I AM

Chapter 35

The three sat in silence for a while, digesting what had happened during the past hour. Shen Wei did not seem to be in distress in any way; would he be able to handle the integration of the rest of the personalities?

"Sister Cheng? When is our next session?" Shen Wei asked with a smile. "I'm looking forward to meeting everyone."

Integration - Day 2

"Sister Cheng, it's Wang Zheng. I think it is better the quicker I disappear. Then Shen Wei will be happier," Wang Zheng's voice was small.

Before Sister Cheng could say a word, Shen Wei spoke.

"Wang Zheng, hearing that makes me sad. You were protecting me. Was every moment so unhappy for you? I did that to you," Shen Wei reached out a hand to her and touched her shoulder.

Shen Wei was in the back seat of a car. His Uncle was driving, and he was in a good mood for a change. Hearing Uncle hum made him happy, too, and he thought that perhaps the hurting would stop.

After driving for a while, Uncle pulled up in front of an old, broken down shack. Shen Wei wondered who they were visiting. Maybe Uncle was going to help the poor people living here; yes, that must have been it. Uncle was actually a kind person!

Several dirty, disheveled men and women emerged from the shack, and Uncle went out and spoke to them. They all looked at Shen Wei, some of them licking their lips - they must have been hungry, and Uncle was going to feed them.

But then Uncle opened his door and pulled him out by his arm, then threw him to the ground in front of those people, who quickly surrounded him, their hands reaching out to him.

"Uncle! What's happening? I'm scared! Take me home!" Shen Wei cried, but Uncle smirked as he turned away, and then he heard the car drive off.

"My, my, you're a pretty one!"

"Yummy..."

"I want him first."

"No, me, first!"

"Let's see how he looks."

The hands began to tear at his clothes, and although he struggled, he was no match for these animals. Some of the hands held him down, while other hands roamed over his body. One of the assaulters bent over him and licked his chest. He was repulsed and disgusted and scared, and these smelly people loved it and laughed hysterically. He cried for help, cried for them to stop...and then he could not cry any more.

Then he heard the roar of powerful car engines and the screech of brakes. Men in suits broke through the animals around him, pushing and kicking them away. President Zhao's worried face came into view, and he took off his coat and covered Shen Wei with it, then gently picked him up and carried him to the car. But he was in shock and could not say a word.

"One of the house staff called and said the two of you gone out, and he thought it was strange that your uncle insisted on driving himself. Your uncle had just arrived at the office building and your father confronted him right away. He confessed after being hit a few times, and told us where you were. Your father wanted to come, but we didn't know if it was dangerous, so I told him to stay back and deal with uncle. He sent these men, his bodyguards, with instructions to get you back, even if they had to kill. He is furious, and your uncle will have to deal with his wrath," President Zhao explained as he wrapped his jacket more tightly around the shivering Shen Wei. "I'm so sorry it took me so long to get here.

The car melted away and the scene around Shen Wei morphed. He was now on the rooftop of a building, watching a frail young woman standing on a ledge, looking into the sky. He could feel her emotions, overcome with feelings of hopelessness and depression. She was away in a foreign country, surrounded by people who spoke a different language and dressed and acted differently from her. Except she could not speak any more. She had been sent to the States, away from her father, by her father...because those people had done those things to her...because she was...defective. Her father did not want her; only President Zhao cared enough to send letters and presents. It would be so easy to end this pain...just one step off into space...she slowly lifted and then extended her right foot... She was half Shen Wei now, Shen Wei who was screaming in his head, "No, I don't want to die!" Wang Zheng shifted her weight forward.