SO COLD (18+) currently editing

Chapter 16

CHARACTER VIEWS DO NOT REPRESENT MY OWN. Please be civil in the comment section.

The fat man was called Junjie, he was returning from a business trip in the Bronx to his wife and young daughter. He spoke rapidly, steering the conversation from his hobbies to missing his wife's cooking. "...I'm glad to be getting home. It's crazy living in America. I was terrified of living in the police state ruled by ruthless killers. Just last week, police officers killed a black child. What chilled me was the responses of the public, attempting to justify a child's death and comparing him to an adult. The question wasn't what the sentence was for the officer but whether a child deserved to die or not. I couldn't believe it. America, the land of racists and hand guns."

I thought of Seth and how most people were surprised that we were siblings only because his skin was darker than mine. It was a race issue and to deny it was to add to the problem. I'm disgusted as it is but if the murdered kid was my brother, I'd be livid. Just the thought of it makes me enraged to the point where I don't think I'd be able to control my anger. I'd want justice or retribution, the system was failing its people by refusing to acknowledge the problem.

For the first time since the plane took off, Cole spoke, surprising us that he had been silently listening. "What do you expect from America? It's common knowledge America's own government were behind 9/11. The government don't care for their people. The citizens confuse freedom with fear and control and don't realise that they're eating out of the palm of the people feeding them poison. Black people are being persecuted daily by white officers. Parents don't know whether their children are going to be coming home. Children can be fatherless by the end of the day. Americans read their newspapers and are critics about the blood being spilled in the Middle East but don't see the bodies at their own doorstep."

Irvin appeared between the seats. "About 9/11, it's tragic but we're reminded about it every second. Millions of Iraqis were killed because of an unnecessary war and Bush, the piece of shit and that's dusted under the carpet. Coloured people mean nothing to America. If you're not living in America, you're a second class citizen."

Junjie nodded and then asked helplessly. "What can we do?"

"If our people weren't so dense and cowardly we'd overthrow our governments, destroy the police state and build a new world where there is equality and not the cheap version. Most people are satisfied, however, with the lives they're leading. Education, job, get married, have kids and then die. They'll cry outrage at the words I'm speaking and stand proud of their country. To be content with your country is to either be extremely ignorant, wicked or foolish. I was born in Puerto Rico and have lived in Britain since I was a young child and I have found no home yet -"

"Maybe what you're saying is too extreme," Junjie interrupted hastily, "I don't see nothing wrong with loving your country."

Cole looked at him like he pitied him. "Our countries don't care for us. Wave their flags, sing their anthems, dance on their streets, they'll still murder you."

Junjie was silent.

+ + +

Majority of people were asleep, including Irvin and Junjie.

I shifted in my seat, pretending to look out of the window. Cole sighed through his nose, turning to me, "What?" he said.

I raised my gaze to his, "Nothing," I said harmlessly.

"You keep staring at me. You're not being as discreet as you think are. If you've got something to say then say it."

"I'm curious about you. Why ask me on this trip and pay for my ticket?"

He turned his attention back to the book he was reading. "You don't need to pay me back if that's what you're worried about."

"Oh, I wasn't going to," I stole a peek at his book. "Paper Towns. Is it good?"

"Irvin brought it. It's horrendously boring."

"So why are you reading it?"

"Because the alternative would be talking to you."

"Oh."

+ + +

I don't know how I got off the plane, past security, got my luggage and out into the drizzling city without falling asleep. My eyes stung and my neck reminded me of how I slept; awfully. There was noise everywhere, cars beeped loudly and people talking mostly in Mandarin. I couldn't understand half of what was happening, the signs on buildings or why it seemed half of the city was awake at this time of night. Skyscrapers twinkled in the dark sky and the lights were breath-taking. The air was heavy with the scent of food - and it was cold, too, I pulled on my coat. There were men yelling in broken English, gesturing towards their cars - offering transportation. One grabbed my arm and I quickly shook my head. I was slightly apprehensive of the city, everything seemed so busy and I didn't know where to go or what to do. It was weird being in foreign land without family. Everything seemed different, from the smells to the very air, to the clothes and stores. It was exciting but nerve wracking at the same time because I knew we weren't here for a holiday.

"Relax," Irvin said and held my hand as Cole hoisted his rucksack onto his shoulders, throwing empty water bottles into a bin.

"Wait here," Cole instructed without explanation and strode away. I kept visual with his back and leaned on my tiptoes but all too soon, he disappeared amongst the crowds.

"I'm so tired," I tried holding in my yawn and failed and I smacked my lips together like I was dehydrated.

"I'm sure Cole's sorting out hotel arrangements."

Minutes passed.

Flight announcements were called from inside of the airport.

"Irvin," I said after fifteen minutes, "do you think he's forgotten about us?"

"No, don't be silly," Irvin said, looking calm. "He'll - oh, look, he's coming."

Sure enough Cole was headed back to us along with a man. He was rather short and plump, his coffee-coloured eyes darted around uneasily. He wore a crumpled suit and he was wringing his hands together. He was acting like an anxious student who just cheated and knew the examiners had caught him. "This is Qiang," Cole introduced and Irvin and I smiled at him unsurely.

Qiang twisted around, he spoke in English and his voice was whistle-like high. "This way, please. Come!"

The wheels of our suitcases rolled along the ground as Irvin and I followed after Cole through the dense crowds. There was something unmistakably wrong that clogged the air like fumes, a shiftiness in the way Qiang walked, the glint in Cole's narrowed gaze and the self-satisfied smirk dancing on his lips but ignorantly, and clueless to the horror that would slowly unfold on our trip, I continued on.

CHARACTER VIEWS DO NOT REPRESENT MY OWN. Please be civil in the comment section.