Call Xiao Fang stupid, foolish — a brainless man even, he would agree. At least, he admitted that last night when he confided to his comrades — telling them about the narrow pathway down the west end of the barracks, the high fence they would have to climb, the long walk down to Lu Ba. Yet, not once did it cross his mind that they needed to get out of the holding cell before they could do the escaping part. Foolish madness indeed.

Fortunately, being a doctor came with its perks. Xiao Fang had a quick-thinking mind. He was a splendid planner under stress, and excellent at spotting details. All of these paid off when he realized as he racked his brain last night that the young prison officer, Bai Lu, was a dense young man who seemed to lack critical thinking, as his eyes often wandered around; his words often slurred - an easy man to manipulate.

A manipulator.

Though he would do whatever it took to save his country from the Communist Party — to save his starving comrades, Xiao Fang never expected he would stoop so low.

If Commander Wang Yi could read his mind — read about all the men Xiao Fang would kill to run away, surely Yi would think of him as a fraud, faking a friendship to snoop around. Yi would call him a machiavellian before putting a bullet between his eyes for betraying his trust.

The idea of Yi pulling the trigger should not have Xiao Fang clutching his chest. Yet, it did cause that to happen — which made it difficult to leave this place, knowing he would never see the commander's face again. If only Yi had not left an imprint in Xiao Fang's heart — had not come into his dreams and startled him awake, escaping would have been much easier.

++++++++++

As Xiao Fang's comrades lay in the holding cell — some on their backs, others on their sides, faking sleep in the dead of night, Xiao Fang gripped tight against the rusted iron bars of the cell. "Bai Lu," he cried out in a hushed tone to the young soldier guarding the front door, sitting on a wooden chair, half-asleep, a rifle wrapped around his fingers. "I need help," he said, his voice hoarse, sounding sickly. "Please. I think I'm dying."

Xiao Fang had never been a good liar. Whenever he tried lying, he would blush bright pink — anyone and everyone could see through his little white lie. However, in times like these, when he wanted to escape, Xiao Fang had to improvise. He had to be wary, stiff, and strong. Or, if caught, he would end up like the nameless soldiers buried outside the military base. Or worse, have his corpse tossed in the forest for wild animals to feast. Either way, both involved him dying in barbaric situations that brought shiver racing down his spine. He had never been a good liar, but tonight that would change.

"Bai Lu —"

"Aye, what do you want?" The soldier, Bai Lu, slammed a hand against the bars in annoyance at Xiao Fang's constant shouting. "You like being a nuisance, don't ya?"

Xiao Fang faked a cough. "I'm sick," he pouted a barely visible pout as he stared at Bai Lu with pleading eyes, hoping to win the soldier's sympathy.

"What you want me to do 'bout it?

"I need to get to the infirmary," Xiao Fang said. "If you don't take me, I'll die. I don't think Commander Wang would want me to die. I just need some medicine — I'll be real quick, what do you say?"

Bai Lu folded his arms, staring suspiciously at Xiao Fang. "How do I know you're not lyin'?" he frowned.

Xiao Fang swallowed. "I...I'm not," he cried as he lowered his head to stare at the floor so he could blink fake tears. "I'm not," he looked back at Bai Lu with tear-filled eyes. "Come on...I'm dying here."

Bai Lu tsked. "Fine," he bit out. "I'll take you there because I ain't know much 'bout medicine."

"Okay," Xiao Fang beamed before faking another cough.

When Bai Lu cracked the cell door open, letting his guard down, he turned his back on Xiao Fang. "Follow me," he said. However, before he could say anymore, Xiao Fang pounced on him, snaking his forearm around the soldier's neck in a tight hold; Bai Lu was not allowed to fight back before Xiao Fang yanked him a bit too hard, breaking the soldier's neck in one swift move, and killing him instantly.

While Bai Lu's lifeless body went crashing down, Xiao Fang stooped down, snatching the bundle of keys that fell on the ground before he ruffled a trembling hand through his hair. "What have I done?" he whispered under his breath. Though Xiao Fang might have killed several men on the battlefield, this was the first time he took another man's life with his bare hands. A monster — he was a monster.

"Xiao Fang, hurry up," Jie Yu tapped him on the shoulder.

Quickly, Xiao Fang stood up. "Remember what I told you?" he turned to look at his comrades — huddling around him in the darkness, waiting for his orders. Earlier, Xiao Fang informed them about the abandoned barrack down the west side. He told them of the narrow pathway, the high fence they needed to scale — about the long dirt track they had to walk, about Lu Ba village — he told them everything. "After we disarmed the soldiers outside, we head to the west end. Stick close to me and keep quiet. Avoid talking if you can."

All the soldiers nodded in understanding. None argued, and none uttered any needless phrase.

Xiao Fang tried not to make a sound as he walked as if on eggshells toward the steel door and peeked outside through the tiny bar slot, scanning the area. Thankfully, only one soldier was guarding the outside, a rifle in his hand, though his fingers were wary, slipping from the gun every so often as his eyes opened and closed in slow movements — tiredness taking the best of him.

