Forsaken Shadows

The alley stink of piss,vomit and despair. Li Wei hid behind a dumpster, his thin body wracked with shivers that had nothing to do with the cold.

It had been three days since he ate, and the hunger clawed at his insides like a rabid beast. The city red-light district glowed overhead, casting colors on the dirty walls.

As he thought which body part he could sell next for a hit, the sound of an approaching vehicle caught his attention.

A sleek black car pulled up at the mouth of the alley, its engine humming softly in the night. Li Wei's heart rate spiked.

The car doors swung open, and three men in dark suits emerged. Their eyes swept the alley, calculating -.

Li Wei knew instantly that these weren't highschool average thugs playing gangsters on the street– these were the real ones,The kind that made people disappear without a trace.

At that moment panic surged through his mind alerting him to withdrawal.

As the men began to advance down the alley, their footsteps echoed, Li Wei made a split-second decision. With fear giving him a boost, he scrambled to his feet and began to run.

The sudden movement sent shockwaves of pain through his thin body. Every muscle screamed in protest, unused to such exertion after days of inactivity.

His lungs burned as he gasped for air, the acid scent of the alley filling his nostrils.

As is bare feet slapped against the wet pavement. He could hear shouts of anger and the pounding of feet as the kidnappers gave chase.

Li wei mind raced faster than his feet, desperate for an escape route. He zigzagged through the alleys, relying on his intimate knowledge of the city

As he ran, the pain in his body intensified. His muscles, weakened by malnutrition and drug abuse, threatened to give out at any moment.

Sharp stabbing pains shot through his foot,

As his bare feet left bloody prints on the pavement as he ran. But he barely noticed the pain.

His world had narrowed to a singular focus: survive, escape, run.

The sounds of that grew fainter, then louder again as the gangsters split up to cut off his escape routes.

His legs trembled beneath him, threatening to collapse at any moment. Just as he felt he couldn't take another step, he burst out of the alleyways onto a main street.

Through the haze of exhaustion and pain, Li Wei spotted a saviour probably – It was a cop standing on the corner, dealing with a drug peddler.

With the last reserves of his strength, Li Wei fell down towards the cop.

A- Yo , what da fuck you think you doin', nigga? You tryna fuck with me homie? I'll pop a bullet in ya head head quicker than you can say fuck my life !!!!

Lil wei voice hoarse as he whispered, "Help! Please, help me!"

Fuck of bro!!!

The officer looked up. Before he could respond, The gansters emerged from the alley, their attire clean despite the chase.

The cop's eyes widened as he assessed the situation. He pulled his gun, aiming it at the approaching men. Freeze !!!! Don't move..

He shouted, his voice carrying the authority of the law now.

To Li Wei's surprise and growing horror, they didn't seem intimidated by the cop command. They slowed their approach but maintained an air of calm confidence that sent chills down Li Wei's spine.

The leader of the group, a tall man with a scar running down his left cheek, stepped forward with his hands raised in a calming gesture.

Officer, he said, his voice smooth and controlled, There seems to be a misunderstanding here.

Shut the hell up don't talk if I don't command you to!! . The cop's gun wavered slightly, uncertainty creeping into his stance.

Yo,Identify yourselves, homie or I will put a goddam bullets in your ass.

The scarred man smiled, a predatory grin that didn't reach his eyes. "Of course, officer. We're representatives of the Golden Dragon Triad. I believe you've heard of us?"

The effect was immediate. The blood drained from the officer's face, and his gun lowered.

The Golden Dragon Triad ranked at the Top 10 dangerous gangs in xingayen city, their influence reaching into every corner of the underworld.

"The Golden Dragon?" the officer repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. He glanced at Li Wei, then back at the kidnappers.

The internal struggle was visible on his face duty against self-preservation.

Li Wei's heart sank as he watched the cop's resolve crumble. The officer down his weapon, his movements stiff and robotic.

His voice was forced, an attempt at friendly conversation that failed to mask his fear.

The voice normal this time...

Ah, I see. Just a misunderstanding then. You can, uh, take this street rat. The law won't... do any shit about this bastard."

The betrayal hit Li Wei like a physical blow. He staggered back, unable to believe what he was hearing.

No!! He cried out, his voice cracking. "Please, you can't let them take me!"

But his pleas fell on deaf ears. The cop avoided Li Wei's gaze, focusing instead on a point in the distance.

I didn't see anything here," he muttered, already turning to walk away. "Have a good night, gentlemen."

As the officer retreated leaving Li Wei.

The black car that had started this nightmare pulled up to the sidewalk. The back door opened, revealing a luxurious interior.

The scarred man nodded to his companions. "Bring him," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Rough hands seized Li Wei's arms, dragging him towards the waiting vehicle. He struggled in their grip, summoning strength he didn't know he had left.

No!!! he shouted, his voice echoing off the uncaring city streets. "Let me go! Somebody help!"

But there was no help to be found. Passersby hurried past, avoiding their eyes from the scene.

As they neared the car, Li Wei's struggles heated. He kicked and clawed, fighting with the desperation like an animal.

But his malnourished body was no match for the kidnappers' strength. They lifted him bodily, shoving him into the back seat of the car.

The leather interior felt alien against Li Wei's skin. The car door slammed shut, cutting off his cries for help...

As the vehicle pulled away from the sidewalk, Li Wei pressed his face against the tinted window, watching his freedom disappear into the neon-lit night. Inside the car, the scarred man regarded Li Wei with cold curiosity.

Welcome to your new life-???