Chapter Text
“Are you sure she’s gonna pay?” a young man asks, uneasy. “I don’t want to do something like this for pennies.”
“I told you, you can’t expect payment beforehand on your first job. People have killed for less than 500 bucks, that’s double the amount once we finish this,“ insists the fat blue chicken at his side. “Besides, what else are you going to do? A job is a job, you should feel lucky to have such a rewarding one!”
He is right, Seven reflected long and hard before taking this job.
After waking up from his coma he found himself without memory, friends or family. Even worse, an enormous medical bill was dumped on him by the doctor who operated on him.
"Listen young man, I saved your life but I've got bills to pay so you gotta help me back."
But he had another nasty surprise coming for him. The people who found him on the beach didn't find any of his belongings with him.
Well that's not entirely true. He thinks, feeling the small wooden object in his pocket.
He was dubbed Seven, in reference to the strange token they found with him. But that didn't help much. He had no ID card, no money and of course, no diploma or qualifications. There was no clue about who he could be either. He was basically nonexistent. People didn’t hire illegals without any credential this easily on Chicken Island.
He went from odd job to odd job. He wasn’t the most competent worker, and neither was he pretty and charismatic enough to attract customers in a shop, but at least his prices were cheap. The few people that were sketchy enough to employ him would overwork him and barely pay enough to eat. He wasn’t exactly in a position to argue, but when you have to go dumpster diving to survive despite your job you tend to get angry. He was often fired for this. He found himself sleeping under a bridge or on a bench most of the time, and on top of this, he had to worry about the possibility of being arrested.
People are not nice to bums like him.
He once got harassed by some delinquents and nobody lifted a finger. They ended up fighting. Seven held his own as good as he could but between his healing injuries, starvation and lack of sleep, he couldn’t do much against four armed thugs. It looked like they had quite a lot of fun throwing him in the bin. It must be nice to have people to trample on when you’re very low on the food chain yourself. Seven was the lowest of the low, he couldn’t even laugh at the more unfortunate. Besides, what kind of pathetic human being would that make him?
If it ever comes to this, I can kill myself right now.
In the dark of the night he often wondered what good it gave him to still be alive when he had nothing to enjoy from life. No family, no friend, no identity. Maybe he should have been left bleeding out on that beach. Nobody would miss him anyway.
Half a year after his awakening, Dai Bo, the man -or rather the animal- who found and rescued him in the first place, came to him with a proposal.
“You're in luck today because I'm about to save your sorry ass for a second time," he claimed as he pulled a cigar from his pocket. "How do you feel about ridding the word of trash for thousands of bucks?” he asked, a smirk on his face.
“I dumpster dive every day, I’m still broke.”
“Oh, no no no! Not that kind of trash.” Dai Bo laughed and lit his cigar, “I’m talking about human trash. Get rid of the scum of society and get paid for it.” he took a short smoke and continued. “As long as people have existed, there have been grudges going around and people wanting to kill each other. Conflicts rising! Clans going to war with each other! Terrible consequences, too far reaching for your little brain. What if you took out half of the problem by killing your client’s enemies?” he concluded and put his cigar in his mouth.
“Uh... won’t it get me in trouble?” Seven wasn’t that sure about this idea. He didn’t reject it outright though; the promise of money was too tempting. Thousands of bucks? He couldn’t imagine it.
“You’re already in trouble my boy. Look at yourself: a young man, unemployed, without friends, without family, without a roof above your head and without papers. Any day you could be thrown in jail just for existing,” he pulled his cigar out of his mouth “Or maybe you’ll be killed in an alley by some thugs,” he flicked it “I’m giving you the opportunity to make something out of yourself, or at least get thrown in jail for a reason.” and put it back in his mouth.
“I’d rather not go in jail at all.”
“Humph! Because you think you’re better off starving in the streets, surviving on bones throwed at you, than in jail where they have comfy beds, food and cable TV? They’re freer than you are!”
He had him there. He didn’t feel particularly free at the moment. Still…
“You still hesitate? Then take a look at this,” he gave him a piece of paper.
“Are- Are these numbers true?!” Seven couldn’t believe his eyes, these were hit lists along with promised rewards for the head of each target.
