Chapter 65 Rui
Rui
“Safety first,” Zizi said, tossing Rui a helmet. He got on the motorbike and entered the code Lieutenant Shuang had given
them. The engine roared to life. “We’ll leave the other bike for Ash. Hop on.”
Rui’s sword bag got in the way as she grappled with the twisted strap of her helmet.
“Let me.” Zizi tugged it, inevitably pulling her close.
She tried not to look at him while he fiddled with the catch. Her heart was beating faster, and she was getting annoyed again.
Two reactions that seemed to happen a lot whenever Zizi was near. She heard a click.
“Done.”
She couldn’t see his smile because of his helmet, but the corners of his eyes were crinkling. “Thanks.” She swung a leg over
the seat, primly placing her hands on his shoulders, ignoring the feel of taut muscles under his thin coat.
Zizi looked over his shoulder. “Ever ridden one before?”
“No.”
“Nervous?”
“I hunt monsters for a living.”
“Touché. All right, then, arms around my waist. Lock your hands together.”
Despite her misgivings, Rui complied. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d held him this way before.
Zizi winked, snapping the visor of his helmet shut. “Hold on tight—we’re going speed-demon mode.”
The engine revved. He let out a cheesy whoop.
Rui yelped as Zizi popped an unexpected wheelie and the motorbike tilted sharply back.
They flew out of the side street and onto the main avenue.
The world blurred as he weaved expertly in and out of traffic, leaving a barrage of honking in their wake.
He didn’t slow down. In fact, they were only speeding up.
Rui clung on tighter and tighter to him, her chest pressed against his back, finally slipping her hands under his coat for a better grip.
Did she trust him to get them to the seaport in one piece? She wasn’t sure.
Zizi squeezed the bike between two huge semitrailers, cutting into another lane just as another vehicle was merging onto the
same one.
“Where did you learn to ride a motorbike?” she yelled. “The underworld?”
The wind carried her words away, but he heard her. She felt his stomach muscles contracting. He was laughing. He was having
a great time, and she could see why. They had hit the bridge, and the sun was setting. The sky was on fire above them, the
river rippling below, its waters shimmering like liquid gold. Behind them, the panorama of the city’s skyscrapers glittered
against the distant backdrop of rugged mountains.
It was magical. Her city. She would save it, no matter what it took.
As they sped on, the noise and chaos seemed to fade. For a moment, everything seemed to slow, and she was able to catch her
breath. It was just the wind and her—and Zizi.
And she found herself wishing that this quiet would last forever.
They got off a short distance away from the seaport. Dusk had fallen, and the streetlights flickered on. As Zizi stowed the
motorbike behind some shrubbery, Rui checked in on her comms.
“Kodie? We’re here. Any updates?”
There was a blip of static in her ear.
“Ash got held up,” Kodie replied. “But he should be there soon, and other reinforcements are on their way too. We’re sweeping
the locations Yiran gave us. Nothing so far. I’m wondering if it’s a false flag of some sort.”
“But what would be the point?” Rui said.
“Even if they wanted to divert and spread out our resources because of whatever they’re doing here at the seaport, they would first have to know that Yiran would go back to the dive bar and that he’d get a message to the Guild.
Maybe the devices are well hidden. Hang on—”
Zizi was holding his paper doll in front of her. Its edges were glowing a faint orange.
“Song Liming’s here,” she said. “Yiran found him.”
“Copy that,” Kodie said. “Do you see any Hybrids?”
“No—we need to get closer.”
“Ash said to wait for him. Wait—I have another line coming in. Be right back.” The comms went silent.
Rui glanced at Zizi. The head of the paper doll was sticking out of the breast pocket of his coat, and the orange glow had
disappeared.
“We’re not waiting,” he said, as if she’d asked her question out loud.
Together, they crept forward. The smell of salt water and oil grew stronger as they neared. Rui spotted the sanitation van
parked at the lot in front of a row of old warehouses. The driver of the van was sitting by the curb, smoking a cigarette.
Zizi motioned her to follow as he slipped through a gap in the rusted fence, blending into the shadows on the sides. He pressed
his back against the wall suddenly, raising a hand. Wait.
Someone had come out to talk to the van driver.
Rui strained to listen to the low murmur of conversation.
“Where are they?”
“Should be here in a minute. They’ve set everything up in the city.”
Are they talking about the explosive devices?
“—bit of a complication. His son’s here too.”
“—just a little twerp. Don’t worry, we have the numbers.”
“Celeste says we should—”
Static buzzed in Rui’s ear, cutting off whatever the Hybrids said.
“Update—threat level in the city center has been upgraded to high,” Kodie reported. “One of the units found a device, and they’re retrieving it now. I need to coordinate an evacuation, so I’ll be off your comms for a while.”
Rui’s earpiece went silent. Zizi nodded at her. He’d been listening in through his too.
“Stay here and watch the two Hybrids,” he whispered. “I’m going in to find Mochi and the talisman.”
“I’m coming too.” She was fully capable of defending herself.
He shook his head, brows knitting. She glared back.
A flash of lights halted their silent bickering.
Several cars had appeared along the road leading to the seaport. Rui and Zizi retreated, using darkness for cover as the cars
pulled into the parking lot. She counted over a dozen Hybrids, including the first driver and the one who had come to look
for him. Was that too many for the two of them to handle? Maybe it was better to wait for Ash and the reinforcements to arrive.
“What are they doing?” she whispered.
“I think something’s happening among Song Liming’s little army. Maybe things aren’t so rosy in their ranks and something else
is going down tonight. It looks like this group is waiting for a signal—crap.” Zizi was still looking at the road. Two more
cars, probably filled with Hybrids, had appeared.
But something else caught Rui’s eye. She reached over and pulled the paper doll out from Zizi’s pocket. The edge of the paper
was glowing red. Heat grazed her fingertips, and she hissed in surprise, letting go.
The paper doll fell to the ground and burst into flames.