The air was thick with the scent of agar, and the hum of machinery. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with chemicals.
Fluorescent lights above casted a sterile glow on rows of work stations where conical flasks bubbled.
Whiteboards covered in scribbled notes, and diagrams lined the walls facing the center.
In the centre of the room, a small work station stood, surrounded by a female in white lab coat and gloves , carefully measuring out substances with precise movements.
Straight sleek black hair in a big bun. Sapphire eyes that glinted with a spark. Button nose and pink lips. She was a beauty!
Rows of computers displayed complex data. Samples and reagents were properly stored and labelled.
Her face was calm and impassive. Her emotions hidden behind a veil of neutrality.
As expected, her eyes were fixed upon the experiment that she was unaware of what was happening around her.
A masked person stood behind her, their identity and gender unknown.
Just as fast as the person appeared, a white cloth was in their hand. They covered her nose from behind. She struggled clutching the hand over her nose, but couldn't overpower the assailant.
Slowly her struggle reduced to non-existent, and she slumped into their hands.
…..
IN AN ABANDONED WAREHOUSE, FARAWAY FROM CIVILIZATION
" Ughhh…." Bai Fengxi groaned in pain as she slowly opened her eyes to eerie silence.
The dull light in the room casted long shadows along the wall. Piles of debris littered the floor.
Dust and cobwebs decorated the room.
As Bai Fengxi's eyes accustomed to the light, she realized that she was tightly tied to a chair. She couldn't wiggle her finger.
Standing in front of her was the masked person who kidnapped her here. The man stared at her , and she stared right back at him. Like they were having a staring contest.
' Where is the mugger who wanted me here?I still haven't switched off the Bunsen burner 02 . Ah!' Bai Fengxi thought as she calmly waited.
Just then, a new shadow appeared. Bai Fengxi's eyes narrowed as she watched the new person come in.
Six inch white heels came into view. White sleeveless midi dress with V-shaped neckline. Flowy chestnut hair package in a high ponytail.
The diamond necklace sat gracefully on her swan neck. Delicate makeup framed her face. She was beautiful. But compared to Bai Fengxi, she was average in appearance. She appeared to be in her late twenties.
' Finally! Let's get this done immediately!'
The masked man pulled a chair out from somewhere and placed it in front of Bai Fengxi before exiting.
The woman sat gracefully on the chair.
Bai Fengxi stared at the unknown woman, whose red lips slowly broke into a demonic smile.
" Bai Fengxi. Long time no see."She muttered.
Bai Fengxi looked up, completely calm. "It's no big deal that you know me. So let's get on with this quickly. I have pending work to attend to."
" Why did you kidnap me ?"
" As always. You never remember anyone who hasn't impacted something wonderful to the world. It's alarming."
Bai Fengxi ignored what she said, and sighed. " Seriously, I. AM.VERY.BUSY."
The woman leaned back into her chair, and her smile widened like a Cheshire cat. " Let's start with introductions, shall we ?" " Or better yet…let's go down memory lane."
" My name is Fei Xinin . We were once classmates. I was the popular girl, and you were the nerd…. The Bookworm, yet you gained way more popularity than me."
Bai Fengxi stared at her like she was speaking nonsense. " So? What has that got to do with this current situation?"
" Right…You don't remember me. Not like I want you to….But I just wanted you to know why you are here." She leaned in smirking like she was about to reveal a national secret.
" Someone I love with everything loves you. And we can't have that, can we? "
Bai Fengxi's indifferent face cracked as she slowly inhaled. " Who is the one you love ? What's his name ?"
Fei Xinin leaned closer, and stared at Bai Fengxi's peerless face. " The thing is," She blinked her feather like eyelashes "Even if I tell you, you wouldn't remember. In this world no one is important to you, yet most people hold you important."
Bai Fengxi threw her head back , blinking at the dark ceiling. She inhaled. Then exhaled. Then inhaled.
Kidnapped? Love? Memory lane? What the heck is going on?!
She chuckled, " You know, I have witnessed things….been in different situations due to crazy reasons. But today your reason is on another level of CRAZY!"
" Today, the reason for my kidnapping is because your so-called love interest loves me. Someone I don't know. "
She muttered,surprised."Like…really?!"
" Mhmm… He's crazily in love with you. It should have been me. Bai Fengxi, it's nothing personal "
With that sentence she stood up and left.
Bai Fengxi smiled, then a thunderous laughter echoed. " Hilarious! This is really hilarious!!!"
Bai Fengxi knew she was a very sought-after person. She had been proposed to by countless business Giants and conglomerates. She had been kidnapped to perform surgery or to collaborate in producing different sorts of drugs.
But this is the first and maybe probably the last time she would be kidnapped because someone fell in love with her.
".... Seriously?"
Just then , the masked man entered, walked up to her, and smashed her head with a rod into unconsciousness.
The next time Bai Fengxi opened her eyes, she was falling down from a cliff. Her hands and feet bound, with no chance of escape from her impending death.
As she continued falling, Bai Fengxi tried tugging her hands free. Her wrists were so red that they could spill blood in the next moment.
Luckily for her, her efforts paid. The rope on her wrists came undone. Her hands were free!
BUT…..
IT
WAS
TOO
LATE.
BANG!
PAK!
Her back made contact with the jagged rock, and a brain-splitting pain coursed through her entire body.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Her scream echoed in the deserted cliff.
It was late in the night. No one was in sight. Bai Fengxi's eyes were bloodshot, as tears streamed down her face.
" I can't believe this is how it all ends! I haven't finished research 342 ... .and project 00305…..a..nd…subject 972..a.." Her words slurred as her eyes slowly closed.
DARKNESS ….
THE FALL…..
THE NUMBER OF BONES BROKEN…
THE NUMBER OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL INJURIES SUSTAINED….
Bright red blood pooled around her. The moon was bright and full, but she couldn't enjoy this beautiful scenery.
Then it happened!
A large array formed underneath her body, glowing in blue. It shimmered for a moment and disappeared.
Bai Fengxi, her blood, and the array was….gone!
A bit of clue that she had ever been there was wiped away.
Only the dark night, and the bright moon remained as spectators.