Lisa’s eyes are opened and I could not tear my eyes away from the tightly wound scarf around her neck. The colours are gone in her cheeks and she looks pale, not that I should be able to tell.
I’m blind remember ?
She must be dead for a while. It’s unbelievable the kind of shit I am capable of getting myself into.
“Can I have a stool to sit on ? “ I asked Terry and he handed me the small chair in front of the dresser.
I positioned it at the front end of the bed and sat down slowly.
I pretended to feel for Lisa’s feet on the bed before I touched her left foot. It’s cold and stiff. Something that I figure should not go unnoticed especially if I have done proper massage before.
If I don’t voice it out, I might look like an absolutely noob.
“Mdm… your feet is really cold… are you feeling ok ? “ I asked while feigning innocent. “you should really sleep with natural ventilation…air conditioning is not good for you in the long run..”
Squeezing an inch of the lotion on my palm, I rubbed the lotion on my hand before I reached for Lisa’s feet. The skin feels weird and rubbery. There is none of the warmth you feel from touching another living breathing human.
I started praying that her feet will be all that is required for me to massage.
“I forgot to tell you… my wife… ermm…she’s had a bit of an accident… so her legs are a bit stiff…can’t walk properly…” Terry lied.
“oh… ok..”
Applying the lotion over Lisa’s feet, I used my thumb and tried to replicate what I remembered was done for me during my previous foot massage session.
Terry continued staring at me and I tried to strike up a conversation with the dead Lisa.
“You should exercise more Mdm… blood circulation is not ideal… you should move about more often…” I spoke while pretending to be pressing some spots that are connected to nerve endings.
Terry spoke for Lisa again, saying that she’s quite tired after a long day.
“Is it true you can tell a person’s health from her foot ? “ Terry asked.
“For the more experienced therapist, they can… I’m still learning…” I said as I continued rubbing the lifeless body.
This officially tops the list for the sickest thing I’ve ever done. While trying to keep my expression neutral, I was in fact, in the verge of throwing up.
Terry checked his phone and I saw him tying something into it.
Then, he pretended to talk to Lisa.
“What was that honey ? Or… ok… sure…sure… I’ll let him know..” Terry said while eyeing me from the corner of his eye.
“Ah Fu…. Sorry ah…. My wife don’t feel so good… she wants you to stop… but don’t worry…. I’ll still pay you…”
“Oh…I’m sorry Mdm if I didn’t go a good job…I’m still learning…”
“Don’t worry…women all like these…. Change their mind often…” Terry pulled out 4 fifty dollar bills and stuffed them into my hand.
I pretended to feel it for a second before exclaiming that’s too much for a massage.
“yeah…it’s too much for a massage, but not too much for a short trip down the street Ah Fu… “ Terry said. “Ah Biao say you won’t ask questions..”
I scrunched up the notes and nodded.
I don’t know what trip and what street he is talking about, but it seemed like he wants me to go somewhere.
“Ok…”
Looking at me for a second, Terry asked if I could remove my sunglasses and my heart rate started racing.
“wh…why ? “ I asked.
“Just curious how your eyes look like…”
I tried to act casual and removed my glasses while focusing on a single spot. I lowered my eyelid partially to make it seem like my eyes are not normal.
“why are you eyelids twitching ? “ He asked.
“they are always twitching… I have a bit of muscle problem around there..” I spat out another round of bullshit. “ this is why I wear glasses, it makes people uncomfortable..”
Terry walked in front of me and stared right into my eyes. My bladder is on the verge of bursting as I forced myself to stare straight. I must not meet his stare.
In fact I was beginning to tear a little as Terry paced about in front of me.
Satisfied with his request, Terry turned away from me and I was about to put my glasses back on when I remembered I should not be able to know when he is done.
I pretended to call out for him.
“Hello..? you there ? “
“yeah.. yeah…you can put your glasses back on..”
Terry opened Lisa’s wardrobe and he seemed to be looking for something. Whatever it is that he needs me to deliver, it must be crucial that I’m blind. He doesn’t want me to see it.
“Can I use your toilet ? “ I asked not just because I needed to pee, it’s because I could feel my dinner on the verge of exploding out of my stomach.
“Sure… it’s the door behind you….” Terry said without looking at me.
Not wanting to give anything away, I stretched out my hands and soon felt the door frame of the door leading to the master bath. I was still thinking how I can mask the sound of me puking when the door swung opened to reveal another surprise.
I almost cursed out loud and I had to mask it with a spade of fake coughing.
The whole bathroom is filled with a strong scent of air freshener and disinfectant.
There is another girl in the bathtub and she is not alone.
Lying face down in the tub, the girl did not seem like she is alive. Another man still covered with blood stains sat on the window sill beside the bathtub with his feet stepping on the body in the tub. In his hand, he held a what appears to be a small saw that is also covered with blood splatters.
It took all I had in me not to scream at the sight as the man stared quietly at me. Shutting the door, I did not lock it in case I need to get out fast. The man eyed me suspiciously as my hands felt for the sink, the toilet roll and the toilet seat.
Suppressing my puke, I reluctantly removed my pants and lowered them. Sitting down on the toilet seat, my pee came out strong and fast without urging. In fact I was on the verge of peeing in my pants.
The urine stream lasted only about 15 seconds but it felt like forever.
I took a deep breath and tried to control my breathing to calm down.
If he wanted me dead, he would have struck immediately. Instead, he is just staring at me quietly without moving. He wants to remain hidden. Through my shades, I looked at the man’s features, his height, what he is wearing, trying to remember as much as I could.
After I’m done peeing, I stood up and pulled my pants back on before feeling for the flush button.
Quickly washing my hands, I felt for the door handle and stepped back into the bedroom.
Terry looked behind me into the bathroom before asking if I’m ok.
“All good Ah Fu ? Stomachache ar ? Nervous ? haha “
“No…no… I’m ok…”
“Your friend Ah Biao so comfortable now… make big money already… relax…work for me…I confirm you will be comfortable…don’t need to rely on handouts.” Terry said as he thrust a waist pouch into my hands.
“relax Ah Fu…. Ah Biao say you all got collect money and move cigarettes before….this is nothing….people like you are invisible…” Terry said as he asked me to follow him out of the room.
The bag felt pretty heavy. 3-4kg by my estimates.
He asked me to wait by the dining table and I saw him walk to the freezer. Taking a package out, he added that to the bag I was to deliver.
“about 3 streets down, Lorong 14…. Walk in… someone will come for you..” Terry said as he helped me put the bag on my body.
I’m royally fucked now. I don’t know what is in that bag but I can probably guess.
High chance it’s drugs.
If I walk out into the street and get caught with this shit, I’m dead.
“Where is Ah Biao ? “ I asked.
“He’s on holiday…make enough money already… of course go on holiday right.. ? “ Terry said while nudging me out of the bedroom.
I told myself to remain calm as Terry led me to his door.
“I won’t follow you now Ah Fu…. Can you make your way there… ? I’ll get my friend to keep a look out for you…”
“yes… yes I can…”
“Alright…”
I tapped my way to the lift lobby and felt for the button. Unsure if Terry is still looking at me, I didn’t dare to turn around. When I heard the lift open, I shuffled inside and again, took my time to feel for the ground floor button.
Terry’s main door is closed but there’s no way of knowing if he’s peeping through the view finder.
Holding my breath until the lift door shut, I cursed out loudly the moment it starts to descend.
Opening the fanny pack, I saw 3 bags of white powdery substances in it. There’s also a bag of pills and some round aluminum balls. Right at the bottom, there is also something tightly wrapped with cling wrap but I could not make out what it is. It felt cold to the touch, that must be what Terry just removed from the fridge.
“Fuck… fuck… fuck !” I cursed as the lift came down to level 1.
It’s too late to turn back now.
I zipped up the bag and the moment the lift door opened, I tapped my cane and started to feel my way out of the development. As I exited the gate, I could feel Terry’s eyes on me as I walked.
He’s probably spying on me from above.
Perhaps it’s the guilty conscience, I find myself walking a bit too slowly. A police car slowed down for the turn into a side street and my heart almost stopped beating.
Forcing myself to continue with the delivery, I saw another 2 police officers talking to a table of uncles drinking beer and just chilling out for the evening.
Everywhere I turned and looked, I see cameras, I see people looking at me. Even faded anti-crime posters on the walls of the buildings spooked me.
Dead bodies, drug smuggling, I’m dead. I’m going to die real soon.
This must be why Suwen said she saw me cry after looking at the date on the piece of paper.
Approaching the street where I was to make the delivery, a man came out of the shadows and started coming towards me. He looked around the vicinity before walking up to my side.
“Don’t stop Ah Fu… keep walking…” He said.
“Orh..”
