No matter how sweat-resistant this shirt was supposed to be, Fei’s back and armpits were soaked through by his own detestable moisture. The ringing of his cell phone, however, was keeping him distracted from the sweltering heat of this muggy evening. It wouldn’t have taken him a second to decide to throw it as far away as possible.
Fei couldn’t believe the trouble he was in. Rob’s rumor was more real than he had imagined, and he was unable to escape the sinister strangers following him across the globe. Who knew that returning to Hong Kong would be such a big mistake? Kowloon was his home, the only place in the world where he could be himself without fame masking him. Now he was treated like a stranger who had smuggled in a disease. He hated that people feared him, hiding within shadows to avoid being seen by him. Fei was not a notorious Triad leader, and he had to fix this rumor before his carefully sculpted image was tarnished for life. He was nothing without the respect and admiration shown by his own people.
The city was crawling like a plague with Triad members, and nothing could have made him more uncomfortable. Fei ran through the narrow streets, clutching the phone tight, unable to keep his voice controlled. He looked around him, sure to find the Triad tracking his every move. He had to keep his eyes open.
“I don’t care about you, or what it means, I just need it done...Are you stupid or something?” Failing to hide his anger, Fei’s voice tremored. “What? Of course not. What do you think I...How dare you accuse...no listen, the fight had nothing to do with...how the hell do I know what she was think...Don’t be so rid...okay okay, whatever.”
He shut off the phone with a snap. With a foul swear in Cantonese, he pushed back the shades on his nose. He should have hired an assistant to deal with Tawnya’s woes. Her fight with Sakura had made him notorious, even though it had nothing to do with him. Fei clutched at the black cap he had taken from a street hobo, scrunching his nose at the ghastly smell that wafted from it. At least the stench was strong enough to ward his few fans away. He couldn’t allow himself any distractions, not this time. He had completed his end of the bargain. Now it was time for Rose to deliver her promise.
“Oi oi,” yelled a young brazen voice ahead of him. A rookie Triad member.
“Oh great,” Fei murmured. “More amateurs.”
In his haste, he hadn’t noticed a gang block his path; a collection of five Chinese men in their mid-twenties, who were sniggering at him. They all shared the same fake blonde lion mane, wore shirts that belonged on a catwalk, and fashionable skinny tight jeans that made their legs look spindly. Fei didn’t try to understand the logic behind Rob’s plan and his theory behind the rumor, but at least he was getting provided with some novice entertainment.
Unable to tolerate the smell, Fei ditched the cap to one side, then cracked his knuckles with a harsh click.
“Okay then,” Fei sighed, wagging his finger at them. “Let’s get this over and done with,” he said, expecting this tussle to be over in a few seconds.
He watched the thugs sprint toward him in messy order. Fei remained in his position, waiting for them to encircle him, just like in the movies. So predictable, Fei thought, bored.
As the leader jumped with an ugly scowl fixed on his face, Fei let loose a martial arts sidekick that spun him into the air. He knew the rest of them would follow suit, kicking and punching in turn.
“Wa-taaaaaaaaaaah!”
Fei didn’t have to move a step forward. His kicks were long enough to keep them at bay, and his fist was still powerful enough to knock a man down with one move. Fighting was always exhilarating when it was real, but sending thugs to challenge him was just plain tedious. These men had no skills to share. This was a complete waste of time.
“Ha–chaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Another punch to the stomach, another man down. Fei laughed to himself, sending his third opponent all the way across the road. Years of acting out fight scenes enabled him to predict the moves of these Chinese thugs. He had choreographed all his action scenes on the sets, but he hadn’t realized just how cheesy it all was until now. Perhaps this was Rob’s clever ploy to innovate Fei’s fight scenes, a helping hand to sharpen his skills so that it looked real on the big screen.
“Pathetic,” Fei said, watching his opponents fumble on the ground in pain. “Tell Rob to hire real men next time,” he said, walking away from them. Then he ran.
Trying to ignore the sweat that trickled down his neck, Fei’s mind raced to a time when he had been hailed into Kowloon like a hero. He had inspired children to learn in school, encouraged the dissatisfied to reach for new goals, and sourced funds towards the reconstruction of dilapidated neighborhoods. Back then he would have done anything to please his family, the people who respected him as a person, not as a celebrity. He wanted that esteem back, even if it meant destroying Tawnya Blaze. He would do anything.
