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[It was a rainy night in Chinatown. Four total strangers walked into the Golden Dragon restaurant, each with their own reasons and secrets. They did not know each other, nor did they care to. They just wanted a warm meal and a place to escape the cold and wet streets.]
The first one was Natalia, a pretty Russian woman with auburn-black hair and blue eyes. However, she was a spy, sent by a covert operation of the KGB arm of her Russian government to infiltrate a secret organization that was planning to launch a cyberattack on the US.
She had a microchip hidden in her pearl necklace, containing very vital information that could expose the plot. She was early and supposed to meet her contact at the restaurant, but he was nowhere to be seen.
The second one was John an ambitious American man with brown hair and glasses. He was a journalist, working on a story about the corruption and crime in Chinatown.
Yesterday, morning, he had received an anonymous tip that the Golden Dragon was a front for a drug cartel, and that he could find evidence in the basement.
He had a camera and a recorder in his backpack, ready to expose the truth. But a fellow journalist had warn him because sometimes the truth comes at a heavy price.
The third one was Minji, a Korean woman with black hair and a scar on her cheek. She was a female hitman, hired by a rival gang to assassinate the leader of the drug cartel, who was dining at the restaurant. She had a gun and a knife in her purse, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The fourth one was Chen, a Chinese man with short hair and a tattoo on his arm. He was the leader of a drug cartel, and the target of Minji's hit. He had a briefcase full of money and drugs, ready to make a deal with another gang. He had several cartel bodyguards with him, armed and alert.
They all ordered their meals from the menu, unaware of each other's presence and intentions. They all received fortune cookies with their bills, but only Natalia opened hers. She read the message inside: "Your life is about to change forever." She smiled and shrugged, thinking it was just a silly gimmick.
She was wrong.
Little did they know that their fates were about to collide in a violent and quite unexpected way, and that their fortunes would be sealed by the end of the night.
As they sat in silence, each lost in thought and anticipation, the door burst open and four police officers stormed into the restaurant, guns drawn. The customers all froze in fear as the officers shouted loud commands and angrily demanded everyone put their hands up.
Natalia knew she had been set up and tried to reach for her microchip, but a policeman grabbed her hand and pinned her against the wall. John snapped photos and recorded footage of the chaos unfolding before him.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXms6XdXa3x
Minji slipped away unnoticed, while Chen barked orders at the rest of his guards to protect him.
As the situation escalated, so did the danger and confusion. Shots were fired, tables overturned, and bodies fell to the ground. In the midst of the mayhem, Natalia managed to break free and stabbed a guard with her steak knife, while Minji took out another with her knife.
John caught it all on film, documenting the bloody carnage. Just when things seemed like they couldn't get any worse, Chen's briefcase exploded, revealing packages of cocaine. Amidst the confusion, Chen drew his 45 magnum pistol and frantically fired off rounds at the officers.
After the violence ended, the policemen checked all the bodies and as emergency responders arrived, news crews began to gather outside, no one knew what had really transpired or how it might impact anyone.
All anyone knew was that tonight somehow in Chinatown, four people or individuals collided violently and irreversibly altered their destiny in ways none of them ever imagined possible.
[Trembling with fear and adrenaline, the survivors looked around at each other, unsure of whom to trust or whether anyone else knew their secrets. They exchanged nervous glances and quietly whispered amongst themselves, trying to piece together what happened and why they were still alive.]
"We need to call for backup," said one officer, frantically searching through his jacket for his radio.
"No! Damn it!" We can't risk exposing ourselves!" We were supposed to steal all the cash and drugs, replied another officer. Tightly still holding onto his police walkie-talkie and staring intently at the others.
"What are we going to say?" asked yet another, looking anxiously between Chen and his guards lying motionless nearby. Nothing, states the police lieutenant. "We leave and not one word to anybody about what happened here."
"Let's go!"
............
Golden Dragon Claw:
"I don't care anymore," retorted Chen fiercely, jabbing accusingly at John and Natalia. "You asses should have died here too, not just my men!"
John, feeling exposed and vulnerable, shot back, "Now why should I have died? You think I came here to play dress-up? "This whole thing has gone insane,"154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aNNycQfz5
John groaned, bitterly, rubbing his temples in despair as he gingerly examined his ruined footage.