Approaching one of the legal whore houses, the man put his arms around my shoulder and led me into the property.
I’ve never been inside one of this place before. I’ve heard stories and read articles describing what is it like inside but have never mustered up enough courage to check one out. If I did, I probably won’t still be a virgin at my age.
Stepping in, I could see the colourful neon lights and the large glass panel with stools behind it. This must be the fish tank everyone talks about.
I was expecting to see girls sitting behind the glass with number tags on them but it’s empty. There isn’t a pimp behind the small reception counter either.
There is a strong smell of incense burning and I could hear some chanting being played from a speaker in a language I don’t understand.
The man nudged me towards the back of the house before taking the waist pouch from me.
“wait here…” He said.
“ok..”
He went on to make a call, presumably to Terry.
The spot I’m standing in is right beside a small kitchen.
There is a small dining table beside me and I noticed 6 container boxes of packed food. Looking around without moving my head too much, It doesn’t look like there is anyone around here aside from the man who led me in.
Not on the ground floor at least. They might be on level 2.
Beside the kitchen counter, there is an old aluminum door. A relic from the past supported only by the hinges on the side. A door like this comes with a sizable gap between the bottom of the door and the ground itself.
What caught my attention was the shadows. There’s light coming from inside that room and the moving shadows tells me there is someone in there.
“Hey..”
The man appeared suddenly and asked me to take a seat.
“oh..ok..”
“I need 10 minutes… you sit here first… don’t move around “
He guided me to a chair by the dining table and poured me a glass of water.
“Here, wait for me here. I will be right back in a while.” He said.
The man walked away and I could hear his heavy footsteps going up to level 2. The sound insulation between floors are terrible. I heard the loud creak of a door opening before it slammed shut above.
I held still for a couple of seconds before I cautiously got up. I touched the packed food on the table and realized the takeaway packets are empty except for the last packet. Unless that man could finish 5 packets of food, there must be someone else around here.
Lifting up the bag, I touched the bottom of the full pack and it still feels a little warm.
I saw movements under the aluminum door and quickly returned to my seat. I turned around to face it, eager to see who will emerge.
After a couple of minutes of waiting, no one came out.
However, I could still see the shadows dancing under the door. Whoever is inside is definitely moving.
I bent forward and lowered myself to the ground. Crawling towards the door, I tried to peep at what is behind that door.
My body recoiled in shock and I almost bumped into the dining table when I saw the people inside. They are all tied up on the floor.
The aluminum door is not locked, only a flimsy catch secured it to the wall beside it to keep it closed. I opened it and upon hearing the creak of the hinges, the occupants of the room jumped and started mumbling. Their mouth were gagged up, and it’s obvious they are afraid.
There are 5 men, 1 woman inside that room. The only man that is not tied up is lying face down on the ground with his hands in an awkward angle.
The woman is the only one that is blindfolded while the men are not. The men’s eyes were wandering all over the place and it suddenly struck me why they are not blindfolded.
They’re blind.
The woman is probably the youngest of the lot in her mid-twenties. Dressed in a pair of dirty shorts and t-shirt, she looked like she has not showered in a couple of days.
Beneath the messy and oily hair, I could tell she is quite pretty.
With her hands tied up behind her and her ankles bound, she kept struggling to try and shift her body far away from the door where I’m standing.
Something is definitely going on here. These people are being kept against their will in the room. Common sense dictate that I try to do something. I could call the police and say hi to them with a few KG of drugs on me and a shitload of explanation which will see me admitted into the institute of mental health.
Or I can try to do something on my own and be the dumb smartass waist deep in shit that I’ve now become.
Looking in the kitchen, there are knives and scissors hanging freely on the dish rack. I can easily cut them free.
If these are able bodied men who can see, I have no doubts we can overpower the man and break free. However, without the gift of sight, it’s too dangerous for them.
They could walk right into a wall without knowing. Even if I were to free them all at once, how will I get them out to safety ?
Give everyone a string and ask them to hold on to it ?
My head felt like it was going to split apart. I’ll have to figure out a way to save them without exposing myself or having to explain anything to anyone.
I lowered myself to the woman and whispered in her ears.
“I’m not with them, I’m here to save you… I’ll remove the gag but please don’t shout, the man is on level 2.”
The woman nodded her head and I removed her blindfold and gag at the same time.
I quickly put a finger to my lips.
She took a couple of seconds to register that I’m not her captor and started begging me to save her.
“they got you here to deliver things too ? is it ? are you done ? are you going to leave…? “ The woman fired off her question rapidly, the fear evident in her eyes.
“yes.. yes.. I brought something here…”
“you can see ? you can see ? how ? “ She asked without giving me a chance to answer her. “ they only use the blind..”
“I pretended… it’s a long story..”
“Get us out of here…. We need to go… we need to go now !” she pleaded with tears rolling down the side of her cheeks
“what is going on here?” I asked. “ Are you all drug mules too ? they make you deliver drugs before locking you up ? “
The woman shook her head vigorously.
“No… no… they are not drug dealers…no…no they are not… please…please get me out of here now..!”
“who are they… what are they doing ?”
“They are mad men… they are crazy…. Please… please save us….you need to get us out. … please…they will kill us…”
Before I could carry on my questioning, I heard the loud slam of the door from the level above.
“stay still, I need to go… I’ll come back….i promise”
“No.. no.. no.. no.. please.. please… no…don’t …don’t “ She whined in a pitiful manner and I reassured her I will get them out.
“Look at me… hey… look at me….” I whispered quickly. “ I promise… I will save all of you…”
The woman nodded and looked like she is about to break down mentally when I put back the blindfold and asked her to bite down on the gag for a bit while I figure something out.
I shut the door and quickly returned to my seat at the dining table.
The heavy footsteps came back down to level one and soon, the mysterious man appeared in the kitchen.
“I need you to go back to Terry….he forgot to pass you something..” he said.
“oh… ok..”
The man walked me out of the property and lit up a cigarette.
I tapped my way back to the condominium and this time round, Terry is waiting for me on the ground floor.
“Hey Ah Fu…. Simple job right… sorry ah.. I forgot something else…” Terry said as he put a sling bag around my neck. “after this and it’s done…”
The bag felt twice as heavy this time. Whatever I’m delivering, it’s cold, probably just came from the freezer as well.
I don’t have an opportunity to open it but I could hear the crinkle of heavy plastics from the bag as I moved. The plastic is thick, closer to that of ziplock bags rather than those thin shopping bags from supermarket.
I made my way back to the same street and again, the man approached me.
Soon, I was back in the kitchen and the man helped me remove the bag from my body.
“thank you for your help Ah Fu… that’s all …. Finish your drink before you go..” he said.
The man took the cup of water he poured for me and put it in my hand. Alarm bells were going off in my head. He looked at me, waiting for me to drink.
“I’m not thirsty thank you…” I replied. “ how do I address you by the way…”
I registered the change in his expression and a switch got flicked inside me. My heart beat faster, sending blood and oxygen to my muscles. I could feel a rush inside my brain like I just got the runner’s high from clocking a few good km.
I could see his hand reaching behind his back and I got ready to defend myself if needed.
“I’m Edwin….” He replied and I could see his hand reaching deeper into his pocket.
“Oh Edwin, Thank you for the job ah… next time do contact me if you have more..” I took my cane but before I could start tapping my way towards the exit, I saw the taser he man pulled out from his back pocket.
“sure Ah Fu….no problem.”
He raised it up and I saw him grin as he stretched his hand towards my chest, thinking that I could not see what he is doing.
I grabbed his wrist before he could come close with my right hand. My left hand went for his biceps and using his own elbow swing as a lever, I swung the taser right back at Edwin. Depressing the trigger, A single line of electrical charge danced in between the 2 metal prongs as the rapid clicking from the device filled the kitchen.
A split second before I used his toy against him, I was worried I will get a shock as well but I was thankful I paid attention back in school during science class.
The voltage is grounded and grounded only by the person being electrocutred.
Kicking him in his groin, I jammed the taser in his chest before he could figure out what is going on. The moment it connected with his body, he went stiff and fell like a stiff log onto the floor. The man went into a spasm and his body kept twitching.
I backed away from him and I removed my sunglasses.
The game is up now.
There’s no need to pretend any longer.
The man is still conscious. He is trying to reach for the taser again. I grabbed it away from him and jammed it into his thigh. I heard a couple of loud thud as his head slammed onto the concrete ground. Then he stopped moving.
“fuck..” I cursed and quickly bent down to check him for a pulse.
He’s still breathing but I don’t know how long he will be out.
Not wanting to take my chances, I grabbed a scissors and quickly opened the door where the prisoners are being held.
I cut the girl free first.
“help me with the guy” I said and started to drag Edwin into the room.
