corner.

"You there," he called out, stepping out bravely as he prepared to fight. His target turned around.

Pan's eyes widened as his arms drooped to his sides. Disbelief flooded his face when he saw who his 'target' was.

"Mi... Midori...?" Pan gasped in shock.

Yes, it was Midori who was standing right in front of him. But, how was that possible? Apart from looking tired, Midori appeared to be quite well. She was also wearing the school uniform that Pan knew was kept in her bedside drawer.

Midori tilted her head slightly as she scrutinised the gangly man in front of her. She had only just woken up but did not know where she was. It was only through instincts that she came up here to the roof level. Perhaps it was the night sky that pushed her to the roof level, though there were barely any stars.

"Mi... Midori... wha... how... how did you...?" Pan spluttered, but was unable to finish his sentence. He was still trying to recover from the shock and his mind was all numb.

"... Midori?" she repeated.

Her voice somehow cleared the numbness in Pan's mind as he stared at her.

"... Yes, Midori. That's your name," Pan replied, but was disappointed when she did not reply for he likes her voice, which had a light and airy quality to it. Besides, he needed her to talk if he was to convince her to come along with him to see the director - he would surely be very surprised to know that Midori had not been kidnapped but had instead woken up.

"Don't you remember your own name?" he tried again.

Midori looked at Pan uncertainly. "... No," she replied.

"What do you know, Midori?" Pan asked gently but Midori only shook her head. In that moment, Pan felt very bad, especially when he saw how insecure Midori looked. She had been in a coma for so long and certainly the world is now very different to her! What more now that she seemed to have lost her memories too!

Suddenly, he doesn't feel like bringing her back to the director anymore. Or into that horrible building.

"... I want to go home..." she whispered.

Pan looked at her blankly. Home? He would love to help her but... he scratched his head. Her file had not mentioned an address because the hospital had not been able to locate her kin.

"Please take me home..." she muttered as she stepped forward. To Pan's surprise, Midori had reached out and held his hand. She looked up at him and he saw so much innocence and trust in her eyes that he could not bear to reject her.

Stroking her hair gently, he nodded his head.

"Come with me, Midori," he said as his other hand tightened its grasp onto Midori's hand. Turning around, he led her to the lift. Yes, he will help her. Help her to find her home, help her to find the place she belongs to. Of all places, she does not belong to that cruel security facility.

Security facility. Where did that two words come from, Pan wondered. He had never thought of the building as a security facility until now. As he steps into the lift with Midori, he could not think of anything else except the smile she would have when he reunites her with her family.

Yes. That was all it matters now.

[Guo Xiang]

Chapter 3

St. Joan's Convent, established in 1927. Initially a school that struggled for funds and with poor infrastructure, it became a top school by the late 1950s due to good management. Therefore, Pan was unable to comprehend how the crumbling building in front of him is the supposedly elite school that had churned out top students year after year.

He turned to look at Midori, who was standing beside him. She was staring at the school building with a puzzled expression.

Dingdong.

"Students, please gather at the courtyard for assembly."

"Come on, Midori," Pan said as he took Midori's hand and led her into the school but immediately felt like a fool the moment they stepped into the school. No doubt she was wearing her school uniform, but given that she had been in a coma for years, the uniform could have been altered. He had taken her to St. Joan's after they left St. Rengumo's and now it looks like a rash and stupid decision on his part on hindsight.

However, all of Pan's worries and misgivings faded away when he saw the other students wearing the exact same uniform. Sighing in relief, Pan was glad that Midori would be able to blend in perfectly while he could pretend to be an over-protective big brother.

With a gentle push, Midori stepped up and stood behind a line of students while Pan stood there awkwardly but nobody seems to mind him anyway. Midori was silent as the school sang the national anthem and school song. She remained silent even when the school recited the national pledge and Pan felt for her - it must feel awful not to remember anything.

"... as one united people,"

From the corner of his eyes, Pan saw a bespectacled teacher in his forties staring at Midori.

"... so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation".

The teacher was still staring at Midori, an act that unsettled Pan. Why is he staring at her? Does he know her? Was he Midori's teacher?

As the students began to take their bags to prepare to go to class, the teacher walked towards her.

