Watching the news, even though she didn't understand a word of what was being said, she understood the images. They showed the city of Harbin and bodies found in an apartment building, followed by the shop where he had been. At that moment, she cursed herself for not understanding Mandarin.
She ran as fast as she could, charging up the stairs and bursting into the bedroom.
« Jack, come quickly! »
He followed her, racing down the stairs as fast as possible, then looked at the TV. This time, it showed a map with locations in the forest where it had previously been spotted, before displaying a blacked-out identity with a question mark.
The two kept watching until the news cut to an interview with a young man. Yumiel turned to Jack, looking at him, waiting for answers.
« So uh… I think they're talking about murders in the city. The main suspect would be the werewolf, already present and reported in the Da Hinggan Forest or the Grand Khingan, whichever you prefer. Anyway, they're going to send Seraphs to control the area and deal with the main suspect. »
« That's it? »
« Yeah, that's it, I think. I wasn't there at the beginning, but that's what I understood. »
Yumiel let a smile show.
« They know perfectly well that it's not the werewolf, but they're using it to cover up the murders. Clever. »
Jack sank into an armchair, relaxing.
« I'm starting to regret my choice of wanting to come here. We still had a lot of things to do in London: find your friends, the meeting with Kate in five days now, your parents coming back soon. »
« It's okay, Jack. Now that we're here, let's go all in. »
« Ahahah, we should invent a group slogan. By the way, don't you think there's a lack of alcohol? »
« Ahah, you never lose focus. But it's true there's nothing better to wait until nightfall. »
Suddenly, on the news, they showed the helicopter that had supposedly been stolen along with the disappearance of Jùnyǔ. The images then switched to a map showing the possible directions the helicopter could have taken: the first toward the forest, the second toward Qiqihar, and the last toward Japan.
« It's funny to see how it only takes almost nothing to panic these countries. Still, maybe we should go wake Alan so he can go hide the helicopter. »
Yumiel agreed, nodding. Jack stood up and went upstairs. Entering the bedroom where the two were still sleeping, Jack approached carefully so as not to wake Jùnyǔ. Touching the top bunk, he realized Alan wasn't there anymore.
Leaving the bedroom, he headed toward the bathroom just next door. The door was half open. As he got closer, he heard someone coughing violently, then spitting into the sink.
Jack opened the door to discover a broad back covered in scars. Bullet wounds, knife cuts, even gigantic slashes running across the entire back. To Jack, it wasn't a back anymore, but a sudoku. Alan's voice followed, as he slightly turned his head.
« Yes? »
« Uh… I wanted to tell you they're talking about us on TV, and it'd be better to go hide the helicopter. »
« I'm coming. »
Jack went back to Yumiel and waited with her. Alan came down, greeted Yumiel, opened the door and went outside. Jack followed him out. As soon as they were outside, Alan grabbed his pack of cigarettes, took one and lit it, then headed toward the helicopter on the other side, crossing the city.
« You don't have one for me? »
Alan handed him a cigarette from his pack and lit it for him. Walking together through the ghost town, they saw no one outside; silence reigned supreme. The few glances thrown at apartment buildings with open windows were met with those windows closing a second later.
« Even where I come from, it's livelier and happier than this. »
« Where are you from? » Alan asked, taking a drag from his cigarette.
« A cemetery. »
Alan, slightly surprised, almost choked as he inhaled, then followed with a slightly deeper voice.
« What do you mean, a cemetery? »
« Well, I come from a cemetery, I'm a zombie. »
« Ah, ahahah, I knew your power was weird, but a zombie? You really make a fine team: the vampire, the zombie, and now the werewolf. What's next, a ghost? Ahaha. »
He was about to leave the city, arriving at the bridge overlooking a river. Before crossing it, they looked back at the city, analyzing it.
« I admit, it is funny. But seriously, don't you find the city strange? Ever since I've been here, I've had this feeling that something's wrong. »
Alan crossed the bridge toward the helicopter; Jack followed.
« Ever since I've been with you guys, I feel like nothing's been right anymore, so honestly, one more thing or one less, I don't see the difference. »
Arriving near it, he scanned the surroundings before heading toward the forest.
« Where are you going? Aren't we moving the helicopter? »
« Move it? We're going to find a spot in the forest to actually move it and hide it. »
Scratching his head, he said, « But I thought we were going to push it? »
Alan looked at him, stared for a few moments, then rolled his eyes before heading into the forest. Jack ran after him and caught up.
Carefully examining the surrounding areas, Alan searched for a zone wide enough to land without being blocked by trees and with enough vegetation to camouflage the helicopter.
« And you, where are you from, Alan? »
He turned around and stared at Jack.
« There's something I find funny about you two. One is cold and doesn't really like talking, but still has a hint of emotion, however slight. And the other likes talking, but his heart is as cold as a cemetery. »
Jack looked at him, surprised, not understanding why Alan was getting like this.
« You okay, Alan? »
« I… No, nothing, forget it, sorry. »
Alan turned back, about to keep looking for a spot to land the helicopter. But Jack wasn't done, grabbing Alan's shoulder, turning him around and looking him straight in the eyes.
« What's wrong, man? Ever since we got to the city, you've been acting weird. »
Pushing his arm away.
« What does it matter to you anyway? It's not like it's going to change much. »
Jack grabbed his shoulder again, turning him around.
« And Alan, I really like you. It's just a shame you're only human, so tell me what's wrong. »
This time, Alan gave a mocking smile, snickering slightly before pushing Jack, who barely moved.
