17 17.Bothersome Barriers

"Excuse me,but what is so funny about that?"Mark asked sternly.

"It is rare to see people like you in such places."He chuckled."You both look like you belong to a good family."

"What's the question got to do with our family backgrounds?"He gawped.

"It is high time in a society when youngsters start to gamble."He replied.

"We don't want to gamble."Akio gushed.

"Says everyone who comes here before losing and going bankrupt."He quipped,stroking his white beard.

Akio and Mark were not in the mood to argue with the man.However,his words were very captivating.His way of talking made one curious. Similar to a sea storm,where no matter how dangerous it is,people will still enjoy its destructive beauty.

"By the way,do you have any idea where the manager could be?"Mark asked,holding back his anger.

"I am not going to let you kids destroy your future."He concluded.

"We are no kids."Akio rectified,producing out those ID's which Wang Xiu gave to them and handed it to the beggar.

"These cheap,fake cards can not fool an old man like me!"He said,without even taking a look at it.

"How did you know it was fake?"Akio inquired.

"It is because I did the same thing during my childhood."He replied,with a smirk.

"That's it!I am going.You can come along if you want."Mark said to Akio. He was fed up.He could not take it anymore.He went straight to the gamble house,in search of Wang Xiu. He entered the place and looked for her where she was supposed to be standing but obviously,she was not there.He went to inquire about her to the waiter,who he had seen when she was there.

"Excuse me, but have you seen a tall boy in a blue hoodie anywhere?"He asked cautiously.

"I saw only one person like that.He had dropped a champagne tower and was drenched in champagne.I saw him rush to the washroom,but he disappeared after that." He replied earnestly.

"Have you seen them go anywhere?"

"Oh..yes!I saw him go to the back entrance with someone."

"OK..thanks."

Mark was getting tensed.Yesterday,he was followed and today,someone was taking Wang Xiu along with them.Why was everything so jinxed?

Mark reached the back entrance and saw something he did not wish to see.He saw Wang Xiu's jacket,thrown on the floor.He picked it up and saw it had dark stains on it.He looked around to find traces of her and saw light in one of the snickets. He looked into it and saw a dark shadow,curled up in a corner.Mark closed in and saw it was Wang Xiu ,completely frozen.She had bruises all over.

"Wang Xiu!"Mark exclaimed.He bent upon her to check for her consciousness.She was conscious but was frozen.She began to shiver uncontrollably and tears began to fall from her eyes which were half closed.

Mark propped her up ,covered her with the jacket and called up Akio.

"I have a great news.I found the manager! And apparently,we know him."Akio exclaimed.

"Who is it?"Mark asked.

"It was that beggar.I inquired about him from the staff and they said he was the manager..Also,I found out an interesting piece of information."

"OK...then we will talk at home."Mark said,hanging up the phone.

Mark hired a cab and placed Wang Xiu in it,who was now unconscious. He chose to sit in the front seat and think,what happened to Wang Xiu?Moreover,who did this to her?