The girl took a moment to come to terms with what is happening and asked if he is dead.
“No he’s still alive. We need to tie him up before he wakes….what’s your name ? how did you end up here..? ”
“I’m Daphne….i’m a social worker….ermm…it’s a long story…you ? ”
“I’m Jerry.”
I turned and looked at her before commenting.
“Looks like you meddled in somethings you shouldn’t have outside your job scope eh…” I grunted as we dragged Edwin.
“Yeah… well…. Sort of…. Would be good if we don’t involve the police in this until I’m out of the picture…”
“I feel the same way…”
Together, we dragged the man into the room and I told the rest of the prisoners I’m getting them out once we are done with Edwin.
“Are there any others here ? “ I asked Daphne.
“There are 2 more… Terry and Larry. They went out in the morning…I don’t know when they will be back….” She said. “ There might be others out there that we don’t know of… they have a few friends around this area…”
So the guy watching me pee is Larry.
Using the zip ties in the room, we secured Edwin and I started cutting the rest of the men loose.
“is Ah Biao here..? “ I asked.
Daphne gestured to the dead blind man lying motionless on the ground.
“That’s him…”
Just when I thought we can make a break for freedom, Daphne delivered another piece of grave news.
“did you see where are the wheelchairs ? “
“what wheelchairs? “ I asked.
Daphne looked at me before turning back to 2 of the visually impaired men on the ground who have yet to get back on their feet.
My hand went to forehead and I groaned.
“their wheelchairs…. If not, how are we getting them out..?” Daphne said.
I blew out a mouthful of air as I looked around the property.
It’s a short walk to porch from the side. I steeped out to take a look at the wide open porch with a roof overhang cantilever far enough to act as a shelter for vehicles.
I could call a taxi.
Suddenly my shoulder relaxed and I turned towards the direction where carpark block 11A is. Hock Chuan’s van, the keys he’s holding, everything came rushing into my head as the pieces fell into place.
The skies opened up at that moment and started to pour.
“I have a van… but I’ll need some time to get it here…” I told Daphne.
“How long ? “
“give me 15 minutes…I’ll run as fast as I can.” I said and she nodded.
Taking off into the heavy downpour, I crossed the main road easily because traffic is light. Running as fast as my feet could manage, I arrived at Hock Chuan’s van totally drenched.
Opening the door, I took the car keys from his lifeless hand and fired up the engine.
The rain is so heavy that I have the wipers going at it’s full speed. Even there, I could barely keep the water off my windscreen.
Arriving at the property, I backed the vehicle into the porch.
When I got to the kitchen, I was horrified to see Edwin awake and the prisoners were trying to subdue him.
Daphne grabbed an old toaster from the kitchen table and slammed it 3 times on Edwin’s head before he went cold.
“go, go go, we need to go now..” Daphne hurried. “leave Ah Biao…we’ll call the police to come here after we’re out..!”
We loaded into the van and Daphne was asking why is there a dead man in the vehicle.
“It’s a long story… he committed suicide…” I said.
Daphne got into the driver seat and started the engine.
“You can drive ? “ I asked as I lifted the last man into the back.
“Of course I can drive.” She shot back.
Slamming the side door shut, I got into the passenger seat a second before Daphne floored the accelerator into the rain.
My heart is still beating at twice it’s normal rate. I turned and asked if everyone is ok in the back and they are fine.
“I need to get them all to a hospital but I cannot do it with a dead body in the car. I cant’ explain that away.” Daphne said, making turns and swerves in the heavy downpour.
“Then what? What do you want to do ? dump him ? “ I asked
“he’s your friend.?”
“Yeah.. kind of..” I replied.
“I’m sorry man… I can’t explain away a stolen van… but not a body…” Daphne stopped the vehicle suddenly and I could not see where we are.
“help me, we need to leave him.” Daphne opened her door without giving me time to consider.
“wait…i..”
Stepping out into the rain, I felt as if someone just gave me a slap across my cheek.
We’re right back behind old airport road market.
The rain seemed to be getting heavier by the minute.
“Hurry!” Daphne urged.
Together, we carried Hock Chuan’s body out of the vehicle and placed him down by the side of the vehicle.
I looked at Hock Chuan lying face up in the carpark lot.
It’s like someone has been drawing a circle on a paper all these while and finally the lines have met and the circle is complete.
Looking at my watch, it’s now 31st December 2018.
It’s 1am in the morning.
62 year old Hock Chuan is now lying face up in the carpark lot.
Lot 14.
No one murdered him and left him there.
I put him there.
……………………………………..
Dripping wet from the downpour, I wiped my face with my hands as Daphne drove away from the market. Looking at the side mirror, I could not wrap my mind around leaving Hock Chuan like this.
“I can’t believe we just… we just left him there.” I said. “perhaps we should have..”
“Jerry I’m going to drive this van right up to the door step of Accident and emergency…How do you expect me to explain away a dead body ? “ Daphne replied, interrupting me from my thoughts.
“What about the guys behind ? What are you going to say ? “
“Don’t worry about them, I’ll lie my way through if I have to. Are you hurt ? “ Daphne asked while throwing me a sideway glance.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m, I’m going straight to the hospital now….” Daphne said while trying to peer through the downpour. “You…ermm… want to drop off somewhere.?”
Turning to Daphne, it’s like she could read my mind.
“That would be good.”
What happened next was a period of uncomfortable silence.
I decided to break it by asking Daphne about her work.
“So you’re a…social worker eh…?” I said.” How did you end up in that mess?”
It’s not difficult to see that Daphne is trying to think on her feet.
“ermm.. I was looking for one of my client who has gone missing…and then erm..i started poking around.” She shared.
The next thing she knew, she finds herself being held hostage.
“There’s something shady going on definitely.” Daphne said. “I’ll notify the police to check it out later…. And you ? ”
“Ermm.. I’m err, sort of ermm… in the wrong place at the wrong time..”
We exchanged a look and the expression on our faces could not be more obvious that we are both lying.
As the van cruised along Nicoll highway, both of us are avoiding the biggest elephant in the room.
Any logical citizen would notify the authorities right away, yet both of us seemed determined to be out of the limelight in this situation.
“so you ermm.. want to tag along to A&E ? “
“No. No. there’s no need to. I’m ok.” I quickly said. “just drop me off somewhere up front will do.”
I asked her how she is going to explain herself when she call the cops.
“I’m just going to make an anonymous report.” Daphne said a little too quickly.
“What ? “
We exchanged another awkward look before she says she will find a quiet carpark to abandon the van after that.
“Actually, I…erm… I’m not supposed to be out looking for erm…my client tonight…so…ermm… I’m actually supposed to be on another case…my boss will kill me if he knows how much trouble I got into.”
That is hardly convincing at all, but I just nodded.
Seeing that I’m the one asking all the questions, Daphne asked how did I end up playing a blind man.
“ermmmm..i..errr… need some extra bucks and I heard from a friend I can do delivery for some fast cash if I pretend to be blind.” That was a pathetic lie.
What made it even more pathetic was that Daphne could see right through my excuse, the same way I saw through hers. And yet, both of us decided to take it at face value, refusing to call out on the bluff.
Daphne nodded and asked if it’s ok she drops me off by the train station coming up.
I could see City hall coming into view.
“Yeah, yeah.. that’ll do.” I said.
This feels weird. I just rescued a bunch of people, why am I behaving like a fugitive?
Turning to the rear, I asked if someone could pass me the bag of my stuff.
No one answered me. I forgot they can’t see.
Daphne pulled up by city hall and i asked her to give me a second. Opening the side door, I grabbed my stuff and shut it. Daphne was panting hard like she is still trying to recover from the shock. We stared at each other, unsure of what to say.
“You… you’ll be ok ? “ I asked.
“I think so..” She replied.
“Well take care Daphne…”
“You too Jerry.”
A cloud of black smoke pushed it’s way out of the exhaust and I watched the tail light of the vehicle disappear into the night.
The cab driver gave me a weird look when I boarded his taxi totally drenched.
Feeling bad for wetting his ride, I gave him a $20 tip after I got home.
I groaned loudly as the hot shower pelted my tired body.
Dead bodies, criminals, shady underworld. What have I got myself into ?
Collapsing into bed, I knocked out immediately until it was coming to noon the next day.
31st December 2018
New Year’s Eve.
11.30am
I woke up with a headache.
Grabbing a quick meal of yogurt and coffee, I went to the newspaper.
The one with Hock Chuan’s death.
Nothing changed. The article is the same as before
Hock Chuan is dead and the police are looking for the next of kin.
I flipped the papers and noticed nothing has changed. Nothing was mentioned about the bodies at Geylang or the condominium. I’m beginning to wonder if Daphne reported it like she said she will.
