The Round Bead

Caitlyn Baker The Round Bead
The Round Bead

By Caitlyn Baker
Chapter 1
A cool breeze was the first thing Madi felt.

Her short black hair was tied up in a ponytail
and out of her face. The smell of the ocean
turned her stomach, also making her face bright
green.
Madi was not the right type of girl that
would care for the ocean. She wasn’t even the
right type of girl who liked her own name. That’s
why most people called her Madi instead of
Madison. Madison was usually not the selfish
type, but she sometimes thought of herself
before others. Not until her outrageous
adventure.
“Are you okay, Madi?” A boy’s voice asked.
Madi turned around in response to her
nickname. She nodded. The boy stepped out of
the little cabin he was resting in and walked
toward his companion.
“Steven, I’m okay, really I am,” Madi
muttered. She looked down from the deck to see
if she could take her mind of the waves and look
for nearby dolphins in the purple and orange
waters, reflecting the rising sun.
“You look like you’re about to throw up,”
Steven replied, standing next to Madi. Madi
nodded again. “Don’t worry; we’re getting so
close to Taiwan. You’ll be fine.”
Steven and Madi were on their way to
Taiwan for a mission trip with their church.
Several other people were on board, of course.
The captain of the ship, The Missionary, was
very rich and skilled. His name wasn’t
important, but he actually let on two fourteen-
year-old kids on-board for the mission, since the
trip was for adults only.
1
So far, the day was starting out normally.

The sun was rising beautifully, the two friends
were talking together, but that was not how the
day was going to be for the 24-hour deal.
Two hours passed after Madi’s sickness
and she noticed a shudder in her room. Passing
into Steven’s room, she saw him under his desk.
“Either it’s an earthquake or we’ve been
shot by something!” Madi darted under his bed
for safety. The captain came into the bedroom,
clanging their doors with the head of his rifle,
roaring out,
“Get to your stations immediately! We’re
under attack! This is not a drill!” Steven
crawled to Madi, shivering with fright, not just,
but water was seeping into the ship, cold from
the night before. Steven pulled Madi out of the
bed and tried to calm her down with his arm
around her, walking out of the flooded room.
“You're okay, Madi. Everything’s going to
be alright.” Sure, that’s what he thought, not
until the Japanese or whoever was attacking
them blew up part of the ship. Several bodies –
both dead and alive—flew out and landed in the
ocean. Half of the ship was divided into
smithereens, while the other was sinking. With
Madi in his arms, Steven held onto a piece of
steel that was floating on the surface.
Madi pulled Steven onto the floating steel
platform as she got onto it herself. Choking on
salt water, she heaved until Steven’s arms and
head were above water.
“Steven, what happened? Did we…did we
cross over an underwater mine field?” Madi
asked, exhausted. Her throat began to hurt from
dehydration.
“I guess so…everyone else is dead.”
Steven began to cry, since his other adult
friends have passed.
“It’s—it’s so—so cold…” Madi trembled
with the cold air hitting on her dry skin.
“I know, Madi. This may be a little tough,
but we need to start moving carefully so we can
find help and something to eat and drink, okay?”
2
Madi nodded, knowing Steven was there to help

her.
Passing by the remains of the explosion,
Madi closed her eyes to shield her sight from the
bloody mess and said a prayer to keep her calm
and to make sure that God brought her and
Steven to a safe region quickly.
An hour passed and Steven and Madi
finally found land. Washing up onto the shore,
Madi used her strong arms to drag Steven onto
the sandy shore. God Almighty, this is so bad.
We must be in Taiwan, yet it doesn’t seem like
Taiwan. Madi thought. She scanned the contents
of the beach she was laying on until something
dreadful caught her eye. It was a piece of metal
with a strange inscription on it, mostly
characters of some sort. Madi picked up the
metal and looked at the inscription carefully. Her
skills in languages got her out of school and into
the mission trip, so she was smart enough to
know that the writing she found wasn’t from
Japan or Taiwan. It was Chinese writing. Madi
laid her head back in despair.
“Oh no, we can’t be in China. That’s
impossible…calm down girl, it could have
washed up on the shore…” she whined. Steven
opened his eyes from the knockout.
“What washed up?” he groggily moaned.
Madi told him about what she had found.
“I can’t read it, but it seems like this isn’t
Taiwan.”
“Do you think we should explore, Madi?”
he asked. Madi shrugged.
Taking Steven’s hand, Madi stood up,
trying to withstand the south winds. The sunlight
was warm enough to be able to walk around in,
even though the water was still not dry from
their bodies. They both waked into a forest
which was right behind them and began to eat
some fruit that was growing. Suddenly, there
was a noise.
“What was that?” Madi asked. The snap of
a twig was the sound she heard.
3
“Get behind me, Madi. I feel that there’s

someone here and I don’t like the feeling of it.”
Steven said, nudging Madi behind him. Madi
nodded and did what he said.
A little gibbon was the noisemaker. He
walked over to Madi and sniffed her wet clothes,
then left. Steven’s heart was still pounding
rapidly in his chest. He still knew someone was
there, waiting to step out.
Unexpectedly, Madi screamed. She was
dragged away from Steven’s protection.
“Madi!” he yelled. He was blocked by a
huge Chinese soldier standing in his way.
“Where’s Madi?”
“You’ll see her again,” he said in Chinese.
Steven was able to understand him because he
had learned Chinese a long time ago, but he
wasn’t able to read or write it. “But first, you will
have to tell the emperor why you’re here.”
Steven was taken on a ship and locked in
a solitary room. It was red and gold all over. This
is a very nice room, especially for this time.
Someone royal in power must own this ship.
Steven thought. Oh Madi, I hope you’re okay.
“You’ll be taken from Xiamen, which is
where you were with your girlfriend, to Fuzhou,
which is where the emperor is.” The same
soldier said. Steven’s face turned a tomato red
and he tried to remember as much Chinese as
possible.
“One, she is not my girlfriend. Two, how
long will it take us to get to Fuzhou?” he cried
out.
“It will take one and a half days. We will
arrive tomorrow night.”
“And Madi will be there too?”
“Yes, young boy.”
Steven ate scraps of duck and rice on his
plate that night. This sure is better than tiger lily
buds back in the woods. He thought. Shoving a
piece of duck in his mouth, he forgot all about
the trip to Fuzhou. Steven only wished that Madi
was safe.
4
Madi was chained up in her room,

screaming at the top of her lungs in Chinese,
“Let me out you heartless freaks!” she
wouldn’t calm down; Madi had many bruises and
cuts and slices all over herself as a result of
being dragged all the way to the ship from the
forest. “Please, or I’ll beg the emperor to kill you
all!”
“Shut up, Western girl.” The passengers
would say back. Madi still didn’t understand
what they meant by, ‘Western girl’, but she
knew it must have been an insult.
“When are you going to stop?” a voice
said in plain English.
“Steven?” Madi looked up. The door
opened with a creak. The boy wasn’t Steven; it
was just another teenager. He was only fifteen
years old. “You—you can speak—English?”
“Yes, I’ve been learning it since I was three
years old when my aunt, Cixi was empress, just
in case if you Westerners appeared here to
explore or trade, I would be able to talk to them
and learn new things.” The young boy said.
“How on earth does the name ‘Westerner’
have to do with me?” Madi yelled.
“It’s not an insult. It’s just another name
for Americans.”
“Then why can’t you just call me an
American girl?”
“Well, you can just say that we hate
Americans.”
“What?” Madi yelped. “You don’t even
know my name!”
“Your name is Madi,” the boy said.
“Oh, so you knew who I was after all!”
“Not at all,” he replied, laughing. Madi’s
jaw dropped. “Your companion, Steven, called it
out when I dragged you away.”
“How did—well, shouldn’t you have
friends to do that kind of work? And why did you
abduct me?
“I abducted you—by myself—because I
wanted to, and…you were also coming here
without permission and I didn’t want the
5
emperor hurting you. I don’t want my tough

friends hurting a poor girl like you,” the boy
said, putting his hand under Madi’s chin.
“You’re too late, because your ‘friends’
chained me up and cut my wrists,” Madi cried,
showing him her red hands, not caring that his
hand was under her face in a caring way, even
though he seemed mean. The boy sighed and
spoke in Chinese to the soldier standing outside
the door.
“What did you say?” Madi asked in the
boy’s own language.
“I said to him to get you something to eat.
I must be on my way—the other ship with your
companion is behind me and I need to reach
Fuzhou before they do. They all think I’m there
already, and you are alone on this ship with my
servants, while I’m preparing your arrival.”
“Well, can I at least have your name, since
you know mine, sir?” Madi asked. The boy
kneeled down in front of her instead of leaving
her, their faces a foot apart.
“Just to let you know, I am not old enough
to rule China, even though I was appointed by
my aunt, Cixi, when I was three years old. But,
like you asked, my name is Zaitian, or if I do rule
China someday, you shall call me Guangxu.”
“Hey, I don’t believe you rule China! I
want see the emperor in Fuzhou, so that I can
get the truth next time!”
“You’re looking at him!” Zaitian said
angrily, standing up.
“I am not, you phony!” she yelled back.
“And what does that supposed to mean,
Shorty?”
“It means ‘fake’! Now get me the real
emperor!” Madi began to cry, since she was
offended so. She really was short.
“Now, now, now, young Madi; you were
doing fine, beginning to calm down, that was.
Please, start some deep breathing exercises,
and please, concentrate on thinking of your
happy place. I’ll be happy to send you to your
happy place if you cooperate, but only if you do.
6
You’ll be staying at my place in the palace when

we arrive, but only in a spare room, with it
furnished and decorated, first. You will also have
dinner there with your companion, Steven, and
I.”
“What am I supposed to do, though?” the
gullible Madi asked with tears streaming down
her dirty face.
“First, help the emperor to begin the Boxer
Rebellion, which I will tell you about at dinner.”
“Ha, I knew you weren’t the emperor!”
Madi laughed.
“Enough. I’ll explain it later. Now, young
Madi, tell me what your happy place is. It’s the
only place I can send you, for the whole United
States think you’re dead since the shipwreck.”
“How do you know about the shipwreck?”
Madi asked, surprised of the foreign news now
known.
“I got the news from the emperor. He told
me his men sunk it themselves, since they were
coming in too quickly and illegally.”
“But, we weren’t on our way to China; we
were really on our way to Taiwan.”
“It was seriously a crashing, young Madi?
You should really think of this as a vacation
instead of a good-going mission trip and a
happily-ever-after ending there, don’t you think
so? Now, speaking of thinking, I would really
appreciate it if you would tell me what your
happy place is? Please tell me, there’s no one
else who knows and I would dearly send you
there.”
Madi gulped as a result of looking into her
own head involuntarily from the force of a boy.
“It’s impossible; it’s just a thought.”
“Do you want to be happy or not? I would
like for you to be calmed down myself,”
“Well, it’s a vast ocean, looking at it from
a ship, on an orangish-purplish sunset reflecting
onto the waters,” Madi swallowed.
“Not just, Madi. There’s something else,
isn’t there, since you said it was just a thought?”
7
Zaitian asked, as if he knew she was forgetting

something.
“And…someone…kissing me…holding
me… his arms around my waist.”
“Who is it? Is it your companion, Steven?”
Madi shook her head.
“No, he’s taller than me,”
“Who is it, then? Do you know him?”
Zaitian tried to peer into her thoughts. Madi
shrugged, tears coming to her eyes from the
stress put on her hands from the tension of the
chains.
“I don’t know…I don’t know…” she
muttered, choking on her tears.
“Thank you, Madi. I’ll be able to send you
to your happy place, but until you help the
emperor with the task I have given you and if
you figure out whom the boy in your world is…”
Zaitian said, smirking indignantly. “But, young
Madi, I think you know him.”
“Oh God,” she whispered. Zaitian turned
around quickly. Zaitian heard what she had said.
He knew then that she knew who God was. This
isn’t good, he thought to himself. She’s a
Christian.
“Bring the girl and some food and bring
the ship’s speed to 21 knots.” Zaitian
commanded. He walked out of the room, leaving
poor Madi alone.
Hours passed. Madi was still thinking of
Zaitian still, because she hadn’t seen him since
they met. She picked at the scraps. Zaitian was
in her head, appearing and disappearing to her
spontaneously. The jerk of the ship docking
thrust Madi forward, breaking her thoughts
about Zaitian. What happened? Are we in China
yet? She immediately thought. Looking up, the
door opened and Zaitian’s soldiers came in.
“What happened?” Madi asked, showing
that her skin was covered in sweat.
“We found land in Fuzhou,” one of the
soldiers replied.
“The emperor told us to put you in
handcuffs until you see him.” The other soldier
8
said to Madi. He chained up Madi by the hands

again and held her by the arms.
“Is Steven with you?” she asked. The
soldier who was holding her snorted.
“Who?”
The three walked on, exiting the ship and
walking onto dry land, viewing the towers and
palaces up ahead. Ignoring the wandering
citizens, Zaitian’s soldiers dragged the sleepy
Madi to the biggest palace in Fuzhou.
Doors the size of elephants opened up to
welcome Madi and the soldiers recovering her to
the emperor. Why does the emperor need me
anyway? Why can’t he just send me home…or
just have Zaitian send me to my ‘happy place.’
How dare him! Assuming that I know my prince
in my dream? Madi bit her lip in anger, thinking
about Zaitian’s slippery attitude. He practically
haunted her.
“Is this really the emperor’s palace? I think
he can do better than that!” Madi yelled at the
top of her lungs in the foreign language. The
soldier on her right hit her in the side.
“Shut up, you vermin,”
“No, I won’t!” she said in a rude tone. “I
seriously think that the emperor should clean up
about! I should just walk up to his bedroom
door, bang on it five times, but no! He won’t
hear me because he’ll be too busy with a
prostitute, or so I’ve read! I’ll kick it open and
screw his brains up for sinking my ship! Only if
you could…OH MY GOD!” Madi looked ahead of
her. Sitting on the throne to the north of her
standing point was a boy on the throne dressed
in silk robes and eating a plate of rice. He was
looking at her very sternly, since he heard every
word she had screamed out publicly. Above him
was an inscription: Emperor Zaitian. “Oh God, he
was right!”
Madi wriggled out of the grasp of the
soldiers and ran to Zaitian and kowtowed before
him, rupturing one of her arms, since the
pressure of the chains plus the slamming of her
arms on the marble floor, practically pulled the
9
arm muscle and damaged it. She cried out in a

scream.
“That was a rather stupid idea, young
Madi.” Zaitian said. He didn’t welcome her. He
heard Madi complain about how dreadful his
palace was, so he practically decided that she
deserved her bone shattered. That could have
been her welcome and punishment. “Take her to
the medical center, now!” Madi was once again
dragged away and Zaitian just sat and watched.
The elephant-sized doors burst open
again. Four soldiers entered along with a boy
about Zaitian and Madi’s age.
“I have come to see Madi!” Steven cried
out in a heroic tone, forgetting to bow to Zaitian.
“My apologies, Steven; Madi shattered her
arm.”
“She did what?” Steven was guided to the
medical center an hour after a long explanation
from the emperor. He told Steven everything
that had happened in the boat, but had kept her
happy place a secret.
Madi was sleeping on a silkworm bed, cozy
and comfortable as she could be. Her arm was
wrapped in a silk sling and opium was injected
into her as a pain killer. A dress was put on her
so when she woke up, she would be in time for
dinner. She opened her eyes as soon as Steven
touched her cheek.
“Ugh…” she said. Her irises were
swallowed up in black, showing that she was
drugged to keep the pain from killing her arm.
“You alright,” Steven asked, sitting on the
bed. Madi nodded.
“I’m fine, thank you. This Zaitian guy is,”
“Crazy, I know.”
“No, that’s not what I was going to say.
What I was going to say was,”
“You expect some Chinese emperor to
take care of you for the rest of your life?” Steven
raised his voice a bit. Madi sat up.
“He told you what?” Madi’s eye twitched
and she got up out of the bed and walked out.
10
“Madi, get back over here! Madison!”

Steven grabbed her free hand and pulled her
back. “I know that we’re in a lot of trouble, but
you should know, this guy is America’s enemy!
You’ve been tricked; there’s no way that Zaitian
can send you back to your home as soon as you
do some little favor for him.”
“You expect me to not listen to him?” Madi
asked, sweeping Steven’s hand away.
“Yes, and I expect you to get this idiot out
of your head and help me find a way to get us
both out of this mess.”
“I need to tell you something, first, maybe
even ask you, Steven.” Madi whispered to him.
She pulled Steven into the closet, for she didn’t
want the incoming soldiers hearing her. Steven
closed the door behind him.
“What is it?”
“Steven, everyone knows about the
shipwreck; Zaitian sent the news letter to every
nation. He can even send a letter about me
breaking my arm, speaking of which, it is not
broken.”
“It’s not?”
“No, the doctor said that the bone is now
bruised, or maybe she said that about my
muscles and tissue.”
“That’s one positive thing about this
topsy-turvy mission trip. Now, what’s your
question?”
“Since America thinks we’re dead, where
are we supposed to go?”
“Wait, how do you know the whole United
States think we’re gone?” Steven asked, putting
a hand on Madi’s shoulder. Madi sighed and
pulled out a paper. It had many Chinese
characters on it. “You know I can’t read it.”
“I can read some of it. It says that there
were no survivors. What does that mean? No
body lived! If it said two survivors, then the
president would have sent something for us, but
no! Zaitian is keeping us in secret, but why is
he? He wants me to help him with some
rebellion, but I don’t get it.”
11
“I don’t either, Madi. You’re safe here

anyway. Zaitian doesn’t really show harm. He
did bring you here to heal your arm, he gave
you a promise, and he’s giving us dinner. Me
personally, I think something is wrong.”
“Maybe we should just sail away.”
“How can we? There are soldiers
everywhere,” Steven raised his voice. “It’s 1899;
there is no new technology here! The Chinese
are getting rid of all our influence and we have
the memory of all the technology we have in
their state. Zaitian brought us here to help with
this nonsense, but once we’re done, Zaitian will
take you somewhere else to kill you!”
“How do you know?” Madi asked, crying
again.
“There was a letter I found that has the
Chinese symbol of death at the end of it. We
need to stay calm and live through this and one
day escape while we can.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,
Steven!”
“Good job, Madi. That’s the point that I
have been trying to get you to see. Now all you
have to do is listen to me.” Madi couldn’t believe
what she was hearing. Steven just made her feel
like an idiot, showing her the right way when
she knew what it was.
“You jerk!” she said. She shoved past
Steven and walked out of the closet into the
dining room. She dropped something on the
way. Steven picked it up carefully; it was a book,
tearing here and there. Reading it, he saw many
things in Madi’s mind that he never knew about.
It was her journal that he was reading.
January of 1899
My hopes and dreams are coming closer

to becoming true. Zaitian talked to me about
many things that I long for, even though Zaitian
could be mean, I can see a nice person in him,
screaming for help to escape and be presented.
I don’t care if I never get to do missionary work
12
again; I’m just happy that my heart is pounding

with joy every time I think of Zaitian.
“She’s so happy here and I never even

realized it. I am a jerk!” Steven said, throwing
the journal. He sat on the bed and put his head
in his hands. “Oh well. I’ll escape on my own.
She doesn’t need me. She just needs that jerk-
off, Zaitian. What a show-off, money is so
important to him,”
“Shut your big mouth up, Steven. You’re
slandering has gone too far off its edge.” Madi
said, hearing every word that he had sputtered
out. Steven glared at Madi for the first time in
his life. She picked up the diary, its spine tearing
off from the force of Steven’s throw. “You can
escape to America on your own, as I can see
that you read my diary, or you can come to
dinner and be pleasant about things, like me!”
“You…you just say that because you are
infatuated with him!”
“I am not, you stupid fool! Is that what this
fighting here is all about?” Madi screamed. A
couple of soldiers passing by gave a strange
look to Steven. Steven made a face at them, as
if telling them that he was with a stupid girl.
“I have the right to know if you are feeling
something for this guy or not, but you don’t
have the right to tell me what to do all the
time!” Steven yelled back. Madi’s tough spirit
kept her from crying. She had fought with
Steven once before, but this fight was
outrageous.
“You know what? I was happy to see you
when you came to me when I was sleeping! I
was even missing you on the stupid ride here,
you lazy moron!”
“The name calling has to stop,”
“No, I won’t. I will keep talking!” Madi
shrieked, hurting her throat. Steven kept quiet.
Madi’s face was red from the raised voice, but
she lowered the volume a bit. “As long as I’m
here, I don’t want you to interfere with my
feelings and my wishes. Go find someone to talk
13
to somewhere else. I was the only person you

could talk to at church because everyone didn’t
treat you right. I talked to you all the time and I
felt compassionate, but now that’s over. I want
to be alone, away from you. I can’t talk to you if
you keep starting these stupid fights. I even
saved your life and you never even thanked me.
I guess you were my companion only…to have
me be your play toy. I don’t care if Zaitian plans
to kill me later on. This is the only time in my life
that I’ve ever been this happy, and I don’t think
things will be best if you stick around, Steven, if
you just used me.” Madi said. Steven was trying
to do his best to keep his anger in his heart, but
he said nothing bad.
“Fine, Madi. I’ll go, but don’t come
crawling back to me when Zaitian is going to
execute you for being a Christian!”
“Don’t bother coming to the ceremony,
then. You probably won’t—your ethnic color isn’t
perfect enough for them!”
“Why are you speaking this way? There
were no problems when it was just the two of
us!” Steven yelled finally. Madi squeezed her
diary against her chest. Her eyes filled up with
tears.
“I’m out, Steven. I’m going to dinner.” She
said. Walking out, Madi let her tears fall down
her cheeks. She slammed the door in his face
when Steven tried to walk out, but he didn’t care
afterward.
Zaitian saw Madi walk, but she wasn’t
actually walking to dinner. She opened a door
that led to a balcony, where outside, it was dark
and cold. Madi was only wearing a dress with
thin sleeves, so it was sort of chilly for her.
Madi held onto the wall of the balcony. She
was crying, but she wasn’t that mad to jump off
the edge.
“Are you not hungry?” Zaitian asked
behind her. Madi jumped. She shook her head.
“Oh…I heard the loud conversation between you
and Steven.”
14
“He’s an idiot.” Madi turned around to face

