Marcus and Kevin ended up spending another hour with Tyler Khan sweeping through Putnam Von’s apartment. They ended up finding almost nothing of importance or io the current iigation, aside from the brown envelope picked up by Marcus. They looked into all of the drawers, ste partments, backs of shelves and even under some loose floor and wall boards. And all they found were some dirty magazines, and some call cards with o providers of unsavory services on them.

  The unity collective’s own crime se team came after the hour, and along with two other forensic teis. But right now her Maror Kevin had the energy to keep on going, and all they could do was give the team a quick greeting, apologize to Tyler Khan and hop on a taxi to get back.

  Marcus’ apartment gave off a familiar clear, minty and slightly chemical smell. It was the smell of a particur brand of air freshener, ohat Marcus’ parents used to use when he was younger.

  There was a smell of fried food in the air as well. And whe into the kit, he saw a big metal pot lid on the dining table, and the smell seemed to be ing from u. It te of fried dumplings, a sunny-side-up egg, and a pan-seared sausage that were stored uhe lid. There was a note oable: “Son, hope you’re not home too te. Have some night snacks a plenty of sleep.”

  Marcus sighed and wiped his eyes, then grabbed a pair of chopsticks and a bowl before sitting down.

  He did not know how hungry he was until he was almost doh the food - there were in total twelve dumplings, the sizes of which were on the bigger end and were fully stuffed with ground pork and cabbage. For any normal person this would be a full meal. Yet he still felt a bit of hunger, even after eating everything.

  Maybe it was because of his weariness, maybe it was because of the familiar homey taste and smell, or maybe it was because of the note and his father’s shaky handwriting, Marcus felt the o wipe his eyes and cheeks again after finishing everything. A decision was made, whe the st dish bato the dish rack.

  He snuto his father’s bedroom to che his father like so many times before. And just like the times before, his father’s health ditio fine - his meridians were clear, his blood flow and muscle were normal, his bones were solid. There seemed to be nothing to worry about.

  After log the door to his own room, Marcus pulled out a small inse burner from under his bed, took out the inse sticks given to him by Master Liaoran that were said to be able to help him “see”. He then cracked open the window, pced the inse burner in the er that was furthest from the door and id on his bed.

  The calming smell of the smoke from the inse sticks seemed to have added additional weight to his eyelids. And before long, Marcus found himself sitting i, beside the dining table, eating the same pte of fried dumplings, sausage and egg.

  “How’d it taste?” A gentle female voice asked.

  “It’s good.” Marcus responded while still keeping his head down, but then he instantly looked up, onto the middle-aged smiling woman sitting by the table before him. “Mom? It’s really - you?”

  “Of course it’s me, why wouldn’t it be?” The woman smiled.

  “Wait - but you’re - ” Marcus was stunned for a mihen started ruffling through his pockets trying to find a mirror, or a phone.

  “What are y to find?” Marcus’ mother asked. Her voice was just as gentle and warm as he remembered.

  “My phone… I mean, nothing.” Marcus sighed and put his hands ba the table: “How - how are you, mom?”

  “I’m good. Better now.” Marcus’ mother smiled and wiped her eyes discreetly: “I see you still have a big appetite, like you did before.”

  “I try.” Marcus chuckled: “Did you teach dad this? His cooking - well, I don’t remember much of his cooking. But I’d say he improved.”

  “Your father tries, just like you. ” Marcus’ mother shook her head: “He still remembers, I don’t have much to teach him, I just had to remind him of the basics.”

  “And - ” Marcus tried to find the right words: “How - and why - are we sitting here?”

  “Because, the fire in you has finally cooled down enough, and the inse in your room helped a great deal as well.” Marcus’ mother smiled and nodded: “It’s perfect timing - I almost thought I wouldn’t have a eet you.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Marcus found that he was starting to choke up, but he forced it down: “Mom, I miss you, you don’t know how much I do - but…”

  “But you want to know what happened.” The figure of Marcus’ mother flickered, as if she was not real, but a hologram proje: “I - I ot tell you Marcus. Please don’t make me, and it will ruin what little time we have.”

  “Dad went back to save you - ”

  “There was nothing he could do, my son. It was already too te. Don’t bme him. Don’t doubt him. He came back to you carrying the will to take care of you, for the both of us.”

  “Ha, I suspearcus let out a long exhale of relief with a smile on his face.

  “You’re always a good kid. Wise beyond your years.” Marcus’ mother reached her hand out, as if in an attempt to stroke his hair and face. But before she was able to, she retracted her arm, shaking her head: “I - I miss you too. I’m so, so happy I get to finally see you.”

  “Thank you mother.” Marcus sighed and nodded: “Will - will I be able to see you again?”

  “I’m sorry Marcus, but my time will e soon. And I fear that I won’t be able to say goodbye to your father.” Marcus’ mhed with him, theood up: “Looks like your fire is growing back. That’s good, my dear son. That’s good. Keep it, use it.”

  Marcus immediately stood up, trying his best to suppress his Qi. He felt nothing in his meridians, but the room and everything around him seemed to be getting more and more blurry.

  “... please be well, mother.” Marcus shouted down his desire to ask for a hug in his head.

  “Son. Find your favorite books as a child.” Marcus’ mother’s face turern and serious, theurned her ba him and started walking out of the kit. Marcus tried to hold on to the moment a bit longer, yet all he did was just get a good look at her mother’s exposed back.

  Marcus’ pillowcase was soaked through when he woke up. And his bedsheets and duvet as well. Though it was a dream, he still remembered everything. Especially the sight of his mother from behind.

  It was nowhere near a human’s body, the skin and flesh was cracked, exposing the spine and rib bones underh. And ed around the bones of the spine and the ribs, e made of long iwined aqua weeds. The rope itself reached down somewhere below his mother’s feet. But Marcus did not get to see where the other end of the rope ultimately led to.

  “Favorite book as a child…” Marcus jumped up from the bed and started looking over his book shelf.

  It only took about a minute or two, before he pulled out the dusty story book: Legend of the Burnt Queen and the One-armed Knight.

  Happy Thanksgiving!