Frank's eyes snapped open as Ollie's frantic voice pierced through his consciousness.

"Wake up!" Ollie screamed again, his face mere inches from Frank's.

Gasping for air, Frank jolted awake, his heart pounding in his chest. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, trickling down his temples as he tried to make sense of the chaotic scene before him. Ollie quickly scrambled off Frank, his movements jerky and pained. The young Suit staggered to the door, collapsing against it with a heavy thud.

Frank's gaze swept over Ollie's battered form, taking in the extent of his injuries. Ollie's left arm hung limply at his side, a steady stream of crimson seeping through his tattered sleeve. His once-pristine suit was now in tatters, torn and shredded as if he'd been through a meat grinder. Angry red claw marks crisscrossed his exposed skin, telling a tale of a vicious encounter. Frank's mind raced, trying to piece together what could have possibly happened while he slept.

"Take this," a syringe gun appeared in mid air in front of Ollie. "Stab me with it now!"

Frank could see that both of Ollie's arms were messed up. He got up from his bed and took the syringe gun in a hurry. "Where do I stab it?"

"On my chest! Fuck!" Ollie shouted.

Frank immediately stabbed Ollie on the chest and squeezed the trigger, his heart racing with adrenaline. A warm wind suddenly whirled around both of them. Green light emanated from the syringe, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. Ollie's face contorted in pain, his teeth clenched and eyes squeezed shut. Frank watched in amazement as cracking and popping sounds filled the room from Ollie's joints as they seemed to repair themselves. The detective, crawling backwards, could hardly believe his eyes as he witnessed what appeared to be an impossible feat of rapid healing taking place right before him.

"Whew," Ollie breathed, his face relaxing as the pain subsided. He opened and closed his hands, carefully inspecting them for any lingering damage. To Frank's astonishment, another syringe gun materialized out of thin air, hovering just within Ollie's reach. Without hesitation, Ollie snatched it and plunged the needle into his chest.

Once again, the detective witnessed the same extraordinary scene unfold before him. A warm wind swirled around Ollie, carrying with it an otherworldly energy that seemed to defy explanation. The syringe emitted an eerie green glow, pulsing with an intensity that made Frank's eyes water. As the strange light enveloped Ollie's body, Frank could almost feel the raw power emanating from it, a tangible force that sent shivers down his spine.

A sudden honking from outside jolted Frank back to reality. He glanced at the window, surprised to see darkness had fallen. How long had he been asleep? The last thing he remembered was crawling into bed after his harrowing encounter in the park.

"That'll be your partner," Ollie said, his voice steady despite the ordeal he'd just endured.

Frank nodded, still dazed. He watched as Ollie stood up, fully recovered from his injuries. With a casual flick of his finger, the young Suit's tattered clothing shimmered and transformed. In an instant, Ollie was dressed in a pristine suit, looking as if he'd just stepped out of a high-end tailor's shop. His unkempt hair also fixed itself and the blood on his body washed away.

Frank rubbed his eyes, convinced he must still be dreaming. But the honking persisted, grounding him in reality. He stumbled to his feet, following Ollie out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

As they stepped out onto the porch, Frank saw Alan leaning against the hood of his car. His partner held a half-eaten burger in one hand and a beer bottle in the other.

"About time you showed up," Alan called out, taking another bite of his burger.

Frank approached the car, his mind racing with questions. How long had he been out? Had Ollie fought since he fell asleep? And why was Alan eating a burger?

"We need to go to Guangzhou City," said Frank. "Finish your meal, and head to the airport."

"You not going to eat yours?" Alan nodded towards the passenger side of the car. A take-out container and an apple juice bottle sat on the passenger's seat.

"If you're not eating it, don't mind if I do," Ollie butted in. "Apple juice is also my favourite!"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Frank, oddly jarred at the interaction. They had just encountered a life and death situation from what felt just like moments ago. Yet Ollie was already mentally recovered. The detective hid his shivers. These kinds of events must've happened to the young suit often, or at least he had been trained to the level of a hard cold soldier.

Frank slid into the passenger seat, his mind still reeling from the events of the past few hours. Ollie hopped into the back, already digging into the takeout container. Alan started the car, the engine rumbling to life as he pulled away from the curb.

The streetlights cast long shadows across the dashboard as they drove through the quiet streets. Frank glanced at his partner, noticing the slight sway in Alan's movements as he steered the car.

Ollie leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "Should this guy be drinking? He's a cop and he's drinking beer while driving."