Zaitian. “He called you a jerk-off.” Zaitian
laughed.
“It doesn’t really matter to me. Everyone
used to call me that.”
“Really,”
“Yes, Madi; I never really liked my own
identity and I hurt so many people in my
kingdom. Aunt Cixi scolded me day after day.”
“You know what, Zaitian? My real name is
Madison, but I prefer being called Madi because
I hate my own identity as well.”
“I understand. I hate to stop talking with
you, but we have to go back inside. Your food is
getting cold.”
“I know, Zaitian, thank you, but I’m
seriously not hungry.” Zaitian went to her and
put his hand on her cheek, wiping away her
tears. “Why are you doing that? Please, let me
go,” Madi said, pulling away.
“I’m sorry,” Zaitian replied. Madi nodded
and walked away. She started to run, rushing
toward her room. She slammed the door and
plopped herself on the bed and started bawling.
(To let you know, it’s not the same room she and
Steven were in before.)
“Why am I living like this? Why is
everything so confusing?” Those were the last
words Madi had said before she fell asleep.
Madi woke up on a different bed than she
was before. It was very fancy and delicate and
the sheets were silkworm sheets, like the other
rooms contained. Her bed had scarlet curtains
flowing down from the top. The sun peered in
through windows in the room. Madi realized the
room was huge and there was more than a bed.
A wardrobe appeared on her left and a table
with rice and noodles was on her right. The
smell of tea filled the room and made Madi’s
stomach rumble with hunger. She closed her
eyes to see if it was a dream, but she opened
them and she was in the same room she woke
up in.
15
“Like it?” a voice spoke. Madi screamed,

jumped, and turned to face the speaker. “Relax,”
he said. “I meant to put you in a different room
when you got tired, but you fell asleep to soon
for me, I guess.” The voice was Zaitian’s voice.
“Morning, Zaitian. Thank you for the room,
but, why did you set me here? I,”
“I placed you here because I figured you
needed to relax a bit after dealing with Steven.
He had dinner with me quietly, but didn’t seem
to enjoy it. He ate through the food with much
gusto, but he didn’t do anything else. He
seemed to be missing something,”
“Or someone,” Madi interrupted. She
smiled at the boy’s face. It was so smooth and
he looked so calm when it was morning.
“I never saw you smile once before,”
Zaitian said, admiring the curviness of Madi’s
grin.
“I’m just thankful that I have someone to
look after me,” Madi’s smile started to wear off,
“But I’m worried about your throne and,”
“You don’t need to worry about it,
remember? I don’t rule China just yet. I still need
to help my Aunt,” Zaitian took out a small box
and opened it. Inside were glasses. Madi gazed
inside. Zaitian put them on.
“You look,”
“Different? I don’t like being recognized as
emperor.”
“Why do you always interrupt me or finish
my sentences?” Madi exclaimed.
“I do not know, uh, may I call you
‘Madison’?” Zaitian asked. Madi noticed that
Zaitian’s voice wasn’t like she expected. By
hearing it, she could tell he seriously was a teen.
Madi nodded.
“Yes, please call me Madison.”
Madison brushed her midnight hair and
put it up in a bun. She outlined her eyes in black
makeup. Putting on a blue robe, she tied it to
look as thin as possible. Madison took out a
matching parasol and held it above her
shoulders. You see, Zaitian waned to take
16
Madison on a tour of the whole palace. There

were many rooms to see, which means several
guards were on duty, and Madison didn’t want
to be recognized as an American girl.
Zaitian had short black hair. His skin was
lighter than other Chinese, so he was sort of
different. Some Chinese mistook him as a
Korean, but he always said no. Zaitian combed
his hair carefully so he would look nice for
Madison. He put on a silk shirt and silk pants.
Why is everything silk? He asked himself.
Zaitian exited his dormitory and saw a
beautiful sight. A girl dressed in a silk robe,
beautiful outlined eyes, flowing hair, and a
matching parasol was standing before him.
“Madison, I presume?” he asked in
English. Madison nodded. He took her arm and
escorted her all over the palace. Madison
giggled at statues, oohed and awed at gardens,
and gazed up at chandeliers that seemed
magical to her.
Luncheon at last, and Madison and Zaitian
weren’t recognized as foreigners once. There
was a restaurant by the palace, serving the
usual rice and noodles, but when Madison was
served tofu, she took two pieces of bread and
made a tofu sandwich. Biting into it, she claimed
it tasted like tuna. Zaitian laughed.
“Why are you treating me like this?”
Madison asked, awed by his humbleness and
times to take her out of the palace.
“Well, I realized you have had a loss of
friends on the ship, a friend that traveled with
you, and I considered making you a new friend.”
Zaitian pointed to himself. Madison laughed.
“You became my friend whenever I first
met you and you started talking to me,”
Madison shoved a piece of tofu in her mouth and
drank down a bit of tea.
“Thank you, Madison.”
“Hey, about that happy place of mine,
what did you mean by ‘you’ll send me there’?”
“Well, I had to do something to calm you
down, to start thinking about it more, plus, I was
17
curious in what you really want most.” Zaitian

said, dumping out the noodles. “That was nasty
stuff.” He whispered.
“Zaitian, a beautiful view is not what I
want most,” Madison chirped.
“What is it?” Zaitian requested. A dramatic
breeze blew in the scene, as if to make our
readers feel something’s up, but we’ll get to that
later.
“Something I can’t have,” Madison
responded. Zaitian nodded, trying to tell her he
understood her, but he actually didn’t know
what she wanted. He decided to stop asking her
questions and continue the tour.
Later that night, after the show-around,
Madison scrambled to her desk and wrote a
letter. There was an ink pad and no pencils, but
she tried her best to write in cursive with the
brush.
Dear Mom and Dad,
This is Madison. Yes, I am alive here in

China with Steven. We survived the shipwreck,
yet we managed to swim to China where we are
safe now. I don’t want to go home just yet. I am
happy and I made a new friend. The future
emperor of China is very sweet and he showed
me around the palace today. Mostly was
because he was concerned. You see, I hurt my
arm when I realized he was the emperor!
Zaitian is only fifteen years old! I fell on the
marble floors and I hurt my arm, but he took me
to a medical center.
Steven is being such an idiot! He says
Zaitian is a jerk-off, just because he wants to
help his Aunt Cixi do some project. I think he
mentioned something like the Boxer Rebellion,
but I have no clue. Steven doesn’t want to talk
to me and I feel miserable.
I don’t want anyone to rescue me! I feel
joyful to have a new friend and I hope that I’ll fly
back by next Christmas.
18
Ciou,
Madison
Madison was happy that she got to write

to her family. She sent it with Zaitian’s
permission and continued to be ignored by
Steven, whose jealousy had made his heart evil
and dark.
“Madison,” Zaitian’s voice said behind
Madison. She appeared to be dressed in a pretty
robe that had printings of fans on it, just like the
Chinese custom. Her hair was put up in two
pigtails that hung behind her head. “I’m worried
about you,” Zaitian had his disguise on so no
one around would know he was future emperor.
“I’m fine, Zaitian. I’m just nervous about
my parents’ response to my letter. They might
want me to come home,” Madison said, playing
with her fingers, looking at the despicable
Zaitian, hiding his honor.
“Why do you not want to go back?”
“They don’t think I belong here, Zaitian,”
tears fell down Madi’s face, but she pulled
herself together to not cry anymore in front of
the boy. “Nobody thinks I am able to survive the
change…Steven is silent when I’m around…he
thinks I’ve gone crazy…I’m so confused.”
Zaitian stood there, speechless in front of
Madison. He took her arm and led her outside to
the balcony.
“I’ll give you the right to stay here, if
that’s what you want. Whatever path you
choose, as long as it’s right, you will find
whatever your heart has desired its whole life-
span,” Zaitian turned and looked at the many
stars in the sky above. “Look, Madison. I want
freedom; I don’t want to rule a whole country by
myself. I even don’t want another person
choosing my wife or choose where I go or who I
see and don’t see. My father is so far from me
and I want to see him.”
“You can run away,”
19
“I’ve considered a few times, but I’ve

never left the borders of China, except for a
small voyage a couple years ago…I’ve never
really left home. The other countries could kill
me if I don’t match with their ethnics.”
“Oh, that’s just racial and cruel.”
“Are you kidding, Madison? Steven rejects
us for part of our ethnics. I’m pretty much used
to it. Some explorers came to China and made
fun of our skin color and eye shape. Aunt Cixi
executed them on the spot.”
“How many were there?”
“At least four,”
“Wow, I was thinking about two hundred.”
“Yeah, but Cixi isn’t that powerful yet. To
let you know, she doesn’t even rule in this
palace. She lives in Beijing right now, so I never
really get to see her.”
“That’s sad. You have no family to see, no
friends,”
“I have you,” Zaitian said proudly. Madison
turned toward him and smiled sweetly and
placed her hand on his. Her fingers curled to
hold it tight. Realizing what she had done,
Madison blushed, ran inside, giggled, and ran to
her room (the one she had woken up in) and
found her journal.
I have to write something…she thought.
Dear Diary,
My experiences here in China are

magnificent! Zaitian had actually given me a
tour of the whole palace! It was very gorgeous,
indeed.
One of the times I enjoyed most was
holding Zaitian’s hand at the balcony. My
stomach is still full of butterflies. Under the
stars, staying by Zaitian’s side, it made me feel
great to know I can trust someone other than
Steven.
I’ve got to get a letter from Mum and Dad
soon!
20
My thoughts bounce up and down. Have I

actually created love for Zaitian within myself? I
will think about those and settle the jumpiness
of my mind whenever I see Zaitian again.
January of 1898
Madison continued to sweat as she dotted

her signature. She knew that she was starting to
fall in love with him, even though she had to see
him again to find out. She was certain love was
blooming, but she had to keep it a secret…for
now.
She joined Zaitian at dinner. She ate
silently, yet she thought during the complete
session of supper. Her mind played jokes and
games and replayed visions over and over
again. Get over it, Madison. He probably has
some girlfriend in Beijing. Madison thought
about her and Zaitian on the balcony.
“You have no family to see, no friends,”
“I have you,”
Yes…I’m probably his only friend. He’s
probably keeping his girlfriend a secret to hide
from me…Madison looked up at Zaitian. He was
playing with the chopsticks and the rice. He
looked up at her and smiled. No, maybe not. He
would have told me a long time ago if he did.
Steven paced in his room. He didn’t eat for
days and his stomach grumbled loudly.
“I have to get Madison out of here. She’s
falling in love with Zaitian, I can just see it!” he
yelled with a severe tone. He finally sat down on
his bed. “I still love her,” he put his head in his
hands and cried for a while. “She can’t marry
into a different ethnic. She’s forbidden!”
Madison heard his cry and entered the
room. She quietly tiptoed to his bed and placed
her arm on his shoulder.
“Hey,” she said calmly and hugged him.
“I’m sorry,”
“No, I’m sorry. My words hurt you and I…”
tears fell out of Steven’s eyes. “I thought you
21
were in love with Zaitian, so I began to feel

jealous.”
“Oh…Steven, you don’t have to feel that
way. I’m not in love with Zaitian. I’m…” Madison
choked on her words. “I’m not choosing to be
attracted to anyone.”
“Your majesty,” a soldier said, barging into
the room. “Cixi will be arriving tomorrow
morning. Please be ready by then,” the soldier
exited, leaving Madison and Steven bewildered.
“Your Majesty?” Steven asked.
“I don’t know what he met,”
“Surely you aren’t appointed for Zaitian’s
marriage?”
“No way! I would have told you, otherwise.
Let’s forget about what he said and good night!”
Later that night, Madison wrote more in
her diary.
I’m choosing to deny my love for Zaitian.
Steven is suspecting things and plus, his Aunt
Cixi is coming over tomorrow! I feel that I’m
stuck in a mud pit with a dilemma on my hands:
either to choose Steven the Sorry or Zaitian the
Zealous?
Chapter 2
Madison dressed up as her usual American

self to show Cixi that she came to China to help
with her Boxer Rebellion, even though that was
really not the reason she came, but still.
Steven was glad he told Madison what he
was feeling. His heart felt like he had lifted off a
thousand tons of pressure. He slipped on his
shoes, combed his hair, blew his nose, and
walked out of his room to meet Madison.
“All hail Cixi,” was the loud voice that
interrupted all activity. Madison turned her head
and saw a beautiful woman, dressed in what
looked like gold almost. Her jet black hair was
smooth and tied up in different knots.
“Wow,” she muttered under her breath.
“Madison, whatever happens, I have to do
what my aunt says, okay?” Zaitian said behind
22
Madison. He looked like what Madison would call

‘Guangxu’. He put his arms gently around
Madison’s waist and slipped a round bead with a
symbol in her hand. Madison carefully slipped
the bead into her pocket.
“Alright, Zaitian; I have your word.” She
calmly responded.
As soon as Cixi stepped down, Zaitian
backed away from Madison and motioned them
to sit down in the chairs next to the throne.
Zaitian met his aunt Cixi and bowed to her.”
“Young Guangxu,” she spoke aloud. “I
have come to see what your concern is,”
“Your majesty, I have help for you from
two honorable visitors.”
“Visitors? What about the prisoners you
talked about?”
“They are the prisoners,” Zaitian said. He
pointed at Steven and Madison, nervous and
shaking.
“What? You let them go? That is why I
cannot trust you to the throne, young Guangxu.
If they are American, they should be in prison
for trespassing!” Cixi yelled.
“But your majesty, you don’t understand.
Their ship was shot down and they were the
survivors!”
“Even if they crawl onto our land half
dead, they are still trespassing. As for the girl
and the boy, they shall be executed to begin our
Boxer Rebellion,” Cixi said proudly. Zaitian
looked toward the entrance of the palace;
guards of some sort carrying some sort of
weapons that seemed dangerous. Zaitian
gasped and jumped in front of Madison and
Steven.
“No, don’t kill them. Any thing but that.
You can banish them, but don’t kill them.” He
begged. The tearful look on Zaitian’s face
brought nothing but a smirk to Cixi.
“Very well. They will be banished from
China so long as they live,” Madison’s face went
very white. “Each of their generations will be
executed if they touch Chinese soil until no one
23
remains,” Cixi laughed and stormed out of the

palace.
“Auntie,” Zaitian called, laughing so hard
for calling her that in front of a bunch of
soldiers, he had to blow his nose to hide it. “Can
I at least go with them?” he asked.
“No, Zaitian. They will be taken on a ship
and left behind on an island. You don’t want to
leave your throne, do you?”
“I suppose I’ll have to die for them if you
have another scheme, your majesty!” Zaitian
yelled.
“Oh?” she responded. “Take the two
Americans onto the small ship. Make sure they
take nothing. As for young Guangxu,” she
turned toward Zaitian. “Your brother, Mao Dun,
will join you with setting up the Boxer
Rebellion.” Zaitian nodded and looked at
Madison.
“I’ll be fine, okay, Zaitian?” she said.
Zaitian shook his head.
“I’ll look for you,”
“What did you say?” Cixi asked. She never
learned English, so Zaitian was glad she didn’t
know he worried.
“I told her she was worthless.” He
pretended to be proud. Cixi smiled and stroked
his hair.
“You will be a fine emperor.”
Madison and Steven were both shoved
onto a small boat with only four seats. There
was two for them and two for two heavily armed
soldiers.
“Can you speak English?” Steven shouted
in his own language. No one responded.
“Good, Steven.”
“When we’re dumped onto the island, we
should make a raft out of something to ride back
to China.”
“Okay…if there are tropical palm trees.”
Madison joked. Both teenagers laughed. The
soldiers looked back and snarled at them.
Madison and Steven felt cold afterward, but
couldn’t keep back the laugh.
24
“Steven, what did you mean by sailing

back to China?”
“It’s where you want to be most. I can
tell.” He said. Madison smiled at him with a
sweet glitter from her teeth.
They both were dumped onto an unknown
island which had a tropical forest, yet it wasn’t a
rainforest.
“Hey,” Steven said. “This looks like the
island we crashed on!”
“It could be,” Madison wondered. She
stepped onto the shore, soaking wet, and
sniffing the breeze. “How darn they!” she finally
yelled.
“Madison, I’m going to find a way to get
you back to where you belong—with Zaitian.”
“Steven,” she said. Then her face
brightened up. “Well…I’ll help you.”
“First of all, I had no breakfast at all, so I’m
going to find something for us to eat.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, backup! Find
something for us?” she asked. Steven turned
around, looked at her, and shrugged.
“Uh…sure. If you don’t want anything, I
won’t bother.”
“I just don’t want to be treated like if I’m
royal, Steven!”
“I’m not acting like it,” he responded.
Taking a deep breath, he put his hand on
Madison’s shoulder. “I just want to make you
happy.” Madison smiled again.
“Thank you.”
“Okay,” Steven clapped his hands and sat
down. “Everything is going to be okay. We’re
going to have food, we’re going to build a small
boat to get us back to China, and we’re together
so I don’t think anything will douse my spirit,”
Steven said proudly. Madison looked to the west.
“Those rain clouds might.”
Rain poured down on the two an hour
later. Wind screamed in their ears and sand
seared their eyes.
25
“Where are we going to sleep?” Madison

yelled.
“I don’t know,” Steven yelled back. The
skies were blackened by the storm and lightning
brightened up the atmosphere. It was hard for
Madison to see Steven.
“Here, I’ll find a cave or something. The
trees in the woods won’t do much,” Madison
hollered. Steven gave her a thumbs-up sign and
continued to balance himself.
Madison crawled on the ground and put
her hands on the rocks, feeling for an entrance
big enough for two and a fire. Madison kicked
the earth and the ground shook. A hole was
made and water was getting into it very quickly.
Madison dug a tunnel above the ground inside
the cavern so water wouldn’t flood in and the
dirt would quickly absorb the incoming rain.
“We’ll stay in here!” Madison shouted.
Steven ran over to her and ducked his head in. It
was nice and warm inside as soon as Steven got
a fire going with his special tinder and flint
always hidden inside his shoe in case of an
emergency.
“Ugh, it’s so tight-packed,” Steven
muttered.
“We’ll move on when the storm ceases,”
Madison responded. Madison patted the ceiling
of sand above her so there wouldn’t be a cave-
in. “I’m hungry,” she said finally.
“I’ll go get some crab or something. Stay
here in the sanctuary. You’ll be safer there,”
Steven commanded. Madison shook her head.
“I won’t let you go out alone. If something
happens to you, then I’ll feel responsible.” She
said, grabbing his hand before he slipped out.
Steven gazed at her beautiful eyes.
“Alright. Thank you,” He was interrupted
by a shock in his body. “Oh sheesh!” he cried.
“That water is freezing!”
“I know, I know,” Madison said, squeezing
tears of pain out of her eyes. She climbed out
into the storm and searched the waters for crab
26
or washed up fish. A pinch made Madison