Turning on the TV, I was immediately greeted by the scene of reporters on the ground in what was the latest breaking news.
Looking at the news ticker, I cursed under my breath.
“What have you gotten me into Hock Chuan?”
The unit in Geylang has been discovered and cordoned off. Preliminary reports stated that someone has died in there and drugs are found within the unit. The picture showed a burned area with figurines and melted candle wax on the ground.
Someone had tried to set fire to the place but the heavy rain stopped the spread and the fire fighters got there in time. Several body parts that do not belong to the dead victim are also found on the scene.
The camera switched focus onto another reporter and I literally vomited coffee out from my lips as I looked at the woman on the screen.
“bloody hell.” I cursed as I looked at Daphne reporting live at the scene of the incident.
She’s a fucking reporter, social worker my ass.
Daphne spoke of the possibility of a cult on TV with a solemn expression.
Her eyes had no life and I thought she looked rather pissed at having to deliver that piece of news.
News that she doesn’t believe in.
Daphne is giving off a vibe that she was being forced to read off a screen or something.
A cult.
A cult in Singapore. That’s what they are calling it ?
Footages of figurines melted candles and weird symbols are flashed on the screen. Daphne then spoke of body parts wrapped and kept in freezer. Aside from drugs, there is also a stash of tobacco on the scene. Details are scant at the moment, but the news will update the moment they have more information.
‘This incident brings back memories of the Toa Payoh Ritual murders case that took place in 1981… where..’
It was quite obvious she was cut off from live broadcast and the TV resumed at the news room where details of the annual countdown is being shared.
A new year is approaching. No one is interested in murder, everyone wants to know where the party is to welcome 2019.
Crime in Singapore is rare, violent crime such as murder seldom happens. An active cult in the country? It’s practically unbelievable.
The bag of stuff I carried from the condo to Geylang, that tightly wrapped item that felt cold to the touch.
It’s got to be a body part or something.
Going online, I saw that the news only covered the deaths at the Geylang property. Nothing was mentioned of the girls’ body I saw in the condo. The connection has not been made yet. Perhaps the bodies have not been discovered yet.
There is not much information available online and all I can do is wait.
Since I have time on my hands, I decided to find out more about the ritual murder the reporter mentioned on screen.
The Toa Payoh ritual murders happened in 1981, before I was even born. The body of a 9 year old girl was found in a bag next to the lift in a block of flats in Toa Payoh.
Two weeks later, a 10 year old boy was found dead nearby. The children had been killed, supposedly as ritual sacrifice to the Hindu goddess Kali.
The mastermind is a self-styled medium who had women believing he has superpowers. After investigation, the police realized that the murders were but a distraction.
An attempt to distract the police from a rape charge filed against the mastermind.
“what the fuck is wrong with people these days..” I mumbled under my breath. “ murder to cover up rape? This is madness.”
Sitting back on my chair, my eyes drifted between my laptop and the news on TV.
Wait a minute.
The Toa Payoh Ritual murders isn’t exactly a cult. It’s just murder.
The mastermind used the murder to cover up something else.
No prayers, burning of joss sticks, ringing of bells or any other rituals were conducted during the killing. It was just cold-blooded murder in an attempt to cover up something else.
Daphne said that on TV that this case reminds her of Toa Payoh murder.
Something clicked in me and the fact that she was cut off prematurely made it even more plausible.
Yes, people died.
She’s trying to say something, deliver a cryptic message perhaps based on her hunch.
And if Daphne’s hunch is correct, the dead bodies are but a cover up for something much more sinister. There is also no mention of Edwin, the man we left behind and no one has been arrested. He must have woken up and got away or something. Perhaps Terry and Larry came for him and they decided to burn the place down.
Cleaning up the coffee spill on the floor, I thought to myself.
What can be a more gruesome crime than murder? Something that justifies killing to cover what they are trying to do ?
…………………………………………..
2nd January 2019
Wednesday
I’m done with my year end break and upon my return to office, I could see a truck load of emails waiting to be cleared.
Overwhelmed with work, I did not follow up on the news regarding the incident at Geylang. From the TV playing in the pantry, I could catch snippets of headlines for the day.
A fire broke out at the condominium and the bodies were found. No other details were given. No one made the connection between that and the cult incident in Geylang. It’s either that or the powers to be decided to keep it quiet for fear of inciting panic.
I bought the papers everyday from a news stand, and unlike the ones I used to get from Hock Chuan, the news on my papers are current. I read everything from cover to cover.
On the 5th of January, 2019. I found the article I was waiting for.
“what are the odds..” I mumbled.
The interview was conducted by none other than Daphne.
A woman regained consciousness after being in a coma for many years. She woke in the morning of 31st December 2018, the nursing staff in the community hospital rushed her to Singapore General Hospital in the wee hours of the morning.
Her condition stabilized over the next few days before she was found to be well generally. Her muscles have degraded but with a bit of therapy, she will be back on her feet in a matter of months.
The woman’s memories are a little fuzzy at the moment and she is expected to recover in time.
A photo of her has been published on the papers and with it, is a note asking for next of kin to get in touch. The woman, Xiumei remembers she is married and has a daughter.
This must be Hock Chuan’s wife.
I looked at Daphne’s email at the bottom of the column and I decided to drop her a message.
I want to speak to the lady what just woke up from her coma.
‘Hi Daphne, This is Jerry. So you decided to change job in the middle of the night from a social worker to a reporter?
Can we talk ?
My number is 9724 ****‘
I hit the sent button and read the article again.
It’s a small column tucked beside an advertisement for a cruise liner. My eyes are drawn more to the discounted ticket for the cruise than to the article Daphne wrote.
My phone rang and seeing a foreign number, I immediately knew it’s Daphne.
‘Hello. This is Jerry.’
‘yeah, it’s me.’ Daphne said, without a hint of apology for lying right in my face.
‘Why did you say you are a social worker when you are a reporter ?’ I asked.
‘And how did someone working for Nparks come about playing a blindman for extra cash ? ‘
It struck me then in my anxiousness to email Daphne, I had used my work email instead of a personal one.
‘What do you want ? ‘ Daphne asked over the phone.
‘The woman that just woke up from her coma. I want to talk to her.’
‘what ?’
‘The one you interviewed, who just woke up after a few years.’
Daphne went quiet on the phone.
‘you there?’ I asked.
‘yeah, why ? what do you want to talk to her ?’
‘It’s complicated. Can you bring me to her ? ‘ I asked.
Daphne went silent on the phone again and I had to repeat myself a couple of times.
‘Daphne, you there ?’
‘let’s meet.’ She said without explaining why.
‘not now, I’m at work. How does 7pm sound?’ I suggested.
‘ok 7pm, text me your office. I’m going over.’ Daphne said and she hung up on me.
I simply told Daphne to meet at a café at Cluny court. I’m not bringing her to my office. What would Alvin think if I suddenly bring a reporter in?
7pm
I saw Daphne walking towards the café and I gestured to her. She took a seat and immediately opened up her laptop. Instead of placing her order for a drink with the staff, she placed an order with me.
“Get me a ice coffee, thanks.” She said while logging into her laptop.
I just stared at her and she stared back at me.
“What ? you have something to ask of me. Shouldn’t you at least buy me a coffee?”
I got up and got Daphne her coffee.
The moment I sat down, she turned her laptop towards me.
On her screen, is an article dated several years ago.
It was a piece about spousal abuse that she did.
“I covered the news about Xiumei and her family 6 years ago.” Daphne said.
“what…?” I took over the laptop and started reading while Daphne spoke.
“after Xiumei went into a coma, she was sent to a community hospital.” She said. “ I visited every month because this piece left a huge impression on me. It’s one of my very first article when I started work.”
“and ? “
“Something happened 2 months ago.” She said.
“what happened ?” I asked.
“Xiumei woke up for a while when I was there.”
“what!”
Daphne explained that she got a shock. She was doing her usual chat with Xiumei, telling her about her life, her career when she suddenly opened her eyes.
“I immediately went to get a nurse but when I came back, her eyes shut again.” Daphne said.
“Could it be your eyes playing tricks on you?”
“Impossible. Xiumei woke up, she spoke to me.” Daphne said as she sipped her coffee.
“What did she say?”
“She thanked me for visiting her all these while, and that she could hear everything I shared with her.”
“and ?”
Daphne hesitated
“go on.” I urged.” Tell me.”
“She asked me to go to a hawker centre.”
“Hawker centre ? what are the exact words she say?” I asked.
“Is the Irish man still standing at the carpark of Bukit Timah Hawker centre.” That was what Xiumei said.
I felt a rush of cold air hit me as goosebumps populated my skin.
Daphne could see the change in my expression, and I immediately asked her the date.
“Date… the date…what date was that ? “ I asked
“4th of November”
That was the date I first met Conor and Bobby.
“I called the nurses in and they checked Xiumei. The doctor came in too and they are certain it’s just my mind playing tricks on me. Brain activities show she is still in a coma. There’s no way she can wake up like this, much less talk to me.”
“Did you… go to the carpark on the 4th of November?”
Daphne nodded.
“I took a taxi there after I left Xiumei. I arrived at 8.15pm”
Sitting back on my seat, I waited for Daphne to tell me the rest.
“And I saw an Irish man talking and laughing to another man.”
“and..?”
Daphne went back to Xiumei the next day.
She told her about what she saw even though she appears to be still in a coma.
“I told her the Irish man is still standing.” Daphne said.” She did not wake up, but I could see her smile for a brief moment.”
Swallowing a gulp of saliva, I could see there is more.
This cannot be just it.
4th of November is the first time I saved someone using information given to me by Hock Chuan.
“What did you do after that?”
“I increased the frequency of my visit to Xiumei.”
“Did she wake up again?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“And you did not notify the nurses this time round.” I said it in a tone that Daphne did not take well.
“Something is going on, I can sniff it. And if Xiumei wants to share it with me and me alone, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“what else did she tell you? Where else did she send you to ? “
“Your turn.” Daphne said. “Why am I the only one sharing ?”
After a short staring match, I told Daphne that I was there at the carpark with Conor on the 4th of November. I must have left before she arrived.
She did not look convinced until I asked if she is in Hougang on the 26th of December.
Her coffee paused midway between the table and her lips as she looked at me.
“Were you there, when the car accident happened?.. Between the BMW , and the kid running across the road ?”
Daphne set her coffee down on the table with a loud thud.
“HOW DID you know that!” She demanded.
“What did Xiumei say when she send you there?”
Daphne now looked a little confused, unsure of what to make of the information. She revealed that Xiumei woke up again on the 21st December.
I mentally recalled that was the day I bought the next batch of newspaper from Hock Chuan.
“She told me something will be happening on the 26th at Hougang. People will die.” Daphne said, her voice getting softer and she got lost in her thoughts.
She admitted that she was thinking about being first on the scene so she could get exclusive news and footages.
“I asked her for details.” She added.” Xiumei couldn’t give any.”
Like the 1st instance, Xiumei asked Daphne a question.
“What was the question?”
“Who died in Hougang on the 26th December.” Daphne said while looking at me. “the thing is, 26th was not here yet back then. So on that day itself, I went down to Hougang. I wandered around the whole neighbourhood, going from Hougang Mall, to Hougang Green, to Kovan.”
“You were there the whole day?”
“Yes of course.”
“What time were you at Kovan?”
“Coming to the evening, I went to Heartland mall for dinner.” She said.
“Where?”
“Fast food, on the ground floor. Why ? “
I told her I was on level 2 the whole evening in the Korean restaurant.
“No way.”she mumbled.
Daphne then wandered around and was one street away when she heard the crash. She was the first on the scene. The pictures and videos she got firsthand earned her into the good books of her editor.
“You were the one who covered that accident too.”
Daphne nodded.
“I wrote the article”
I asked her what happened after she told Xiumei who died that day.
“she smiled with her eyes closed, but she never wake up that day. I didn’t get to talk to her.”
“Chua and Spencer died that day.” I said.
“yes, Spencer was hit and Chua was not wearing a safety belt. I can’t make sense of all this. What is happening?”
“It’s complicated.” I said
“Then explain.”
“You won’t understand.”
“Try me.”
“Where is Xiumei now?” I asked.
“Oh no you don’t, you’re not cutting me out of this. I can smell a front page story from a mile away.” She said excitedly. “ This is going to launch my career!”
“you have no idea what is going on, people are dying and you are concerned about the news!”
Daphne raised her voice at the café.
“YES, I have no fucking idea what is going on!” She said before lowering her voice to a harsh whisper. “that is why I’m trying to find out.”
“I want to know why i am not allowed to cover the story of what happened in Geylang properly. I want to know why I have to give up the story, one that I discovered to someone else. And I want to know why my boss made me say it’s a cult when I have seen nothing of the sort on site.”
I ignored Daphne and tried to leave.
“I know Xiumei sent me to a place where she knew people are going to die on the 26th. Then she sent me again to a place in Geylang where people are getting kidnapped! And i…ended up getting caught!”
Grabbing my arm, Daphne wants me to tell her what I know or she will make sure I never get to speak to Xiumei.
“I can always go to the hospital and ask for her.”
“Haha, you can try.” Daphne said smugly.” She has been transferred to a community hospital. A different one from the one she was staying at. And I happen to know where it is.”
“Let me guess.” I replied calmly. “It’s along serangoon road.”
The change in Daphne’s expression told me I hit the nail on the head. Of course, Suwen will have made sure her mother is transferred to her.
“How the fuck can you possibly know that ?”
“where was the last time you spoke to Xiumei?” I asked.
“yesterday..” Daphne said, still trying to figure out how I could guess which community hospital Xiumei was sent to.
“Did she tell you why she sent you to Geylang?”
Daphne hesitated, she appeared unwilling to share more seeing that she is getting the short end of the stick when it comes to information trading.
I stood up and thank Daphne for the help.
“Thank you for your help. Enjoy the coffee.”
“HEY!.. HEY! JERRY!”
Daphne grabbed her stuff and started following me.
“Wait, wait, wait, I haven told you everything. “ She said. “Jerry ! Wait..!”
I stopped and turned to look at her. Her attitude has changed and there’s this overly friendly smile on her face as she gave me that wide eye look.
“What is it ? “
“Xiumei told me I was there to meet someone.”
“who?”
“I… I’m beginning to think it’s you.” She added.
“Bullshit, you just want to tag along for the news.” I said as I brush her hands away.
“Look I’ve been right inside the mouth of the tiger. I’ve seen these people. There are violent criminals. Something is definitely happening here and I want to know what is it.” She said.
“I promise I won’t get in the way of whatever you are doing, I just want the story.”
Daphne dug into her bag and pulled out a crumpled red packet. It’s sealed and she waved it in front of my face.
“This” She said.” Xiumei gave me this yesterday.”
“What ? a red packet ? “I shook my head and turned to leave but Daphne pulled onto my arm.
“Jerry, Jerry! Wait, wait. Listen.” Daphne stepped in front of me and thrust the red packet into my hand.
“I asked Xiumei…how will I know who I am supposed to meet.”
“and ? “
“She told me the man that opened the red packet will grant her a wish. Any wish.” Daphne said. “ Can you believe she actually said that ? “
“You’re mad. “ I said while looking at her with a raised eyebrow.
I tried to give the red packet back to her but she backed away.
“It’s for you Jerry, I know you are on to something, I just know it. I want to tag along. Please. That’s my wish.”
I rolled my eyes and handed the red packet back to her.
“Don’t be childish.” I remarked.
Daphne pushed the red packet back into my hand.
“What are you afraid of ? “ She taunted. “black magic ? a spell ? a curse ? hahaha… go on. Open it. I too want to see if Xiumei is really capable of predicting the future, or she is just fooling around.”
“alright, I’ll proof it to you.” I said as I tore open the packet. “This means nothing.”
I don’t believe in granting wishes to girls who are interested in poking their noses everywhere. Especially not a overly zealous reporter.
From inside the red packet, I pulled out a piece of paper and I felt my heart go cold. I recognized the piece of paper. It’s a normal piece of writing paper but the last time I saw one folded into 2 in that manner was when Suwen tried to give me one.
“what does it say?” Daphne asked.
Opening the piece of paper, I took a look and immediately shut it. My heart started beating really fast.
“What is it ? Is it working ? did she cast a spell on you?” Daphne asked with a hopeful voice.
I said nothing and just looked at the eager reporter in front of me.
Looking at me with a curious look, Daphne tried to take the piece of paper from me. I quickly tore it up and crushed it before putting it in my pocket.
“what was that?” She said.
“you ok Jerry ? “ she asked.
I nodded, looking at Daphne in her eyes.
On the piece of paper, Daphne’s name was written.
And below that name, is a date.
It’s a date one week from that day.
She’s going to die in one week’s time.
“Jerry. Hey !…” she waved her hands in front of me. “ Looks like it’s working dude… so ok ? you going to tell me everything I want to know ? let me tag along for my exclusive scoop?”
I nodded slowly and Daphne punched her fist into the air.
“YES!” she yelped.
She waved her fingers in front of my face like she is casting a spell on me.
“Tell me something that will absolutely blow my mind Jerry…abracadebbra..~!”
Daphne started laughing at her silly act, drawing the looks of passerby.
I was not laughing though. There is nothing funny about this.
“Hock Chuan, the body we left by the carpark…. He is Xiumei’s Husband.”
