19 Days - One Shots

A Sacrifice For Love - Part Two

He Cheng sighed heavily as he peered out the window of his office. He was feeling restless and was wondering where Qiu had gotten himself to. Just less than an hour previous, Qiu had told He Cheng that he had some business to attend to but would be back soon; however, He Cheng hadn't heard a word from the man and he felt a headache coming on from all the worrying he was doing.

Loud chatter and the distant calling from a familiar voice caught He Cheng's attention and he walked to his office door. Opening it and peering around his secretary's desk, He Cheng's mood changed from shock to rage within a second at the sight of his young brother walking towards him with a split lip, a black eye and blood on his ripped shirt.

"Tian, what the hell happened to you?" He asked as he dragged He Tian into his office and shut the door.

"Brother, there's no time. Brother Qiu needs your help now." He Tian seemed out of breath as he took a seat, wincing as he held his ribs.

"Qiu? What on earth are you talking about? What happened?" He Cheng was becoming more baffled and angrier by the second. He wanted to rip someone's head off and he was going to do it to the person that laid a hand on his brother.

"Brother Qiu came to see me to-" He Tian cut himself off and shook his head. "We were talking and these guys came in and took him. They're going to hurt him, brother. They said you made a deal with them and you were slacking so they wanted a bargaining chip. They want you to meet them where the deal usually takes place. He said you'd know what it means."

He Cheng walked around the room before he suddenly punched the lamp on his desk, causing it to break. He Tian didn't flinch. "Did he say what his name was. I've got more than one deal going on. I need more information, Tian."

He Tian shook his head. "No, but he has red hair."

He Cheng raised his hand. "I know who it is," There was only one guy he was dealing with that had red hair. Huang* ."and I know where to meet him. I'm going." As He Cheng gathered his coat, He Tian stood and gave his older brother a troubled look.

"Cheng. I fucked up." He clenched his jaw as his brother looked at him. "They came to take me, not Brother Qiu. Brother Qiu sacrificed himself so they didn't take me. I tried to stop them but I wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry."

He Cheng walked over to his brother and clasped the side of his face. "Listen to me right now, little brother - it's not your fault, okay? Qiu is old enough to look after himself for the time being. The best thing for you right now is to be strong. Don't let this get to you, Tian. You're not a child anymore." Moving to the door He Cheng turned to his brother one last time. "I'll send someone in to check your injuries then I want you to go stay with Jian Yi until this mess is cleared up. Got it?"

He Tian shook his head. "I'm staying with you. No way am I leaving Brother Qiu when he saved my life."

"You'll do as you're told, Tian. If not Jian Yi then go stay with that redhead kid you always seem to be with. You're not coming."

*

Quiet voices seemed to get louder as Qiu drifted back into consciousness. As he slowly moved his body to awaken it, he found his upper body movements had been restricted drastically. He opened one eye - finding the other wasn't cooperating with his request - and looked up to find his hands tied together with a chain that was attached to the ceiling. He groaned, not in pain but in frustration, as he remembered the situation he was in.

"Ah, so he's awake."

Qiu looked ahead and found himself staring into the cold eyes of the redhead that had been in He Tian's apartment. Speaking of... Qiu peered around what he presumed was a warehouse and didn't seem to find He Tian here with him. A small weight lifted off his shoulders.