scream. “Found one!”
Steven was pinched too.
“Are you sure that’s a crab?”
“No, that was my hand,” Madison replied.
“My hand touched yours. That wasn’t a
crab.” Steven laughed. Madison splashed water
onto him and regained her balance. She and
Steven were messing around for too long; the
storm was getting much worse.
“We waited too long,” Madison said.
“Can you deal with a night without
supper?” Steven asked.
“I guess. It’ll be hard to sleep,” Madison
muttered.
“We’ll eat some fruit or something in the
morning, okay?”
“Fine,”
Madison and Steven crawled back into
their little hole with the fire welcoming them
with a warm glow.
“It’s getting colder,” Madison complained.
She held onto Steven, even though he was all
wet from the outdoors. He put his arm around
her and Madison fell asleep. He gently shoved
her to the other side of the cavern and he fell
asleep himself.
The lightning shattered a tree and the tree
fell onto the sand near the cave. Sand started
falling and spilling onto Steven, waking him up.
“Ugh,” he muttered, blocking his eyes.
Madison was still sleeping. Thunder-claps grew
louder and louder by the minute. Eventually,
Madison was awake.
“What is the time?” she asked.
“I have no idea. My pocket watch isn’t
working. Salt water must have got into it,” he
said. Madison nodded and held her stomach.
“I’m famished,” she said.
“Go back to sleep. Time will speed up if
you dream of…” Steven took a deep breath.
“Zaitian,”
27
“What?” Madison asked. “I don’t dream of

him!”
“But you want to, you talk in your sleep
with his name in it, I’m…I’m not accusing you of
liking him, because you said you didn’t, but, just
for something you should think of for comfort.”
“I think of you for comfort,” Madison told
Steven. He smiled.
Steven received another matter of
responsibility when Madison became ill with
hunger. She caught a fever and didn’t seem she
would live much longer. Steven held Madison in
his arms, scooping up saltwater and giving it to
her as her liquid.
“You’re going to be okay; I’m here,” is
what Steven always said to her. Madison kept
her eyes half-way shut and let her tears wash off
her Chinese makeup.
Finally, the rain stopped, along with
Madison’s fever.
Steven and Madison gladly ran out of the
hole and into the woods, eyeing the beautiful
fruits growing on the trees around. They plucked
off berries, picked and peeled bananas, and ate
away until they swore they were never going to
eat again, but their fears returned when the
trees shook, the ground rumbled, and different
people surround them…and they weren’t
monkeys!
“Hello?” Madison said in Chinese.
“They certainly aren’t like us, but they
speak like us. Take them in,” the leader seemed
to say. Steven and Madison shrugged.
“We aren’t from China, though. We come
from America,” Steven said.
“Then that makes it even worse…yet
tastier,”
“You guys are cannibals?”
“She knows,”
“Yes, we are. We’ve lived this way on our
island for centuries. We never eat each other,
but anyone who eats our sacred fruit,” the chief
pointed at a bonfire with skeletons decorating
28
the border. Steven and Madison held their

throats.
“Uh…we were supposed to get back to
China for important business, okay? We need to
find Zaitian or Cixi,”
“Hmm…Zaitian…never really heard of
him…except…he had sent two Americans here,”
“I know, we just said that,” Steven
impatiently said.
“He worries for you, Madison.” The chief
said to her, holding up his hand. “I will not kill
you two…but only if you bring me and my
people the sacred fruit every day of the rest of
your life. If you don’t cooperate, then we will
have to kill you!”
“Hi, I’m Ashu-Bak,” a native girl said to
them. She looked about eighteen and seemed
very friendly. “I’ll take you to our beach house
where you can stay the night, okay?” Madison
and Steven nodded in agreement, bowed, and
slept for the next three days, collecting fruit for
the chief and secretly building a boat for escape,
hoping for a way out of the mess.
Chapter 3
Madison dragged her bag across the room,

sliding down the stairs, and jumping into the
kitchen. Steven eyed Madison’s cruddy landing
in her cushiony seat.
“Madison, those cannibals will probably
eat us if we don’t hurry with their other food.”
“I must hurry,” Madison spoke in her
imagination. “Steven’s right! I should be
hurrying. Those cannibals could do anything!”
Madison stuffed her face with a hard-boiled egg
and ran out of the sanctuary.
She entered the rainforest, sweating with
fear. She didn’t know if the leader wanted the
bananas or the mangos tossed in the fruit salad.
“Uh oh…” she whispered, cringing from
the thought of her being eaten slowly over the
years. Madison swallowed loudly and began
29
picking every single piece of ripe fruit in the

forest that she could reach.
“You’re doing great, Madi,” her inner voice
said. “Just keep going and think of Zaitian while
you’re at it!” Madison smiled and continued
picking the fruits, knowing everything was going
to be alright.
Madison remembered what she and
Zaitian shared, ever though it was a short time.
He had taken her around the whole palace; he
had brought her to dinner, held her hand, and
even hugged her around the waist. His words of
encouragement echoed in her head. It was a sad
memory, really, but Madison was able to see it
over and over again in her mind.
After Madison finished picking the fruit,
she met Steven in the forest, who planned to
take her to dinner. Madison left the basket of
fruit at her own door and followed him.
“Hi, Madison,” Steven said, taking her into
the restaurant. Madison looked up; it was
entitled, ‘The Restaurant’ in Chinese letters.
Madison giggled and walked right in.
“So, Steven, what brings you to stay here
in the sanctuary?” Madison asked him, shuffling
her thumbs around.
“The culture is very nice, I should say,” he
said. They were interrupted by a bang on the
window. She turned her head and saw it was
some sort of a person, banging his head on the
window. Madison laughed quietly.
“What the heck?” she asked herself.
“He must be trying to scare us,” Steven
replied. Madison looked closer, even though she
didn’t get up from her seat. He was bleeding out
of his head; it gushing out blood. It must of have
been a native having some sort of seizure or just
trying to scare the kids.
“Whoever he is, he’s certainly doing a
good job,” A moment passed and he
disappeared.
Madison walked to the rainforest, not having to

worry about her fate. She kept her mind on no
30
one but Zaitian and no one else. She sat down

and picked a banana from a low branch of a tree
and peeled it for herself. Madison bit into the
soft texture and tasted the sweet flavor. All of a
sudden, some one with a dark skin color began
yelling and screaming and running in a different
direction than Madison. He turned around when
he spotted her and spoke in Chinese.
“Little Girl,” he said. “You have to get out
of here! There’s no time!” The stranger ran off
and continued his alarm of screams.
“Uh oh,” Madison said to herself. She
sniffed the air. “There isn’t a fire nearby,”
Madison climbed a high tree and examined the
area; people were running about. There was
blood covered on the ground.
“Everyone on the beach must get away as
fast as they can,” A voice rung through the
trees. Madison shuddered.
“There has to be a problem!” Madison
thought. She ran out of her hiding spot to find
Steven and get out of the region.
Madison found the beach house where
everyone who wasn’t bleeding on someone else
was hidden from view inside. I hope Steven is in
there, safe from all harm, Madison thought. She
ran up to the attic where some of the friendly
natives were. They were all looking through a
window to see what was going on.
“I don’t want Ashu-Bak to get hurt from
whoever is attacking us, but where she?”
Madison spoke in Chinese. The other girls
shrugged.
“There has been a death in the village,”
the chief spoke. Madison gasped.
“Who could it be? Who did this?” she
shouted.
“Ashu-Nak, one of our medicine sellers,
has been brutally killed by some sort of
creature. Beware of these creatures, for they are
very dangerous! They have sharp teeth, blood,
and craziness,” Madison gasped again. The
creature in which the chief described so far was
31
the same one Steven and I had seen at the

restaurant!
Looking out the window, I saw the
demented people, browsing the village for more
victims. One of the citizens was still outside.
“Oh my God,” the chief said. The creature
was devouring the person, but as seconds
passed, the person’s wounds healed up and he
walked on, as if the incident never happened.
“What’s going on?” A girl asked. Madison
shook her head.
“That was one of Ashu-Bak’s friends,” she
replied, hoping that Steven was okay. “If every
single person who becomes infected can do
that, then that means that anyone in this room
could be dangerous!” Madison exclaimed. The
chief started to cry. He pulled out a big sack.
“I didn’t want to do this, but since we
don’t know who is and who isn’t, we should have
to drug everyone, monster or not. All of us will
have to put everyone to death, even me.”
Madison cried too.
“Where’s Steven, Madison?” Ashu-Bak
asked, running up to Madison. She shook her
head again.
“I don’t know. I hope that he is not out
there, biting everyone.”
A day passed and Madison wrote a letter
to Zaitian and sent it by Ashu-Bak’s bird.
“We are being brutally attacked by some
sort of creatures, as if they climbed out of a
book, are attacking schools around The
Philippines, Japan, and other Asian countries...
Palaces are being closed down and every
person, creature or not, is being put to death, in
other words, drugged. Please, Zaitian, do
something about this.”
Madison exited the attic unnoticed. She
didn’t want to be drugged. Not that moment!
She wanted to find Steven at that moment and
get out as soon as possible. But she was
interrupted by a hand on her shoulder.
“Madison, the chief isn’t here yet.
Everyone is going to spend the night at the
32
beach house until he is prepared. Until I leave

you, you need to get yourself out,” Ashu-Bak
said. She was happy that he wasn’t there yet.
“Do you think we might find a chance to
find Steven?” Madison asked. Ashu-Bak stared
into her eyes. Madison took that as a ‘yes’
“Okay Ashu-Bak. Let’s get going.”
“Sure, we can find him! He could be in
another room, looking for you!”
“It’s possible,” Madison replied.
Another hideous night passed and
Madison was awoken by the sound of a scream.
“Oh no,” she heard. “Not Ashu-Bak,
please!” That was a woman’s voice. She came
sliding into the hallway where Ashu-Bak was
lying. “Madison, Ashu-Bak is about to be
drugged!”
Madison looked to her right; Ashu-Bak was
being pulled upstairs by two men in robes,
walking to the attic.
“What could possibly be going on?” she
asked herself. Madison snuck up to the attic,
following the path the men took. A square in the
ceiling was the entry to the school’s attic. She
pushed it opened and screamed at what she
saw. A bloody footprint was left on the floor!
That was it; just a red footprint. She figured that
it must have been one of those mutated
werewolves that had left it. Madison saw some
others leading to different passages, but she
didn’t follow. Madison remembered Ashu-Bak’s
voice, and it seemed helpful when she heard her
scream.
“I didn’t transform, I swear it!” her words
echoed. Madison peered in through a small
window, actually a hole in the wall. Ashu-Bak’s
arm was outstretched, being held by her mother
and one scientist. The other scientist held the
vial, which had the toxinater!
“A—Ashu-Bak…” I whispered.
“Hi Madison,” she replied. She had
stopped screaming. “I am afraid, but not enough
to scream again. My words are useless.”
33
“Stop saying crap like that,” Madison

yelled. “Your death will not be in vain,” Tears
filled up in her eyes until she had to let them go.
Ashu-Bak nodded.
“I know,” The drug was plunged into her
vein. “I feel…dizzy, Madison. Please, hold me.”
Madison held Ashu-Bak in her arms until
life left her eyes. She cried quietly. She didn’t
want uproar.
After that moment, Madison went to find
Steven.
“Just stay alive until I get to you,” she
whispered to herself, as if she were talking to
Steven. “I’ll get you out of here in time,”
Madison ran past creepy pathways and trees,
breathing deeply, trying to keep calm.
“Be strong,” she yelled. “Steven, where
are you?” she screamed. Suddenly, Madison
heard a noise, the sound of a person falling to
the floor. She turned around, swinging her black
hair with her.
“M—Madison,” a voice called. “Don’t go
near there.” She knew that voice. Her heart
pounded in my chest from the excitement.
Turning around, she faced Steven. She ran to
him with her arms outstretched.
“Steven! Are you infected?”
“No. Madison, are you hurt?”
“No, I am not,”
“I finally got the ship finished. It’s this way
and that way…” Steven stopped, panted, and
pointed, “is danger,”
“I lost Ashu-Bak. She was killed before my
very eyes. You are my only companion left here
before the creatures eat us alive.”
“I’m sorry, Madison,” Steven said, about to
hug her. He stopped when he heard another cry
of a person. “We have to go.”
“What?”
“Let’s go, before we are eaten or poisoned
next!” Madison ran with Steven, hand in hand,
not letting go. They passed by open rooms filled
with people waiting to die. Some married
couples were kissing, saying their goodbyes.
34
She felt really bad, but at least their loved one

would die with them. They had nothing else to
live for…how sad…she thought.
They reached a dead end suddenly.
“Dang it,” Steven yelled, kicking the tree
to see if it would budge. “We can’t stay in here
forever; there is a weird virus that natives get in
here that we don’t even know about. All I know
is that a passing of body fluid, such as saliva in a
bite, can pass on the infection. One bite to a
person can still turn them into the sick person
they are, depending on where the person was
bitten. The creature never knows he or she is
one, ever. If the infection is permanent, the
person cannot be killed unless he or she is
burned alive or drugged. I’m sure that you are
very scared; all of the cannibals here are either
dead, infected with the fever, or waiting to be
dead. We cannot get out. We either become one
of the infected, or die.”
“I don’t want to die; I want to see
freedom…and Zaitian,” Madison whispered to
Steven. She turned behind her and most of the
kissing couples were both gone and dead.
Steven held Madison.
“I will die by your side, becoming a
monster or no monster, drugs or no drugs. I will
get you to Zaitian, no matter what happens to
me. I will never see you become one of the
infected, ever!” he said both strictly and
devotedly. He cleared his throat. “Did—did any
of the monsters bite you? You look a little yellow,
Madison.”
“No, not at all; I feel really sick, though,”
she said. Madison was right; her stomach hurt
so badly. Looking in a mirror would only reflect a
yellow face. “Did any hurt you?”
“I don’t think so. I feel sick as well. I know
that whenever someone has the infection, they
get sick, then later on, their body changes—and
now look at what they become!” Steven pointed
to a carcass of one of the creatures. Madison
threw up next to him.
35
“I must have not delivered the fruit to

them in time. Maybe that’s why they want it so
much. Instead, I went with you to the restaurant
and that guy outside was freaking out because
he was…”
“Madison, get away,” Steven said, backing
away quickly.
“Steven, what’s the matter?” Madison
asked, worried to heck.
“There is something wrong with me—I’m"
Steven held his head; I knew he was in pain. She
felt pain herself from watching him. “I’m just
dizzy, Madison,”
“We have to get to your boat to have you
live. It’s the only way,” Madison said, trying not
to freak out. “I’m carrying you,” she said. Lifting
Steven’s body onto her shoulders, Madison
groaned and started to run. She finally saw light
ahead—and there was the ship!
“Ugh,” Steven muttered.
“Just a little further, buddy,” she said to
him. Madison heard a masculine voice behind
her. “Oh no, the chief! He’s going to kill us if we
don’t hurry!” Madison tried running faster, but
she was too late. The chief held up a spear with
pink stuff on it. He threw it as fast as he could…
and it hit. Steven had heard the whoosh of the
spear and he jumped off Madi, pushed her to the
ground, and took it in him. Silence came after
and Madison’s scream broke the silence.
“STEVEN!” she yelled. The drug was officially in
him.
The chief looked foreword; Madison was
holding Steven in her arms. He saw a vision of a
beautiful woman holding a man with a stab
wound in his side with holes in his hands and in
his feet, both with angel’s haloes above their
heads. Madison cried silently, holding her dying
friend. The chief took his weapon and killed
himself for what he had done.
Madison took out her pocket knife and cut
open one of Steven’s arms. She sucked out the
drug as much as she could and spat it out and
rinsed out her mouth. She took the spear out of
36
Steven, but he was in so much pain already, he

didn’t even notice it. Madison pushed Steven
into the boat and ran in the water to get it
going.
Days passed and Madison had done
nothing but to feed her and Steven fish, look
after him, and throw up. Steven said his first
words in days to Madison and he smiled a lot
more often. Seeing land was scarce.
“We must be lost,” Madison said.
“No, I know we’re close, trust me,” Steven
said. Madison thought he was speaking weird
from his injury, but then she realized that trust
was definitely the main leader to hope.
Chapter 4
A ship docked in Hong Kong on a cloudy

and misty day, more like afternoon. The door
opened and Madison, walked out with Steven.
Both were soaking wet from falling into the
ocean from time to time.
“Where are we? This isn’t Fuzhou. This is
much more…” Madison put her hand above her
forehead as if blocking the sun from her eyes.
“Public,”
“There must be some explanation for this,
Madison.” He put his arm around her shoulder.
“What are we going to do?”
“I guess we can leave this place.”
“Yes, I guess so. But then, we’ll end up in
another mess, so I suggest we ask someone
where to go and move on from there,”
“Yes,”
“We still can’t really live here, even if we
successfully docked,” Steven proudly said,
pointing to an almost broken-down boat.
“But Steven,”
“No, Madison. We were banished,
remember?” Steven yelled. He then realized
people heard in, and it was possible that they
might have heard about their forbiddingness.
“Never mind; let’s just get out of here.” He took
her hand and ran out of the tiny docking area.
37
“Why?” Madison asked as soon as they

reached the rainy area outside. “I thought you
said you were going to get me here,”
“Well, I don’t feel right about this. I
certainly didn’t give myself the time to think
about how we’ll get our custody back. I don’t
even know how we’ll tell Zaitian!”
“If we find a place to stay quickly, we’ll
think of an idea. Come on!” She took Steven’s
hand, and walked toward a path leading to
nowhere but grass and pasture.
Two days later, Madison and Steven
walked down a promising road leading to an old,
used wooden house.
“We’re in luck!” Madison squealed,
excitingly running to the wooden sanctuary. She
gasped at what she saw. There were two beds;
both with quilts finely sewed. There was also a
little stove for warmth in the cold weather (They
were six hundred miles from the Himalayas.) an
icebox, and lights.
“Wow,” Steven said, entering the house. “I
wonder who made this.” Madison opened the
icebox.
“Yes and whoever did this must have
known we were coming.” She had said that for
there was fresh food and drinks.
“That can’t be…hey, can I ask you
something?” Steven wondered. Madison
nodded. She yawned and lay on her bed. Steven
lay down on the same bed. “Are you nervous?”
he asked. Madison threw a pillow at him.
“Pervert!” she muttered.
“No! No!” Steven yelled, waving his hands
and blushing rather red. “I meant, how are we
going to live here, I mean, I’m nervous!
Someone can catch us and get us both killed.
Speaking of which, I wonder what that whole
Boxer Rebellion is about.”
“You can find someone to talk to tomorrow
after we get some shuteye.”
“How about you do the talking,” Steven
asked throwing the pillow to Madison. She threw
it back to him.
38
“Chicken…”
“Hey! I’m just nervous if I talk to girls!”
“Well I’m just as nervous if I talk to boys!
Besides, you don’t seem nervous whenever you
talk to me!” Madison said, sipping at Steven’s
tea when he wasn’t looking.
The room got colder at nightfall, so Steven
had to turn on the oven.
My job now is to protect Madison. She
gave her life for me and now I have to do the
same. He thought.
The plants moving around in the windless
night changed his feelings of bravery.
“Hold still!” Madison yelled, holding
Steven down.
“You can’t touch my hair!”
“If we’re gonna look like Chinese citizens,
you’re gonna have to put it up somehow—and
I’m gonna have to do it for you!”
Madison fought Steven until she found a
rope, tied him to a chair, and played with his
head.
“We still need the buns in our hair,”
Madison said quietly. “I’ll have a nice hair-do
later. I found a nice dress to go with it,” Steven
smiled at the thought of his best friend all
prettied up. “I found it under my bed,”
“My hair is too short,”
“It’s not! You are going to have enough
hair to have a bun in it! You looked like…I don’t
know…a girl or something!” Madison laughed.
She pulled the whole lock of hair and twisted it
and made a bun in Steven’s hair. “There, all
done, now go take a bath. I’ll be in the house; I
won’t peek. We also,” Madison tossed him some
robes to try on. “Need to speak in the Chinese
dialogue. No one here, except Zaitian, speaks
English.”
Twelve minutes later, Steven put his
clothes back on and knocked on the door.
“Madison,” he yelled. “We should go
fishing tomorrow.” Madison walked out of the
house with a long, silky dress. The color of
ocean blue was splashed onto it with the brown
39
of earth, decorated with lilies and lotuses