Daphne stopped waving her fingers and she stopped laughing.
“fuck…”
………………………………..
Daphne is going to die on the 12th of January, 2019.
I don’t know the exact time and how, but that is the day.
We made plans to visit Xiumei the next day at 10am and parted ways after I spent an hour telling her about my relationship with Hock Chuan. For the first time, she listened without shooting off a single word.
From the very 1st copy of papers Hock Chuan sold me to the last breakfast we had together, I told her everything and her mouth was opened throughout the entire time.
I told her about Suwen as well, but I left out the part about the dates.
She had a hard time believing what happened but the pieces all fit together perfectly.
Returning home, I could not sleep. Laying on my bed, I thought about Daphne.
How do I break the news to her ?
Do I even break the news to her ?
If I choose to keep it a secret, is it then a selfish act ?
If she knew she has 7 days left, she could have spend more time with her family. She could make her all necessary arrangements, be it financially or otherwise.
Perhaps she could max out the loans from the banks and piss off all the credit from her cards. The banks cannot collect money from a dead person.
The thing that weighs most heavily on my mind was if Daphne should spend her remaining days running around like a clown with me, or she should spend that time doing stuff that are a lot more meaningful.
She might view chasing down this for front page news is meaningful, however, when the time comes when she is no longer around, does this even matter at all?
The date written on the piece of paper may not be mine, but it affected me equally. The knowledge itself is a curse, an unnecessary burden.
I only hope the burden comes with good reasons.
Closing my eyes, i tried to make sense of what is happening. There can be only one reason why Daphne has that red packet.
Xiumei wants to see me.
6th January 2019
9am
Upon arrival at the community hospital, I could see Daphne pacing about.
“I’ve been thinking about this as a whole. I think we are meant to meet…it’s fate” Daphne said as I walked briskly towards the block where I last met Suwen.
“No shit.”
“Listen to me…. You see. From the start, circumstances have been trying to bring us together via these series of events, however, we keep missing one another due to bad timing.”
I took 2 steps at a time up to the ward and Daphne tried to keep up in her heels. Her pair of hip hugging jeans has a large phone sticking out the back of her pocket.
The singlet she is wearing is paired with a matching cardigan. With a pony tail swishing about, Daphne cut in front of me and turned, slapping my face with her hair as she speaks.
“Then finally, you appeared and save me in Geylang. I really thought I was going to die that day…”
Arriving at the ward, Arturo is already at the door waiting for me.
“This is not Xiumei’s ward.” Daphne said.
“I have a feeling she’s here.” I said without looking at Daphne.
Going straight up to Arturo, he greeted me first, saying something that don’t make sense at all.
“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper.”
“what the fuck ?” Daphne said as she looked at Arturo blocking the doorway.
I have no interest in playing his game that day and I randomly spewed my nonsense at him.
“She sells seashells at the seashore.”
To my surprise, Arturo stepped aside and let me enter.
Daphne stared at the exchange in bewilderment.
He blocked her at the door and refused her entry.
“hey…hey, I’m with him… I’m with him !” she argued. “She sells seashells by the seashore…hey..! Betty Botter bought some butter!…Hey Jerry!”
“My name…. is … Arturo….” Came the reply behind me as I walked towards the ward I last saw Suwen.
Peering in the door, I finally see Hock Chuan’s wife. Xiumei.
Xiumei looked thin and frail but through her eyes, you could see the strength of her spirit and conviction. The tired and frail body is like a façade, the boldness of her eyes easily burned away the mask she wears if you look close enough.
The vigor in her gaze scares me.
In that instance, I could see my own reflection in her.
While her gaze is steady like a snipers’ breath, mine I’m sure, just reeks of recklessness to her.
Seated in a wheelchair beside Suwen, the mother and daughter duo appeared as if they are waiting for me.
“I could have saved your father.” I said to Suwen. “Why didn’t you tell me he is in his van parked at the side of the carpark!”
I gave you the exact time and location where he will die. Isn’t that enough ?” She said casually.
“why…? Why are you doing this…” I said in exasperation. “If he is here, if I saved him, your family will be..”
“will be what ? “ Suwen said with a gentle smile. “ Reunited?”
Xiumei touched her daughter’s hand, telling her to stop. There is no need to go down that path of arguing what ifs.
“hi Jerry” She said.
“Hi Xiumei…” I said while pulling a chair to sit down in front of her. “I’m sorry I left your husband out in the rain like that. It was…unintentional”
“everything happens for a reason.” Xiumei said. “ If Hock Chuan is still alive, I will not be able to talk to you like this. My husband loved the rain, and it would do you good to see the rain as a final cleanse to his body instead of an insult.”
Pointing towards the exit of the ward, Xiumei knew what I wanted to say even before I did.
“Ahh… Daphne…”
“yes… Daphne… can I save her…? Must she die ?”
“Jerry my dear boy… you already saved her don’t you know?” Xiumei’s voice is so gentle and soothing that it sounded like a mother hoaxing a difficult child to sleep.
“What..?”
Daphne was meant to die in Geylang that day.
“By doing what you do, you essentially gave her an extension.”
“7 days ? you got to be kidding. Is there no way to extend it further?”
“Jerry…for someone about to leave this world, even an extra hour is a blessing. I would say 7 days is pretty generous. I know what you are trying to get at, but let me put your question to rest with my answer so we can move on to bigger issues.” Xiumei said as she sat forward, taking my hand in hers.
Looking at me, she left me in no doubt that Daphne will die soon.
“Daphne will die on the 12th, nothing you do will change it.”
At that point, it felt as if someone is piling bricks on my shoulder. The weight gets heavier and heavier like someone is trying to crush me.
“Should I tell her?” I asked.
“Would it do her any good if she knew?” came the reply.
I sighed and took a moment to compose my thoughts.
“What is going on in Geylang and why do you want to see me?” I asked.
Xiumei wasted no time going around in circles. She went straight to the point.
Over the next 7 days, a series of events will occur around me. They will eventually lead me to the end game of what this is all about.
“You will be making some very tough decisions over the next few days and I am truly sorry you have to make those decisions. A good leader, understands how to balance emotion with reason, even though sometimes, he lives in regret and wonder if he could do better.”
I wanted to speak but Xiumei put up a hand, indicating that she is not done yet.
Xiumei started rattling off names and with each one, the goosebumps on my skin gets more apparent. And with each name, the fear within me grows.
“Alvin your boss, Bobby the businessman, Conor the Irish, Chan the police officer, Choo, the taxi driver, Daphne, the reporter, Tan, the cleaner, Sam your contractor, Sulyani your new friend, your fate is inevitably entwined with theirs.”
“This has nothing to do with Alvin and Sam ! I knew them before I met Hock Chuan!” I argued.
“They are part of this, be it by fate or by the sheer coincidence you involved them in your decision making.”
I cursed under my breath and Xiumei went on.
Including me, there are now 10 of us. There will be 2 more who will be making their entry shortly.
“12 of us. What can the 12 of us do?” I asked.
“That’s for you to find out.” Xiumei said. “A word of advice Jerry. You cannot expect yourself to do everything, you cannot shoulder all the responsibility. Spread them out, share them and believe me when I tell you that the other 11 are equally capable in their own ways. Perhaps they might even surprise you.”
I was to keep in mind not to isolate myself work with everyone.
“Ok… let me sum it up and you see if I’m right.” I sat up and put both palms on my knees. “Some shit is going down in a few days, Daphne is going to die, and everyone I have met so far is going to help me avert a catastrophic disaster.”
“Something like that” Xiumei smiled.
“Is a meteor dropping ? “
“no.”
“Aliens visiting?”
“No.”
“Am I like the avengers or something ?”
“I’m sorry, what is the avengers?” Xiumei asked with genuine bewilderment.
“Never mind.” I covered my face with my palms in exasperation. “who are the other 2, among the 12.”
“I’m sorry Jerry. I don’t know.” Xiumei said. “ I can’t see them… I can’t feel them… Not even Suwen can feel them, if we could, we will you…. But we can’t…. all I can tell you is there will be 12.”
“Is there anything else you can tell me, it would really help if I know more.” I asked.
“I have told you everything I can, the rest is up to you as the events unfold.”
Taking a deep breath, I struggled with the question that is on the verge of spilling from my lips.
“how….how many of the 12 will die?” I asked with trembling lips. “is it only Daphne?”
“knowing that changes nothing Jerry. I will not answer that question.”Xiumei said, her eyes held her gaze as steady as a surgeon’s scalpel.
“So I guess it’s more than 1 then.”
Xiumei gave me a gentle smile before asking me not to be too hard on myself.
“Some things are beyond your control.”
I stood up and I saw Suwen playing with a piece of crushed paper. She threw it up into the air before catching it on the way down. She’s taunting me.