Carefully, Xiao Fang slotted the key on the door, turning it with ease before signaling to his comrades to stay back as he shoved the door open with much force.

The soldier's eyes doubled when he noticed Xiao Fang rushing toward him.

Although Xiao Fang could feel his heartbeat raging through his chest — could feel a coldness rushing down his throat, choking him as the soldier's grip around the rifle turned tighter, set to aim; he figured that if anyone were going to die tonight, it best be him. Fortunately, the soldier wasn't fast enough; when Xiao Fang tackled him to the ground, it was with enough force that knocked the breath out of the soldier's lungs and rendered him unconscious as his head collided against a small brick on the ground.

"Come out," Xiao Fang voiced in a heavy breath before he snatched the rifle off the floor, keeping it close to his chest, willing to kill anyone with it if that was what it would take to escape.

Though the air was heavy, almost suffocating, and quiet and tense, on cautious footsteps, the soldiers rushed across the field on crouched backs, Xiao Fang steering them in the right direction. The soldiers' eyes — frightened, and tense, wandered around them, searching for any communist soldiers that might have been patrolling the area. Despite there being none, the soldiers did not let their guards down even when they were close to the west end of the barracks.

As the light pole appeared in view sight, lighting up the narrow track behind the abandoned barrack, Xiao Fang swallowed the knot in his throat. Finally, he was getting out of there; he should have been happy — he was happy. Happy.

Yet, he could not bring a smile to his face because whenever he tried smiling, Yi's frowned, a saddened face appeared, making him want to stop — turn back, never leave. Absolute madness; Xiao Fang might have screamed if he was not committing an act that would get him executed if someone caught him.

"How far more?" Chen Wei asked, his breathing wavering as if he couldn't take another step.

"We're almost there," Xiao Fang whispered. "What's the matter?"

"I'm weak," Chen Wei answered.

"We're all weak," Jiang Han chimed in from behind.

Though Xiao Fang could see the fence — could see freedom awaiting them from the other side, his comrades were weak men from having been starved for months. If they didn't have the spirit to leave this miserable place, they would've died a long time ago.

"Let me help you," he crouched down before looking over his shoulders. "Get on my back. Let me carry you."

"Xiao Fang," Chen Wei sighed. "You don't —"

"Just do as I say," Xiao Fang hissed back.

Without another word, Wei Chen climbed Xiao Fang's back, wrapping his arms over the soldier's shoulder. "Thank you," he whispered, only for Xiao Fang's ears.

"Mm." Xiao Fang nodded, continuing.

The soldiers crossed the field with no one noticing them. They sprinted around the corner of the narrow track behind the abandoned barrack, close to the high fence, covered in overgrown bushes, where they crouched so the light from the pole could not shine on their faces. All they needed to do was scale the fence and jump to freedom. It was simple.

"You go first, Xiao Fang," Jie Yu urged him as the soldier tugged off his tattered military shirt before tossing it on top of the barbed wires where it would be easier to climb to avoid unwanted cuts from the spike.

As the rest of the soldiers did the same, Xiao Fang's jaw tightened as he stared at the rifle in his hand. "No," he said. "You go ahead — all of you go. I'll keep watch until you're all over the fence."

"Are you crazy?" Cheng Li hissed, his eyes fuming. It was the only time Xiao Fang had ever seen the man show him he cared enough. It was strange. "Get your ass up there with us."

"We don't have much time," Xiao Fang answered. "If they come, at least I can hold them off while the rest of you scale the fence — I have a gun, I can hold him off. If we're all climbing at the same time, they'll kill us all. Listen to what I say before we all end up paying the price."

It took a moment of silence before Jie Yu addressed the others. "You heard him," he said. "Let's climb."

While one by one the soldiers scaled the high fence, Xiao Fang remained below, scanning his surroundings to look for any communist soldiers patrolling the area.

So far, everything was going according to plan.

Everything was going right.

Yet, at the back of Xiao Fang mind was a strange feeling that caused his stomach to twist.

Something felt wrong, very wrong.

It wasn't until the sirens started alarming throughout the military base, ringing in Xiao Fang's ears in a deafening rage, causing the soldier's breathing to falter, he realized his plan was doomed from the beginning and that they were about to be caught.

"No," Xiao Fang whispered to himself as his fingers gripped the rifle.

Jie Yu and Jiang Han were still high on the fence. The others were already on the other side, watching Xiao Fang with frightened stares, knowing what was happening.

If anyone were going to die tonight, it best be him.

Xiao Fang took a stance, aiming the rifle toward the open front entrance where he was sure that the communist soldiers would flock in any moment before opening fire. "Go — hurry up!" he shouted, taking one last look at his comrades before he forced himself to put on a brave face despite knowing that death was coming and that he was going to die before the night was over.