Chief Inspector Liu Zhao commands high prestige with his position but the stifling pressure of the designation is only known to the Inspector. The once young and resolute officer gained a higher position in the force in exchange for the years. Albeit, it is not a fair trade, the promotion did not just demand a compensation of time, but also his headstrong faith in law and justice.

Years in the system made him realize that justice is rendered only when it is convenient, especially in the corrupt town of Hangzhang. The police here is forced to clean the mess created by the people of power and position. Not many of the police in Hangzhang share Inspector Liu's sense of justice and those who do, are forced to clench their fist in helplessness.

The chief inspector walks stiffly into his house witnessing the loud banter between Chang and Lydia. The lively scene has no effect on him. Liu Chang, the first to notice his father runs to his father and with fake seriousness, he lied saying that Lydia also wants to join Police College.

Unamused, Inspector Liu just looks at Lydia and asks her to follow him to the station. Though Chang is flabbergasted over his father's request, Lydia notices the serious look on Inspector Liu and meekly follows him with trepidation.

"Dad, what's happening? Why Lydia needs to come to the police station? She hasn't done anything wrong"

"She needs to come to the station. Its police business. Don't worry, I'm not arresting her."

"Chang, get some change of clothes for Lydia, I believe she will be spending the night at our place," added Mr. Liu.

"…k, dad"

The drive to the police station is eerily quiet, Lydia could not handle the suffocating silence.

"…uncle, I have not done anything wrong, if it's about Wang Yong."

"You have a beef with the Wang kid?"

"Uncle, it is…"

"I'm not interested in knowing, but let me give you a word of advice, never mess with the Wangs."

"Uncle, I…"

"Don't overthink the issue, you're not in any trouble. However, I suggest you keep a firmer mind to what I'm to bring you to…"

With no direct response from Mr. Liu, Lydia closed her eyes to meditate in silence. Inspector Liu has watched this girl grow up alongside his son. Unlike other children, Lydia is mature beyond her years, he has never seen her throw a tantrum at anything. This habit of meditating to calm herself has been an early trait of Lydia. Though Mr. Liu has never made his thoughts vocal, he always had a good impression of this wise and considerate child.

Reminiscing the years he'd known Lydia, Mr. Liu sighed to himself on how the girl's life is going change after tonight.

***

Light expels darkness. Revealing hope in dire.

Light denotes a new beginning, it marks the boundary, stifling the foul, from running amok.

However, even the scorching sun can only brighten half the world, even the brightest can only burn away half the darkness.

The merry side of life we see has an opposite. The unsavory circle of hell that even the most sinned being should not be forced into, still exists, in the very world we reside.

The fortunate are the ones who never had to witness the vile black.

The miserable are those who have to live in that dark gunk of human ugliness.

***

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Unlike what Mr. Liu mentioned to his son, he isn't taking Lydia to the police station.

The car of Mr. Liu drives into the city limits of Hangzhang. It continued towards the suburbs, to a quaint mansion in the woods, until it reached a lonely house that paints a scene of calmness in a mid-sunny day. Its peaceful visage tainted by the surrounding Police officers, who were calmly gathering evidence.

The police officer's attempt to not destroy the traces gives the impression as if they are concerned about disturbing the tranquility of the mansion.

A stoic look is default on everyone's face, no words exchanged, none walking loudly, just the wind rattling the branches nearby as if the breeze is curious of the noiseless commotion.

The car of Inspector Liu disturbs this quaint scene with the rumble of his car engine. He parks the car and taps on Lydia to let her know that they have arrived, her first glance of the surrounding surprised her. The surprise is not of unfamiliarity, but of being overtly familiar to the mansion.

It is her own house.

Eyes of pity and condolence from the surrounding officers concentrated on Lydia at silence, a bad feeling creeps up her spine. Before she could ask, Mr. Liu pats on her shoulder, looks at her with the same stoic face, "Let's head inside."

Feeling like a stranger in her own house Lydia reluctantly walked towards the house. The silence was screaming at her, telling her that the scene behind the door is not something that she wants to see.

Her body stiffens as she gets nearer to the door. Mr. Liu holds her firmly by the shoulder, almost painful, but that strong hand was the only thing that kept her from being crushed from her emotional anxiety. It had a faint sense of a familiar feeling, a feeling that she only felt with her father.

A father is a silent yet a solid support, a strength that any child fully believes in and relies on without any reservation. Thinking about her stubborn father Lydia steps into the living room.

Time stood still as her eyes focused on the sight before him.

Lydia's knee buckled, she fell forward, hurting her knee, but not caring the least. She rushed forward with most haste, crawling on the floor. She struggled his way forward to the man that was lying down on her living room.

The officers around the perimeter kept looking towards the young lady who walked into the house, a moment of complete stillness came upon the mansion. The wind quietened, the critters around held their silence, even the blaze of the sun was not with any warmth.

It is as if the world wished it turned into a portrait.

This stillness crushed by the soul-wrenching mournful cry of Lydia, as she reached towards the body lying on the ground. Lydia is held back by the firm hold of Mr. Liu, Lydia reaches his hand out, a short distance but a vast valley.

"…FATHER!"

A heart-wrenching cry of the young Lydia filled the mansion as if the land was crying alongside. The sobs of Lydia echoed and Mr. Liu held her firmly in silence, not letting Lydia step into the crime scene. She struggled with fervor, but strength gave up on her, as she hung listlessly on the firm arms of Mr. Liu crying her heart out.

A rare look of compassion filled the eyes of Mr. Liu, sighing in his heart as he knew that this is just the start.

"Lydia, be strong."

"You need to be...

"...for your mother…"

"Mr. Liu, where is mum..."

"..."

"Mr. Liu…"

"She is … in the hospital."

With a hoarse voice, Lydia asked, "What happened…"

"Lydia, listen to me carefully, I'll arrange means for you and your mom to get out of town. You will leave tonight."

"… Mr. Liu, WHO DID THIS…"

"…"

"I… need to know."

Mr. Liu walked away, letting down Lydia curled down on the floor still sobbing...

"… knowing will bring you no benefit, but will cause you more harm… I will tell you, but in due time…"

With few steps away from Lydia, Mr. Liu facing away from Lydia looks out at the horizon of the setting sun continues, "Remember. Death is hard, but living is harder… Your mother needs you"

Saying his piece Mr. Liu walks away.

Lydia who is considered an idiot by his peers was never truly one. Lydia understood Mr. Liu and also her incapacity for vengeance. The realization only made Lydia sob more in shame.

Lydia understood that she needs to be alive, for her mom. She needs to look after his only family.

Despair filling the heart, Lydia curled on the floor and cried until he could cry no more.

***

Oh how hopeful are we to dream.

Dream to be fortunate,

Dream not to be miserable...

I pray to spend my life in slumber, in my hopeful dream, never to be awake, for I know my hope is only a dream, my light is intangible, my relief comes from ignorance.

Because once awake, I see monsters!

I see sin!

I see red!

The demons are here! Not from tearing asunder the sky, not from breaking apart the earth.

The demons are here, born besides me, thriving in my sights, devouring the negligible good.

Biting into me, not for a quick kill, but slowly gnawing at my soul.

It hurts! It hurts to live!

Leave me to rest in my hopeful dream,

as I get eaten alive.

...Save me...

...someone please, let me dream and never wake up...

***