“I can tell you things my mother can’t, and you know the price.” She said. “ this time round, you will have to pay it.”
I hesitated for a moment before replying her.
“No thank you.” I said and turned away.
Making my way to the exit, I could see Daphne trying to wrestle her way into the ward but Arturo is too big for her to shove aside.
“Let go through…arhghhhhh!” she said as she hammered the giant by the door.
“My name…. is ARturooooo..”
“I know what your name is ! You’ve said it a hundred times!” Daphne argued.
“Stop it, I’m done.” I said as I appeared behind Arturo.
“What the fuck was that ? you promised to let me tag along ! I need my exclusive scoop!” Daphne said furiously as she tried to keep up with me.
“you’ll have your exclusive. Don’t worry. It’s going to happen within the next 7 days.”
“What is ? What is going to happen within the next 7 days?” she asked anxiously.
“I don’t know yet, but something is going to happen.”
“this is as good as nothing!” Daphne said.
My head is about to explode and as much as I would like to lose my temper at the irritating girl trying to pry for information, I could not bring myself to do it.
“Jerry ! Come on… you need to give me something… anything!”
My phone buzzed and it’s Sulyani.
A text message.
‘Hey. Going overseas for work, be uncontactable for the next few days ya in case you can’t get me. Catch you when I’m back.’
I replied the message, knowing full well there is more to this so call trip than meets the eye.
‘ok, be careful and take care ya.’
Looking at Daphne, I asked if she would like to grab lunch together.
“Shall we eat something?” I suggested. “ What is your favourite food ? “
“Oh no you don’t, don’t fob me off with food and try to change the subject. I like Japanese though.” Daphne wants me to tell her everything that Xiumei told me inside the ward.
“I’ll do it over lunch.”
I found nice Japanese restaurant in town and I gave Daphne a condensed version of what I know.
“do you believe her?” She asked.
“I don’t know. But so far, everything this twisted family has given came true.”
“wow, so I’m going to be part of this super hero thingy eh ? “ Daphne said as she took a bite out of a handroll.
Looking at Daphne eat and talk at the same time, I changed the subject of our chat. I want to know more about her. Who she is.
I want to know her as a person. Not an inquisitive reporter.
There is a difference between what a person is willing to go through for her job because of passion, and who she really is.
As the only child to a single mother, Daphne grew up rough. She never knew who her father was.
“I’m never afraid of all the boys at the playground, I can play rough too ok!”
Her mum passed away shortly after she got her 1st job. With no one else left, she devoted herself to work. Being alone is also part of the reason why she gravitates towards Xiumei.
“There is something motherly about her.” She said absentmindedly. “she would have wanted to see me if not for that Arturo dude. I’ll call on her tomorrow or something.”
“you..seeing anyone?” I asked abruptly.
“hahah, why ? You interested in me ah.” She said while giving me the once over. “You… not bad la Jerry. Quite good looking…..i think you can get in line.”
I laughed and to be honest, Daphne is quite attractive. She’s bubbly and outgoing, definitely the kind of girl that guys like. Physically she is attractive, however, she might come across as being a bit too bold for guys who lack the confidence to go after someone like her.
“Just kidding, yes, there is someone I’m seeing.”
“Oh..”
“A colleague of mine…”
“Tell me about him..”
Daphne laughed and she shook her head, indicating that she did not want to talk about it but somehow the words just started flowing.
Dan is 3 years old than her. A senior she met in school.
“We’re very close friends. And.. I rejected him a few times back when we were in school.”
“ohhh.. you friendzoned him…”
She laughed and commented wistfully that she just felt so comfortable with him that she’s afraid if the relationship don’t work out, she will lose him forever.
“He’s a very sweet guy…and he loves me a lot…and I feel…safe…contented…and happy when I’m with him….” Daphne suddenly sobered up like she was in a trance earlier. “ Why the hell am I telling you stuff like this ! hahah”
“There’s nothing wrong what….Dan sounds like a nice guy…” I said while sipping my tea. “ You meeting him later?”
“Nahh. He’s out stationed, going to be back in a couple of weeks. Can’t wait to see him though.”
I had to grit my teeth in order to keep my expression neutral. A couple of weeks. That means she won’t even get to see Dan for the last time.
“Well you should call him…tell him how much you miss you or something.”
“Oh come on, what are you ? A relationship coach? Hahah” She teased.
“well sometimes, we….we…”
“we what ?” She asked.
“We just don’t know how much time we have left.” I said.
She stared at me while chewing her food at half the speed.
“That’s fucking depressing. Don’t talk like that, you’re boring enough as it is. Has any girls ever told you that you are boring to talk to”
“all the time.”
We laughed and parted ways after lunch.
Daphne made me swear I will keep her up to date on all the latest happenings and she demanded to meet me everyday after work for updates.
“Call Dan… I’m sure he’s looking forward to hear your voice.”
“Yah. Yah. Yah.. I will”
7th January 2019
Monday
8am
My computer barely warmed up when my boss Alvin called me into his office.
“Eh Jerry, got a few things to talk to you.”
The budget for the additional works has been pushed through, Alvin needs me to decide on which project to embark on.
“We need to spend it by this work year ok.” He said while unrolling a piece of drawing on his desk.” And we have an issue with this building owner. “
I looked at the drawing of a warehouse and Alvin brought my attention a boundary between the warehouse and the neighbour. It started with a dispute between both parties, one says the other is encroaching on it’s plot.
“After each hired their own surveyor, the findings are consistent. Both of them are wrong.” Alvin said. “there is actually a 3m strip that belongs to us. Both are encroaching on it. Thankfully there are no structures built on it, it’s just fencing and parking”
“oh?”
I looked at the rectangular plot of land parked at the edge of Jurong River.
“This has been thrown to us, we need to go down and talk to both owners to reinstate it accordingly.” Alvin said.
Looking at the address of the plot, something clicked inside me.
I took out my wallet and looked at the name card that Bobby gave me.
“what is that?” Alvin asked.
I showed him the name card.
“I think I know one of the owner .”
Alvin took the card over and commented ;
“well, I think you know both owners then.”
“what?”
Gesturing to the smaller plot, Alvin brought my attention to the name of the landscaping company.
“Sam..” I mumbled.
“yeap, you work with him quite often right.”
“ye…yes..”
“Don’t worry la, I won’t throw this on you 1st thing in the new year. I’ll sort it out together with you. Since you know both of them, it would make things a lot more easier.” Alvin said.
He wants me to set up a meeting with both of them over the next few days.
Nothing unusual came up at work that day and when I left office, Daphne is already waiting for me at the café in Cluny court.
I told her about Sam and Bobby and she scribbled furiously on her notebook.
“This is going to be huge man.. I know this is going to be huge…” She mumbled.
We were looking at the google map location of the 2 buildings when Daphne suddenly closed her eyes and hissed softly while clutching her stomach.
“What’s wrong with you ? You ok?” I asked.
“Yah..yah.. I’m fine.”
We continued talking before Daphne said she hasn’t eaten anything the whole day.
“Let me go grab a sandwich first, you want anything?” She offered.
“Get me one of whatever you are having”
I went back to the map and the next thing I knew, there was a loud crash. Looking up, I realized that Daphne had collapsed onto a nearby table together with all the food and drinks she is carrying.
All the café patrons and staff immediately attended to her while I called for an ambulance.
“Are you ok Daphne? Hey..hey!”
Within minutes, I was at the back of an ambulance with her. Daphne regained consciousness within minutes and she revealed that she has low blood sugar and there’s no need to make a big deal of it.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
Daphne brushed me off and say she will be fine.
I waited around the emergency area for a while before I got to speak with Daphne. She came out in a wheelchair and apologized for the trouble
“Sorry ah.. was busy the whole day.. didn’t have time to eat.”
Aside from a bruise and minor cuts, she is pretty much fine.
I took over from the porter and pushed Daphne towards the pharmacy.
“Let me do it.” I said as I took the discharge and medication slip over to the drop in tray.
I got Daphne a bottle of water and she seemed to be engrossed with texting on her phone so I left her alone. When her number came up for me to collect the medication, I went over and the pharmacist went through the medicine with me.
Just before I go, the pharmacist told me something that felt like a slap in my face.
“You wife is pregnant. Please make sure she takes her meals on time.”
“what..?”
My heart started racing and a renewed sense of dread filled me as I turned over and looked at Daphne.
She pregnant ?
I brought the medication over to her and lowered myself to her height.
“You’re pregnant…?” I said, the words barely forced it’s way out of my mouth.
“Oh…how did you know that..? “ She exclaimed with a smile.
Daphne was just sharing the good news with her boyfriend.