"... Midori?"

Pan stood there, shell-shocked.

Midori looked blankly at the teacher. Slowly the teachers followed their students to class, ignoring the three as though it was nothing more than a teacher speaking to a student and her guardian over school work.

"Midori, do you remember me? I'm Mr. Hoong..." the teacher started but Pan quickly stepped in.

"Sir, you know Midori??" he asked excitedly.

"Huh? Yes, of course. She was my student..." Hoong started but Pan interrupted again, with Midori watching intently at one side.

"Please, then you must know where Midori lived. Please take us there; she yearns to go home," Pan pleaded. Hoong was startled at the sudden request that was dished out without sort of explanation. He regarded at Midori, who still looks exactly the same as she did years ago; the bobbed hair that defined and framed her doll-like features, the large soulful eyes and pronounced cheekbones.

"All right," Hoong grunted, "Go to the carpark and wait by the red car. I will be there shortly after changing my clothes."

"A car???" Pan stared at Hoong in disbelief.

"Yes, a car," Hoong replied as he left the two.

****

Pan and Midori were in Hoong's car an hour later. Pan was beginning to have doubts - was Hoong really a teacher? He said he was going to change clothes but Pan certainly did not expect him to turn up in a tight black top, black leather jacket and pants, black boots as well as a pair of shades. What a complete transformation from the dull polo shirt, grey pants and sneakers he was wearing back at the school!

He turned to Midori, who was staring out of the car window. The sky was as dark as night but only a few isolated street lamps were working. Blinking his eyes slowly, Pan looked out of the window as he muttered, "A car... I can't believe this... Who the hell still drives a car now?"

His eyes looking up, Pan watched the aerial vehicles that were moving seamlessly in large transparent tubes - designated roads for the vehicles to travel in. This was afterall the 21st century, when humans travel in hover cars and live in off-ground buildings that were supported by highly-advanced gravitational technology. That was why Pan was shocked - an elite school such as St. Joan's Convent was still on ground and not very well-maintained! And its teacher was driving a car! Unbelievable!

Pan sat there worriedly as the car drives on. Even the roads had been long-neglected and there were visible cracks here and there. He wondered if the cracks will split open and swallow the car. He shuddered at the thought.

As if sensing his thoughts, Hoong laughed.

"Hey young man, I'm only an old guy who still enjoy the old way of life, okay? Don't worry too much because I'm probably the only person 'out' enough to be using a car so we won't be having a car crash," Hoong smiled.

"Oh..." Pan nodded, not knowing what else to say.

"Unless, of course... I ran my car into a tree..." Hoong added seriously. Pan gulped nervously and upon seeing that, Hoong burst out laughing.

"You are teasing me!" Pan said in annoyance. He turned to look at Midori who seemed determined to remember every single scenery the car had driven past.

"Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride, okay? It's not everyday you get to sit in a car afterall!" Hoong smirked as Pan slumped against his seat and sulked.

****

Midori's hands were on the car window as she watched the scenery keenly. The dark, cracked roads and empty streets were so different from the bright and bustling city life above in the sky that she felt inexplicably sad.

She had woken from her long coma, her face stained with tear streaks. She did not have any memories so she did not know why she had cried in her coma. She did not know why, but she trusted Pan. It was all instincts, how she felt he could be trusted, how she followed him and listened to him... Perhaps she had no other choice. What else could she do? Looking at the roads and the aerial civilisation, Midori realised that she did not even know her world.

But she does know and remember one thing.

Death.

It was not death itself that she remembers, but the mere memory of the word and idea stabs a deep fear in her heart... a fear that she could not remember existing...

The car turned as it drove into a straight road. Midori saw a neverending range of scaffold on her side and judging by the lifelessness on the ground, whatever construction work was supposed to take place within would probably never be finished. Midori turned and from Pan's window, saw a long line of closely-packed shophouses that had fallen into utter disrepair. The car slowly came to a stop.

"We are here," Hoong said as he turned the engine off and opened the car's door.

Pan nodded at Midori before they opened the car doors and got down.

"Wow... a ghost town?" he muttered as his eyes scanned the area.