“Of course, you’re a newbie. You can’t go for profiles like this just yet. You first have to build your skills and reputation. But take a look at these! You want money to pay off your debt? I’ll give you better. With this job you’ll pay your debt in no time. Think bigger! You’ll become rich! When you break the million, I’ll get us tickets for Stan where they can cure your amnesia. So, what do you say?”
“My amne- I- but I don’t-”
"I see the look on your face! Don’t worry, it’s not that hard. Most people can’t fight at all. Strike when they expect the least and you’re good! I’ve seen the way you move, you got instinct! And you’ve got some tricks up your sleeves, don’t you?” he winked at him knowingly. “Here, take this.” he threw something at him.
“A… sword?” It felt very familiar, the handle fit perfectly in his hands. The scabbard was simple but elegant, it looked well kept. Where did it come from?
“That’s yours, you were holding onto it when I found you. See? You already have the skills! Now come, I rented a building that’ll make a nice base of operations. I already got a cover story for us.” He turned away and walked up the street without waiting for an answer.
Seven stumbled after him, dumbfounded. He ignored his outrage at one of his meager possessions being hidden from him. A job and a roof? He couldn’t refuse this.
But now here he is, looking at his first target and hesitating. She just arrived with her future husband in a nice car -some chic brand he doesn’t recognize- they rented for the special day. With her pearl colored skin and long flowing black hair, Li Sanjin is the perfect representation of traditional Wuxian beauty. Her family must come from Xuanwu.
“The future husband's ex gave us the task. A sordid affair, apparently he cheated on her for months and now he’s getting married to that girl who was supposedly her best friend.” had said Dai Bo when he gave him the job.
It would make anyone mad but... Shut up! You kill for money. Who cares about the client's motive?
Hitting during the ceremony is out of the question. He can use it to spy on his target though. Nobody will find it suspicious when he stares at her during the reception since everybody will be doing the same. He’ll have to come up with a story if anyone asks who he is. Thankfully this place is packed with guests. This is no small reception. Seven feels a little overwhelmed by all the food and luxury surrounding him. How much money can people throw away for a single day?
Well, the client never said I couldn’t stuff myself. He thinks as he takes a fifth serving of salmon toast.
As the last guests come in and the appetizers are taken away, a speaker comes on stage. To Seven, he looks like a penguin in his tuxedo and he has to bite his tongue to stop himself from giggling. Looking around him he realizes he is underdressed. To think he put his nicest clothes. Nobody seems to pay attention to him though, they are all too interested in the two lovers.
“We gathered in this special day to celebrate the union between Mr. Chen Jiajie and Ms. Li Sanjin! What a beautiful couple!” people clap. “But what makes this story even more touching is the years of deep friendship between our two lovers. You may not know this but they grew up together as childhood friends. Let’s review these memories together.” the speaker leaves the stage and a clip starts playing.
It is a photomontage of the two promised, from their early childhood to the recent years. Seven watches his target as she grows up in front of him. The first picture shows a little girl petting animals with her friend holding a cat. In the next picture she is shown carrying her fiancé. Then here they are, on their first day in elementary school. Then in a bus for a school travel. A few clips later they are graduating from highschool.
Mesmerized, Seven can't take his eyes off the projector as his target's entire life is displayed before him. This is the proof of one’s existence. Their memories. Where are his? He can hear happy laughter coming from the spouses table as the clip continues to their college years and adulthood.
Was I ever this happy? Somehow, I doubt it. What kind of person ends up dying on a beach with a sword in his hand? Maybe I ki-
“Aaah!” the speaker’s nasal voice pulls him back to reality. “These two lovebirds make everybody jealous!”
You have no idea how right you are. Seven snorts internally. He suddenly is in a very bad mood. It stays with him the whole evening.
The spouses will probably stay together the whole night. If Seven had any say in it, he wouldn't try to kill her tonight. Too risky. But the client was very insistent: it has to happen in the night of the wedding. So he has to stalk them until he finds an opportunity. He can't stay idle the whole night though. After a few bites in the main course he starts talking with guests at his table.
"How long have you known the spouses?"