"Kid, he's been drunk for 17 years," Frank turned to Ollie, his expression grave. "Everyone's got their way of coping. Don't mind it."

Ollie sat back, his face a mix of concern and apathy. He took a sip of the apple juice, a bite of his burger, his eyes darting between the the beer and the driver.

The drive to the airport was mostly silent, save for the occasional slurp of Ollie finishing his drink or Alan's muttered curses at other drivers. Frank stared out the window, his mind racing with thoughts of Guangzhou and what they might find there. There was a small sense of dread. His hunch is telling him not to go there. Yet it was contradictory, every time his hunch told him not to do something, it would always lead to the answer.

As they pulled into the airport parking lot, Frank noticed Alan's hands trembling slightly on the steering wheel, and a hiccup starting. He made a mental note to keep a closer eye on his partner during this trip.

They made their way through the bustling terminal, weaving through crowds of travelers. As they approached the check-in gate, Frank's eyes widened in surprise. There, leaning against a pillar with a smirk on his face, was Carl.

"Well, well," Carl drawled, pushing off the pillar. "Frank, we meet again."

Ollie snapped to attention, his arm shooting up in a crisp salute to Carl. A flicker of unease crossed his features, an expression that Frank hasn't yet seen from the young man.

Frank's jaw clenched. "You were expecting us?"

"Plane tickets. Already in your pockets." Carl's smirk widened. "Guangzhou, be careful, but also have fun."

Frank's gaze fell upon the ticket, his brow furrowing at the sight of the assigned window seat. He preferred the aisle, finding it more comfortable. Looking up to see Carl, the man in question was no longer there.

Ollie extended a syringe gun towards Frank, uttering, "Johnathan told me to hand this over to you." Its needle was long, a dreadful sight for anyone with trypanophobia.

Frank hoped he would never have to resort to using the gun. The group then headed to the waiting area. Their plane was set to take off in 2 hours.

***

Frank stepped out of the airport terminal, immediately hit by a wave of humid heat. Even in late October, Guangzhou's temperature soared far above Toronto's autumn air. He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, glancing at Alan and Ollie as they emerged behind him.

"Christ, it's like walking into a sauna," Alan grumbled, loosening his collar.

Ollie seemed unfazed by the heat, his suit still crisp and unwrinkled. Frank eyed the young man, a question nagging at him.

"Shouldn't you be monitoring us from afar?"

Ollie shrugged, his eyes scanning the bustling airport pickup area. "My cover's blown. No point in pretending anymore. Besides, it's better if I stick close to you two."

Frank sighed, then hailed a taxi, ushering the group inside.

As they weaved through Guangzhou's congested streets, Frank turned to his companions.

"We're here to retrace Ian Huang's steps. This city was the headquarters for Ryan's dust distribution. Whatever it is, it's got something to do with Ian. We need to extract any information we can about his activities here."

Alan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "You think we can get anything from here? There's millions of people here. Not sure about this one, man."

"It's our best shot," Frank replied.

Deep down, Frank knew there was more to it. The Red Death incident still haunted him, its footprints reaching into every case he touched. He couldn't shake the feeling that this, somehow, would lead him closer to the truth he'd been chasing for 17 years.

Frank tried stepped out of the taxi first, but watched as Ollie slipped out through him first, his eyes scanning the environment.

"Coast's clear," Ollie muttered, barely audible above the city's din.

Frank finally stepped out of the taxi. The bustling streets of Guangzhou immediately assaulted his senses. The cacophony of car horns, street vendors, and rapid-fire Cantonese filled the air. He squinted against the harsh sunlight.

They merged into the flow of pedestrians, Frank keeping a watchful eye on Alan, who seemed overwhelmed by the sensory overload. The trio navigated through the crowded sidewalks, dodging scooters and groups of people.

"Hey, check that out," Alan suddenly perked up, pointing to a small restaurant nestled beside a narrow alley. The aroma of sizzling meat and spices wafted towards them. "I'm starving. Let's grab a bite."

Frank hesitated, his mind still focused on their mission. He regretted not eating the burger that Frank had given him. But before he could protest, a commotion from the alley caught his attention. A group of men burst into view, their faces twisted with malice as they pursued a small figure—a little girl, her eyes wide with terror.

"What the?" Frank instinctively started a pursuit, but Ollie's hand shot out, stopping him.

"Wait," Ollie hissed, his eyes locked on the scene unfolding before them.

The girl darted between surprised pedestrians, her pursuers hot on her heels. Frank's heart raced, every instinct screaming at him to intervene. He always had a soft spot for children from losing his only daughter.