Jun watched Mei Mei slip a few coins into the guards' hands. She had greeted the guard as a senior, shocking Jun who hadn't expected to hear such polite words from the usually stoic teen. The gate was opened for them and the trio made their way inside. They pass through what used to be offices, now converted to living spaces for the guards, making their way to a large chamber with a closed tunnel leading further into the ground, which connected to over seventy percent of the city's sewer pipelines, functioning as the control hub for the entire system.
There were four more guards posted both on a series of walkways above the tunnel and the entrance of the tunnel itself. This was the true entrance to the sewer city. Here, they were patted down briefly after declaring they had brought no weapons, before being told to wait with a small crowd of other people who wanted to enter the city.
The trio waited with the crowd until it was 9:00am at which point the guards used the facility's computer system to open the tunnel. Great iron gears creaked and croaked unseen as they turned open. A blast of warm air filled the room as the crowd moved further into sewer city.
After a short walk through a damp wide tunnel, the trio came upon a lane of shops, kiosks and stalls, made of a patch work of materials ranging from wood and scrap metal to discarded posters, sign posts and a bill board someone had somehow moved all the way underground. Down here, the tunnels were wide enough to allow a truck to drive through comfortably as such, both sides carried innumerable amount of small businesses.
There was a crude map drawn on the entrance to the town. Jun saw there was a shopping district, which they were now in, an entertainment district further in and the residential area which took up space within the large super tunnels originally meant to funnel the city's waste to a faraway underground river.
Jun stared at this billboard, he could make out the original advert for a perfumed soap product, yet now it served as the side wall for a merchant's shop.
It was a surreal sensation, where nothing seemed familiar. He was somewhat overwhelmed by the numerous merchants calling out their wares and jumping into their paths to directly lead them to their place of business. He felt like he had travelled to another country entirely.
"How did they get that in here?" Jun asked absent mindedly, pointing at the intact advert bill board.
Shu'er and Mei Mei both shrugged. "No idea," Mei Mei said, "Stay close, we're going towards the entertainment district."
The trio passed more stalls and kiosks as they went. The range of items available for purchase were mostly mundane food items such as meats, fruits and canned goods. Even down here, Jun could spot many stalls with working power, so he started trailing the visible power lines, hoping to figure out how they were getting their power.
They turned left at a junction where the wide tunnels continued. With just a bend, the atmosphere changed immediately. Loud music beats became audible almost immediately as well as the thick scent of smoke, alcohol and sweat.
Here, buildings were built with sturdier materials and looked more like huge sheds than anything else. Jun could spot signboards advertising many shops and services available. Here there were bars, brothels, inns, hospitals and a few gambling dens.
Jun spun his head about, taking in as much about the place as he could. There was so much here, a part of him believed this place was in operation well before the Umbra Event. Mei Mei led him to a wide wooden door, above it was a bright green cross-sign which looked a lot like the icon on a first aid box.
She moved to open the door then stopped, turning to Jun then asked, "You're not going to hurt her right?"
Jun shook his head, "I really just want my things back…" he paused as he remembered something, "She did try to stab me before… so… if she tries anything, I won't hesitate."
Mei Mei nodded once. She drew in a deep breath then opened the door.
Inside was… a lot of curtains. Hospital curtains of various shades, makes and types were used to create hallways, rooms and offices. Mei Mei approached the receptionist; a young girl seated behind plastic tables. Mei Mei whispered something in her ear. The receptionist leaned back and sized Jun up and down. Mei Mei then pulls out a few coins and slips them onto the receptionist's desk, a stack of papers immediately covers the coins. The receptionist whispers to Mei Mei then nods towards the back.
Mei Mei motions for them to move and they do. By now, Shu'er begins to drag behind a bit.
Jun follows behind her. A part of him begins to realize the reality of his actions; where he was, what he wanted to do, what did he want to do? He didn't realize they had passed several curtained rooms with numbers painted above them.
Still unsure what to do, Mei Mei stopped at a room with number 5 above it and motioned for Jun to enter. They locked eyes and gave each other a firm nod; he appreciated her utility until now while she had expectations of him.
Jun pushed the curtains aside and felt his stomach lurch when he saw the same girl whom he passed out while chasing, being attended to by a physician. She was laying on a gurney while a male doctor examined her, her legs rested on a set of stirrups and her head was turned towards the entrance when Jun burst in.
"It's an infection all right." The Doctor said as Jun burst in. Hearing the sound, the doctor looked up and saw Jun. "Who the hell are you? What are you doing-hey!"
Immediately recognizing Jun, Xia made a break for it! She jumped off the gurney and ran away from Jun, intending to go through the curtains into another room.
Jun immediately seized her, he ignored the doctor's wide eyes. Unlike the first time they met, Jun was able to completely subdue her, so he pulled her towards himself watching her struggle uselessly against his invisible binds.
Turning her to face him, "Where are my things?" Jun immediately demanded.
The doctor inched bit by bit towards the exit, before making a mad dash out and away.
She didn't answer him, instead her eyes went wide. Jun could feel her movements through his telekinetic grip; she was attempting to struggle, but his grip made all movements inert.
"Answer me! My wallet, my phone!" Jun then felt something was wrong. Xia's eyes began to bulge and her struggle became weaker bursts of mute kicks.
"What's wrong with her" asked Shu'er watching from the outside. "Is he killing her?" she quietly asked Mei Mei in fright.
Mei Mei's eyes went wide, "She can't breathe!" she suddenly shouted out.
Jun reflexively released her and Xia dropped to the ground coughing while desperately sucking in air. Jun opened his mouth to apologize, but he pushed the thought down.
You brought this on yourself anyway.
Shu'er moved to tend to Xia who kept coughing, when Jun raised his hand to stop her. He remembered Xia once tried to stab him. He figured she was armed and dangerous.
"Don't go near her, she has a concealed knife, be careful." He waited a few moments for Xia's coughing to reduce, then he spoke. "Don't try to run again, let us talk. Okay."
Xia caught her breath. Her eyes kept darting around the room. The walls were simply curtains so she could run in any direction, however, now, she was terrified of Jun. She hadn't seen him physically do anything, yet for a few moments, she couldn't move or breathe; she was pulled towards him, even from a distance – this stranger had held her life in his hands, thus, her life had flashed before her eyes and she truly believed she was about to die; after seeing what some super people did to regular people, Xia had believed she had angered one and was about to die. Xia broke down and slumped to the ground in a warm puddle, tears began streaming down her face.
Shu'er, again, began moving to the crying girl, but Jun stopped her.
"She stabbed at me Shu'er!" he said sternly, "if not for my powers, I'd be dead now."
When Xia heard that, her cries intensified.
"Look," Jun called to her through her tears, "Return what you stole from me and you never have to see me again, how about that?"
The crying didn't stop. Jun suddenly felt awkward. He didn't want to take any risks with this Xia, but, he couldn't remember when he had ever made a girl cry, even in his youth. This upset Jun deep down. He wondered if having abilities was changing him.
"You in there!" someone shouted through a megaphone.
"You with the powers. Please, come outside, we need to have a chat!"