Midori remained silent as she observed the rows of abandoned shophouses and a large square some distance ahead. There were bins but some were either overflowing with trash or had toppled over. Rubbish littered the damp and mucky pavements and shophouse corridors. Even at the town square, the remains of street stalls could be seen all over.

This place was obviously once a beautiful and bustling town but perhaps like all other places, had been abandoned for the new civilisation.

"Yes, unfortunately," Hoong said simply, "Come with me. Midori's home is just ahead..."

Pan and Midori followed Hoong as he approached a row of the shophouses. Midori turned her head and saw a roadsign that reads 'Chinatown'.

As they followed Hoong to a stairway, Midori caught sight of a rusty plaque with vague engravings that reads '421' as it hinges unsteadily, looking ready to drop off anytime.

The dingy stairway creaked loudly as the three climbed it and while Hoong and Midori did not seem affected, Pan was starting to fear that the whole thing could give way anytime.

Suddenly, there was a soft rumbling sound and Pan yelled out, "Waah!"

Midori quickly leaned forward and held onto Pan as Hoong turned around. Seeing that Pan had stepped onto a rotting step that gave way to his weight, Hoong could not resist a chuckle. Pan glowered at him as he was steadied by Midori.

"Come on up," Hoong said, trying to dispel the tension. Reaching the top, there were two doors, one on the left and the other on the right. Midori looked at the door that had a rusty plaque stuck to it, reading 421-1. Two large wooden planks had been hammered onto the walls as if to block access to the rotting door. She did not know why, but she looked down to see if there's any light from the bottom gap of the door.

There was none.

"What's wrong, Midori?" Pan asked gently. Midori looked at Pan's concerned face as she bit her lower lip. Something did not feel right about 421-1 but she was not sure what it was because she had no memories. Feeling perplexed at the unexplainable tugging in her mind, Midori shook her head. No point telling him about her feelings when she did not even know the whats and whys. She did not wish to worry him unnecessarily.

"... Nothing's wrong..." she replied and Pan nodded his head as he gave her a gentle pat on the back.

"Here it is... your home, Midori..." Hoong said as he stood at the left door which looked so rotten that it's ready to crumble into dust anytime. Yet it functioned completely well as Hoong grasped the doorknob and opened it.

A musky smell greeted their noses as they stepped into the room. Hoong saw the switch on the wall and flipped it on - the lights flooded the room much to their surprise.

Yet the room was no pretty sight as it consisted only of three badly-damaged cupboards, an unsteady table and two chairs, one of which was lying on the filthy floor that was scattered with newspapers and rubbish.

Pan gasped and jumped when rats scuttered over his feet and likewise, Midori skipped aside nervously. Midori did not remember if she used to be afraid of rats or not, but the creatures sure look ugly.

Midori looked around the room but did not feel or remember anything. She saw another door in the room and walked towards it. Pushing open the door and flipping on the switch, she was greeted by another sight as soon as the lights came on.

There was an old wooden wardrobe and a wall cupboard, both of which were rotting. A filthy mattress lies on a king-sized metal bed and a crumbled cupboard left to it was eerily empty. Midori walked over and stared at the cupboard as an inexplicable feeling washed over her. She knew there was something about this spot, but could not remember what it is. She tried to remember but nothing came up and that vexed her. Why couldn't she remember anything? There must be something here...

Pan had walked over and looked down at the streets from the opened windows as they remained silent. Pan knew that Midori was trying to remember and did not wish to interrupt her. There was an odd tension in the atmosphere that stiffled communications.

"Who are you people??"

Hoong, Pan and Midori turned around and saw someone standing at the door.

The stranger was wearing a white shirt, jeans and sneakers that were overlapped by the black cloak he was wearing. His face could not be clearly seen as it was shadowed by a hood though the reflected light in his eyes could be seen.

The stranger's eyes locked on Midori and recognition flashed in them as his visible jaws dropped open. Midori stared at the cloaked stranger - she did not know who he was but she felt a sudden strong impact in her the moment their eyes met.

"It's you!" he gasped in fear. Before anyone could react, the stranger had bolted out from the room.

"What?! Don't let him go!" Pan yelled as he jumped up and gave chase, followed by Hoong.

Midori stood there rooted to the floor, her heart racing as she breathed deeply. Then suddenly, she dropped to the floor and fell unconscious.

