Xiao Zhan's POV:

Five year old Xiao Zhan:

"Don't come close to me, please" I wail and yet his hand muffles my mouth. Tears sting my eyes and I am unable to move. I try. Try so hard. Unable to move.

Unable to move.

Unable to move. 

"Zhan!" My eyes open and I jerk up from the lounger.
"Stay calm, take deep breaths" his voice is a soothing balm to my ears and I obey. "Good, relax, here" he hands me a glass of water, careful not to touch me. Gulping them in, I steady myself.

"Alright?" He questions and I nod. Opening my eyes, I gaze at the honey coloured eyes that is filled with understanding yet maintaining a dignity of professionalism.

"I think we're done for the day, Zhan" he smiles kindly and takes a seat opposite to my lounger.

"I agree with you, Doc" trying to muster up a smile, I slowly get up and walk into the kitchen. Splashing cool water on my face, I try to not think too much of my past and pour two cups of tea. Sighing deeply, I walk into my home office and place one cup in front of Huan.

Taking a seat on the couch, I smile inwardly. I am glad that I found an angel willingly help this miserable soul out.

I met Doctor Wang Huan through a recommendation by an old police officer who was handling my case. He was one of those cops who refused to give up one their victims and kept in touch with them. Dr. Wang Huan's father was also my primary doctor and through him, in course of time I got to know more about Wang Huan.

A psychologist by profession but a genius by birth, his eyes speak volume of truth. His calm nature and understanding is what made me open my doors to him.

In this palatial house, the only one who are allowed to enter are JC and Doc. When the cleaners arrive, I lock myself in my home office. At times I am sure they would be wondering that I must be a beast from those children fantasy books.

Doc has been helping me for past one year to understand my mental health problems and slowly trying to revive my memories. Not because I want to relive the night, but to help me accept the ordeal and more so to find him...

"Unable to write the book?" He observes and I look at him. He points out to my laptop and just the name of the chapter at the top page stares back through my screen. I laugh "Yeah, unable to write a decent story" taking a sip of my tea, I try to come up with various scenarios, when he speaks.

"May I give you a suggestion?" and I nod. He smiles kindly "It's amazing that you're a famous romance novelist, but don't you think, it would be better if you were in an actual relationship?"

"Huh?"

"Come on Zhan, don't act so obtuse, I suggest you get out of this house and try to be 'out' there. Atleast for 10 minutes if not more" he crouches in front of me when he sees me entering my panic mode "it's a good thing. This was anyways supposed to be my next exercise with you. You need to be introduced back to the society. You can't just live here forever".

Clutching the cup tightly, I try to reason with his logic. I know I need to be out there but... "Doc, I can't" I plead "You're aware of my condition. Not just me being a coward but if something even accidentally touches me..." I trail off unable to complete my sentence.

"Zhan, look at me. I am not asking you to be alone. Take JC with you. Baby steps alright?"

I nod and he smiles.

"I'll meet you at the end of this week. Everyday you're going to go out for 10 minutes and then you going to write a report on it, alright?" I nod once again.

"Zhan trust me. Take that one step. Let the world see the beautiful soul you are. You deserve happiness, Zhan. Remember, not just your books but let that precious heart of yours experience what love is" he grins and moves away from me.

I follow him timidly as he is about to leave, he turns back "Live your life a little more and don't be scared to experience life around you. I just wish you'd give yourself enough opportunity to love yourself".

Nodding I smile and he leaves. Closing the door, I slide down and place my head in between my knees.

Love life? Live life? Can I?

Exhausted, I fall asleep in a dreamless despair.

***
"Help!"

"Someone please help me"
***

I gasp at the vision I just had. No. No. No. Not again!!!

I need to call JC!

I run into my home office, dialing his number, I clutch my hair.

F**k.

This is one of my secrets. I get premonitions. Some call it vision. I call it a damn curse. I started getting visions immediately after the time I was kidnapped. Unknown to many, I have another secret but first I need to deal with this.

Unable to reach him, I cancel the call and quickly try to search for a pen and paper.

JC,

Vision. 74th street. Xin Sea Road. Blue black old shack no. 55. I am going there. Child is there.

Z

Writting a note for him, I place it on my laptop and shoot him a message too. Whatever he sees first, he'll know where I am headed to.

Dashing out, without another thought, I for the very first time in years, I step out of my house. Unable to comprehend much, I meet uncle Ben, our concierge whose eyes widen when he sees me.

"Master Xiao!" He stutters and I nod.

"Uncle Ben, can you call for a cab?"

"Ofcourse" he dials a number and moment later a cab arrives and just as I am about to leave he stops me and hands me some cash.

I blink at them and I realised what a fool I am, I didn't even carry my wallet.

"Uncle Ben, thank you. Please call Jiang Cheng. Tell me I have left him a message" he nods and I quickly dash out. Giving the address to the driver, I pray for the child in my dreams.

Be safe. I am coming. I observe it's quite late at night and I even forgot to bring a jacket along.

Closing my eyes, I am pulled into another vision.

***
Murder. A man is murdered.
***

Gasping I quickly dial a number.

My voice trembles as I utter the words in haste "Murder, murder".

I don't wait for the voice at the other end. Cancelling the call, I stop the cab, pay him the money and start searching for the house from my vision. A minute later I detect it. Walking slowly towards the gate, I am about to open it when I am hit from behind on my head and my face meets the rough ground.

I wake up with a hard hitting pain in my head, reaching up, I feel something sticky.

F**k

Opening my eyes, everything is blurry at first, but as my vision clears, I look around to find myself in some abandoned house.

As my gaze lands on a body next to mine, I am filled with dread. The body has a huge gash, and I gasp when I find myself clutching a bloody knife.

What the f**k have you done, Xiao Zhan?

Suddenly, the door is broken down and a group of police officers barge in shouting "Freeze! Drop the weapon, you're under arrest!" one officer touches my shoulder and my vision blurs.

No. No. No.

Before I could say anything further, I start to loose conciousness but not before I see a pair of pale eyes. 

Lan Zhan, a name that rocks my unconscious core.

---
Pretty action packed chapter. Mental health. An important aspect of all our lives that we need to deal with them well.

Wang Huan: