Chapter 1

"THIS IS A MISTAKE" Lei Zhang yelled, "I AM TELLING YOU THIS ISN'T RIGHT"

He was dragged outside the building by two large men who apparently worked for his Boss. Ming Ruan (Mark) followed behind unwillingly.

The two men threw him into a black van and then sat on either side of him, squeezing him in between.

"I'd like to be comfortable at least before my death" Levi grumbled.

Mark sighed as he sat down in the front seat, and said, "I-I'm sorry Levi. I wish I could help but you know how Boss is.... a pain in the a*s"

"You are one of the few people I trust Mark, and I'm telling you, I wouldn't even think of betraying the deathliest secret society. You know how loyal I am to my job" Levi said struggling to breathe between the two men.

"I-I know Levi. I trust you but this is serious man and there is no way you can get out of this without being slaughtered"

Levi scoffed and said, "so I AM dying today"

_______

In a bookstore a few miles away :

"Hui Yin" Wang Shu called her friend who was busy arranging the books on the bookshelf.

Hui Yin turned around to look at the person calling her name.

A smile grew on her face when she saw her best friend standing there.

"Wang Shu!" She cheerfully climbed down the ladder and pulled her friend into a warm hug and said, "I missed you so much baby bear"

With a pout, Wang Shu said, "I missed you too sugar candy"

"So" Hui Yin crossed arms with Wang Shu and walked towards the back of the bookstore and stood in the only blind spot in the entire store, "how was your vacation?" She asked.

"My grandparents were so happy to see me and I got to visit Japan which was on my bucket list. My vacation couldn't get any better" Wang Shu said with a smile and then asked Hui Yin, "tell me about yourself"

Hui Yin exhaled heavily, "yeah it was pretty fun arranging books and selling them to serial killers"

Wang Shu looked at her in confusion and asked, "killers?"

"Didn't you hear?" Hui Yin asked, she closed in and whispered, "the 'Court of Knives' has recently moved into our society and blended in perfectly"

"Court of Knives? Sounds like a playgroup for old people" Wang Shu laughed.

"Sshhhh" Hui Yin opened her eyes wide and looked around, "don't say it out loud like that. They are a deadly secret society who are known for their satanic rituals and kill counts"

Wang Shu was silenced.

"They are here on some very serious mission I heard. Don't ever talk about them to anyone"

Wang Shu gulped and said, "I-I won't"

"They won't hesitate to shoot you in the head" Hui Yin said in a low voice.

"STOP" Wang Shu whisper-screamed, "I get it. They are pretty scary alright. I have some work to do, see you later Yin"

Hui Yin waved at her and Wang Shu hastily walked out of the store.

__________

Zhang Lei was violently pushed out of the black van and handcuffed.

"Oh come on" he whined, "Why handcuff me? I won't run away"

Ming Ruan put his hand on Levi's shoulder and said, "it's easier to do it if you are handcuffed. Trust me"