****

Pan ran down the stairs swiftly, even jumping down five steps before reaching the groundfloor so that he could catch up. Upon reaching the ground floor, Pan saw the stranger running along the corridor to the right and he immediately gave chase. After chasing him across two rows of shophouses, Pan finally caught up and grabbed at him.

"Let me go!" the stranger cried out as he tried to shove Pan away but the latter was much stronger than he is.

Pan mustered all of his strength as he pushed the stranger to the ground. In a quick movement, Pan locked the stranger's wrists behind the back and knelt on his legs so that he would be completely immobilised.

"Damn you!" the stranger yelled angrily as he struggled in vain.

Hoong arrived then and was surprised to see that Pan had subdued the stranger.

"Now let's see who you are!" Pan snarled. Securing the stranger's wrists with his left hand, Pan whipped off the hood with his free right hand. The face of the stranger surprised both Pan and Hoong, as he was revealed to be a youth of about seventeen years. The boy gritted his teeth and glared at Pan.

"Who are you? Why did you run when you saw us? Do you know Midori?" Pan questioned fiercely. There was something odd about this boy; what was a young boy like him doing in such a place? Why was he dressed so mysteriously? And most importantly of all, he appeared to recognise Midori.

"Answer his questions, boy," Hoong said as he pushed the shades up his sweaty nose.

"Hmpf!" the boy snorted defiantly as he turned his head away, refusing to even regard either of them.

"Hey..." Pan started but suddenly, the boy went limp.

"Huh?" Pan was confused, wondering if the boy had fainted. "Watch out..." Hoong tried to warn but everything happened too quickly. In a flash, the boy had pulled his wrists and legs free from Pan's loosened grasp with almost unbelievable strength.

The boy kicked Pan hard on the chest and shoved Hoong aside as he darted away.

"Argh..." Pan groaned as he massaged his chest. "That direction...! Midori!" he cried as he struggled to stand up. "Careful!" Hoong shouted as he held onto Pan who almost fell.

"No, we have to get back. Midori is all alone there," Pan said as he tried to catch his breath.

// I shouldn't have ran off without her! //

****

The boy panted as he ran across the shophouses and ran up the stairway of block 421. He ran into 421-2 and into the bedroom and yelled, "Stop that!"

Four men in black suits and black shades turned. Two of them were grabbing hold of Midori's arms and the girl was struggling to break free despite looking sick. Midori had woken feeling weak and found the four men attempting to drag her away. Realising she was all alone, she wanted to scream out for Pan's help yet no voice came out. She tried to put up a fight but she was too weak... and she knew that she would be taken away sooner or later... until he appeared.

Midori's half-shut eyes drifted over to the boy. It was not the cloak or clothes she recognised, but that face... yes... the same clicking tugged at her mind as it did the first time she looked upon that face. In her drowsiness, she knew that she must have known him and vice versa.

The boy felt a fire burning in him when he saw the men and how they were trying to take Midori away. He stood there and clutched his fists tightly.

"Take him down!" shouted one of the men who was grabbing onto Midori. The other two men immediately pounced onto the boy, one of them punching his fist at the boy's chest.

The fist was a few inches away from the boy's chest when a strange vortex stopped the attack.

"HAH!" the boy cried as he thrusted out his chest and the vortex threw the man flying backwards, crashing onto the crumbled cupboard. In a swift move, the boy raised his arm and a similar vortex appeared on his fist which he punched at the second man.

"Argh!" the second man cried out as the force slammed him hard against the wall.

The remaining two men panicked and turned to escape from the window while trying to take Midori along.

The boy leapt forward, wrapped his arm around Midori and pulled her away from the men as they jumped down onto the streets.

Pan and Hoong had only just arrived at the stairway when they heard crashing sounds and saw two men jumping down and landing safely. The two men glanced at a shocked Pan and Hoong before fleeing into the night.

"Midori!" Pan cried. With the noises and the two mysterious men in black, no thinking is required to know that something terrible had just happened. Quickly Pan and Hoong ran upstairs and into the room where they had left Midori alone.