Minji sighed heavily, knowing that the events would send ripples throughout the criminal world. Without warning, John suddenly started screaming in agony, clutching his chest in pain.
[The group's attention immediately shifted toward him, confused and worried. John continued writhing until they noticed something strange.
A small dart with a paper napkin embossed with golden dragon claw marks, its edges smudged with red lipstick markings was sticking out of his chest.]
John: (yells) "What the hell!" Somebody pull it out. It hurts...
(Natalia walks over, then jerks the dart from John's chest)
Natalia: "You'll live, don't be such a wuss!"
[Slowly, they tried to pieced together the sequence of the evening's tragic events: The fortune cookie messages, the missing contacts, and most importantly, with realization dawning, they gazed at each other in shock. The nightmare wasn't ending; they simply traded old problems for new ones.]
The silence that enveloped the room 154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssUCZaOv8a
was only broken by the occasional sound of heavy breathing from those involved in the chaotic scene. As the minutes ticked by, the reality of the situation slowly started to sink in.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgqxgIbfWi
Everyone present was an expert liar, used to manipulating people and situations to suit their needs. But even experts in deception could find themselves facing dire, unforseen consequences if they pushed their luck too far.
Chen paced back and forth across the dimly lit room, deep in thought about the implications of what had occurred. He knew that such a public display of violence could bring unwanted scrutiny upon himself and his organization.
And yet, despite this looming sense of dread, he found comfort in the fact that he was still very much alive. His instincts told him that there was no way he could be linked to the violence that erupted in the restaurant.
After all, he had never met any of these strangers before tonight - why would anyone suspect otherwise? However, the rest of the group remained relatively quiet, looking and waiting to see who would make the next move.
Minutes turned into hours, and eventually, the first rays of sunlight streamed in through the cracks between boards covering the tinted windows. The sounds of cars starting up and distant conversations drifted in, signaling the start of a new day.
[Despite the danger, some of the group felt grateful to wake up once again. Too many close calls made every day feel like a gift - another chance to fight another battle. After several tense moments, Chen finally spoke up.]
"Listen," he addressed the table, voice low and deliberate. "None of us leaves this room alive unless someone talks first." Silence answered him until he added a crucial caveat, saying, "And I mean actually talk - no games this time."
He let that linger for a moment before yelling,"Somebody f---cking needs to tell the truth!" And he stormed off into the restaurant's kitchen.
Natalia thought that it seemed like she couldn't shake off her past traumas. She was haunted by the recent memories of her last job where everything went wrong." Natalia smiled slightly and looked over at Minji.
Now, I understand your initial suspicion when you saw me hiding in the women's bathroom earlier. I wasn't exactly honest about my actual true intentions when I arrived tonight." Minji nodded her head slowly, understanding dawning on her face.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMXP1kodwK
"So, you weren't really running from anyone or anything initially?"
"Not entirely," replied Natalia. I didn't want to catch a bullet after the untimely demise of my previous target."
Minji raised her eyebrows curiously. "Is that so? What brings you to such dark places?" Natalia took a deep breath and leaned forward conspiratorially towards her friend.
"It's hard to explain, but sometimes I get drawn to dangerous situations, almost compelled to investigate.
Even though I know full well the risks involved, I cannot help myself." "I find that your thoughts are quite troublesome," noted Minji carefully. "You might want to reconsider your line of work if it often or consistently leads you into life threatening, dire circumstances."
Natalia shook her head dismissively. "Don't worry, my dear. I am fully capable of taking care of myself. In fact, I must admit, part of the thrill comes from secretly navigating dark treacherous waters undetected."
There was a sudden knock on the door interrupting their engaged conversation. Both women froze as it opened to reveal Minji's assistant standing outside.
"I apologize for my disturbing you," stammered the young man nervously.
"I received word that Mr. Chen wants to speak with Natalia." Upon hearing that, she straightened and looked around warily. Natalia pondered her options. Finally, she gestured for her guest to go ahead. "Go through the kitchen exit instead. There will be less prying eyes that way."
As Natalia stood up to follow her guide, Minji called out softly, "Wait, take this package with you as well." She handed over a sealed box.
"What's in it Minji?"154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqrqdaGDEx
