DIFFERENT WORLD

Chapter 6: DESTINY

Audio title: LOVE CATASTROPHE

Advice: Listen to the song at the end of the story.

Chapter
VI
Destiny

***

Zhang Qi Ling have never considered before that Wu Xie called for him. There were several reasons for that actually.

First, Zhang Qi Ling had a job to do. A job that made him who he was and that he completed without thought, hesitation, or failure. Well barring that one time, but that was Their problem...

Secondly, Zhang Qi Ling didn't do anything he didn't want to do and the notion that a child, a baby, could bend Zhang Qi Ling's will to suit his own whims was, simply put, preposterous. And then...

Third and last, it just wasn't possible.

The end.

However, as Zhang Qi Ling was walking through the twilight-lit garden of the nursing home his latest collection had occupied, he couldn't deny the feeling like his chest was sucking into itself. He couldn't deny it when in the next breath, he was in the backseat of Wu Yi Qiong's SUV with a screaming, bleeding Wu Xie.

"Papa! Papa! Papa!" the six-year-old cried, and Zhang Qi Ling ripped his eyes from Wu Xie to the front seat of the car. The hood of the car was folded neatly like an accordion against the trunk of a tree. Branches jutted through the windshield, making it nearly impossible to see through with all the spidery cracks that weaved across the broken glass.

A sick, wet gasp came from Wu Xie's father and Zhang Qi Ling leaned forward, surprised that he was still alive.

"Zhang Qi Ling?" an arrogant and all too familiar voice asked, "What are you doing here?"

The soft noises the older man was making ceased and Zhang Qi Ling looked through the driver's window to see Zhang Haike pulling the soul into a tiny jar.

Before he could answer, Zhang Qi Ling felt something yank on his black jacket and suddenly his arms were filled with a shivering, dark brown haired boy.

"Xiao ge, what's the matter with Papa?" Wu Xie gasped as he struggled to breathe but still burrowed closer and closer into Zhang Qi Ling.

Zhang Qi Ling fell back against the dark leather seat and moved his fingers through Wu Xie's hair. For the first time in his life, he willed himself not to collect because he didn't want to have to let go.

"Oh, I see," Zhang Haike continued, suddenly at Zhang Qi Ling's window, peering into the car. "It's the boy without a destiny. How interesting."

Dark eyes shifted from Zhang Qi Ling to Wu Xie and Zhang Qi Ling release a terrifying aura. Sweat slid down the side of his face in his effort to fight off the core of who he was. The moment Wu Xie fell limp against him, Zhang Qi Ling shoved him away, leaning the boy against the side door as he pushed himself against his own side.

Zhang Haike chuckled. "But you, Zhang Qi Ling, you have a destiny. One you can't fight. You are the God of Death. It is who you are."

"..." Zhang Qi Ling ignored him, never taking his eyes from Wu Xie, whose breathing came in shallow pants. Dark brown lashes, heavy with tears, fluttered over brown eyes and Wu Xie whimpered, moving toward Zhang Qi Ling again.

"I'm scared, Xiao ge. S-something's wrong with Papa. Something..."

Zhang Qi Ling nod and held out his hand. Wu Xie's fingers immediately wrapped around his and the tears fell down Wu Xie's face. For the first time, Zhang Qi Ling noticed that something must have ricochet in the car because Wu Xie's cheeks were cut and bleeding. Pulling his hand free, he waited a moment for Wu Xie to draw a breath and then moved his thumb over his small cheeks, wiping the blood.