She was propped up against the wall unconscious while two men in black lie at the other corner, dead. Hoong went over and examined the two corpses - the man who lie dead at the cupboard had hit the smooth but still hard corner with his back, while the man lying against the wall had cracked his skull right there. Hoong twitched his brows and turned away from the sight of the man's leaking brains.

Pan had gone over to Midori and cradled her head into his arms. He placed his finger at her nostrils and was more than relieved to find her alive. He shut his eyes as he hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry... so sorry for leaving you all alone here..." he uttered with a cracked voice as tears brimmed in his eyes.

How close he was to losing her!

// I'm sorry... I will never leave you alone like this again! //

[atlantean0208]

Sis, you got a fanfic going on, I never know its exist hehehe, I will read this later

[999roses]

Ooo I like, very suspenseful! I thought you write wuxia haha, but it seems like you write almost sci-fi type mysteries. Pan seems like a happy person though....hopefully he doesn't get like so corrupted and turn evil. The names aren't bad...Midori is a nice name! Write more!

[Guo Xiang]

Ooo I like, very suspenseful! I thought you write wuxia haha, but it seems like you write almost sci-fi type mysteries. Pan seems like a happy person though....hopefully he doesn't get like so corrupted and turn evil. The names aren't bad...Midori is a nice name! Write more!

Thanks, lovely! That will give me some motivation to write on!

[Guo Xiang]

Chapter 4

Pan opened his eyes and sat up, scratching his head groggily. He stretched his arms and yawned. It was at that moment when he remembered something.

Panicking, Pan looked around. The room he was in had light blue walls with peeling paint, and it was simply furnished with a bed and nightstand. Yes, it was his bedroom, but where was Midori and what was that smell drifting in from outside?

He opened the door and the smell came in full smack. He hurried to the kitchen and saw a small figure slipping an egg off a frying pan onto a plate that already had a piece of ham and two slices of bread.

"Good morning, Pan," Midori said when she noticed Pan standing at the arch.

Pan stared at Midori, his jaws gapping open. Midori was wearing the apron, her left hand holding onto the frying pan while her right was holding the spatula. She was only 15, but looked so incredibly cute and appearing just like a model wife...

"Oh... oh!" he muttered as he attempted to shake the weird thoughts out of his head. Really, he should not be thinking of a 15-year-old in that way...

// Quit acting like a paedophile! // he reprimanded himself inwardly.

Midori looked at Pan curiously, as she thought his expression looked strange. She nodded at the plate and said, "This is your breakfast, Pan."

"Really?" Pan was delighted. How sweet of her! Looking at the table, she had made breakfast not only for herself, but also for him.

Midori hesitated. "... But I don't know how it tastes like..." she said awkwardly.

"I'm sure it would be good!" he said reassuringly.

Midori nodded and smiled. She hurried over to the sink to place down the pan and spatula and washed her hands before joining Pan at the table.

"Good. Let's eat," he grinned. Midori nodded and began to tuck in.

As Pan ate his ham sandwich (which tasted really good), he observed Midori and wondered if she remembered anything from last night. Having nowhere else to go and not trusting anyone else with Midori, Pan got Hoong to send them back to his home last night. Hoong was skeptical, but did not ask any questions much to Pan's relief. He was not sure how he would explain Midori's situation.

However, what happened the previous night only added more shroud to Midori's past and Pan had little idea on how to help her.

"Take it easy, rest a while
While you slip, slip slip slip away
I shall embrace your very being
Till the day you reopen your eyes"

"Shit," Pan uttered and Midori looked up at him.

"Excuse me," he chuckled nervously, embarrassed that Midori had heard him swore. What if she picked up that bad habit?

Pressing the 'Receive Call' button, he said, "Hello?"

"You have the nerve, La Defoe."

Pan's blood froze up upon that icy voice. Quickly, he stood up and went to the living room.

"Director..." Pan muttered.

"You have the patient with you."

Pan felt his knees turning weak, but why should he be surprised that Director Valeth knew of that? It was only a matter of time.

"I..." he started but was swiftly cut off.

"Take her back. NOW."

Somehow, that line and tone incensed Pan.

"Take her back where? Her home? Her family?" Pan retorted but was rebuffed with a cold scoff.