"Oh I'm a cousin from Jiajie! Haven't seen him in ages. How about you?"
"I have common friends with Ms. Li- I mean Ms. Chen! Your cousin must be happy."
"We all knew it was coming. He was always a bit of a coward though; it was very slow! Haha!"
"He has a lot of catching up to do tonight then. Unless they need to take care of everything here?"
"Oh no! Their parents take care of the reception. Tonight, they go to the Seventh Heaven. It's that luxury hotel on the east coast. They took a suite."
Bingo.
"Pfew, your mother is a tyrant!" Jiajie laughs. "For a moment I thought she was going to follow us into the car!"
"She is just a little protective. It was nice of her to handle the cleanup." Sanjin feels the need to defend her mother but she agrees with Jiajie's remark. It is true that her mother had been especially overbearing tonight. She can't blame her - after all, it's not every day that your daughter is getting married.
"Still, I'm happy to finally have a little privacy." he says smiling.
"Me too." She blushes like a teenager. It's not like it's a mystery what people do in their honeymoon, and they already were in a relationship long before the wedding. But tonight feels so different.
They fall into a comfortable silence. The sound of the whirling wheels on the asphalt around them. The day and evening had been tiring and the night isn't over. She takes a moment to admire the landscape from her window. They are driving close to the beach; she can see the moon reflected on the deep blue of the seas. She feels a little melancholy at the sight, it is a happy night but-
"Bao wasn't here." She frowns. "She was supposed to be my maid of honor."
"Yes... I suppose she didn't take it as well as she pretended." Jiajie answers, uncomfortable. "I don't want to talk about this today, it's supposed to be our night."
"Yes, you're right but... I thought we had an understanding-and she is my closest friend. I feel terrible knowing she-"
"She brought it onto herself! I tried to let her down multiple times but she was up in her delusions!" he snaps. Seeing the look on Li's face he softens. "Listen, it's true, we have to clear things up with her. But not tonight, okay?"
The rest of the drive feels awkward. Sanjin couldn't get her husband’s words out of her head. He is right though; they had tried to be gentle with Bao. But they couldn't sacrifice their own happiness for hers.
"I can see the hotel." He says, interrupting her thoughts. And indeed, here it is. It is one of these luxury hotels will all services included where rich tourists come for their honeymoon. Tonight, it will be their turn to feel like royalty. Jiajie stops the car and they get out as one. Sanjin rises her head and reads the banner.
"The Seventh Heaven? That's subtle."
"Hey! You choose that hotel!"
"That's true! Hahaha!"
They walk to the front desk to get their keys. The receptionist welcomes them warmly and starts her little speech.
"Congratulation to the newly-weds! We hope you have a magnificent night. Please feel free to ask for our service at any time. Our hotel includes-" she continues like this for a good ten minutes. explaining everything from the hotel security, to the breakfast they will be served and the different activities they have on site. Jiajie lost the track of her speech halfway through.
"-ow you know everything about our services. I hope I answered any question you might have. Here is you key, your suite is on the sixth floor."
"And not the seventh? I'm disappointed!" says Sanjin, half-laughing.
"We've heard this one before."
"Oops, sorry! I'm not in my best game tonight. I have other things in mind." She says, looking at her lover.
"Come on." He takes her by the waist and guides her toward the elevator. "I think I know what is on your mind for toni- Ooof!"
"Sorry!" The bellboy who bumped into them ran down to the basement without looking back.
"That begins well." Jiajie frowns, unhappy with the rude staff member.
"It's okay, he must have a stressful night. He looked exhausted. Lets just go to our room."
The elevator takes them to the sixth floor. They enter their suite, lit with scented candles, and crash on the sofa.
"Aaaaah my feet are killing me!" Sanjin throws her high heels away from her. They are brand new and she wore them the entire day, as a result her feet are ruined. "I think I'm actually bleeding!"
"Don't move," her husband pull her up in his arms. "Let me take care of this." he says as he puts her down on the bed.
The mattress sinks with her weight and she falls between the slats.
" Ah!?!"
"I can't believe- This is unacceptable!" Jiajie rages. "With how expensive the rooms are! We should get out-"
"Let’s just call the staff and ask them to change our room." Sanjin tries to calm him down. "I'm tired, I don't want to go hunting for another hotel in the middle of the night." She takes the service phone.