painted on. Madison’s hair was tied up, not in a
bun, but two bun pigtails were on the sides of
her head while the rest of it flowed down over
her shoulders. Chopsticks decorated the hair-do.
Madison held a red fan over her ruby lips,
outlined eyes, and pale, china-doll face.
“I found the dress I was talking about
earlier,” she said. Steven had totally forgotten
about the fish thanks to Madison’s beauty. “How
do I look?”
“Um…” Steven blushed badly. “You mean
you or the dress?” Madison giggled.
“Both, I guess.”
“It looks good, and it’s mine.” A voice
called from the shadows. Madison jumped, but
didn’t scream. Steven got into the house,
holding Madison to protect her from whoever
was out there.
“The house is mine, along with the
silkworm dress, and everything else you’ve
used,” The voice said—it was a girl’s voice,
which was deeper than Madison’s. It was coming
from outside.
“I think we should leave,” Steven
whispered. Madison nodded. As they walked
quietly toward the door on the wooden floor, the
plants outside where the voice came from
started to move. Finally, the girl stood up and
presented herself to Steven and Madison.
She was no older than Madison. She had
the exact same hairstyle as Madison. Her dress
was silky, but green. She had no makeup on,
though.
“Who…who are you?” Steven asked in her
language.
“I am the keeper of the house. I go by the
name, Hwa Mai Min, but you can call me Min.”
She said. Her eyes were a soft green and blue
color. Min was very beautiful; her looks made
Steven blush.
“Hi, Min, I’m Madison, and this is my
friend, Steven.” Madison said the names as if
40
they were Chinese; she did it very badly, but Min

didn’t seem to notice.
“Boyfriend?” Min replied, raising an
eyebrow.
“Um…” Madison said in response, trying to
find the perfect words.
“Kind of…” Steven interrupted. “Not
really.” Steven said this in order to make
Madison feel more relived, but he was also
feeling a little something for Min, but Madison
also thought that Steven thought that Madison
was still with Zaitian. Madison elbowed him in
the ribs. “Ow,”
“You are welcome to stay here. I’ve always
wanted to meet Americans. What’s it like in
America?”
“Very beautiful…” Steven said. He was
obviously talking about Min, causing Madison to
feel angrier. Steven wasn’t supposed to fall in
love with anyone, since he would let his secret
slip, letting the trust bond fall.
“It’s more of a dry land, but very green
indeed—cough!” Madison snapped at Steven to
embarrass him. Min chuckled.
“I see, sorry to have bugged you while
getting your clothes on.” She said.
“Oh it’s fine. I was just about to get Steven
to come to lunch with me. Do you know where
we can find a restaurant?”
“Yes, there’s one nearby. How about you
two go, I’ll stay.”
“You can come with us…” Steven started.
Madison smacked him.
“Shut up,” she whispered. “She might tell
other Chinese!”
After a fifteen minute’s walk, Madison and
Steven finally reached a Chinese restaurant
called the Tea Weevil. It was a tribute to the
name of an idea of a tea shop in the
Nickelodeon Television Series, Avatar the Last
Airbender. It was a stupid idea, I should say.
Madison wrote something like that in her journal,
and I totally agree with her!
41
“Steven, the last time we ate at a

restaurant together, you were telling me how
much you…wanted us safe.”
“Uh huh,”
“Well, now…since Min came, you’ve been
all over her lately?”
“Uh huh,”
“Um…well…the people who worry about
you, to see you like this, it’s very hurting to see
you this way…because…getting an attachment
to this world…they could find out…Min could be
a spy!”
“Uh huh,”
“Are you even paying attention to me? Is
that your favorite thing to say? Uh huh; well,
since I’ve started talking to you, you’ve never
taken the opportunity to get your head out of
the clouds and into the same situation we’ve
been dealing with since we’ve met Zaitian,
saving us, that’s what!”
“Yeah—huh, what did you say?” Madison
couldn’t take it any longer; she slammed her
hands on the table and left into the rain outside.
“Oh geez, what did I say?” Steven asked. He ran
out, but Madison was already gone. He decided
to look for her.
Min sat in front of the window. Steven is
kind of cute. He is gentle and sweet; Madison,
on the other hand, is very hard on him and
seems jealous of me. She is pretty, and if they
are together, I let them be together. Madison
shows in her mood that Steven loved her and is
starting to betray her. I should leave them for a
while. No. I need to make sure they are safe and
don’t kill each other. Min’s mind told her while
she was meditating on a peculiar idea, but she
didn’t understand the situation.
Steven searched for Madison in the
pouring rain. Madison was hiding behind the
building of the restaurant. She was too upset to
show herself. My life now is a soap opera! I can’t
live like this! But her thoughts changed in one
moment. Steven had found her and put his arms
around her. Madison’s body was warmed up
42
quickly from the cold while Steven embraced

her, keeping her close to him.
“I’m so sorry! I won’t ever make you feel
that way ever again! Not while you’re here with
me.” Steven said. Tears rolled down his face
from the feeling of Madison’s sadness.
Surprisingly, Min was watching from a corner.
She saw the embrace. Min smiled at the sight,
knowing Steven and Madison were happy, but in
her heart, Min was alone.
She had a feeling that the separation
between the two would come to them too fast
and that maybe she, Min, should step in, and
Madison would have to deal with it.
“So you guys are Christians?” Min asked.
Steven nodded.
“Yeah, we came here to China by accident.
We were headed for somewhere else for a
mission, but our ship was shot down and
Madison and I were the only survivors. The
nearest coast was the southern beach of China.
We were then captured.” Steven said.
“We ran into a guy named Zaitian,”
Madison said, trying not to blush, since Zaitian
was a handsome, young man.
“You met Zaitian, the future emperor of
China?” Min screamed.
“Unfortunately, we did meet him! Worse
than that, Madison fell in love with him, and that
makes us banished!” Steven said angrily. Min
couldn’t believe her ears. Madison blushed. She
had just finished telling Steven to get his head
out of the clouds and Madison couldn’t do the
same.
“See how it feels, now?”
“Our mission trip turned into a ‘saving
ourselves’ thingamajig! We brought hope to
Zaitian to help him with his Aunt’s project, but
we were…traveling on a short vacation, got lost,
and captured again!”
“Maybe I could get you to the palace in
anyway I can!” Min suggested.
“Perhaps,” Steven said. “But we have no
money to pay you, let alone get us food and
43
water. We could be home already, but Madison…

I can’t explain.”
“Besides, our parents think we’re dead, I
don’t think our letter was reached, and I can’t
read all 65,000 Chinese symbols, but we can
speak most of the language, so there’s nothing
we can do anymore except look for Zaitian if
he’s not looking for me!” Madison yelped. “I
guess we’ll have to get jobs here, Steven.”
“I am happy to help you guys!”
The three embraced together in
excitement.
“Just as long you don’t tell a living soul on
this planet,”
“I won’t I promise.”
“Min, what’s your life story?” Steven
asked. He was glad that Madison wasn’t getting
at him for asking Min that kind of question.
“Steven…well…I’m a full-bred Chinese
citizen. I have had a rough life, though. My
parents died in the war between the Chinese
and Japanese long ago. They were patriots for
our side. They were killed…um…four years ago.
I was eleven when I built this house.”
“It looks really good!” Madison said,
examining the cupboards. “You did a good job.”
“I didn’t do it by myself, but thanks. That’s
why I have the other bed. She was my best
friend. She gave me courage, strength,”
“Who was she?” Steven asked with a
worried expression.
“Her name was Mrs. Pretty.”
“Mrs. Pretty? Where is she now? Is she
dead?”
“No, Steven. You’re sitting on her,” Steven
shot up off the bed the moment he heard he
was sitting on a doll.
“THAT’S MRS. PRETTY?” he asked, holding
up the torn-up doll.
“Yes,” Min replied, trying not to fall of the
other bed (she was laughing so hard!).
“Her bed is a little big,” Madison said,
eyeing the bed.
44
“I know. I keep it as storage for most of my

possessions. Even so, Mrs. Pretty isn’t really
pretty anymore.” Min laughed again. Her laugh
was like the sound of a bell to Steven’s ears.
“Another question,” Madison asked, “Is
there anyone we can talk to for help?”
“There’s a general store nearby this
house.”
“There’s a general store?” Steven asked.
“We can get a job there!”
“I already work there, Steven,” Min said. It
would be kind of unfair to work at the same
place. Take some time separately for each of
you at your different job.
“I’ll apply at the tea shop tomorrow, I
guess. Steven could work at the school, and Min
should still be working at the general store.
Pretty soon, we’ll have the money to get out of
here. We’re going to patch things us with Cixi,
Steven!”
This section of the story is now narrated

by Madison. I extracted this from her Diary of
Dreams.
At night, I was walking through a dark area

—a forest if you will; there were a lot of trees
present in front of me. I ran instead of walked. I
kept traveling until I saw a figure before me,
stopping my tracks; a boy, I could tell because
of the bun. He was tall and thin and had black
hair, pale skin, and amber eyes—Zaitian! I
choked on my words; I didn’t know what to say.
“Oh!” That was all I could say, just a
simple oh.
“Madison, it’s me.” He said soothingly.
“I know who you are; I’ve never forgotten
you.” I blushed hard and red.
“I’ve never forgotten you, either,” Zaitian
replied to me. “I have come to you in your
dreams to tell you that there will be danger for
you and your friends on the night of a lunar
eclipse. Thus, you must wake up now. I can
reach you in your dreams by strict meditation
45
lessons from my father. You are meditating as

you sleep, are you not?” I was spooked by
Zaitian’s vocabulary.
“I can’t believe this is a dream,” I
muttered. “Zaitian, I don’t want to wake up. I
want to stay here and help you with your dream
of saving me.”
“There is more to what you need to do
than to save yourself. I am still a young
emperor, and I am still older than you, Madison,
and I’m telling you to wake up,” Zaitian softly
commanded while stroking my cheek. I rose
slowly from sitting down. I felt heroic and brave.
“Thank you,”
Madison had quit writing in her diary, due to the

fact her dream had ended, of course. Otherwise,
she would have written more about her amusing
vision.
Madison woke up from her trance. The

person stroking her cheek was Steven himself.
Min was preparing scrambled eggs and tofu over
a fire outside.
“Are you alright, Madison? You were crying
in your sleep,” Steven said calmly. He held
Madison in his arms. “You must miss him, don’t
you? I know, I understand. He helped China a
whole lot and helped us. I forgive for what he did
to us.”
“How did you know that I was dreaming of
him?”
“You kept saying, ‘Zaitian!’ in your sleep.
The first time you said it, your face was wet with
tears.”
“I’m sorry if I woke you guys up,” Madison
said sadly.
“No, you didn’t.” Min said, putting the
plates of food on the wooden table. Madison
imagined how sad it would be for her if she woke
up Steven and Min by babbling out Zaitian’s
name.
46
“Steven, do you think I could make up a

story about my dreams?” Madison asked Steven.
Steven shrugged.
“Sure, Madison. You might make yourself a
scholar here in China, and then we can get loads
of money!”
“Um…Madison, I forgot to say
something…” Min whispered.
“What is it?” Steven asked for Madison,
since Madison had noodles in her mouth. Min
showed the two teenagers a flyer of a romantic
dance at a ball in the restaurant that she and
Steven went to.
“A dance, tonight, you say?” Madison
asked Min after she swallowed her food. Min
nodded.
“Yes, and you can present your book there
as well if you get it done. Many citizens adore
books written by Americans.” Madison could see
herself holding her published book. Madison
was dancing around with joy that something fell
out of her pocket. It was the round bead with the
weird symbol that Zaitian had given to her. Min
picked it up with great curiosity. She and Steven
didn’t know that Zaitian had given it to her.
“Oh, Madison!” she squealed.
“What is it, Min?”
“You are a lucky girl, Madison. The man
who gave this to you loves you with all his
heart! It’s a tradition.” Min said. Madison caught
herself blushing very badly.
“Oh…I kind of found it floating in the
ocean…and I…uh…thought it was pretty.”
Madison lied. Steven didn’t recall Madison
picking up a bead, but he decided to ignore it.
“I can’t wait for the dance, Min.” Steven
said, disrobing and putting on a different outfit.
Madison washed her face and put on a
beautiful makeup. Her heart beat with jealousy
to be better than Min to win Steven back. I don’t
really know if I do like him. Is it possible I still
love Zaitian? No, it can’t be true. Madison’s
mind rattled inside of her, giving her a headache
of thoughts. Her hair was put up in curls,
47
matching Min. Outlining her eyes and decorating

her mask for the masquerade, Min noticed that
Madison was up to something, but she didn’t
talk to Madison.
Finally, after fifteen minutes, both girls
followed the directions on the brochure and
followed Steven’s steps. Dragging her dress,
Madison thought terrible thoughts about Min.
Maybe she can become a Christian and be
executed right in front of us! Or, I’ll hire a
suicide bomber to blow up the dance party and
me and Steven escape. In other words, Madison
was thinking, I wish Min disappeared from our
lives forever! After moment or two, Madison’s
good conscience stepped into the problem. Why
am I thinking terrible things about her? I
probably have a very ugly look on my face. That
wasn’t true, exactly. All the evil was hidden
behind the face of Madison, whose face was
round and cute. I’ll just forget I said anything
and have a fun time. That thought was easier
said than done.
Dozens of people seemed scattered
around the building, which was a restaurant,
dedicated to the masquerade for partying.
Steven walked out of the restroom to see the
two baccalaureates (Madison and Min.). Blushing
terribly, he couldn’t decide who to take to
dance. Madison’s heart beat quickly, she was so
mad.
“You can take Min, Steven. I don’t mind.”
She said. Steven shrugged and took Min’s hand.
Madison put her full weight on a pillar, resting so
eagerly with the thought of dancing with
someone.
Stupid Min. She has no right to be happy,
Madison’s mind said to her again. An “Angel
Madison” stood out of her, saying, be happy for
Min. You still have Zaitian to worry about.
Madison’s heart skipped a beat, literally skipped
a beat—she couldn’t breathe well enough like
she used to. Steven swung over to her.
“Madison, are you alright? You look like if
you’re about to cry,” he said this because she
48
was breathing very deeply and very loudly, and

some people do that when they begin to start
bawling their heads off. Madison shook her
head. Steven left Min’s hand and offered his
hand to Madison. “May we have this dance,
Madison?” he asked. Steven knew how bad she
felt about not getting what she wanted. Madison
placed her hand inside his, but as she did, one
of the windows broke.
A burglar dressed in all black dove into the

building, interfering with the romantic dancers,
and snatched up Min.
“Yes, this is the one,” he seemed to say.
Crashing through the door, the burglar
disappeared.
“I’m sorry, Madison, but I have to go after
Min. She’s been abducted,” Steven said, trying
to keep himself calm.
“I’ll go with you,” Madison said, tugging on
his silk robe. Steven shook her hands off him like
breadcrumbs.
“No, it’ll be best if I went alone,” he said.
Madison’s eye twitched again in response to the
decline of her offer. I’m going to have to go after
him if that’s the case! He can get lost and then
how on earth will I reach Zaitian?
Steven began to run quickly through a
dark forest, following the path of the kidnapper.
Why would they want Min? He asked himself.
She didn’t do anything wrong, did she? Do they
just want her because she’s pretty?
Steven stopped when an arrow wisped by
him, barely missing his head, but cutting his hair
a bit. He turned around quickly, his body
uncomfortably turning to see the culprit. It was
one of the burglars who had kidnapped Min. The
masked man jumped and sprinted away to his
hideout, hoping that Steven wouldn’t follow
along, but Steven’s strong legs were able to take
him to the destination and went after another
path.
“I’m sorry, Madison, but I seem to be in
love with Min. I can’t help you anymore! I can’t
49
hold you back from who you love anymore.”

Steven journeyed into a forest near the school,
following Min’s tracks.
I’ll save you from those magicians! He
thought. He had figured out they were
magicians because of how fast the burglar went.
It seemed faster than the speed of sound.
Out of the blue, another arrow ran past
Steven, cutting him on the cheek.
“Whoa! That was close!” he muttered.
Another arrow came, this time Steven wasn’t so
lucky. The arrow went through his leg, sending
him downward to the ground in pain. He looked
at one of the magicians, who had obviously shot
Steven; Steven couldn’t give up. He kept
running until he reached a building.
“Do the magicians take people for fun or
do they experiment with them?” Blood trailed
behind Steven as he thought deeply. A screech
filled the chaotic night. “Min, I’m coming!”
Steven’s heart pounded hard in his throat as he
opened the door. Inside was Min tied to the wall!
“For the safety of China, we must burn this
spy alive!” one of the pedestrians shouted.
“Spy? You mean,” Steven looked closer at
Min. Her eyes were slanted differently than the
other pedestrians. “She’s from Mongolia, I think,
hey! Let Min go, she did no harm!” Steven yelled
back.
“Steven, yes I did. I organized these
groups of magicians to disappear and re-appear
to kidnap different people in China. When I
slipped one day and told my secret by accident
back at the ball, I was taken captive. You must
not let me go,” Min said with tears traveling
down her skin.
“No, I can help you,” Steven broke the
back of his arrow off so he could stand and get
out of kowtowing position. He looked around
him; five or six magicians filled the room. They
were able to re-appear into different places,
multiply, or cast a spell whenever they wanted.
“Min, how do the magicians lose their
power? What is their weakness?” Steven asked,
50
cringing from the tyranny of the condition of his

wounded leg.
“Well, there is a, ah!” Min gasped as she
looked out of a small window at the moon,
“Jesus Christ, we’re lucky! Steven, a lunar
eclipse! They lose their power during any
eclipse. There’s a lunar eclipse tonight! It may
be possible to run away from them while we still
have a chance!” Min explained. Steven shook
his head and untied Min from the wall.
“I will fight them head on in a couple of
minutes when the lunar eclipse starts. They will
lose their power and I’ll defeat them. You leave
and get to Madison for now,” Min nodded in
agreement and ran. But before Min reached the
door, Steven said one last thing, “And Min,” Min
stopped in her tracks and looked into Steven’s
blue eyes, “thanks for your help,” Min nodded
again and ran down the same road Steven took
through the woods.
Meanwhile, Steven fought at the
magicians surrounding him. There were no
wands at all and there were no metamorphoses
used, but many different techniques were used
in the process: birds and bats would fly out of
nowhere; the magicians would disappear and re-
appear into different spots, except one thing!
They weren’t multiplying; one was already
multiplied! Steven touched one ditto and it
disappeared, leaving a poof of smoke. The
others dissinigrated as well, revealing one dark
figure standing near Steven. He vanished,
trailing a red mist behind. The guy came back,
floating in mid-air.
“Who are you and why aren’t you
attacking? Why are you running and being a
coward? Quit hiding and face me!” Steven
yelled.
“My apologies. My name is Ikuzo. I am a
trick master, longing to fulfill my promise in
myself to become a powerful magician and fake
out all. I dare not waste my energy on you, my
boy,” Ikuzo said. Steven gaped at him. His hair
was long and black and it nearly reached his
51
waist. Ikuzo had pale eyes and an evil smile,

making fear run down Steven’s trembling spine.
Steven’s fear left him when he saw the red
moon above him. Ikuzo came down
unexpectedly, afraid that his own power was
weakening.
“You are no match for me, now. I have my
friend’s knife in my pocket. As I pull it out, you
will…huh?” Steven searched his pockets for
Madison’s knife, and then looked, seeing the
pocket-knife in Ikuzo’s hand. “Uh-oh,” Steven
muttered.
“That’s right, boy. Say your prayers, for I
will,” Ikuzo was interrupted by a war cry and a
sword going through his body. The sword was a
long sword, dripping with blood. Its handle was
carefully carved with care, and holding it was
Min.
“Min, I told you to get to Madison and run
back to your house!” Steven said after Min
pulled her sword out of Ikuzo. She dragged his
body up a tree in the orchard nearby and left
him there. “Min, you came back to me because
you were worried about me?”
“Sure, Steven. Of course that’s why I
followed you back. Yes, I was thinking that Ikuzo
would steal Madison’s knife from you before the
lunar eclipse started, so I found my sword in my
secret hiding place, and I decided to kill Ikuzo.”
Min replied. Madison was hiding in one of the
trees above them.
You’re imaging things, Madi. Min wouldn’t
fall in love with my friend. Madison thought. She
didn’t want to interrupt the conversation;
Madison watched closely to see what would
happen.
Min took Steven’s hand and put it in hers.
“I’m glad that you are safe,” Min
whispered.
“I’m glad that you are, too,” Steven
replied. He looked at Min; her makeup was still
on, her dress was unharmed, but Min’s curls
were messed up when she put them up in loops.
52
“Here, let me help you with your hair,” he said,