"You think you are being a Samaritan or maybe you want to be a hero after being such a failure in life... but let me tell you this - you have no idea what you are doing."

Pan shook in anger at the insults. His fingers gripped the mobile tighter as he hissed, "I know very well what I'm doing! I'm helping a girl who you have imprisoned illegally for years... I don't know what your purpose is but if you were locking her up the way you did, it can't be anything good!"

"I told you, you have no idea what's going on. You do not know what territory you have intruded on by taking her away..."

"Shut it, Director. You and St. Rengumo are up to no good, and surely you don't want this sort of scandal to get leaked to the press," Pan threatened before hanging up.

Sighing, he turned and returned to the table in the kitchen. Midori looked at him cautiously.

"Is anything wrong?" she asked quietly, seeming to be almost afraid to ask.

Pan forced a smile as he patted Midori's head. "It's all right," he reassured and she nodded as she took her plate to the sink for washing.

The words had come out of his mouth so furiously that he wondered if he had acted wisely. If he was still a St. Rengumo employee five minutes ago, surely he was now terminated. It was pretty upsetting how the hospital of his dreams had turned out to be so shady, but he had doubts since sometime ago, especially on how the hospital had treated Midori's case so secretively. How they secretly kept her in a shutdown building that was in fact a security facility.

Something came to Pan's mind upon the thought of the facility. He looked at Midori who was placing the washed utensils on the dish rack.

"Midori," he called, "Could you please come over here for a moment?"

Midori took off the apron and placed it aside carefully before walking to the table. After she had taken a seat, Pan sighed heavily.

"Midori, about last night..." he started but stopped to watch for her reaction. There was none, as she stared at him with a blank expression. He was not sure if he should continue to pursue the subject. What if it traumatises her?

Pan felt her hand on his and he looked at her, surprised. Her eyes shifted to one corner of the kitchen.

"I want to see that boy from last night."

Pan stared at her, not knowing what to say.

"... I felt... a resonance with him..." she added.

Pan patted her hand, though he did not know what she meant. The only possible way of finding that boy again would be to return to Chinatown but he was not sure if he wanted to risk it given last night's assault.

"It's all right, Pan. You will be right there with me," Midori said quietly and Pan looked at her. How was it that she could keep guessing his thoughts? Was he so easy to figure out?

"Yes. I will be there with you..." he replied, before putting out the question that was burning in his head, "... Midori... how did you escape from that building?"

He did not want to use the words 'security facility'.

Midori looked at Pan in confusion. "... I just walked out?" she replied.

Pan shook his head. "The doors there... well, you have to go through a scan to get them opened..."

Midori looked more confused at his words.

"... The doors just opened."

// Gosh. // Pan thought, wondering who was having a comprehension problem. Communication with Midori seemed to be more difficult than he thought it would be.

"It's okay, Pan. You found me," Midori said as she squeezed his hand tenderly.

Warmth spread in Pan's heart and he smiled faintly. It seemed like such a long time ago when he last felt such warmth...

"Why do you trust me so much, Midori?" he asked.

Yes. That was the biggest question he had. She had simply entrusted herself to him at their first official meeting, and followed him everywhere since. She even made him breakfast and held his hand. And she barely knew him.

Midori slipped her hand away from Pan and took out a piece of paper from her pocket. She quietly handed it to the curious Pan who realised it was a photo.

In the faded photo was a smiling Midori in her school uniform, sitting on a swing in a playground. Behind her stood a good-looking 15 years old boy who had his arms wrapped around her waist, with his head resting on her shoulder.

Pan stared at the photo, and his eyes widened in disbelief when he finally recognised the boy in the photo.

It was him.

***

Director Valeth sighed as he hung up the phone and leaned on his comfortable leather chair. Pan had apparently switched off his mobile so that he could not be contacted.

As the director litted a cigarette, his tired eyes drifted to the vintage ornate-gold photo frame on his table.

"You are such an idiot, Pan la Defoe..."

[999roses]

Ick that was kinda creepyyyy! So travel back in time or something? But I guess that's expected given the title and everything...

So how old is Pan?

Anyway, update soon!

[Guo Xiang]

Ick that was kinda creepyyyy! So travel back in time or something? But I guess that's expected given the title and everything...