"They better give us a discount. I'm not paying full price for this!"
"That weird. I can't hear a tone."
"The line must be cut. Stay here, I'm going downstairs and I'm not making you walk in your heels again."
"Okay, see you later."
"Damn! The lights in the hallway are out too! There must be a power cut." he rages on.
Sanjin can still hear him swearing as he goes down the stairs. And to think the day had been so nice. The night is looking much gloomier.
If the power cut affects the entire building I can wait for a long time.
She thinks as she dozes off.
"Are you happy right now?"
Uh?
"You may have their respect but they're all waiting for the day you'll lower your guard."
What do you mean?
"There is a better life for us out there."
That's the only life I've ever known.
"You know, I'm your only friend. And you're my only friend."
We're friends?
"You should run now."
What?
"They will kill you."
Who-
"Wake up !"
Seven wakes up with a start. When did he doze off?
Shit, the target.
He watches down the street from his hidden spot. The car isn't here. Relief fills him. He had left the party around midnight, late enough to be polite but soon enough to do some scouting around the hotel. It was easy enough to get inside and find the register. He stole a master key from one of the maids and found himself a nice spot on the rooftop allowing him to see any approaching vehicle. He must have fallen asleep waiting there.
It was getting late; he wouldn't have to wait much longer. Probably. He's getting so restless he starts counting the cars in the parking lot.
No, idiot, focus! Ah!
There they are. The white convertible just pulled in the hotel parking lot. Mr. and Ms. Chen got out at once. It looks like Ms. Chen just told a joke because both of them just started laughing. Time for action.
He quickly makes his way into the couple's room, lighting the candles he set up there and takes the elevator to the first floor. He found the distribution board in the laundry room a little earlier. If he times this well, he can cut the power and-
"-what is on your mind for toni- Ooof!"
"Sorry!" Shit, he bumped into the husband. Lets hope he doesn't remember his face. Seven doesn't have the time to dwell on his clumsiness.
He runs down the basement and waits until he can hear the ding from the elevator upstairs. He timed it earlier and knows how much time it should take for it to reach the last floor. He should wait at least two more minutes to make sure they really are in the room before he takes action.
...they should be on the sixth floor.
He counts two minutes and cuts the power. On top of this, he cuts the cables that control the last three floors and the elevator.
The building is now dark. He starts running up the stairs. Many guests already left their room to complain to the reception, that's good. On the fourth floor, he crosses the husband again.
"Sir! We have a problem with-"
"Go to the reception." He doesn't wait for his answer.
He reaches the top floor and slows down, out of breath. He needs to calm down before he faces his target. He can feel the sweat trickling down his eyebrows. He quietly grabs his makeshift weapon: a pair of scissors. He couldn't take the sword, it's too noticeable.
With a soft sigh, he opens the door to the suite. The target sleeps heavily on the sofa, her back turned toward him.
That will make things easy.
He enters the room, closes the door and makes his way to the young woman as quietly as possible. The weapon feels heavy and slippery in his sweaty hands. He's not sure if it's due to the exercise he did. He can feel his legs shaking. He has a splitting headache. This is the decisive moment.
"Seven, I love you."
Seven freezes.
What?
"I'll be there for you."
You-
"Forever."
I never asked you.
"It's a promise."
In horror, he drops his weapon. A dull thump echoes in the room. Li Sanjin rise up from the couch and turns at once. They lock eyes.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
She launches herself to the pair of scissors and stabs him.
She. Stabs. Him.
She. Stabbed. Him.
FUCKING TRAITOR!
"What the fuck is this? You're bleeding all over my carpet!" Dai Bo is angry. "Are you fucking serious? It was an easy job! And here you are, half dead on my bloody carpet!?" he swears furiously as he searches for gauze.
"I don't know wha-" Seven starts.
"Did you kill her at least? Xiao Fei! Get me the booze!"
"I... think so."
"You think so? You get stabbed, leave a bloody trail of evidences behind, and you're not even sure you killed the stupid girl? You dumb piec- Shit!"
Seven passes out.