taking out the tie that held it together.
“No, you don’t have to worry about it,”
Min explained, seeing it was too late. Her curled
hair flowed down her shoulders to her waist.
Ugh, he’s taking out her hair! I’m going to
throw up! Madison thought again. Jealousy grew
in her heart as she saw the couple together; it
would not soften. Steven is so dirty, betraying
me in order to get to the prettier, Madison’s dark
thoughts made her heart hate instead of love.
Her beautiful face reflected solomness and
anger, her dress was torn, and her curls came
out.
“You do realize…for a while…how much
I’ve…kind of had feelings for you,” Min bashfully
said, “I don’t want to take you from Madison,
though,”
“Don’t worry; Madison is already in love
with Zaitian,” Steven replied, inching closer to
Min. Min jumped.
“Seriously?” she asked. “Madison is in love
with Zaitian?’
“Yes, so we don’t have to worry about
Madison’s feelings toward me,”
Madison gaped down below her.
How does Steven know I…I don’t love him!
I’ve been falling for you, Steven, seriously! I
want you to stop it now and think about why
we’re here: to rescue me and to get me back
with Zaitian. That’s what you said yourself. I
would rather go home now without you!
No, Madison, no! Think about Zaitian!
Think about what you’ve done with him! You
know you want to see him as much as he wants
to see you!
I’m afraid I don’t have much of a choice.
Min has gotten too far with my feelings and now
I’m…oh no!
Oh no was the correct reaction, because
Steven was being kissed by Min. Madison
started to cry.
Oh no! She’s kissing him! What did I do to
cause this? It wasn’t supposed to be that I’m
53
confused! It really wasn’t supposed to be this

way! Steven kissed Min back, returning her
feelings while Madison watched in sadness. She
eventually stopped watching the moment and
went to Min’s home.
Madison quickly stripped off her jewelry,
tearing her dress down and changing into a
Chinese robe. She put on her Chinese disguise
makeup and waited for Steven and Min to come
home so she could finish what she had started.
The door creaked open slowly, letting a
couple of dust bunnies into the house. Steven
poked his head in and stepped in, along with
Min. Madison held her breath and also her inner
fire. She had to say it, not to calm her inner fire,
but also to put out her last tiny drops of love for
Steven and to keep thinking of Zaitian forever.
“Steven, I’m finally glad that you are in
good condition with Min. You are no longer in
danger and you are safe,” Madison said, hiding
her falling tears.
“You think that? Oh, good,” Steven replied
with his back to Madison while watering a small
lotus tree.
“But I have made a decision tonight,”
Madison added, her heart pounding in her head.
“We no longer have anything to do with
traveling together,” Madison slipped the pocket
knife out of Steven’s pocket, threw her hood
over her head, and left the house without saying
goodbye to anyone.
Madison limped down the road from the
achiness of her shoes. She suffered from the
bitterness of the cold December night, the cuts
and bruises from the attack, and the anger deep
within her heart.
How did it come to this? It wasn’t
supposed to be this way! Steven, I thought you
were my best friend, I thought I loved you, but
why did you leave me when you realized I loved
you too? Now that I don’t know who to choose,
I’m so confused! It started to rain, heavying
Madison’s clothes and cooling the temperature
even more.
54
At dawn finally, Madison saw something

that was dangerous to her, yet she seemed to
have to deal with it and it also happened to be
that thing that she was looking for. Madison
dragged her cold, dirty body across the border
of Fuzhou, leaving Beijing for good.
Chapter 5
(This story took place while Steven and Madison

were in Beijing with Min.)
Zaitian’s Diary
A cool breeze blew into my open window,

cooling the skin on my body, calming my mind
on this morning. I opened my eyes and looked
out the window as I scan the contents on the
pond below. Lily pads float upon the water hole,
containing a frog, searching for food. Lotus
flowers fall from the tree across from the pond.
Another window opens; white silky curtains blow
in the breeze as soft hands of a beautiful girl
pulls them apart.
The girl has long black hair, matching the
invisible motion of the wind. A white dress
covers her body and lace covers up the sleeves.
Her eyes are a passionate amber color. I don’t
know her name, yet, but she looks like the one I
love already. Is she still in hiding? Has she finally
come back for me?
I stare through my window into hers. A
smile covers her face as she walks into her
backyard, which has the lily pad covered pond. A
couple of koi fish swim about as I can see. The
girl opens her mouth and sings a note, just a
simple note…and then a few others. There are
no words in her song, but her voice is wonderful
and reminds me of a nightingale singing its
midnight serenade.
It is afternoon now, and the girl sits lotus
style on her bed, reading a book, filling her mind
with knowledge. Maybe her story is fiction? I
wish to ask her, but I doubt that she would listen
55
to me. I am too shy to utter a word to her. Love

can be so strong that it can close our mouths.
At night, she puts on music, Tai Chi, sweet
sounding instruments playing as it clears her
mind. The girl sits on her bed once more and
stretches to strengthen her Chi. She is as swift
as she is steady, smooth and gentle. Her soft
skin helps her calm the human mind and makes
it possible to make it through one luminous hour
of Tai Chi.
After the hour, the girl lies down on her
bed and blows out the candles. Her candle lit
room goes dark, and that’s when I go to sleep
myself. Does the girl ever get bored? Does she
know I am here? Watching her? Wanting to be
her friend? I know she has no friends because no
one visits her, ever. How dreadful it would be to
live alone; of course, I think some guardians do
live with her. I wish I would visit her one day and
get to know her, if she is who I think she is. Just
for one day…
Just for one day…
Mei’s Diary
I know one thing about my everyday life;

it’s the same thing constantly. But there is a
particular something in my life that started two
short months ago. A boy about my age is always
looking at me through his window. I don’t mind
that too much, but it is constant. I would smile
at him once in a while, although I don’t know his
personality; yet it is obvious that he is in love
with me; or is he?
Every morning, singing for happiness, a
prayer for friends and for my family to
remember me, since they are always out of the
apartment and working (my dad comes home
sometimes). Whenever I sing, the boy would
wake up and sit at his window…and stare. I
56
don’t know how to respond to a boy I don’t even

know, staring at me. He is kind of cute though…
As gracious as the wind blowing on my
lotus flower tree, I write in my diary that there is
something inside me, something different, could
it be change? Could it be feelings?
Could it be love?
End of the wonders
Zaitian leaped out of his cotton-wool bed

at the crack of dawn and sped into his bathroom
and washed his face.
“What a change I have gone through! I
don’t know what is going on. Madison has been
gone for at least half a year now, and I think
she’s back. There’s another girl who looks just
like her, yet, I’m not so sure! What is the matter
with me? I think I’m scaring her!” Zaitian
thought. He looked in the mirror and examined
his clear, pale face and amber eyes. He ran out
of the palace. “This is the first time outside in a
while…” he said quietly. Zaitian scooted behind
a moss-covered wall and peeked over at the
other corner.
A girl about fifteen (Zaitian’s age) was sitting
quietly at a huge pond covered in lily pads. Her
hand stroked the soft water like how Zaitian said
in his diary. She looked up and her amber eyes
met Zaitian’s. She jumped and blushed.
“Sorry to have scared you. I…I thought
you were…another friend of mine,” Zaitian said.
The girl nodded in return. Zaitian decided to be
a gentleman and introduce himself. “My name is
Zaitian,” the girl looked up and smiled.
“My name is Mei.” She said. Mei’s voice
was clear and like the sound of a ringing bell.
Zaitian kind of flushed red and rubbed his own
back to hide it. Crap! That’s not Madison! Stop
thinking about her, Zaitian, and walk away. But
Zaitian’s mind couldn’t stop his raging
hormones.
“I like your pond,” he said.
57
“You have been watching me,” Mei said. “I

can tell…and I also see you at the window.”
“I’m sorry. If it bugs you, I’ll stop.”
“It doesn’t bug me.”
“Than why did you mention it?”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Well…you are kind of quiet, milady,”
“True,” Mei said, closing her eyes.
“Are you going to sing, milady?” Zaitian
asked, stepping closer.
“As long as you understand, I don’t like
being called, ‘milady’.”
“…I accept that…”
“Although…I was wondering if you wanted
to stay for dinner one night?” Mei asked.
Zaitian’s eyes widened.
“I would love to…I guess. I don’t think I’m
one of those people you’d dine with.” Zaitian
said sadly. Mei opened her eyes.
“And why do you say that?”
“Because it is true.”
“Please tell me why, though.”
“It’s complicated. I’ll tell you later.” Zaitian
said. He walked back into the palace, quietly
rapping his head on his hand. Why did I say
that? He thought. He banged his head on his
wooden sliding door but was interrupted by the
sound of a singing nightingale. It was more of a
different song. Not the usual happy tune.
Instead, it was more of a sad hum. Zaitian
sighed. She’s not like Madison…she’s totally the
opposite and she’s boring, yet, she would look
like her if she were an American.
Mei stroked the water once more. She
frowned at her reflection as she looked down
deeper at the tadpoles below. Mei put a strand
of her hair behind her and walked inside without
singing happily that day.
Zaitian sat down at his table. Steamed rice
sat on his plate. The aroma of roast duck filled
the room. Zaitian picked at his food for a while
and looked out the window. He didn’t see Mei
doing Tai Chi or reading. She was meditating on
58
her bed. There was no music playing at all.

There was only silence.
Zaitian snuck quietly out of his window
into the night, almost falling into the lily pond.
He walked up to Mei’s window, trembling with
anxiety.
“Hey, Mei!” he whispered.
“Meditating here!” Mei crossly snapped.
“Are you mad at me?” Zaitian yelled.
There was no answer. “C’mon, Mei!”
“Umm…Umm…” she chanted. Zaitian
groaned.
“Will you…” he started. Mei opened one
eye. “Will you…um…sit with me tomorrow? I
would kind of like to…get to know you better.”
Zaitian stammered. Mei smiled sweetly.
“Sure, Zaitian.” She said. Mei closed her
eyes and continued to chant. Zaitian nodded
and ran back to the palace, climbed over the
window, and sat down on the chair and ate his
dinner.
“What took you so long, Guangxu?” Cixi
asked as Zaitian took out his clean plate.
“Sorry, Aunt. I was writing in my journal.”
Zaitian said, hanging his head low.
“It’s not the book I’m worried about now. It
is Mao Dun, your brother. He wanted you to talk
with him about eating with him tomorrow
morning.”
“I’m sorry, Mao Dun. I wanted to sleep in
tomorrow.” Zaitian said, pretending to yawn. Cixi
looked at Zaitian’s fake, droopy eyes.
“Very well,” Cixi and Mao Dun said. Zaitian
bowed respectfully and strutted off to his room.
Zaitian chuckled slightly.
“I can’t believe I did that, but it is my only
key to getting to know this girl.” Zaitian said.
The teenage boy lay on his bed and stared
up at the bamboo ceiling. He remembered
Madison, his past crush. Do I still have feelings
for Madi, or is Mei in my path? He thought to
himself. He compared Madison’s look with Mei’s.
Both had wavy black hair, but Madison had blue
eyes and Mei was taller; about the same height
59
as Zaitian. Madison had the same type of laugh

as Mei. I believe Madison is hiding somewhere
here in disguise to hide herself. I will find out
sooner or later. Oh Madi, I hope Mei is you. My
hormones are going crazy right now and I don’t
want to be in love with Mei. Zaitian thought and
shut his eyes.
Mei read of book full of fiction at her desk.
The wind blew in her bedroom, chilling her skin.
Something weird is going on…yet, I can’t seem
to figure it out.
Mei’s mind went blank as her head hit her
desk and fell asleep.
Mei woke up quickly at the crack of dawn.
She put up her hair and put on normal clothes.
She didn’t want to let Zaitian down. Mei had a
green shirt with long dark green pants. Almost
tripping, Mei jumped out her window and landed
on top of Zaitian. Her face flushed red as she
stood up, brushing off grass.
“Sorry! Oh my goodness! I am so sorry!”
she squealed. Zaitian continued to sit, but held
his bruised stomach.
“No problem,” he said, smiling and hiding
his trauma. Mei still blushed hard. “I was
wondering…if you were going to sing today.” Mei
looked into his amber-colored eyes matching
hers.
“I’m not sure, Zaitian. I’m so used to
singing to myself, by myself,” she said. “With no
one around me.”
“Well, I usually listen to you through my
window.”
“Right,”
“You shouldn’t mind, then.” Zaitian said.
Mei stood up.
“But I can’t! I’m too shy to do it!” She
yelped. Zaitian put his hands on Mei’s shoulders
to calm her down. Zaitian was totally starting to
let his love for Madison go down.
“You don’t have to sing if you don’t want
to. I’m okay with that.” Zaitian said calmly. Mei
nodded and sat down. She put her legs in lotus
60
style and chanted. Zaitian shrugged and

chanted along with her.
Zaitian’s calmed mind filled up with
thoughts of his precious Madison. He could
never see her again because of her banishment,
along with her boyfriend, Steven. Was Steven
really her boyfriend? He was always jealous of
me. Zaitian thought hard. Mei opened one eye
and looked at him.
“Zaitian, you’re meditating too hard. You
need to be relaxed!” Mei whispered. Zaitian’s
scrunched face relaxed, making him yawn.
“Let’s drink some tea. Something’s bothering
you.”
“There is something bothering me.”
Zaitian mumbled. Mei looked toward him with
anxiety.
“You don’t have to tell me…I wasn’t going
to ask anyway…I’m going to get the water
boiling.” Mei strutted off to the door, but Zaitian
caught her hand. Mei felt her stomach flip as the
boy pulled her to him.
“You may know…but I’ll tell you later. I
cannot tell you now. It’s too hard.”
“I want to know, but I’m no mind reader.
You will have to get it off of your chest sooner or
later.” Mei said. Zaitian felt his stomach tighten.
Butterflies existed in his nerve. Mei’s hair flowed
prettily in the wind as he stared into her eyes.
“I will tell you, and you will be the only
person I tell. It’s a secret, Mei.” He said. Zaitian
didn’t really notice he was still holding her hand.
“Oops!” Zaitian backed up quickly.
“I…uh…got to start the water.” Mei said,
nervously blushing.
“I left the oven on!” Zaitian replied.
“See you in a minute with that tea!”
“Bye!”
Zaitian quickly ran to his window and
jumped in. Unfortunately, if his stuffed platypus
wasn’t in the way, he wouldn’t have fallen. He
did and hit his head on the iron corner of his
bed. No one was in the palace; Cixi had gone
shopping; Mao Dun was visiting his girlfriend, Li-
61
Hua; Zaitian was alone. Memories began to flash

into Zaitian’s unconscious mind.
He saw Madison’s smile; he felt her touch,
he felt her body as if he were hugging her
around her waist like the day she and Steven
were banished. Memories struck him like
lightning bolts. He felt cold and felt a wet thing
on his forehead. Wait! I don’t remember
anything cold on my head! Zaitian’s eyes
opened to a clear, pale-faced, amber-eyed,
black-haired, Chinese citizen…teenage girl.
Madison? He thought. His eyes focused on the
beautiful face. His eyes narrowed when his
thoughts were wrong. No. It is only Mei.
She held a damp cloth on his forehead.
Incense surrounded Zaitian with a pot of tea
near Mei’s knees. He looked around him; there
were strands of lotus flowers hanging on the
walls. A Chinese symbol that standed for ‘love’
was painted on the wall. A book by the name of
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea lay on
a desk. This isn’t my room!
“You were unconscious.” Mei calmly said. I
looked into your window fifteen minutes after
you left. I took you to my room with incense, so
it would be easier to regain consciousness.”
“But…why your room?” And how did you
get me here?”
“My father picked you up. If I had you in
your room with the incense, it would smell
strange to your parents. It would also be a little
suspicious for them.” Zaitian looked towards
Mei.
“Why?”
“I don’t want your mother and father to
know about me.”
“Um…I don’t live with my parents. My
mother is dead and my father is…somewhere in
China.” Mei covered her mouth with her hand.
“I’m so sorry!”
“No problem. I never really knew them.
Mum died in a boat crash when I was two years
old on the way back to America. Mum was on a
mission trip to here and met Dad here too. Mum
62
was an American. She wanted to come back and

talk about the Bible after I was born. I never
really knew about Christians like Mum. I heard
they are bad here.”
“What is a Bible?” Mei asked. Zaitian
shrugged.
“I have no idea.” He reached for a cup and
poured green Ginseng tea. The memories still
lingered in him. He pulled up the covers on Mei’s
bed. What? I didn’t know I was even on a bed!
He thought. Thankfully, Mei was sitting on the
floor and it would be best to leave Zaitian’s
thoughts un-read, thank you.
“My mother used to study the Bible. She
was very young when she started. My father
met her when he and Mum were our ages. They
got married five years later. My father learned
about the Bible while Mum was pregnant with
me. But…father never told me whenever I was a
boy…what was in the Bible. He always called it
‘The Good Book’.”
“Wow. Has your father ever kept one of
those ‘Bibles?’”
“No, because if he did, my aunt would be
very mad at him and I don’t want to go into
details.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll ask her, thought,”
“Not the now!” Mei shouted. “I don’t want
you to go yet.” Zaitian thought about this for a
moment and turned around to face the beauty.
“…why? Why don’t you want me to
leave?” Mei blushed hard.
“Well…you are my only friend…” she said.
Zaitian blinked twice. He was speechless. “You
shouldn’t ask your aunt if she will get mad about
it.”
“Okay, then.” Zaitian jumped out the
window and ran to his window avoiding the
stuffed platypus. Mei looked outside, watching
Zaitian climb in. Her cheeks flushed red again
and butterflies started to form in her stomach.
Chapter 6
63
The next day, a bike rider rode past the

evergreen forest. His legs pedaled faster to beat
the birds on their flight. He threw a newspaper
bundle on one yard. He passed Mei’s house and
threw another; the bundle landed in the pond.
The biker threw one last bundle, landing on poor
Mao Dun’s head. The force of the hurled bundle
threw him down on the start of his morning
walk.
“Thank you!” he yelled.
“You’re welcome!” the biker replied. Mao
Dun rubbed his sore head as he walked down
the road, reading the newspaper. His eyes
scanned the tiny words, looking for interesting
events and entertainment. Finally, he spotted it!
Annual Celebration of the Dragon!
Come to dance and drink tea!