So how old is Pan?

Anyway, update soon!

Since it's supposed to be a suspense story, I can't tell you (though chapter 1 stated he's 27... up to you to believe it or not, heh)! You'd have to wait for the next round!

[Guo Xiang]

Chapter 5

Pan stared at the photo. In contrast with Midori's smile, the boy in the photo looked as though the world owed him something.

It was hard to believe that it was him, but photos do not lie, do they? But that sullen face was so not him. Besides, there was his age difference with Midori and she never existed in his memories. Or did she?

Pan placed the photo away in his wallet as he shut his eyes. He was having a major headache now.

"What is it, La Defoe? You don't look well."

Pan opened his eyes and looked into the pair of eyes that was peering at him from the car's rear-view mirror.

"No, I'm all right," he replied as he turned to look at the sleeping Midori next to him.

"Really? You looked... distracted," Hoong said, his attention returning to the road.

"It's nothing," Pan lied.

Pan had called up Hoong and the teacher had kindly accepted the request to take them back to Chinatown, as it was very difficult and tiresome trying to get hired transport on the ground. Having hung up the way he did to Director Valeth, it was only a matter of time when the director would look him up at his home. Pan was positive that St. Rengumo was up to no good, and maybe even had been performing experiments on Midori. His home was not safe anymore, and perhaps he could learn more if he could find the boy from last night.

It's no longer just about Midori. It was about him too. If that boy knew Midori, then maybe he could also shed some light on certain matters.

Pan looked out of the window, watching the fleeting sight of abandoned buildings and skyscrapers amid the empty streets and roads.

"Mr. Hoong... I wonder, why is St. Joan still on the ground?" Pan asked. "It makes no sense for the entire world to be up in the air, yet an elite school like St. Joan remained on ground..."

"Elite school?" Hoong repeated.

"Yeah?" Pan replied curiously at Hoong's odd reply. He waited for Hoong to speak, but the man only sighed heavily.

"You misunderstand, La Defoe."

"What?" Pan did not understand.

The car turned into a corner before coming to a stop. "Oh, we are here already," Hoong said.

Pan nodded and was about to wake Midori when Hoong said, "You taking her to see that chap? I understand your concerns but I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Looking at Pan's surprised face, Hoong said seriously, "You saw those... those guys last night. Do you really think it's safe for you, or even Midori to meet him?"

Pan stiffened at the memory of the men in black, especially the two dead men. Turning his mind away from the image of leaking brains, Pan said hesitatingly, "But... he did not harm Midori..."

"Maybe he did not have the time to do it. We returned on time," Hoong said before adding, "We still have no idea what he meant to Midori. But what I can say is, we should not trust someone who acted the way he did, and even killed two men in methods we do not know of."

Pan nodded. Hoong's words rang true. The boy knew Midori, yet ran away from her. Then he killed two men in obviously brutal methods. He felt sick when he thought of the leaking brains again. How did that boy do that, and how could he?

"But I... I have to talk to him," Pan said softly. Yes, there were things he wanted to know.

Hoong sighed. "Then I'd have to remind you that it's very dangerous... and all the more for Midori."

"I know." Pan replied. As he opened the car door, he looked at Hoong. "Would you mind taking care of Midori? You are right. I can't take her to see that boy. He could be dangerous..."

"Of course," Hoong said.

Pan nodded his head as he got off the car.

"Thank you," he said to Hoong through the window, grateful for the man's help. The teacher had been such a great help so far. He must have been so worried for Midori, seeing how she had gone missing for years and reappear with amnesia, Pan thought.

Upon arriving at 421, Pan was already feeling tired from the heat as he wiped away the perspiration on his face and neck.

// What a damn hot day. // he thought, as he climbed up the stairs of 421.

Arriving at unit 421-2, he pushed open the door, only to see the boy from last night sitting on a chair.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” the boy said as he stood up.

Pan swallowed thickly, clutching his fists. The boy was not wearing his cloak this time, but he had an unnerving look in the eyes that disturbed Pan.

“Are you?” Pan questioned in an attempt to remain calm. The heat by now was burning his skin and he felt an impulsive need to run back into Hoong’s air-conditioned car.

