Hail Mary

Episode 02

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Act 1: All hail Queen Mary

The Zhang Mansion, Beiping, China, 1917

The flap of a black wool coat tail flapped in the wind filled rain as Lieutenant Zhang Yixing appraised his domain.The sounds of rushed feet of soldiers could be heard down the street as the use red his luggage from his trip hastily inside.Their feet stepped in synchronization as they made their way to their posts. Zhang was kept untouched by the harsh storm due to his servant, who held a umbrella over his masters head.He stepped foot into his home taking in the sweet aroma of recently served food and incense.He stripped of his boots walking down the foyer with 2 soldiers and a servant following in pursuit. “Send Han Lu another letter confirming my departure later tonight to help with some of his new found work.”He whispered down to his older and trusted servant making sure to emphasize on the word work.Nodding and understanding the hidden meaning behind his masters words he dismissed himself to finish the task. Yixing waved of his soldiers and they took their place back at the foyer door, standing straight with their feet together in silence.He follwed the scent of food until he ended up in his den area.He sighed seeing Hotsumomo stretched out on the floor in prayer.He walked past her towards a shelf of books. “Leaving and you just got back.” He didn’t realize she had ended her little ritual upon his arrival. Hotsumomo is a japanese woman who was a victim of her country after the japanese government destroed her family.She had long black hair that she wore in a black braid down her back everyday, but her one unique feature was her eyes.They reminded lay of the clear waters by his old home;his old life. “Yes, for sometime.I promise to stay longer once i’m back. ” It was a promise he always broke.Mr.Han always had Yixing doing his dirty work.He spent more time dealing with Han’s problems than the priblems of the city.His main job was always neglected.His family was neglected. “Don't make promise you can't keep, Yixing.” She whispered under her breathe.Lieutenant Zhang had caught the sentence she let slip. “These things you do will come back to haunt you in the end.”She said a little more bolder. He scoffed. As if he didn’t already know that, they haunt him in his sleep, even when he thought that staying awake would make them go away, they started haunting him during the day.Thats why he tried to explain to Hotosumomo that he would never feel love or empathy like others.When you have a job like his, you can’t go home and sleep like a baby.He could never love Hotsomomo the way she loves him, or go to sleep peacefully. Not when your the Boogieman’s right-hand man. “You say that is if you know what I do.” “I do.You do terrible things that haunt you.I know that they’re the reason you stay boarded up in that office all night trying to fight sleep.I know they’re the reason your never home or you stay alone with no one there to help you.I know they’re why you could never return feelings for me.”She cried latching on the back of Yixings coat, her hands digging deep into the wool before encircling his waist. “I know they’re the reason sometimes you stare blankly ahead as if the ghosts of the men you’ve killed are standing before you and only you can see them. I know exactly what you do!” Yixing dropped his hands down wrapping his fingers around her wrists forcing her to let him go.He turned around place a small kiss on her forehead as a single tear slid down from her eye.I was always like this, like some untold ritual.He would a place a small kiss to her forehead and promise to come home and leave her waiting.Hoping he would come home and that there would never be a day he never came back home alive. Zhang Yixing’s face held no remorse as he gave her a kiss and let go of her hands. “It was your choice to stay by my side and it's still your choice.You can leave and get married and forget all about me.” He knew what he was doing was just a waste of breathe and words.She always said she would never leave him and she hadn’t done so for 6 years.She knew loving him was like a double edged sword, but she still hung on hoping that one day it will change. “I promise I’ll be back soon.” And with that Lieutenant Zhang Yixing walked back into the dangerous life of the mafia, gangs, and violence. ¤¤¤ Ying Xin Yue Hotel, Bei Ping, China 1917 Bo eyes lit up as she walked the server lifted up the cup revealing the exact number she had previously guessed.She had drawned a pretty big crowd to herself after winning so many games.Men were happy to give their money over to her so she could play again. She watched as he threw the dice back under the cup rattling it before stopping.One of her courtesans from behind dragged her finger along the middle of back created an8.She smiled guessing 8 to the servant.He nodded lifting the cup up revealing a 5 and 3.The crowd clapped and her courtesans smiled congratulating her even though they had helped her win. The game was fun, but soon got boring.She sighed, it was already 11:04 and Mr.Chang hadn’t been spotted.He had requested her to wear this dress, which was rather uncomfortable, and he hadn’t even showed up.She huffed in annoyance, Mr.Chang wasn’t making a good impression. “This is beginning to become a bore, Lets sit.”She commanded. A server crouched down whispering into Luahns ear and luhan shuued him away with the wave of his hand.One of his men he had disquised as a server had just told him some important information.Xiumin ordered another glass of champagne contemplating whether to finish up his business with luhan or continue on. “She’s grown tired and is sitting 3 seats west.”Xuimin nodded tilting his head down to drink from his glass.He side eyed her profile.He chuckled, she was to busy chit chatting with her courtesans to realize their were atleast 20 men watching her every move. “She’s a pretty one.”He concluded. The green dress was a little m