No purchase necessary
Celebration is held at Yangtze Park
Starts at sunset
Ends at sunrise
Mao Dun couldn’t believe what he was

reading. That event was his only chance to take
Li-Hua out. He ran back into the house, almost
tripping over his stuffed bison.
“Auntie!” he screamed. Cixi jumped up
from her small into snooze town and stared at
her nephew. “Auntie, tonight is the annual
celebration of the dragon! Can Zaitian and I
go?” Mao Dun stammered. He was still shaken
from the invitation. Cixi sighed and read the
article.
“Mao, you and Zaitian can go, but…it only
starts in a week. You didn’t pay attention to the
date!” Mao Dun looked at the article again. It
said in big letters at the bottom:
Date: December 24th, 2007
64
Meanwhile, Zaitian was cleaning his room,

picking up his stuffed animals and placing them
in the trash. His bed was made neatly and the
wooden floor had the reflection of it. Zaitian
swept so the shiny floor had nothing on it except
the furniture. He was putting his hair up into his
usual bun when Mao Dun barged into his
dormitory and tripped over the garbage,
knocking over the stuffed animals, including the
platypus.
“Mao Dun, I just did that!” Zaitian
groaned, picking up the toys.
“I’m sorry, Zaitian. I have extraordinary
news!” Mao Dun said without taking a breath.
“Well then spit it out!” Zaitian demanded.
Mao Dun was too excited to tell, so he shoved
the paper close to Zaitian’s face, making it
practically touch his nose. Zaitian took the
article and read it. He jumped up in excitement.
He and Mao Dun gave each other high-fives and
yelled.
Mei heard the noise from the other house
and looked out the window.
“Well, Zaitian’s optimistic today. I wonder
what it’s about.” She said. Zaitian saw Mei
moving about near her window. He decided to
tell her the sheer joy. Zaitian jumped out his
window and ran around the pond to Mei.
“Did you get the paper?” Zaitian asked.
“I don’t think so,” Mei said, jumping out of
her window. Suddenly, Mei looked in the pond
and saw the wet newspaper. She picked it up
with one hand stained from black ink dripping
from the mess. “Oh, gross!” she dropped the
newspaper onto the ground and kicked it away.
“What did it say?” Mei asked. Zaitian explained
the article.
“I was wondering…if you wanted to come
with me…to the…dance…” Zaitian stuttered
with his cheeks swollen with redness.
“Oh, Zaitian! I’d love to!” Mei did
something she had never done before and
hugged Zaitian. She so likes me! Zaitian
thought, smiling sweetly.
65
Zaitian once again creeped out of the

window at dawn. Mei sang beautifully and didn’t
care if Zaitian watched. It had been six days
since the article came and Mei was trembling
with excitement. There was one day left to wait.
Mao Dun received a newspaper about the
day of the celebration. There would be a lunar
eclipse during the dance. It was exciting
because Mei had never seen one before.
It was the day before the celebration. Cixi
had decided for herself that she was not going
to go as a result of having to sit on the throne
for so long. Her weary legs wouldn’t move her,
so she would feel lazy almost the whole day.
Mao Dun was going with Zaitian only
because he needed something to do. But Mao
Dun had a secret meeting with his girlfriend, Li-
Hua, who was about Mao Dun’s age, had
beautiful, long black hair, straight teeth, and the
most beautiful smile around. Mao Dun loved
her…a lot. No one knew, except for his own
diary, in which Zaitian had been stalking for the
past two years. Mao Dun never knew if Li-Hua
was going to the dance or not. He was too shy
and too stupid to ask her.
Mei was finally getting ready. Her dress
was long and silky and red. She let her hair drop
to a short length that curled at her jaw. Her face
was white from the makeup and long earring
dangled from her ears. She outlined her eyes
with black eye-liner. Mei then left her house and
ran to the grove in the woods.
Zaitian didn’t dress much. He just took a
shower. He walked out of the house, but he
wasn’t looking and he fell into the lake. It was
much deeper than he thought. Zaitian kept
sinking. He tried swimming (in which he was
really good at.), but something kept pulling him
down. Zaitian kept trying and trying, but that
thing wrapped around his waist and wouldn’t let
go. Zaitian looked down and saw that it was
Madison, almost dead, covered in blood.
66
“Zaitian…why? Why did you leave me?”

she yelled. Zaitian’s air ran out and he
screamed at the top of his lungs in his bed.
It was only a dream.
Zaitian woke up in the afternoon, throwing
off his covers and clothes and jumping into the
living room, across the kitchen, through the
bathroom, and into the tub. Water splashed
everywhere. Mao Dun sat in the hot tub in front
of Zaitian.
“What are you doing in here?” Mao Dun
asked.
“Getting ready,” Zaitian replied, wringing
out his long hair. Mao Dun shrugged. “You’d
better shave your mustache, Mao Dun. Li-Hua
won’t like it.” Zaitian giggled. Mao Dun splashed
the water.
“How do you know about Li-Hua?” The
eighteen-year-old yelled in embarrassment.
“Let’s just say…after I woke up from a
nightmare last night, I needed something to put
me back to sleep, so I finally found your diary
after two long years!” Mao Dun jumped to
Zaitian, steaming red, splashing water onto
Zaitian. He lured Zaitian to the faucet and
turned on the very cold water. Zaitian yelped
like crazy.
“What is going on in here? Mao Dun, did
you bring another girl in here? Oh, it’s just you,
Zaitian.” A soldier said, dodging the puddles.
“Boys, it’s all wet in here!”
“Sir, Zaitian! He…” Mao Dun started.
Zaitian threw water on Mao Dun’s head.
“Boys…um…boys…the dance will start in
an hour.” Zaitian and Mao Dun looked at each
other and ran to their rooms without any clothes
on, pushing and shoving to get ready. The
soldier laughed.
Mei was getting ready just like she was in
Zaitian’s dream, only her dress was blue. She
sprayed perfume her mother made her two
years earlier. She left her incense burning and
left for the grove, putting on the rest of her
makeup.
67
Zaitian had just finished putting on his

dress clothes. He laughed when his brother
walked out with no mustache and his hair was
goofed. Sausage, his pet ferret, licked his leg
and crawled up his robe. Mario, his other ferret,
joined Sausage.
“Brother, help me!”
“C’mon, Mario!” Zaitian gently said,
picking up the ferret. He set Mario in the house
and closed the door, along with little Sausage.
Zaitian then turned to Mao Dun and fixed his
hair. “You look…um…” Mao Dun looked in the
mirror.
“Stupid.” He muttered. Mao Dun looked
worse.
“Mao Dun, we need to get to the grove.
Now. Madison—err—Mei is waiting for us.”
Both boys ran to the edge of the forest to
meet the beauty.
“Whoa!” they both said.
Mei was beautiful alright. She finally wore
makeup and put her hair up differently. It wasn’t
a plain bun anymore. Her dress looked long and
silky and blue. Mei held a fan over her pale face.
“Alright, let’s get going.” She happily
chirped. She grabbed Zaitian’s hand and walked
toward the music and smell of food.
The dance was about to begin.
The Chinese music started. Couples
started to dance. Some were eating. Mao Dun
stopped when he saw Li-Hua.
“Li-Hua,” he started.
“Yes?” she asked.
“Do you want to dance with me?”
“Oh, Mao Dun! That’s a stupid question.
You don’t even have to ask!” she exclaimed. “I’d
love to!” Li-Hua leaned over and kissed him on
the cheek. Mao Dun’s whole face swelled up
with red. Zaitian nudged Mao Dun.
“Have fun you two!” he laughed with Mei
after saying it. They walked to the table with the
food to get some rice and egg rolls.
68
“Hey, Mei,” Zaitian asked, blushing as red

as his brother. “Let’s dance,” he said, taking her
hand.
“Okay,” she replied. The couple danced for
a while. People dressed as dragons ran all over
the place. Acrobats flipped and jumped
everywhere like mentally retarded zombies.
Zaitian and Mei stood out in the night.
They danced as if they’ve practiced for years, as
if they were professionals. Mao Dun looked with
Li-Hua at Zaitian and Mei.
“There is truly love in there,” Li-Hua said.
“I agree,” Mao Dun replied. “He has loved
her for a month or so. I have loved someone for
that amount of time…you.”
“Me?” Li-Hua was warm inside. She held
his hand and leaned against him. “I may be just
your girlfriend, but I’ve always loved you too.”
Meanwhile, Mei and Zaitian were the only
ones dancing (except for the dragons.) Everyone
else had decided to watch. They clapped and
cheered for the guidance and leadership of
Zaitian and the graceful and quick twirls of Mei.
They ended in one final dip. The crowd
applauded like the sound of one thousand birds
flapping their wings on their flight. Mei’s heart
was beating fast as she stood up with Zaitian’s
hands around her waist for support.
Zaitian remembered the last day he had
seen Madison. He had hugged her like that. He
couldn’t get her out of his mind at all.
The moment was interrupted by the few
words:
“Look to the skies!” Everybody turned to
the sky and looked up. There was a lunar
eclipse. The sun was completely over the moon.
A reddish glow reflected over the pond nearby,
the trees above, and on the people below. Mei’s
eyes looked up at the unusual moon. Zaitian
nudged her.
“Don’t look up there too long. You’ll hurt
your eyes.” He whispered.
69
Unfortunately, Mei wouldn’t have to worry

about that because the lunar eclipse was over in
those two short minutes.
Afterward, Zaitian led Mei to their secret
grove after the gigantic feast of pie. It was dark,
but reflecting light of the moon shone upon
them.
“I am so happy! I want to thank you for
bringing me here!” Mei cried out. Zaitian and
Mei stopped running. Zaitian took hold of her
hands.
“Before you do, I want you to understand
something first. I am going to be the next ruler
of China after my aunt dies. I have the power to
choose these things, but it will be hard for me to
look at you when I tell you this. I met a girl, an
American girl. Here’s what you should
understand,” Zaitian took a deep breath, “The
reason I am always thinking of her is because,”
“You…love her…”
“I actually do. Madison was shortly
banished from China, but I believe she came
back in secret. But when I met you, you
reminded me of her. I see her strength and
personality in you. Madison came here first on
her way to a mission trip. She survived her ship
being blown up by Japanese troops…I think…I
found her in the woods and took her to Fuzhou,
here, to take care of her. I was an idiot to let her
go; I did all I could to protect her, but my aunt
banished her and her friend. A few weeks after
she left and I heard you sing, you reminded me
of Madison.”
“So…I’m like Madison?”
“In a way. I can’t get you and her out of
my head…so…I think I’m in love with you…” he
confessed. Mei gasped and pulled out a
necklace.
“You see this?” she asked. “It’s a cross. I’m
a Christian. If you love me, I will be persecuted
faster.” It was a sterling silver cross connected
to a silver chain.
“I don’t care,” he whispered. He leaned in
toward her and kissed her.
70
“I love you too,” she whispered back,

finally finishing their kiss.
Mao Dun came into the grove to meet
Zaitian there, but when he noticed that he and
Li-Hua had almost interrupted the moment, he
and Li-Hua left.
After Zaitian and Mei finished kissing, Mei
said two final words before she left for home.
“Thank you,” she kissed him one last time
and ran to her house. Zaitian smiled and walked
to Mao Dun, who was waiting outside Li-Hua’s
house.
“What’s the rating? I knew you were
watching!”
“Ten out of ten.”
“Yes,” Zaitian screamed out and jumping
into the air.
“Did you guys like...kiss…like…the
different way?”
“Hm…maybe…” the two brothers laughed
and went inside their own house. Zaitian took off
his robe and lay on his bed. His head began to
pound. A girl’s voice echoed in his head.
It may have felt good then, but it will
reflect off you as a regret later…what about
Madison? What about the girl you search for? Is
Mei really the same as Madison; the soft hands,
the slim body, the smile like the gentle curve of
an apple? Where is all that now? You are going
insane because she is gone from your delicate
hands!
Zaitian thought more to himself.
You’re right. Mei’s hands weren’t like
Madison’s. She doesn’t stroke my fingers like
Madison does. What have I done? My first kiss
has already faded away! It was supposed to be
with the girl who actually cared, not because I
talked to her on a cloudy day. What have I
done? Zaitian fell asleep shortly afterward.
Zaitian woke up by a tap on the shoulder
by Mao Dun.
“What?” he jumped.
“There’s somebody coming!” Mao Dun
explained quickly.
71
“What about Cixi?” Zaitian whined. “Can’t

she deal with it?”
“She’s out there. It’s about Mei.
Apparently, it’s not good.”
“Uh oh,” Zaitian leaped out of his bed and
ran to the door where his aunt and Mei’s parents
were standing. “Um, I know it was awkward to
open-mouth-kiss Mei last night, but,”
“The dance and the kiss are another
matter, Zaitian,” Cixi sternly said. Zaitian
noticed that Mei’s mother and father were
crying. “Mei is going to be executed.” Zaitian’s
heart skipped a beat.
“What?”
“The necklace she secretly wore, when
she showed it to you, she accidentally left it out.
The sign of the cross is the sign of Christianity…
and your aunt is the ruler of China; she wants to
kill our daughter!”
“Auntie, this is like Madison leaving China!
You can’t do this!”
“Zaitian, I am sorry. It is for the best of our
people.” Zaitian gave a dead glare toward his
aunt. “The parents are to be executed as well.”
“Then I shall be executed as well!”
“No, Zaitian. You are to rule China when I
am gone! Do as I say and go back indoors.”
“I love her! I want her to live! I’ll do
anything to have her spared!”
“It was a foolish choice of her to say, ‘Yes,
I am a Christian,’ when my soldiers asked her. It
wasn’t your choice.”
“May I at least see her? One last time?”
Zaitian asked. Tears streamed down his face as
Cixi nodded in a mean way.
They traveled down into the city to the
prison hall. In cell B7, Mei was suffering.
“Mei!” Zaitian called when he saw her.
“Oh Zaitian! I am so frightened! It was my
fault I am in here! I should have hidden my
secret, but I chose not to. I was too proud!
Zaitian…I…” Zaitian interrupted her sobs by
covering her mouth with his fingers. Poor Mei
was beaten beyond recognition. She had scabs
72
everywhere and her face was covered in blood

and bruises. Her hair was messed up and her
makeup smeared. Her eyes were red from
crying.
“You…don’t need…to worry…anymore…
your parents are deciding to die with you. I
would if I could, but I can’t. My aunt won’t let
me. I would do anything to save you. I really
tried.” He touched Mei’s scabbed chin and then
hugged her, holding her close.
“I look so disgusting! When I die in front of
those people, my face…it’ll bring shame upon
you, me, my family, and my ancestors.” Mei
cried.
“I love you, even if your face is a little
wrecked. No matter how distorted you look, I will
always love you,” Zaitian said, cradling the
frightened Mei. He then whispered to her, “Don’t
you ever think that you’re ugly!” He tried to kiss
her, but she backed away to the back of the cell.
He’s not looking at me. He’s looking through me
at Madison. How dare him! Zaitian knew in a
way what she was thinking. He walked away,
holding her cross and weeping bitterly, knowing
that he would never see her ever again. He
couldn’t bear to watch her and her parents die.
He went home as soon as he saw his aunt.
Zaitian’s Diary
It has been one day since the execution. I

miss Mei so much, but she is in the Nirvana, I
hope. My feelings for her are gone. I’ve learned
to live on with my life in search of Madi. Mei
didn’t love me yesterday because she figured
out I only admired her for her look of Madison. I
feel like a big idiot, but my brother helps me get
over it.
Speaking of which, Mao Dun and Li-Hua
got engaged this morning! I am so excited about
their wedding! They will probably have a lot of
children in the future. I wonder what lays ahead
for my future or Madison’s. I want to find her as
soon as possible and have her and me live
together one day, away from my aunt, away
73
from the Boxer Rebellion that killed Mei, and out

of China forever.
Chapter 7
After Mei’s death, Zaitian mostly forgot

about Madison. He considered Madison and Mei
to be the same girl some days because of his
confusion and depression. If Madison seemed to
be the same woman as Mei was, then he
considered Madison to be dead. One day, his
thoughts turned around.
“I have to find her. I know she’s alive
somewhere,” he said to himself. Zaitian dressed
himself in his commoner clothes and started to
walk out of the palace until his aunt caught him.
“Zaitian, or Guangxu, the Boxer Rebellion
is becoming a success! Christians and
Americans in China will be executed, boats and
bridges and skyscrapers shall be destroyed, and
China shall be the Central Kingdom!” Zaitian
seemed too unsure about her plan.
“Oh, so that’s what the Boxer Rebellion
was planned to be?” he asked, acting as if he
was excited.
“Yes, your Majesty. You don’t suppose the
American visitors are alive by now, now that
they must have figured out that they were
dropped off on a cannibalistic island, probably
like cat food now.” Zaitian gulped.
“Oh yeah! I almost forgot about those two.
Funny you’d mentioned that! I have to feed our
feline now, uh, excuse me,” Zaitian nervously
said, running to the outside of the palace. “I
hope Madison is okay.” He said.
Meanwhile, Zaitian’s older brother, Mao
Dun, was working out in the garden. He had
dark eyes like his brother, really long black hair,
and a funny little mustache. He was significantly
74
tall, yet he was clumsy whenever something

unexpected would happen, like Zaitian running
through the garden really fast. Mao was toppled
over when he was spooked, but he eventually
cut another weed down.
“I have to find her as soon as I can. God
Almighty, if Madison is anywhere safe, let her be
okay until I find her,” Zaitian prayed.
“Hey, Zaitian, what are you running for?”
Mao Dun yelled. Zaitian had an idea and jogged
back to his brother.
“If you can keep a secret, there were two
Americans who were dispatched from China
and…and one of them happened to be a girl!”
“Another girl? Like Mei?”
“Pretty close to her, actually!” Zaitian
smiled. “I think she’s alive. From the lessons
Dad has been teaching me, I was able to get
into one of her dreams and talk to her, but that
was a couple weeks ago. I think she’s here in
the country…” Zaitian said.
“Oh…and why do you want me to keep it a
secret?”
“Well, Auntie kind of banished them…and
if they’re back here, she can’t find out.”
“Okay, Zaitian.”
“If she happens to come on by the palace,
tell her I’m looking for her.”
“Okay. Where will you be, then?”
“I’m running away, going into different
cities.”
“What if she’s on another island?” Mao
seemed confused.
“Then I’ll go from country to country over
the seas until I reach her.”
“Why are you so attached? She can get
killed here because of Auntie Cixi,” Mao
whispered, for he had seen some guards
marching nearby. Zaitian looked around him and
then whispered back,
“I’m not sure. Part of me is telling me that
she’s in trouble and it would be worth traveling
everywhere to find her. I love her.”
75
“Okay. I’ll look after the place for you. I’ll

tell Cixi that you went to see Dad or something.
I’ll keep your secret safe, okay?” Mao Dun
waved to his departing brother and went back to
his garden work. Li-Hua passed by the palace,
smiling sweetly at him.
Zaitian walked on foot, passing by
different streets. He borrowed a bicycle from
another friend and rode off. He knew bicycles
would have to be compensated sooner or later,
but getting a head start would be better than
not getting ahead at all.
Why am I thinking differently? He thought
to himself, also pushing his glasses up his nose.
Ever since Mei died, I have thought of nothing
but her and Madison. Did God send Mei to me to
comfort me while Madison was gone and in
danger? I was suffering from her loss until I
seemed to fall in love with her. Mei is not
Madison, I know that. Stupid me, I’m so
confused! Zaitian increased his velocity and
sped on, scanning streets and roads of many
kinds for the girl he set out to search for.
Madison sat by herself in another
restaurant by herself, chewing on a piece of egg
roll. She noticed a boy riding a green bicycle,
but she didn’t notice he had glasses on and he
was the man she had set out to search for. She
stirred her tea and laid her head down.
Zaitian continued to ride in the city of
Fuzhou, accelerating his speed off and on, until
he saw a familiar black-suited man. He braked
on the bike, giving it a massive screech and
stopping, close to running over his feet.
“Sir, I advise you to get off your bike and
give it to us.”
“Officer, I,”
“I said, hand the bike over and please
continue walking.”
“But…there’s girl I need to find…”
“Under the law of Cixi, you need to let go
of your American influence and walk on the
streets like the rest of us!”
76
“Yes sir,” Zaitian finally said and lost the

bike. The officer walked off and set the bike in a
pile of others and burned the stack. “Oh no! The
Boxer Rebellion is happening already! I’ve got to
move faster after I get something to eat.”
Zaitian entered the same restaurant
Madison was in. Madison was too busy hiding
her American face under a fan to notice, until he
passed by. Madison quietly choked on her food
and covered her mouth; Zaitian was really
there!
“Good afternoon, sir. I would like to have,”
Zaitian started. He stopped when he turned
around and saw Madison’s hidden face. He knew
it was her. Madison slowly lowered her fan and
gazed upon the boy she had longed to see.
“Uh…an egg roll and tea…add some lemon-
glazed chicken and I’ll pay you now,” Zaitian
spoke, not taking his eyes off of Madison. The
cook nodded and got started while Zaitian still
stared and took a seat across from Madison.
“What are you doing here?” Madison
asked.
“What are you doing here?” Zaitian
repeated. “I’ve been out searching for you.”
“Same here!” Madison decided to spill out
the basics. “Steven’s gone.”
“What happened? Did he die?”
“No,” Madison spat. “He fell in love with a
Chinese commoner.”
“Oh…” Zaitian said. “I’m sorry.”
“Why did you come looking for me?”
“Madison,” Zaitian whispered. “The Boxer
Rebellion is starting. I just got my bike
compensated and I just saw some people of our
own getting arrested. I’m going to try to get you
out of here and into a safe place.”
“But we need to find Steven,” Madison
pleaded. Zaitian nodded.
“I’ll try, but I need to figure to get you
out,” he was interrupted by the bang of a door
hitting the wall and breaking a glass vase.
“You’re under house arrest!” a voice arose.
It was a Boxer, or a Chinese police officer.
77
“Time to go,” Zaitian said to Madison.

