Chapter 240: Sister Mao’s Help

2022-05-20

It took us just over ten minutes to reach a hospital nearby. Counting everyone in the car, there were five of us. As soon as we arrived, one person rushed off to register me and pay while the others stayed close.

I tugged at someone’s arm and said, “I need to use the bathroom.”

He glanced at me, his voice cold. “Bathroom? Hold it.”

That made me chuckle. Without a care, I just pulled down my pants right there in the hospital’s bustling lobby. Instantly, people started whispering that I belonged in a psychiatric hospital, not here. Within seconds, screams erupted all around.

Some folks bolted, others shrieked, but most stuck around to gawk. He clearly didn’t expect me to go that far; he just stood there in shock. The crowd grew—some jeered, some filmed, some called for security.

Ignoring the pain in my mouth and tongue, I shouted, “Brothers, sisters, folks—make some space! You’re about to see a performance! I can run down the stairs while stripping. Watch closely!”

With that, I hoisted my pants and started heading for the stairs. The crowd parted for me, probably just curious to see what I’d pull off.

Every step made my heart pound. The stairs were just ahead. As long as I made it around that corner, everything would be set.

I’ve said it plenty—curiosity is something no human can avoid. None of them guessed that once I turned that corner, I wouldn’t be coming back. Right then, they were still busy wrangling with the crowd, no way to break free.

“Wu Meng!”

Zhang Qinrui’s voice called out from afar. I saw him swept along by the crowd, unable to break through. I gave him one last look and slipped around the stairwell corner.

Just past the stairwell, there was a window fitted with a safety railing. If all went well, I just had to remove it, and I’d be out. But would Sister Mao really help me? Would she follow through?

I walked over and tried yanking the railing—it didn’t budge.

My heart sank. Made sense if Sister Mao didn’t help. I couldn’t expect someone who was only in this for personal gain to risk everything for me when it truly mattered.

Still, I tried again, putting more force into it. This time, the railing loosened. That gave me hope. I gave it a hard yank, and a quarter of the rail tore away. That’s when I realized I’d grabbed a part that hadn’t been tampered with at first—of course it didn’t come off. But this section—it’d been deliberately weakened.

I squeezed through the gap, thinking. The iron bars had snapped at the base, but not with a clean cut—more like they’d corroded. Sister Mao had specially treated these bars, making it look just like the iron rusted and I managed to wrench it free.

Once I’d jumped out the window, I tore off my vest and tossed it on the ground.

I bolted for the hospital’s back entrance, already drenched in sweat and parched from running. My mouth throbbed with every step, pain blooming with each breath. This time, I didn’t even need to suck—the blood trickled from the corner of my lips on its own.

At the back exit, a plain sedan was waiting.

Someone climbed out. It was Sister Mao.

I grabbed her by the neck and shoved her into the car.

“Drive,” I ordered.

“You’re hurting me,” Sister Mao said.

I kept my grip tight and said calmly, “If you don’t come out looking roughed up, no one will believe you. Did you do what I asked?”

Hearing that, Sister Mao started the car without protest, letting me squeeze her neck. I watched my fingernails press into her skin, fresh blood trickling over her throat and dripping onto the seat.

Her face didn’t show any pain; it was almost blank.

She said, “I handled everything you asked for. Look in the box at your feet.”

“Don’t look down,” I warned. “And act more scared—look hurt, terrified, something. There are cameras everywhere now, and they’re clear enough to catch your expression. If everything’s ready, just drive for the outskirts. Follow the route exactly.”

At that, Sister Mao slumped over, acting the part, and said, “The outskirts? We’re not leaving Dongxing City?”

I shook my head before replying, “By the time they catch up, you’ll still be stuck on the ring road. Head for the outskirts, stop after about an hour, and then I’ll make my own escape.”

“How are you getting away?” she asked.

“Within five minutes, they’ll know I kidnapped you. Within half an hour, they’ll find your car. In less than an hour, once you pull over, you need to call the police yourself. That’s how you’ll clear your name—got it?”

“Understood,” Sister Mao said. “But I didn’t find the person you asked about.”

I nodded. “Yeah, that’s not surprising. That woman never lets herself get found. But now that the word is out, I’m sure she’ll hear about it.”

“Who is this woman?” Sister Mao glanced at me, hesitated, then finally asked, “Why do you think she’ll help you?”

Looking at her, I said, “Sometimes, the more you know, the more danger you’re in.”

Trying to smile—though it hurt—I said, “There’s something I need to do. Bear with me.”

“What is it?”

Before she could finish, I kept one hand on her neck while the other clawed at my throat. Then I started gagging and vomiting. I had no idea what kind of damage swallowing a cigarette might do, but the thought alone made my stomach turn.

I kept retching until I finally spat out the almost-dissolved cigarette, corroded by stomach acid. Only then did I feel somewhat better, even if blood and vomit had splattered all over the car.

Lowering my head, I pulled a small box out of the bigger box by my feet. The box was stuffed with snacks, but tucked inside was a little case. Inside that, a roll of cash and a SIM card.

The box was small enough that with a flick of my wrist, I hid it inside my sleeve.

By the time I lifted my hand again, the items were gone from sight.

The car filled with the metallic tang of blood and the sour stench of vomit. Sister Mao wrinkled her nose. “I must be insane to help you,” she muttered.

I smiled coolly. “See that gap up ahead? Stop the car over there.”

She nodded and pulled into a narrow alley.

There was no surveillance in this little alley. I said quietly, “Sister Mao, thanks. Honestly, I didn’t expect you to help me with so little info to go on.”

She suddenly smiled. “I’ve kept company with more clients than you’ve seen men in your life. Who says I can’t be loyal to someone? If I’d had the choice, I wouldn’t have ended up this way either. Besides, anyone Brother Huang Er calls a friend can’t be all bad.”

“Go on. You’d best not come back.”

“I’ll be back. This isn’t over. Remember, once I’m out, call the police—don’t forget.”

She wanted to say more but I’d already swung the door open and slipped out.

As I walked on, I mentally traced the map of the area. Mary had previously shown us a 3D map to catch the killer with multiple personalities. I could still picture it perfectly, every building aboveground and underground.

The memory was still sharp in my mind.

Funny to think the map that once helped us track a killer was now my escape plan. If I remembered right, there should be a sewer entrance just ahead.

Once I got into the sewers, I could come out wherever I wanted. There were plenty of exits—they’d never catch me.

After a few quick strides, I spotted the sewer entrance at the end of the alley. From there, I could pop up anywhere using the various access points—the options were endless. No way they’d find me.

I heaved the manhole cover back into place. The light vanished and I was swallowed by darkness. My eyes took ages to adjust; I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face.

Never thought I’d end up living underground.

Suddenly, I thought of the personality-splitting killer and Zhao Mingkun. Who really likes the dark? It’s just that some people can’t stay in the sunlight. If we could walk openly down sunlit streets, who wouldn’t want that? But some roads are paved with darkness, and once you set foot on them, you can’t turn back.

Sometimes you can only walk in one direction—into the dark—until there’s nowhere left to go.