“The doctor did a check earlier, I had an ultrasound.” Daphne said. “ I’m expecting twins.”
My legs gave way and I just ended up sitting on the pharmacy floor.
“No..”
“What no? What’s wrong with you Jerry haha? You looked shocked.” Daphne teased. “ Don’t worry la, the sushi and raw food I ate that day won’t affect anything.”
“You… you… you didn’t know you were pregnant…?” I asked.
“My period has always been irregular. Didn’t think much of it…” Daphne added and she showed me a video on her phone.
It’s a video taken of the ultrasound.
“Can you heart the heartbeat?” Daphne quipped.
I pulled myself unsteadily off the ground and told Daphne I needed to use the washroom.
Running to the toilet, I splashed water on my face before running into an empty cubicle.
I started hyperventilating as my hands held onto the 2 partitions separating me from other bathroom users.
I looked at my watch.
It’s coming to 11pm on the 7th of January.
Daphne and her twins has less than 6 days left.
The thought alone made me sick and I vomited into the toilet.
Panting and wiping my mouth with paper, I struggled to keep my balance.
Xiumei and Suwen can’t tell who the other 2 were out of the 12 because they’re not born yet. They cannot tell the future of someone whose existence has not come about.
With the twins inside Daphne, the group of 12 is now complete.
……………………………
I must save Daphne and her twins.
I must.
I will figure a way out.
Coming out of the bathroom, I must have looked rather pale.
Daphne insisted on going home on her own after a short rest and I saw her off in a taxi.
8th January 2019
Tuesday
12am
I should be in bed but I can’t sleep.
The knowledge given to me about Daphne’s death is not without reason. I refuse to believe I cannot do anything about it.
If I know something, I can try to stop it.
I can try to catch her pen.
I can try to delay the inevitable.
Doesn’t matter if Xiumei and Suwen say it’s impossible.
It’s impossible only if I don’t try.
Plastered on the glass wall of my living room are the print outs of the industrial area where everything will be going down. Leaning against my dining table, I held a cup of cold coffee in hand as I looked at the plot belonging to Bobby and Sam.
Located in Kranji, the site enjoys a waterfront view of our neighbour across the causeway. The 2 rectangle plots stands parallel to each other with their entrance facing the road and the back of the plot against the water.
I can tell which one belongs to Sam right away due to the number of plants and young trees he has. Sam has a section set aside for Orchids and palms.
Tuck at the end near the sea is a pond which he did initially for fun so his kids can do longkang fishing. He ended up expanding it to cater for the school kids & families that drop by on weekends.
I’ve never been to Sam’s place and I have only seen it on pictures.
He has a few recycled shipping containers as office and most of his stores are under shelter beneath a zinc roofed structure he inherited from the previous owner.
Bobby’s plot on the other hand looked new compared to Sam.
A large gleaming warehouse 3 levels tall. He deals with furniture and relocation services. I cannot see much from the map because it’s all covered up.
Looking at the highlighted fence in question, I can see the 2 plots are encroaching into a pathway that would have allowed access from the main road all the way to the edge of the waters.
Both owners claimed they did nothing to it and when they took over the site, the boundaries have already been set.
Sam has a few palms and trees that are planted along the side of the fence and one of Bobby’s complains was that the plants are encroaching into his site. Sam on the other hand, is unhappy with a large pile of rotting wood sitting at the back near the water’s edge.
Petty quarrels when compared to the gran scheme of things that are about to happen.
The 2 buildings look so ordinary that one will not give either a passing glance.
Whatever is going to happen, chances are it’s going to go down at that site.
What are the odds of an issue cropping up between 2 person I know?
I did not sleep that day, instead, I got into office at 6am and started to clear my emails.
I cleared a section of my desk and using paper clips, I bent the metal into the first letter of each person that will be with me when things go south.
My heart skipped a beat when I subconsciously folded a letter ‘D’ for daphne before looping 2 smaller coloured clips onto it.
Taking a sip of my morning coffee, I separated the names.
Bobby, Conor, Sam, Alvin and I will be at the warehouse.
This leaves Tan, Choo, Sulyani, Chan, Daphne and her twins.
What is special about the number 12?
12 months in a year, 12 hours in a clock face. 12 signs in the zodiac.
Jesus has 12 disciples.
Assuming everyone has to be present on site when the said event occurs, this leaves more than half of the group that has no valid reason to be there at the moment.
9am
I gave Sam a call and told him the purpose of my ring.
He sounded quite happy that we’re going down to help mediate the situation with his neighbour.
“Jerry, Jerry, Jerry….any day la, I can do any day. Come down come down. I treat you coffee.” Sam Chirped.
“Let me get back to you once I check with my boss.”
“got new project or not. Support a bit leh, quite slow recently.” Sam said.
“Might have something coming up, I’ll let you know again.”
I was about to ring Bobby up when Alvin came over to my desk.
He told me Bobby rang him up earlier. He too was eager to get things sorted out.
“Sounds like a nice guy.” Alvin said. “can you arrange for 11th, Friday.”
“What about other days.” I suggested.” In case they can’t.”
“Bobby can do Thursday and Friday. I’m on course tomorrow and Thursday. It’ll have to be Friday. You have anything on?” He asked.
“No…no.. not at all.”
“Alright. Put it on Friday morning. I don’t think it will take more than a couple of hours. We can go grab lunch after that.”
I agreed and notified Sam of the meeting on Friday morning. After that I gave Bobby a call.
Alvin stepped out of office shortly after and I gave Sam a call, asking if he is at his workplace.
“Yeah…why ? Want to buy me lunch is it?” Sam joked.
“Yes. I’m taking a taxi down. “
“Wah. You serious? I going to win lottery already.”
30 minutes later, I alighted in front of Sam’s landscaping company.
The road is pretty quiet aside from the occasional heavy vehicle rumbling by.
I can see a truck unloading stuff across at Bobby’s warehouse.
“Yo yo Yo…. Jerry, Jerry, Jerry….rare guest man.” Sam shook my hand and gestured to his work place.
I could see several of his workers resting under the shelter
“No jobs outside today?” I asked.
“Have small ones la. Later heading out in the evening when it’s not so hot.” Sam said we walked deeper inside his nursery cum workplace. “what brings you here? I thought we are meeting on Friday “
“I ermmm… want to see if your place is safe.”
Sam laughed and he thought I was joking.
“I follow the workplace safety and health guidelines one ok.”
He gave me a quick tour of his place. Nothing out of the ordinary. We came to the longkang fishing pond he built and he asked if I would like to give it a go.
“No thank you.”
“It’s no easy ok. The fishes are quite fast.”
With the short tour over, I flagged out a few things which made me uncomfortable.
“I noticed some of your fire extinguishers are expired…for more than a year… there are a lot of exposed and sharp edges where you store your things and the cage where you keep your garden shears and blades are not locked.”
“You fucking high on something Jerry?” Sam said as he lit up a cigarette beside his store of petrol cans.
“Don’t smoke beside your petrol cans for fuck sake. Why do you need so many by the way?”
“How else do I power my grass cutter ? Bicycle pedal ar?” Sam said with a puzzled look on his face.” You’re acting weird. Everything ok or not.?”
“Am I ? “
“you came all the way from botanic garden to come and tell me my fire extinguisher is expired and my equipment cage is unlocked. You got fever ah.”
Taking a deep breath, I struggled with my words before asking Sam about his schedule on Friday.
“Morning my guys going out to Jurong. Some small job for the town council there. They will only be back in the evening. Morning I will be here la. You coming with your boss right.”
I nodded. So Sam’s place will be empty save for us.
I stayed for coffee and asked Sam about his wife and kids. He’s still the same jovial fellow, laughing and talking loudly. He even offered me some plants to bring home if I like.
“No. no. no… I can’t take anything from you. It will be bribery.”
“Bribe you head la. Please la. A pot of fucking orchid is a bribe?”
“these are sensitive times, I’ll pay for the plants if I see anything that I fancy.”
Sam ushered me to his orchids and tried to market the national flower to me.
“Nah, this 1, good one. Van Da Kee Lim Jiu ( Vanda goes for a drink ) or Van Da Cuae Jiu Lim ( Vanda looks for a drink) “
“Oh come on, it’s Vanda Miss Joaquim” I corrected.” It’s our fucking national flower, how can you get it wrong?”
“eh hello Jerry, I uneducated Ah Beng. If I remember ever one of these names by heart, I scientist already, no need become landscaper.”
Sam laughed as he flicked his spent cigarette butt onto the floor.
“That’s littering bro. I’m from Nparks.”
“This is my property Jerry, I am from Sam Nursery.” He said as he lights up a 2nd stick. “ You want one ?”
I took a few steps towards the water edge and asked Sam if he has any issues with illegal immigrants coming from across the causeway.