Random people dining in the restaurant started
to scream. Zaitian ran toward the officer and
brought him down with a swift kick and a punch
in the gut. He grabbed Madison’s hand and ran
down the streets. The weak officer balanced
himself on part of the building and yelled,
“Find them!”
Several officers came out of the shadows
and chased after them. Zaitian looked back, but
he didn’t stop running. Madison did, though. She
drew her pocket knife and made a position in
which she could see all the soldiers. Zaitian put
the knife down by lowering her hand.
“Not the best thing to do,” he whispered in
English. Madison nodded and started running,
now aware she was considered an outlaw for
being a Christian American and for pulling a
knife out on a Boxer.
Zaitian and Madison finally got away when
they both dropped down into a sewer. The
soldiers looked down, shook their heads, and
held their noses.
Zaitian pulled Madison away into an alley,
covering his mouth as he ran.
“Ugh, this is disgusting!” he laughed.
Madison laughed too.
“Did you see their faces as we jumped in?
Did you see those guys’ faces?” Madison asked,
still chuckling.
“My aunt wouldn’t be happy to see me
here.”
“Neither would my relations either,”
Madison replied. They both stopped to take a
break.
“We need to find a way out into another
city. These tunnels would work,” Zaitian pointed
north, revealing a deep, dark tunnel.
“But it smells so bad,” Madison
complained playfully.
“We’ll find a way out,
Meanwhile, Mao Dun pretended he didn’t
know that his brother slipped out. He was still
working on his garden until a guard ran to him.
78
“Young sir, your aunt has left the palace to

search for your missing brother, Zaitian and she
wants you to take over while she’s gone.”
“Thank you, officer. Should I be certain
that Li-Hua may enter the dominion?”
“…just take over…”
“Yes sir…and what would you do?”
“…guard the palace. What else do you
think I do around here? Make sure if any
Americans are found, they are exterminated; if
there are any Christians, take them to the
dungeon and slowly persecute them. Get rid of
every thing Americans have in their home.”
“How do I know what they have?”
“Keep the Chinese, trash the Americans,”
“Right,” I sure hope Zaitian is okay and
that he found his girl. Mao Dun thought.
Zaitian and Madison heard a strange
noise.
“They’re in the sewer!” Madison
whispered in English.
“Let’s go, then,” Zaitian said, taking her
hand and running.
“I think he went this way!” a voice said.
“They’re catching up to us!” Madison
screamed.
“We’re catching up to them!” The
masculine voice roared. Zaitian pulled Madison
to the side and hid against a wall in another
tunnel. He pressed his back against the wall and
pushed against Madison’s torso to keep her from
being spotted. He turned his head and saw
another black-suited man. He started to look
more and also saw a woman in black. Both were
police.
“Okay, Madison,” he whispered in English
so the Boxers wouldn’t understand them. “On
the count of three, we’re going to take both of
them down. You take the girl, you understand?”
“I don’t want to do this, Zaitian. I don’t
want to do this,”
“No, Madison, on the count of three, one,
two,”
79
“Three,” said the woman. , speaking with

the perfect English accent. Madison recognized
the woman. She was Min and the man was
Steven.
“What are you doing here?” Madison
squealed, hugging Steven, almost knocking him
over. Steven shot a glare at Zaitian. Zaitian
scowled back. “Min,”
“It’s so good to see you. As soon as you
left us, we felt sorry and went looking for you,”
she said in Chinese. She had only said three,
since she learned the number set from Steven
on their journey.
“Oh,” Zaitian said. He stood out of the
shadows and took off his glasses. “Tada, it’s
me.”
“Just you wait,” Steven said while standing
up taller, realizing Zaitian was taller still. “You
might have saved us from death and
persecution, but I don’t trust that relationship
between you and your aunt! You could even call
the police and tell on us like a little child!”
“If I were to risk my life to save Madison,
would I really do that to you?” Zaitian asked.
Steven shrugged. “I’m trying to save her, and
you two must be in trouble for stealing the
Boxer’s uniform and injuring one, I can see. We
need to move on; Cixi will be looking for us.”
“And so we have to stay in the sewer?”
“We must have to,” Zaitian said. “I’ll lead
us out of this ‘literal’ mess and we’ll be okay by
then…and Steven” Zaitian looked toward
Steven; “do not try to be jealous,” Steven gave
another fierce look.
“What’s he jealous about?” Madison asked
while nudging Zaitian. Zaitian grasped her hand.
“He doesn’t have you,”
“But he’s already in love with Min. I’ve
seen them kiss,”
“Is that so?” Zaitian said, raising his head
pridefully. Madison laughed.
They walked on, sometimes popping their
heads out of the tunnels to see if they were in a
non-public area, but China was getting bigger
80
and more secure with the Boxers. Zaitian would

buy food by exiting the sewer and coming back
to feed his crew. He never commanded and he
never spoke in an ignorant way, nor was he
boastful. He was protective and surpassingly
was hiding his love.
“As the setting sun rises, light and dark
may come together,” Madison muttered. “It may
not make any sense, but it’s a nice topic to
discuss about on our travels. We can see how it
can make sense.”
“Seems like a good suggestion,” Min said
cheerfully. Madison smiled back. Zaitian
wouldn’t press on; he sat down most of the time
Madison was conversing about her strange
topic.
I just don’t know anymore. Mei used to
say stuff like that. Now that I’m not around her, I
feel confused again. Is Madison really the right
way to go? Yes, if I saved Madi…I think…I think
that shows I am truly in love with her. I gave her
the bead, he thought.
“Zaitian, what’s the matter?” Madison
asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“Huh? Oh, I was just thinking to myself,
trying to remember where we’re supposed to go
now. China’s a big country, you know.” He
smiled. Madison kneeled down, pressing both
hands on his shoulders.
“You can get us out of here. I just know it.”
She said. She started to lean in to kiss him, but
she was interrupted by a booming sound.
“What was that?” Zaitian asked, standing
up quickly.
“I don’t know, ah!” a cannon ball flew
down near them and exploded.
“Did they find us?” Steven yelled.
“I don’t know…where’s Madison?” Min
replied.
“Zaitian, Madison is gone!” Steven told
Zaitian. Zaitian nodded and ran around to find
her.
81
“Madi?” he yelled. He saw a black haired

girl waving her arms around. “Are you mad?
We’ll be caught!”
“Zaitian, these are my people,” she
replied.
“What are you talking about? These will be
my people someday and you’ll be one of them
too!”
“Not your people, Americans! They’re
attacking us!”
“Not us,”
“Your people! They must have heard about
the Boxer Rebellion!” Madison shouted.
“Nice going, then. You wrote the letter to
your parents! They must have thought I
kidnapped you!”
“Great, now let’s get out of this area. We
have to find Steven and Min! And why are you
blaming me?”
“It’s just a thought.” Zaitian replied. He
took Madison by her arm and found Steven and
Min. Min was on the ground, suffering from a
broken arm. The cannon ball crushed her arm.
Steven picked her up and began to run into the
distance. “Follow them!”
Smoke covered the path and the sights of
men, women, and children. Screams of dying
civilians filled the air. American soldiers were
running around, shooting and killing at sight.
Bullets hit buildings nearby, knocking off rubble
and mud, blowing little parts to smithereens. A
couple bullets hit some vehicles nearby Steven,
Min, Madison, and Zaitian. They ran in zigzags
so the Americans wouldn’t kill them by accident,
but they couldn’t tell! “Keep running! Keep
running!” Zaitian yelled. Everyone was in a
panic, including the teenagers. American
soldiers crashed through buildings with their
tanks. A voice spoke in a roaring voice.
“Surrender while you can, end the Boxer
Rebellion, and you shall live!” the voice boomed.
Madison screamed and Zaitian covered her
mouth. Zaitian and Steven pulled their girls into
a corner instead of dropping down a sewer. They
82
crawled into a tunnel in a building and went

underground.
“That…was…really…close…” Steven
panted. “Tell us what’s going on!” Steven yelled
at Zaitian.
“I have no idea! I went to rescue Madison
and then we went under attack! It seems like
the Americans just want us to stop persecuting
Christians. They must think that Madison is
dead. We can’t take her out there now. There is
too much fighting going on now.
“Is there any food here?” Madison asked.
“No, apparently not,” Min said. “This is a
tunnel for safety. People are here too. They have
nothing with them.” Min was right. Starving
families were huddling in corners.
“What is going on? Where’s Daddy?” a
little girl asked. Zaitian and Madison kneeled
before her.
“I don’t know,” Madison replied. The little
girl began to cry and ran to her mother.
“Okay…our options are one, die outside,
two, die in the tunnels, or three, die here.”
Steven said.
“Is there any option that doesn’t have to
do with dying?” Min asked.
“Apparently not!” Zaitian replied,
stomping his soiled feet. “We are stuck here!”
“Zaitian, I know you’ll find a way out!”
Madison said, keeping back her un-needed
tears.
“But I can’t, Madison!” he choked. “You
don’t understand. There is no where else out!”
“Maybe…maybe we can find a way.” Min
said.
“That isn’t going to happen,” Steven said.
“All boys here are so negative…” Madison
whispered to Min. Min nodded in agreement.
“Please, Zaitian? Can’t you please try to
find a way with us? You don’t want to die, do
you?” Madison pleaded, taking hold of his arm
and tugging at it. Zaitian looked into Madison’s
beautiful eyes. He nodded. Madison squealed
83
and hugged him. She took his hand and helped

him up from the trashed ground.
“Everyone, may we have your attention,
please?” Madison yelled. Every face in the
tunnel entrance faced her. “Our group is trying
to find a way out of here. Is anyone up to the
task to stand up and walk on their weary feet to
find their freedom?” Some people spat, others
laughed.
“Little girl,” An old man said. “You know
nothing about these tunnels. It’s dark down
there and we will get lost, lose our faith, starve,
and die like animals. We will not move until the
fighting stops. Until the war ends.” Min took
Steven by the arm.
“We’ll go by ourselves.” She said. Madison
wiped a tear from her eye from being called
‘little.’ Zaitian put his arm around her shoulder
and slid his glasses up his nose with the other
hand.
“Are you sure about this, Min? It’s kind of
dark in here,” Madison nudged Min. Her eyes
made it seem the world was losing its blissful
light. The four of them began to put their hands
on the walls to feel around. The voice of the old
man called to them.
“Soot yourselves, you foolish kids! You’re
going to find nothing but death!”
“That old hag!” Madison muttered. “He
doesn’t know what he’s talking about!”
“Hey, you! Shut up, retire with a bang, and
think about hope for once!” Steven yelled back.
They all chuckled a bit and walked on.
Dirt lay under their feet. A few rats
squeaked and moved around.
“This is really gross,” Min muttered. Her
arm felt like it was pounding against its inside.
“There are rats everywhere…and worse…we
can’t see them!” Min stepped on a cracking
skeleton and screamed.
“This is one way out, isn’t it?” Zaitian
asked. Madison told him she didn’t know.
“I’m scared,” Madison finally whispered to
Zaitian.
84
“You guys go on ahead,” Zaitian said to

Min and Steven, struggling behind them. “We’ll
catch up in a minute. Talk to each other so we
can hear you, okay?”
“You will be okay?” Min asked.
“Yes,” The sound of their footsteps began
to fade away. Zaitian’s hands were on Madison’s
shoulders. “Are you alright?”
“I’m…so…scared…” Madison sobbed.
Zaitian pulled her to him. Her arms around him
squeezed him for comfort. Zaitian felt bad for
Madison for bringing her in the tunnel…but all
he wanted to do was to protect her from
whatever was going on above.
“You know, Madison…” Zaitian took a deep
breath. “I’ve…always thought…to myself…since
we met…I’ve realized…I love you…” he said
finally. Madison’s fear seemed to melt away. Her
tear-streamed face looked up at Zaitian, even if
she couldn’t see him.
“You…you do?”
“That’s why I looked for you, Madi. I can’t
stand to think that you are alone and afraid like
you are in the dark. That’s why I wanted you to
be sent away to the island. I’m so sorry!”
“Oh, Zaitian!” Madison exclaimed. She felt
so happy for the first time in a long time. Steven
began to cry because he had heard every word
Zaitian had said. He then realized he wasn’t
really in love with Min anymore; Steven walked
on, not even holding onto Min’s hand anymore.
“Will you…” Zaitian muttered, shoving his
glasses up his nose again. “Will you…um…kiss
me?” he asked. Madison’s teary eyes sparkled,
even in the dark.
“Of course,” she muttered back. She
finally stood up on her toes, trying to find
Zaitian’s face. It was her big moment, her part
in life she had been waiting for. Their lips only
touched a little bit, but they were both
interrupted by Steven’s yell. He separated them
both with a karate chop.
“What the,” Zaitian yelled.
85
“Steven, why did you do that?” Madison

yelled.
“I…LOVE…YOU…MORE, MADISON!”
Steven yelled back. Min turned around.
“What?” Everyone else asked.
“I just couldn’t tell you. You had already
fallen for Zaitian, so I couldn’t say it. I love you,
Madison. You must understand that.”
“You love Min!” Madison and Zaitian
screeched.
“No…I never did. I only kissed her
because…because of other reasons.”
“Steven, you’re such a jerk!” Min said. She
turned around and walked more into the
darkness.
“Wait, Min,” Zaitian said, trying to catch
her. He couldn’t see where he was going and he
tripped over a rat. “Steven, you really are a
jerk.”
“But…but I can’t see Madison be with you.
It’s just not right! What if you’ll turn us in?”
“No, Zaitian wouldn’t. He gave us another
chance. We weren’t persecuted because of
him.”
“Yeah. He sent us to an island with a
bunch of cannibals!” Steven yelled at Madison.
Zaitian stepped back.
“Cannibals?” he asked. “I never knew
that!”
“Oh, yeah right!”
“I went looking for her, right? She would
have died in the war if I wouldn’t have found
her!” Zaitian said. “I loved her since I first saw
her.”
Madison virtually looked at Zaitian and
smiled, even if she couldn’t see his handsome
face. She still felt angry about Min’s hurt
feelings.
“Steven, go home,” she said.
“I can’t!” he said.
“Well then, go find a way. Go wait with the
other people in the chamber! Go now!” Madison
yelled. “We don’t want you around anymore.”
“Fine!” Steven shouted back.
86
“Madison, don’t be so mean to Steven.”

“But…Madison…I…I love you.”
“Sorry, Steven. If you will hurt Min like
that, I can’t trust you. Besides, I’ve loved Zaitian
longer than you think,” Madison started crying.
Fighting with Steven was hard to do for her
tender heart. “Just…just…get on a ship and go
home!” Zaitian took her by the waist.
“You’re just making it worse!”
“Madison, please. I want to stay with you.”
“No,”
“Madi,”
“Please, Madison…and why do you call her
Madi?”
“Stop it!”
BOOM!
The three yelling-some looked up and
rocks began to fall and the whole tunnel began
to collapse. Madison couldn’t see anything at all.
She fell over on top of somebody. Who is it? She
thought. Whoever it was—he was kissing her.
Oh, Zaitian. It’s just you. Let me just get up and
figure out what’s going on. She thought. A light
shone from the open hole in the ceiling. Madison
opened her eyes and noticed she was
accidentally kissing Steven. She had landed on
top of him by accident and they must have
locked lips by mistake. Madison was furious.
“Steven? Was it you that whole time?” she
asked. Steven groaned and looked into
Madison’s blue eyes. He nodded. “Why could
you?” she yelled. “My first kiss was supposed to
be with Zaitian!”
“What?” Zaitian’s voice rang.
“Steven kissed me!”
“Sorry, but, you…kind of fell…”
“Yeah…” Madison laughed. “I kind of did!”
Zaitian moved a stone over and helped Madison
up. He also picked her up and carried her up the
‘stone steps’ to the opening. He reached for
Steven’s hand, but then he gasped.
“We can’t leave without Min!” Steven
yelled.
87
“You should have thought about making

her cry.” Madison said, turning her head. “How
about you go alone?” Steven couldn’t take it
anymore. He stomped his foot on the rubble.
“Fine,” He exited their presence and
disappeared into the darkness.
“Are you alright?” Zaitian asked. Madison
turned away from him too.
“Leave me alone. I’m fine. Let’s just get
out of here.” Madison inhaled the pure oxygen
outside and ran until she found a dock. One boat
bobbed there like a cork in the teal waters. “We
can’t leave without Steven. Even if he happened
to kiss me like an idiot, he’s still my friend.”
“But you can leave, Madison. This is your
only chance to get out of here alive while you
still can!”
“Zaitian, I know how much you want to
protect me, but I can’t leave Steven there! He’ll
get killed. We need to go back.”
“Okay, Madison. That sounds a little
crazy.”
“Why?”
“Let’s demonstrate with a sinking ship.
The ship is sinking and you decide to jump back
on while it’s going down? I mean, how stupid is
that?”
“He saved me once from a raging cannibal
who threw a spear at me. He stepped in front
and took the spear with a powerful drug enough
to kill him. I don’t want to repay him with this,”
Madison pointed at the deep, dark hole.
“Alright. We’ll save Steven…but you need
to be near me. Don’t ever let go of my hand.
American troops can attack anytime.”
“He’ll be caught up to Min soon. She’s
wounded, so she couldn’t have gone too far on
foot.”
“Okay. We should reach him by then,
okay?”
“And Zaitian?” Madison asked. Zaitian
turned to face Madison. “I love you too.” He
smiled and took her hand. Together, they
jumped down into the tunnel to find Steven.
88
“It’s getting darker by the second. Are you

sure we’ll find him?” Zaitian wondered.
“Trust me, Zaitian, like I have trusted
you.”
They walked on, hearing groaning and
crying up ahead.
“Steven?” Zaitian roared.
“Help!” a girl’s voice screamed.
“It’s Min,” Madison said. “We’re coming.”
They ran on, tripping, slipping, and running into
tunnel walls. Bleeding, they found Steven on his
knees over Min, who was pinned to the ground
by a huge boulder that fell from the top.
“Oh no!” Zaitian whispered, kneeling down
too. Madison put her hand on Min’s face. She
was breathing fast and whimpering loudly.
“You’re going to be okay, you’re going to
be okay,” Steven chanted with his hand over
Min’s stomach. Madison started to cry again.
“I don’t care…if you love Madison…
Steven…I just…wanted…you to know I…” Min’s
mouth hung open and her head tilted to the
side. She was dead. Madison sobbed and held
her head. Steven walked away and covered his
mouth.
“I’m such an idiot,”
“I’m so sorry, Steven!”
“I’m such an idiot,” he kept saying. He
climbed out of the hole and walked without
them.
“We have to catch him. Boxers are still out
there!” Zaitian whispered to Madison. Madison
nodded.
“Steven, don’t go out there!” she hollered.
Steven didn’t answer at all. Madison hoisted
herself up and looked to the west. Steven
ignored her call. Madison started to run until she
saw the black uniform of a Boxer. Zaitian came
up behind her and hid her behind a building. He
covered Madison’s mouth with his hand so the
Boxer wouldn’t hear her. The Boxer spotted
Steven and caught him by the shirt and tied up
his hands.
89
Madison, you’re such a moron! Madison

thought to herself. The Boxer took Steven away;
Steven didn’t even budge. More tears traveled
down Madison’s cheeks. She tried to run after
him, but Zaitian wouldn’t let her. Madison, you
were too hard on him! Zaitian covered her eyes
from the sight of Steven being beaten to a pulp.
Madison was dragged away to another building
alley where Madison threw up from being scared
too much.
“We can’t go after him!”
“We’re going to have to!” Madison wailed.
“No, they’re going to kill him. There’s no
hope.”
“We can at least try,” Madison pulled on
Zaitian and looked out the other alley. Steven
and the Boxer were gone. “I need a disguise.
You…you’re okay.”
Madison was dressed in a red dress and a
straw hat hung below her eyes. Her lips were
outlined in a dark red powder and her face was
covered in dirt so her skin tone would look a
little different. Zaitian took her by the hand
again and walked her down the street. He talked
to her in Chinese again.
“So, Min,” he had called her by Steven’s
friend. “Are you glad that order in China will be
restored as soon as the Boxers get rid of all the
American junk?”
“Oh, of course!” she said in a perfect
accent. “The Boxers, who were appointed by
Cixi, will fix this mess and the Middle Kingdom
shall be restored.” She tried to sound cheerful,
yet she was still choked up. How can this get
any worse?
“Min,” Zaitian whispered. “Everything is
going to be fine. All we need to do is to follow
the steps of the Boxer and,” Zaitian cleared his
throat and walked to a pedestrian. “Have you
seen a Boxer take a young boy away? My
girlfriend and I want to see him die,” Zaitian
said, blushing as a result of calling Madison his
girlfriend. Madison squeezed his arm until the
blood flow was blocked. She shortly let go.
90
“Um…yes, sir. He went to the east. Follow

them and then take a left. You will find an
auditorium where they burn the victim alive,”
the citizen replied. Madison’s eyes widened.
“Thank you very much, sir. We’ll be
leaving, now,”
“Oh, but may I take a look at your
girlfriend, first? She seems rather gorgeous,” the
man said. Zaitian slowly pushed him away.
“No, she’s quite shy…just…just leave the
hat on,” but it was too late. The man lifted off
Madison’s disguised hat and he saw her
American eyes.
“Hello,” she said.
“AMERICAN!!!” the Chinese man squealed.
Zaitian punched him in the jaw and ran toward
the auditorium using the directions the man
gave to him.
“Okay, so when we get there, what will the
plan be?” Madison asked in English.
“Um…fight the soldiers and all we can,
grab Steven, and go? Why?”
“Just a wonder,”
The huge auditorium doors opened and
Madison and Zaitian, hand in hand, rushed
inside. Steven was gagged with a brown rag and
was being soaked with gasoline.
“No!” Madison shouted.
“Madison! You came!” Steven said through
his gag. Madison couldn’t understand him. She
ran up to the podium where he was tied up. She
kicked at the Chinese soldiers pouring gasoline
and punched a couple. She took out her pocket
knife and cut one on his arm. She released
Steven from his bind and took his hand, but she
was stopped by another hand. Cixi was standing
right there, glaring down at Madison.
“Uh oh,” Madison muttered. Cixi swiped
her hand at Madison, but Madison’s quick
reflexes had her turn in an uncomfortable way,
yet it saved her.
“No, Auntie!” Zaitian yelled.
“Guangxu?” Cixi asked.
91
“No, I’m not Guangxu. If I was, I wouldn’t