Fei stopped short around the corner, upon seeing the Red Lady waiting for him. Her leg was propped against the wall where she leaned, and the silky sheen of her tights was brighter than the streetlight itself. The yellow scarf draped over her head in one loop, leaving trails of brown hair to peek through the side.
“You’re late,” Rose said, without looking up at him. Her voice was sharp with no sluggishness, in spite of the Chinese humidity. Her eyes remained closed, her face serious.
Fei walked closer to her. He rubbed at his damp hair frantically, but his movements only annoyed her.
“Progress report.”
“It’s done,” Fei simply said, holding himself loose as he groveled on the spot.
“Done?”
“Yes, done,” he said stridently. He averted his eyes downward, hovering his hand over his mouth to take in his own smell.
“I’m feeling like shit about the charade we played on her,” he muttered, feeling himself open up to Rose. “Tawnya’s convinced that you’re in her head, a figment of her imagination that only she can see.”
Rose opened her eyes. She saw Fei looking somewhat nervous and languid. He didn’t have the swaggering presence she expected from an international superstar.
“You wanted me to form a relationship with her. It’s done! You wanted help to make Tawnya go crazy...she’s crazy,” he said, looking straight into her piercing eyes. “So why is Tawnya fighting little girls, and why the hell is this place still littered with the Triad? We had a deal, Red Lady.”
“It is not over yet,” Rose said, her voice strong. Her lips were a dark hue of burgundy today. Shimmering.
Fei sputtered, revealing to her the card with the embossed red rose that she had once given him. He twirled the card through his fingers, and then ripped it into shreds.
“I said I’ll do one thing for you,” he yelled, no longer able to keep calm. His eyes flashed dangerously at her. He was being double-crossed. “You needed someone to manipulate, so I found Tawnya Blaze. I paid her out of my own pocket to mold her into this sick little plan of yours. In return, you promised the Triad gang would be removed from Kowloon, and my fabricated ties to them would be cut and forgotten. That was the deal, lady!”
At the sight of his closed fist, Rose didn’t flinch.
“It wasn’t my damn idea for Rob to pump money into the Triad,” Fei continued hurriedly. “Just ‘cause I work for him, doesn’t mean I know what the hell he’s up to. How is it even fair that I get blamed for that idiot blowing all his money on a bet? Now I have you telling me that this job isn’t over...” Fei blew air from his mouth, looking around him, lost.
“I need the Triads off my ass,” he continued, finding the strength to look at her. She stared back, unaffected. “I am not their ring leader, damn it.”
“We both know you would do anything to retain your identity,” Rose said with chilling calm. As she spoke, the slightest hint of a cold smile appeared. “The rumor will be stopped.”
“And the Triad?”
“That will be taken care of if you can bring Tawnya Blaze and Ryu Hoshi together.”
Fei splu
ttered. “No, wait a second,” he cut in angrily. “The article is as far as I will go.” He pricked his head up at a sudden memory. “The cut on her arm...did you do that to her?” he said, his face contorted with disgust.
“Belief is in the heart,” Rose smiled, still poised in the same position that Fei had found her in. “Get them together. Prepare her for the most important meeting of her life. Lose sight of her and you lose everything. Guide her and you will gain all.”
Fei stumbled a few paces back. The sound of her voice felt like a push to the chest, but before he could ask what she meant, the lady spoke again. “This is your final mission.”
Fei shook his head, tormented by that idea. “I can’t do it.”
“You have no choice.”
He felt his stomach knot sickeningly. She was blackmailing him. He looked at her, wanting so badly to knock the smile off her face, but he knew that wouldn’t have resolved anything.
“I’ve damaged her enough,” he said sadly. He rubbed his face again, trying to smooth out the wrinkles of his frown. “I don’t want to lead her into trouble. This is the last thing I ever wanted.”
“Disobey and you will never be able to return to Kowloon again.”
“Fine,” Fei whispered, keeping his head low in his own shame. “Tell me. What’s the next move?”
A card with a rose appeared in front of his eyes, willing him to take it and observe the details behind it. The fine lines of the thorns made up the words “Ken Masters and The Ivy”. Fei gulped upon seeing that familiar name, but he had to prioritize his own needs first by removing the threat of the Triad from his own people.
“Let this card be your guide,” Rose instructed. “Lead Tawnya to Ryu and cut your connection from her in your usual televised performance. Once this is complete, return to Hong Kong without ado. If the job is fulfilled to satisfaction, Kowloon will be yours again.”