Deviant: No Longer Human

Tap... Tap...

The rhythmic sound of Wang Xiao's footsteps echoed in the hallway. He hesitated at the door, his hand frozen mid-air. It struck him as odd, his own outburst downstairs, scolding those two girls with such uncharacteristic behaviour.

"Why did I lose my temper like that?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head in confusion.

Pushing the door open, he stepped into the room, his thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty.

Inside, time seemed to warp and twist around him. The room, bathed in shadows, held a silent, eerie calm.

Half an hour slipped away like sand through fingers. When Wang Xiao reemerged, his silhouette was a ghostly presence against the moonlit window.

Clad in fresh attire, his hair still damp, he looked like a man reborn, yet troubled.

In the quiet of his mind, Yin Yue's voice emerged, [Maybe because of my presence, that hell spirit doesn't try to get in conflict with you,] she suggested, her voice a whisper in the night.

Wang Xiao paused, his gaze distant. "Seems like it. But who is he fighting against?" he wondered aloud, more to himself than to Yin Yue.

Yin Yue's presence in his mind seemed to darken. [No idea. But it's not another hell spirit. This world... it's becoming a labyrinth of mysteries ever since you humans opened that portal.]

!?

Wang Xiao's thoughts took a sharp turn. "The portal to heaven or hell... where does it lead?" he pondered, his curiosity now mingled with apprehension.

After a brief pause, Yin Yue replied solemnly, [That portal is more than a gateway. It's a moment frozen in time, a void bridging our worlds. We hell spirits emerged from there, scattered into your realm.]

A frown creased Wang Xiao's forehead. [Suspended time? Are you saying these deviants are those who've ventured into the actual depths of hell?]

Yin Yue's voice was grave, [Worse. They should've remained lost in the void. Trapped there, time becomes meaningless. I fear most have perished in that endless loop.]

Wang Xiao's mind raced with questions. How long had each soul been trapped in that timeless void?

What were the rules governing this bizarre intersection of worlds?

He needed answers, but they seemed as dull as shadows.

With a deep sigh, he stepped out onto the balcony, gazing down at Hrimpurs bar on the third floor.

The night air was cool against his skin, a stark contrast to the heat of the questions burning in his mind.

______

!?

The dim yellow light of the bulb cast a warm glow over the scene, illuminating the woman's hair, a striking mix of red and black.

She stood elegantly, the wine glass cradled in her hand.

The quiet moment was shattered as Wang Xiao appeared beside her as if conjured from thin air.

"What are you drinking?" he asked abruptly, his hand playfully slapping her bottom, causing it to jiggle noticeably.

!!

Without waiting for a response, he snatched the wine from her hand, taking a sip. "Quite bitter as always? Don't you guys have something better?" he mused, his tone light but probing.

Lian, momentarily taken aback, placed a hand over her racing heart. She exhaled a shaky breath, "Can you... can you stop jump scaring me like this?" she pleaded, her voice a mix of annoyance and relief.

Wang Xiao shrugged indifferently. "Where's Linda?" he inquired, seemingly unfazed by the effect of his sudden appearance.

Lian, still recovering, pressed her lips together. "How did you even get to the top floor? Did you jump through the roof or something?" she asked, her laughter tinged with disbelief.

To her surprise, Wang Xiao nodded. "You're not entirely wrong," he admitted with a mysterious air.

Lian, stunned, shook her head with a defeated sigh. "You disappeared for more than a week. Of course, Linda isn't here. She's out dealing with some business," she informed him. Then, a mischievous smile played on her lips. Her black split dress revealed her legs as she shifted them slightly.

"But I can entertain you instead," she offered, her voice laced with suggestion.

Wang Xiao glanced at her, his mind racing back to the events of the last month. He had been a frequent visitor to the Hripurs bar, each time paying generously. This had evidently led Lian to act provocatively towards him.

He recalled the night with Linda, a memory that was both unexpected and transactional. He had ensured her silence with an exorbitant amount of payment, treating it all as just another expenditure of Li Zhiming's wealth.

Gently pushing Lian away, Wang Xiao's voice was firm yet detached. "Not in the mood. Get me something disposable instead," he requested, his mind elsewhere.

Lian, now visibly confused, echoed his words with a puzzled expression. "Disposable? What does that even mean?"

"..."

Wang Xiao turned silent, briefly, one minute later, finally, he spoke, his voice low but clear. "Disposable means just that. Something... or someone... that, even if broken, shouldn't matter."

!!

Lian felt a chill crawl up her spine at his words. Turning to face him, her voice was tinged with caution. "Sorry, we don't deal in that sort of business here."

Wang Xiao raised an eyebrow, undeterred. "But you can arrange it, can't you? Or know someone who can?"

Lian remained silent, her mind racing. This request was beyond the usual; it wasn't just about finding a prostitute. It was something more sinister, more dangerous.

Sensing her hesitation, Wang Xiao leaned in closer, whispering a figure into her ear that made her gasp.

"Eh?" She stared at him, disbelief written across her face. "You're... joking?"

Without a word, Wang Xiao produced a card, its mere presence speaking volumes. "I don't lie. So, will you get me what I want, or should I find someone myself from the bar downstairs?"

"No! Don't go downstairs. I'll get you something... just give me half an hour," Lian blurted out, her decision made more out of fear than willingness. She hurried away, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and worries.

Despite her reluctance, Lian knew that in a place like this, filled with tourists and transients, it wasn't impossible to fulfill such a dark request. There were women who had been kidnapped or lost, women with no identity, whose disappearance would likely go unnoticed.

As she made her way to make the arrangements, a sense of dread hung over her. She couldn't help but wonder what fate awaited these 'disposable' women at the hands of Wang Xiao.