The boy stared at him for a moment before he spoke slowly, “… You look unwell…”

Pan waved his hand. “It’s just the heat.”

Turning serious, Pan said sternly, “You know Midori.”

The boy tilted his head slightly as he continued to observe Pan, but said nothing in reply. Pan was feeling warmer with each passing second and the boy’s unnerving silence did nothing to help his worsening mood. He wanted answers, and he wanted them right now. He was not going to take a ‘no’ for an answer.

But before Pan could ask anything, the boy’s feet shifted defensively. He threw his head up and glared at Pan.

“Where’s Midori?” he demanded.

Startled by the sudden change of attitude, Pan pulled a step back.

// He’s not going to attack me, is he? // Pan thought anxiously.

“You left her with the other man!” the boy accused.

// Huh?! How did he know! // Pan wondered.

“Calm down, okay? Hoong is a good guy…” Pan said before adding defensively, “Hoong had all the opportunities last night. If he meant any harm, he would not wait until now.”

Yet as he finished his words, there was a disturbing tug at his mind, which became stronger at the boy’s angry stare.

“We have to get her back,” the boy said heatedly as he ran out of the unit.

“What? She… she’s in the car Hoong!” Pan called after him but felt frustrated enough to follow.

She’s safe, and Hoong is a good man… Teachers are good people, Pan told himself.

Pan ran after the boy and managed to catch up. Panting heavily from the running, Pan called out, “She’s safe!”

“Is she?” the boy muttered under his breath as he came to a stop.

Pan stopped too, staring at the empty road. The breeze brushed against his skin gently, but he felt as though his soul had been taken away as well.

The car was gone.

***

I wish you could say something. I wish you could look at me, even if it’s just once. Touch my face, and tell me everything’s fine.

Would you?

.......

Would you...?

Midori opened her eyes but it was pitch black. She soon realized her hands and legs were bounded so she could not move. Or rather, escape.

Breathing deeply, she laid still and listened.

"I assure you everything's okay."

Hoong's voice. He was not speaking to her and it could not be Pan either; Pan would never allow her to be tied up like this. Pan was curious, but so was she. The photo had been placed underneath the school uniform in the drawer back then. Midori remembered nothing, but there was a stir in her when she saw the photo. When Pan came to her on the St. Rengumo's rooftop she knew there was something deeper.

She simply trusted him. There was no reason and logic behind it, just pure feeling. She just wanted to go away with him, and she knew he would take her away and protect her. And he did, though she felt he had misunderstood "home". Still, she allowed him to do things the way he wanted, because she had no idea about "home" too.

"She's safe. You can come for her anytime you want."

Midori closed her eyes. She did not know Hoong at all and she neither trusted nor distrust him. Pan appeared to trust him very much, but Midori wondered if his trust had been misplaced. She suspected it was.

"She can't hear. The room's sound-proof."

Footsteps approached and Midori took in a deep breathe. He's coming.

Bolts were removed and the heavy door swung open, allowing light to stream into the empty room. Hoong stood there, stunned. Midori was nowhere to be seen. He stepped in and turned on the flashlight, beaming it around the room before settling on the ropes lying on the floor.

"How on earth..." Hoong gasped. Suddenly, a sharp pain struck at his lower pain and he howled, stumbling forward and dropping his mobile onto the floor. He felt his back and as his fingers touched a cold blade, he turned to see the person who had stabbed him at the back.

"How..." he heaved.

Midori stood at the doorway, the light illuminating her youthful face. She stared at Hoong blankly. She had no feelings for him, but she knew he had betrayed Pan and her for unknown reasons. She also remembered the men in black who had tried to grab her.

"Hoong? What's happened? Speak!"

Midori looked at the mobile. It was not Pan's voice.

Honng shivered from the pain of his wound and from the realisation that he was now at the losing end as he could barely move. Quickly, he said, "I... I can explain, Midori..."

Midori shifted her eyes to the pleading Hoong, and recalled his previous kindness to Pan and her.

"Midori..." he pleaded.

Midori stared at him.

"Goodnight, Mr. Hoong," she said softly.

Hoong's face paled. "WAIT!" he shouted.

The heavy door slammed shut and was swiftly bolted.