have this happen. Now let…her…go…”
“No. She’s supposed to be banished from
China, but she came back,” Cixi shouted. The
crowd gasped. Cixi pulled out a knife and held it
to Madison’s throat. “And now, not even your
blood can save her, Zaitian.”
“Auntie…please…I…I love Madison. Ever
since I first saw her,” Zaitian confessed. The
crowd gasped again.
“What? You love this trespassing…
worthless…filth?” she asked. Zaitian shrugged
then nodded.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Auntie,” he
said. Zaitian quickly threw a knife that circled
around and cut off one of Cixi’s fingers. Her
grasp on Madison withdrew and she fell to the
ground and sobbed over her lost finger. “Don’t
look at that, Madison,” he whispered to her. The
crowd once again gasped.
“Oh, shut up!” Cixi yelled. Zaitian realized
that he was too late to save Steven; Steven was
tied to the pole and the Boxers pulled out the
torches. Zaitian knew he couldn’t do anything
about it, so he pulled out Madison’s pocket knife
and threw it at Steven so he wouldn’t feel the
burn of fire. The knife plunged into Steven’s
heart and it stopped right there. He wasn’t a bit
afraid; he was smiling. He knew Madison tried to
save him, yet she couldn’t and that Zaitian
ended his misery. Madison screamed, but Zaitian
covered her mouth again and pulled her away.
“Come on, Madi! We need to run!” Zaitian
said, dragging Madison. Madison finally picked
herself up when she saw Boxers running after
her. They both kept running until they reached a
pasture without any buildings at all. Zaitian
looked behind them; there were no black
uniformed men at all. Zaitian sat down and
pulled Madison onto his lap. As a surprise,
Madison wasn’t crying. She and Zaitian planned
that Steven would end that way. Madison
breathed deeply and knew he was okay and it
was done.
92
“I’m sorry, Zaitian. I was such a jerk in

front of you,” she muttered.
“You didn’t do it on purpose, you know,”
he reminded. “We were all tired, hungry, and
scared. Hope was lost in those tunnels. Don’t be
foolish. Death will come to us too one day.”
“I have a plan to stop this with the
Americans,” Madison spoke up. “Remember
those people in the chamber before the tunnels?
Some people in there are strong enough to fight.
We can join an army, get America’s attention by
attacking the palace, and we’ll take Cixi down
and you can become Emperor Guangxu.”
“I don’t know,” Zaitian said with an
unfortunate tone. “There are so many people
who are dying in there; they might die like flies
on the battle field. We aren’t even old enough to
fight!”
“We can take down those Boxer soldiers
easily, though!”
“…alright…but we have to be very careful,
now. Those Boxers are still on the lookout for
us!” Zaitian said. Madison clapped her hands.
“But we have to be swift with our moves.”
“We’re doing this for Steven and Min!”
Zaitian and Madison crept down behind
buildings, keeping their eyes peeled for anything
suspicious. They found some sewer entrances
and entered and exited at different times.
Finally, holes in the ground became very visible.
The town surrounding was as quiet as a
graveyard. Madison hopped in and became
surrounded by people. The old man squinted at
Madison.
“Hey, haven’t I seen you before?” he
asked.
“Yes, sir. You have. Two of our friends are
dead now and we need your help. We’ve seen
what the Boxers have done and we’ve fought
them and Empress Cixi. Zaitian here has even
cut off one of her fingers.”
“What’s the point, kid?” he old man
replied.
93
“When the U.S. army arrived, they never

knew I was here. I come from America and it is
my duty to personally tell them that I’m here
and that I want to help end the Boxer Rebellion
by attacking the palace of Cixi. There are at
least four hundred men here that are strong
enough to fight. You may have no food here, but
if we fight, you will get freedom and order back.
Plus, if Cixi dies with the help of the American
army, China will be saved, homes will be rebuilt,
and supplies will be sent to you from my
country. As a patriot of both American and
Chinese counties, let us fight for our freedom!”
Instead of laughter, the people applauded and
men stood up to be counted in as warriors. They
were all getting tired of a stinking tunnel with
nothing but sewer rats to eat.
It took about a day to organize the small
army of troops. Madison tied her hair up in a
warrior’s ponytail and found a sword lying
around. She sharpened it and put it back inside
its tattered and torn sheath. Zaitian found
Madison preparing for battle.
“Hi,” she said to him. She decided not to
look at Zaitian at all for some reason. She
seemed angry to him.
“Is something the matter?” he asked,
taking off his glasses and putting on ancient
Chinese armor that was used in wars before.
“Well…I’m not sure if you’re okay with
Steven kissing me. I’m certainly not certain that
you forgive him, but,”
“He was the boy in your happy place,
wasn’t he?” he asked. Madison still didn’t look at
him.
“I don’t think so. It wasn’t on a ship.”
Madison laughed. Zaitian shrugged. “It wasn’t
really the experience I’ve been dreaming about.
Sometimes, I just wish that whoever is in my
fantasies, I hope he is kind, protective, and…
handsome.” She did it. She described Zaitian
right there. “When you said you were going to
take me to my happy place back then when we
met, you meant that you were going to have me
94
experience it with you?” she asked. Zaitian

nodded.
“We might not be on a ship though. This
could be our last day, depending if we’re
successful or not.”
“You’re right.”
“Madison,” a man asked her. “Where do I
go now?”
“Follow the rest of the men going south,
stand in an empty part in the line, and
command everyone to stay put where they are. I
have a few words to say,” Madison left Zaitian’s
presence and went to the waiting men, prepared
for battle as much as she was.
“Everyone, please, I want you to know, our
freedom is at stake. Our lives are at stake. Your
families are suffering and will continue to suffer
if we don’t fight. America will join us as soon as
they see us attacking the palace. I have a
Chinese citizen with me who used to live in the
palace, then saved me from attacking soldiers.
He will join us in pointing out the weakest points
in the palace. Now, here are your instructions:”
Madison gave out a number of instructions for
the men. Secrets and codes were given out,
prayers and words of hope were said. The
Americans flew by in aircrafts, but they didn’t
attack. Finally, at dawn, the troops were ready
to be set out on foot.
Zaitian had picked a man to lead the
march so he could talk to Madison about some
stuff that needed to be talked about before they
made the first blood.
“Madi? What’s the matter?” he asked.
Madison turned away for a moment, then turned
back and showed him his journal.
“I snuck it out when you were asleep. I
know everything about Mei, how much she
looked like me, and how she died. I know the
story as if someone had written it in a book.”
Madison gave the journal to Zaitian. He didn’t
seem mad at all; he actually had a sorry look on
his face, whereas Madi, she was deeply hurt. “I
can’t believe that you would actually fall in love
95
with someone who looks like me, but isn’t me.

I’m…kind of surprised and disappointed.”
“But she’s dead now.”
“I know…still…”
“Will you forgive me, though?” Zaitian
asked. Madison nodded and walked forward. She
was able to see the palace from very far away; it
looked very small, of course. For some whacky
reason, Madison didn’t feel happy about
attacking. I just want Zaitian to be happy like
everyone I made that wish to in the world. She
thought. I don’t want to destroy his home.
“Zaitian, if I destroy your home, you will
have no place to go.”
“Yes, I will. Remember when you said that
homes would be rebuilt after the war? I would
have my appointed soldiers rebuild my dominion
for me once I’m seated on the throne of being
emperor of China.”
“I see,” Madison remarked. “I think you’ll
make a great emperor,” she said. They kept
talking about it, keeping their mind off of
fighting and death. At last, the palace doors
were only fifty feet away from the small army.
Madison and Zaitian stepped forward.
“Everyone,” Madison took a deep breath
and continued. “Fight for your country, fight for
your home, fight for your families. Most of all…
let us fight for our freedom!” she yelled. The
warriors and Zaitian gave a war cry. Madison
threw her helmet cover down her face. “Let
there be a red dawn tomorrow!”
The weird Chinese horn sounded.
Madison’s mind became boggled. The war was
finally starting. The surprise was that many
Chinese soldiers on the opposite side marched
forward. Zaitian noticed a soldier up in front
walking toward them. That soldier was missing a
finger. Auntie Cixi is fighting against us? Zaitian
wondered. Zaitian looked beyond the hill that
the enemy was standing on and saw a familiar
sight…and they looked just like Madison. Wait a
mo! Those are Americans! Are they fighting
against us too? He nudged Madison.
96
“Hey, I don’t think the Americans are with

us. I think they’re against us.”
“That can’t be…” Madison muttered. She
got up on Zaitian’s shoulders and began to wave
her arms. “Over here!” she hollered in English.
“Over here!” The Americans looked to the east
and saw a girl waving her arms back and forth.
“I’m alive! I’m okay!” she said. Cixi looked
toward the American soldiers.
“What are they doing?” she asked herself.
She and the three hundred thousand other
Boxers ignored them and began to march
forward. “You left home, betrayed our family,
and cut off one of my fingers, Zaitian,” she
yelled. Finally, she called me by my own name.
Zaitian happily thought. “Now, you shall die!”
She began to run toward Madison and Zaitian
both, drawing her own sword with her good
hand.
“Zaitian, what should we do? The palace
isn’t available to attack now.” Madison asked.
“This is a battle, now. We should not think,
but attack for our lives. Whoever comes at us
we kill, okay?”
“What about the Americans? Are they our
Allies?”
“We shall wait and see,” Zaitian ducked
when Cixi swung her sword at him. Madison
shrieked and ran, cutting down people running
at her. She kept going, making a path of bodies,
until she reached a captain with a striped red
and white helmet with a blue square on one side
with a bunch of stars.
“Sir, sir, did you get my call?” she asked in
her own dialogue.
“Yes, we did. Are you the only one here?”
“I was…” Madison started to think of
Steven. “They killed my friend who saved me
when he and I were shot down in our boat near
the Chinese coast.”
“So you are really alive?” he asked,
holding up a nasty looking letter. Madison
recognized her handwriting.
97
“Yes…do Mum and Dad know I’m here?”

Madison asked.
“I do not know your parents, Madison, but
they sent this letter to the military as soon as
they got it. We shall take you home, now.”
“No,” Madison yelled, trying to dodge his
will for a grasp on her. “No, I can’t. I love this
place. I love someone here. I belong here.
Besides, I have a battle to help lead. I can’t just
leave them.”
“Very well. We shall help you fight, and
then we shall send you back to America. Right
now, focus on packing whatever you got,” The
captain looked at Madison’s clothing, which
made it obvious she didn’t own anything at all
except for those clothes. “Never mind. When we
defeat whoever started this nonsense, we will
take you back.”
“Didn’t you hear a word I said? I said,
leave me here, and help me fight!” Madison
screamed. Zaitian heard her voice and tried to
run, but he forgot he was fighting Cixi. Cixi took
the opportunity to harm him while his head was
in the clouds and she plunged her sword into his
body. Madison heard his voice crack from nearby
and saw what happened. Cixi had her sword in
his shoulder, pinning him to the ground. Cixi
then pulled her sword up, leaving Zaitian
bleeding on the dirt. Madison drew her own
sword and ran toward Cixi. She hit her with the
base, knocking the empress over. Cixi got up
and tried to stab Madison too, but Madison was
too quick. She spun around and slit many
different parts of Cixi’s legs very quickly. I’m
sure glad I took ballet class, Madison thought to
herself. Her heart pounded as she fought the
empress of China, poking at air, trying to
puncture the tall woman who injured Zaitian.
Madison ducked, but the only thing cut was a
part of her hair. The black clump fell to the
ground and landed softly as if Madison got that
part cut in a barber shop where the hair falls to
the ground on the soft rubber mat below the
person’s feet.
98
Zaitian gasped when he saw what

happened. He happened to be right below Cixi,
so he turned her over with one hand. She fell to
the ground and Madison was too stupid and too
distracted to kill her right there. She went right
to Zaitian.
“Zaitian, are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine…watch out!” Madison turned to
the right, barely missing Cixi’s blade. The tip of
the sword took a sample of skin right off her
cheek, as if an arrow zipped passed. Zaitian got
up and pulled out his own sword. He aimed it at
Cixi, until he heard a booming noise. A sort of
noise that would bust your ears if you were too
close. Without being pierced by a sword, Cixi
looked down to find a hole in her abdomen.
Roaring of men filled the air as she gasped and
fell down to the ground. The American captain
was behind her. He took his pistol and blew in it
to cool off the heat.
“Will…will we have a victory?” Madison
asked, ripping off a part of her silk armor to
cover up Zaitian’s shoulder wound.
“I am not sure. Cixi may be dead, but she
raised up enough strong warriors enough to kill
off Germany. That is how strong they are.”
“What’s Germany?” Zaitian asked.
“But your numbers are greater than ours.
Can’t you put your military troops in too, like,
drop a couple of potatoes (bombs) on the way
with your crafty little airships, that sort of a
thing?” Madison insisted.
“No, because that would put more money
on our list of reparations. We already have too
much to pay.”
“What about us?”
“You consider yourself to be Chinese,
Madison?”
“Yes, I do, and I’m proud,”
“Please, Madison, please don’t be so
foolish,” Zaitian begged.
“Do you support the Boxer Rebellion?” the
captain asked.
“No, of course not! Why do you think I…?”
99
“I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to

your friend.”
“No, I don’t. I’m with Madison the whole
step.”
“Listen, Captain, Zaitian saved my life
more than anyone in this world can be saved.
That’s why he helps me.”
“…okay. We’ll let you stay here among
other conditions. The future emperor who takes
her place,” the captain pointed at Cixi’s dead
body. “Needs to let me know that they would
love to take a young American girl into their
country.”
“I would totally let her stay,” Zaitian spoke
up, looking as proud as possible, speaking
perfect English, and making himself look tall.
“You can’t be the future emperor. You’re
too…” the captain thought for a minute.
“Short…young…all that stuff.”
“He was appointed,” Madison told the
captain.
“Sir,” the captain asked Zaitian, “Do you
want Madison, this young lady, to go back home
on a ship? Or do you want to keep her in your
kingdom?”
“I want her to be by my side for the rest of
her life until she decides to leave.”
“Very well. I won’t argue with that, your
Majesty. I shall recruit my troops and leave for
home as soon as the Germans get here and
help. The whole Chinese country is full of the
Boxer Rebellion’s stench.”
“Germany’s helping?” Madison shrieked.
“Not just Germany, but Japan, France, and
Britain are coming too.”
“That’s wonderful news. What do Zaitian
and I do while we wait, sir…uh…”
“My name is McKinley. August McKinley. I
cannot tell you now all the details in which I
came to fight for China’s freedom; it is way too
much. Furthermore, I want you and Zaitian to
stay in the palace and me and my troops, along
with our other allies will lure the other Chinese
soldiers, and their Boxers, away from the area.
100
But you must promise me that you will not fight

in the war and to not step outside Fuzhou. You
would be injured if you do,” McKinley said.
Zaitian rushed Madison into the palace,
running from the sound of gunshots, swords,
and yelling and screaming of pedestrians.
“Brother, I’m back!” he hollered. A man
with a mustache and a long red robe walked
down some stairs slowly.
“Zaitian, is that you?”
“Yes, Auntie is dead.”
“Darn her, yet!” he muttered.
“Did you capture any Christians?”
“No, not really. I hid them out of sight and
simply invited them to dinner while Auntie was
gone. No soldiers around here really noticed. If
they did, I knocked them out and put them on a
ship to…Timbuktu…” Mao Dun laughed.
“This is your brother, Zaitian?” Madison
asked. Zaitian nodded.
“Oh, Zaitian, isn’t this sweet? You’ve
brought an American doll from…America. Isn’t
she lovely?”
“Don’t interfere, Mao Dun. This isn’t the
perfect time now…speaking of which,” Zaitian
began to smile. “How are you and Li-Hua
doing?”
“She and I are fine. We married, however.”
Mao Dun shrugged and gave off a dinky smile.
“Sorry you didn’t make it!” he said weakly.
“That’s okay…hey; can I borrow your
ship?” Zaitian asked.
“Sure, go ahead. Why?”
“I have certain reasons why. I want to give
Madison a present in private…and I think
somewhere…on the sea…would be perfect.”
Zaitian untied the ship from the small
harbor stop as the sun was starting to set. He
turned the expensive motor on and rode away
for a couple of minutes until Fuzhou was out of
sight. Although they were far, they could still
hear the terrorizing sounds coming from the
conflict.
101
“Zaitian,” Madison asked, touching

Zaitian’s shoulder as they looked out together at
the purple and orange sky. Madison
remembered whenever she and Steven first
came there watching dolphins jump in and out
of the water. “You liked Mei because…she looked
like me, is that correct?”
“Yes, Madison. That’s correct.”
“Um…does that me you loved me the
whole time?”
“I want you to understand this, Madison. I
wanted you to be safe so badly, that I took Mei
to be you at first, yet she wasn’t. My inner self
and me had a battle within…a cold war, you
should say, arguing inside saying that Mei was
my own kind or Madison was the one for me or
Madison isn’t Mei. It just was confusing. When
she died, my mind snapped into place like a
rubber band.” He said to her. Madison pulled out
the brown and green bead. Her heart began to
beat fast.
“Oh…so you must…” Madison couldn’t
finish. Her feelings of admiration for Zaitian
were uncontrollable. She sighed and looked into
his deep brown eyes. “…love me…” She quickly
closed her eyes and recalled her happy place: a
boy who is kissing her on the edge of a ship,
holding her by the waist. She placed the bead in
Zaitian’s hands and placed them on her waist
and kissed him. The ship slowly made its way
into the horizon until Madison’s happy place was
fulfilled.
It was just as she wanted.
102
103

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The Round Bead

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Caitlyn Baker The Round Bead

The Round Bead

A cool breeze was the first thing Madi felt.

So far, the day was starting out normally.

Madi nodded, knowing Steven was there to help

“Get behind me, Madi. I feel that there’s

Madi was chained up in her room,

emperor hurting you. I don’t want my tough

You’ll be staying at my place in the palace when

Zaitian asked, as if he knew she was forgetting

said to Madi. He chained up Madi by the hands

arm muscle and damaged it. She cried out in a

“Madi, get back over here! Madison!”

“I don’t either, Madi. You’re safe here

My hopes and dreams are coming closer

again; I’m just happy that my heart is pounding

“She’s so happy here and I never even

to somewhere else. I was the only person you

“He’s an idiot.” Madi turned around to face

“Like it?” a voice spoke. Madi screamed,

Madison on a tour of the whole palace. There

curious in what you really want most.” Zaitian

Dear Mom and Dad,

This is Madison. Yes, I am alive here in

Madison was happy that she got to write

“I’ve considered a few times, but I’ve

My experiences here in China are

My thoughts bounce up and down. Have I

Madison continued to sweat as she dotted

were in love with Zaitian, so I began to feel

Madison dressed up as her usual American

Madison. He looked like what Madison would call

remains,” Cixi laughed and stormed out of the

“Steven, what did you mean by sailing

“Where are we going to sleep?” Madison

or washed up fish. A pinch made Madison

“What?” Madison asked. “I don’t dream of

the border. Steven and Madison held their

Madison dragged her bag across the room,

picking every single piece of ripe fruit in the

Madison walked to the rainforest, not having to

one but Zaitian and no one else. She sat down

the same one Steven and I had seen at the

beach house until he is prepared. Until I leave

“Stop saying crap like that,” Madison

She felt really bad, but at least their loved one

“I must have not delivered the fruit to

Steven, but he was in so much pain already, he

A ship docked in Hong Kong on a cloudy

“Why?” Madison asked as soon as they

of earth, decorated with lilies and lotuses

they were Chinese; she did it very badly, but Min

“Steven, the last time we ate at a

quickly from the cold while Steven embraced

water. We could be home already, but Madison…

“I know. I keep it as storage for most of my

This section of the story is now narrated

At night, I was walking through a dark area

lessons from my father. You are meditating as

Madison had quit writing in her diary, due to the

Madison woke up from her trance. The

“Steven, do you think I could make up a

matching Min. Outlining her eyes and decorating

was breathing very deeply and very loudly, and