« Fuck, seriously… Between the one who despises all humans, especially the weakest, who's heartless and without consideration, and the other crazy one who does whatever she wants, even if there has to be a pool of blood for it… I really don't know which of the two is best suited to listen to me. »
Jack was impulsive, but this time he did nothing, placing his hand once more on Alan's shoulder before hugging him. This surprised Alan, who tried to pull away from Jack's embrace.
« What the hell are you doing? »
« I don't know, I thought you might need it. I'm not like Yumiel, I'm bad at reading people, I don't really have feelings either, and I don't care much for humans. But despite all that, I like you, so, my friend, what is it? »
« Ahahah, you idiot, damn it, start by letting me go. »
He released his grip, and Alan stepped back.
« First of all, I'm not gay, okay? »
« Ahahaha, come on, we're not going to spend all day on this. »
Alan opened his jacket and took out his pack of cigarettes, taking one, then pulled out a photo hidden inside the pack and handed it to Jack. In the photo, you could see Alan, a woman, a little girl, and an older one.
« Those… »
« Yeah… that's my wife and my two children. »
Alan lit his cigarette.
« I met my wife during my first deployment, in Mozambique, to help during the civil war. I was mobilized as humanitarian aid, on aerial missions. That's where I met her; she was beautiful. As a frontline doctor, she was ready to give her life for others. »
Alan took a deep drag from his cigarette and continued.
« She charmed me at first sight; I knew right away I wanted to spend my life with her. And my dream came true—she was originally from China. So I bought a ticket and went to China, we got married, and I came back to England with her. We had our first child, then the war in Somalia came knocking, so she and I were deployed to the front. »
Alan finished his cigarette, threw it on the ground, crushed it under his foot, and took out another.
« I don't think it's reasonable to smoke… »
« Shut up! My wife and I came back, and we had a second child. But war never really ends, and I had to put the uniform back on. This time leaving for Rwanda, I really thought I was going to die there. My wife had just given birth, so she didn't take part. »
He went on, smoking like a madman.
« After that war, I was changed, so my wife and I left the army and planned to move abroad. But then, just as my daughter had turned fourteen and the other was six, and the move was close, the call of war came knocking at my door. »
He leaned against a tree, tossed his cigarette, and took out another.
« I was called back for Sierra Leone. In 2000, at that moment, I swore it would be the last war I'd ever take part in. It was hell—I had never seen anything like it. The nights were brutal, mutilated civilians, child soldiers, evacuations under fire. But I had my family giving me the faith to hold on until… »
Alan began to cry, yet kept his face firm and resolute, dragging on his cigarette, almost finishing it in one go.
« December 2000, the war was at its peak. Child soldiers were dying at the front, blowing themselves up with grenades in their hands. Only my family kept me going, and even that… EVEN THAT, THE FUCKING LORD TOOK IT FROM ME!! »
He threw his cigarette away, trying to stand back up. Jack beside him helped Alan. He was still crying, but inwardly.
« My family moved in December 2000. During the flight, the plane was mistaken for a military aircraft. They had barely flown over an unstable zone when it was shot down blindly. Crashing to the ground, the prognosis was… no survivors… THAT FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT RUF. » (Revolutionary United Front)
Standing up, he looked at Jack, gripping his clothes.
« So I got on a plane and bombed all those sons of bitches until the end of the war. Then in January 2001, when the war ended, I had nothing left. My wife and my children were dead. They gave me several medals, but for what? I was alone. I drowned myself in alcohol and cigarettes until the disaster where I was called back again, this time to evacuate civilians. That's where I met you. »
Jack almost felt compassion for him, a mix of things he couldn't explain. So, to show it, he grabbed two cigarettes from Alan's pocket, handed one back to him, and put the other in his own mouth.
« Ahaha, you're actually a great friend. »
He said, patting his shoulder and lighting his cigarette.
« Well, that's not all, but we need to hide this helicopter. »
They moved through the forest until they found a suitable spot, then headed back toward the helicopter. Jack wanted to follow him, but Alan stopped him.
« Stay here and make big gestures when I pass over you. »
Jack waited there, and when Alan flew over him, he made big gestures until Alan saw him, slowly lowering the helicopter between the trees and landing it in the forest.
« And there we go, job done. We can go back. »
Walking toward the edge of the forest, Jack couldn't help asking questions.
« I just thought of something, Alan. The woman you tried to save last time—was it because she reminded you of your daughter? »
« Yeah, she looked like her, so I don't know why, I just acted on instinct. »
Jack said nothing more, following Alan toward the forest exit. However, just as he was about to leave the forest, he heard a dull noise in the distance. Alan stopped Jack before he could step out and waited.
A few minutes later, the noise became directional. Alan immediately understood.
« Get down! »
Both lay down in the ferns. After barely a minute, a helicopter passed overhead. It landed where it had been before, at the edge between the forest and the city on the other side of the bridge.
Several armed groups got out of the helicopter—around eight—heavily equipped and clearly trained. Taking positions, after a few minutes the helicopter took off again. Jack moved closer to Alan, making a lot of noise, alerting the nearby soldiers.
Alan whispered once they were close enough. « You're an idiot, make less noise, you're going to get us spotted. »
« Hey, I'm not Yumiel, stealth isn't my thing! » Jack spoke softly, but not softly enough not to be heard.
The soldiers moved closer, entering the forest. Alan grabbed the pistol he kept on him. Jack prepared to leap at them.