Crimson Instinct

*Xin Lei*

The car was now already far away, out of sight.

We lost them...We lost Chu Jie and Cocoa too.

"Xin Lei! What happened?"

Bai Li called my name, and I snapped out. I rushed back to him and hugged him hard. I couldn't help and broke down.

"Xin Lei. What happened? Why are you crying?"

I quickly typed, but my fingers were trembling. All the words I typed out didn't make any sense.

Damn! Come on!

"Bai Li. We have to follow them. Cocoa has also jumped in the car, and he is with them."

I felt Bai Li stiffen. "Cocoa is with her?"

"Yes. Bai Li. We have to follow them before it's too late!"

Silence.

"We cannot. Duan Deming is shot, and Liao Huifang is also hurt. They need medical help. We cannot leave them alone."

I froze.

I...B-but Cocoa and Chu Jie…

Bai Li held my face. "Xin Lei. Calm down. There was no shot fired, so that means they are most probably unharmed. I know you are worried about them but don't worry. Cocoa is a smart dog. And strong as hell. With him, Chu Jie is safe. He...He will give up his life, but he won't let anything happen to him under his watch."

I froze.

Give up his life…No…

I covered my face. My palms got wet with my tears. In the past few days, I got so attached to Cocoa that I already considered him my family.

"Xin Lei. Be strong. We need you right now. Tend to Duan Deming till the ambulance comes here. Dial their number. I will talk to them."

Sniffling, I fumbled with my phone. I pressed the emergency medical number.

While Bai Li talked to them, I went to Duan Deming's side.

He was gritting his teeth. Sweat trickled by his sides.

"I...I am sorry. I was about to catch her, but she was...just a second faster and shot my leg...I am sorry I couldn't…"

I raised my hand to stop him from talking. I had to concentrate on his wound.

Bai Li said, "They will be reaching in five minutes."

Good. Till then, just like Liao Huifang, I had to stop the bleeding. The bullet had pierced through his side, so the femur bone in his thigh was intact. The bullet didn't hit the bone, only the soft tissue. I Iifted his leg to elevate it above his heart. I pressed my palm tightly on his wound.

My hand was stained with his blood, but it stopped trickling out little by little.

I felt my sight go blur and wet. It was hard to focus, thinking of Chu Jie and Cocoa trapped with the woman. My mind was endlessly shifting to their thoughts and safety.

I heard the ambulance sirens from a distance.

It stopped, and the nurses quickly stepped out with the stretcher.

Bai Li said, "There is also a woman inside, injured."

"Yes!"

The doctor in charge checked Duan Deming. He then looked at me. "You did a good job tending to his injury. If more blood had been lost, then his condition could have got critical."

I absent-mindedly nodded.

The cops also arrived just a few minutes later.

They got alert as they saw us because of those sketches, but Duan Deming weakly raised his hand. "Don't arrest. Just stay with them."

"Yes, sir!"

Bai Li said, "Tell the cops to follow the road in the direction which the woman took."

Duan Deming nodded. "Do as he says."

"Yes, sir!"

I looked back at the road. I bit my lip.

Cocoa, Chu Jie. Please be safe.

---

In the hospital, we visited Liao Huifang's, who seemed much better.

She looked at us. "I-I am sorry. I couldn't save Chu Jie."

Bai Li said, "No. You did your best. Don't fret over it. It was me who messed it up."

I quickly typed. "It wasn't because of you."

Liao Huifang also nodded. "Are you crazy? You took her hostage and also knocked down the man while you cannot see. That is a great feat in itself. I feel guilty for judging you. That bastard leader suddenly attacked the officer, and even we couldn't do anything who could see all the same."

I took his hand in mine and pressed it with both hands.

Bai Li faintly smiled, but I realized that it didn't console him a bit.

"And Cocoa…"

Bai Li said, "Cocoa is fine. My heart knows it. I will know it if he is hurt. I will just know it."

Cocoa and Bai Li shared such a special connection that sometimes even I felt a little envious.

Bai Li turned in my direction. "Xin Lei. Please take me outside."

I nodded at Liao Huifang. I held Bai Li's hand, and we went out.

My phone buzzed, and I saw that it was an incoming video call from Lin Zihao's secure line.

A video call?

I picked it up and was stunned to see the person who was looking at me, warmly smiling at me.

His jawline and his eyes were just like big brother. The striking similarity was unmistakable. He was the older version of my brother Zhen.

Dad…

"Lei Lei…"

It was Dad.

I didn't even realize when the tears just gushed out.

"Hey, now my daughter is a big girl. Don't cry. See? Daddy is back."

But then I broke down again.

It felt after so long that I was seeing his face and hearing his voice. After Mom, it was only Dad in my and my brother's lives. If we had lost him too then...

Finally.

My dad, who was kidnapped, was standing in front of me, safe and sound. I wanted nothing else right now.

"Hey, now, shouldn't you welcome me with a big smile? You look ugly with those tears."

I softly laughed.

There was a moment of silence.

"I am sorry, dear. I know I worried you a lot."

I nodded hard.

"I got you entangled in such a mess."

I shook my head. I raised my hand and signed. "For you, I can do anything. Nothing is a mess for me."

Dad smiled. "Ah, you are so brave, Lei Lei. I am so proud of you."

Then his expression slowly turned to that of utter seriousness.

"I know you got involved because I suddenly disappeared. But now, I am back. And I am safe with the army here. So you don't need to be out there anymore. It's dangerous. Come back, Lei Lei."