Deviant: No Longer Human

23rd April, 2026

"This should keep her securely in place," Wang Xiao murmured, casting a final, discerning glance at the woman sprawled on the bed.

She was trapped in an intricate web of ropes, binding her hands, legs, and neck with precision that spoke of a meticulous and calculated intent.

Her chest heaved in a steady rhythm, the rise and fall accentuated by her deep, rhythmic breathing.

Exhaustion had claimed her into a feigned slumber, her body clad in an oversized white shirt that fluttered gently with each breath.

Wang Xiao surveyed the room, his eyes lingering on her restrained form. "You won't be going anywhere," he said more to himself than to her, a note of satisfaction in his voice. He slid the window open and leaped out with a fluid grace.

Whoosh!

The moment his figure disappeared into the night, Anran's eyes flickered open, gleaming with a mix of mischief and triumph. 'He really thinks these ropes can hold me, Anran, the escape artist?' she thought, a smirk playing on her lips. She had been merely pretending to sleep, biding her time.

Now was her chance!

"Eh?" Her smirk faded abruptly as she attempted to wiggle her toes, only to realize they wouldn't budge. Panic tinged her voice, "What... what's wrong with my legs?"

Struggling, she tried to crane her neck to look down, but it was futile. She couldn't move even a fraction. "Not just my legs, but my neck too... That man, he's more sinister than I thought. Restricting me so thoroughly... does he have no conscience?" Disappointment and a hint of fear crept into her voice.

She attempted to turn her head, to assess the state of her hands, but found her neck rigid and unyielding.

"..."

Her face contorted in frustration, a myriad of thoughts racing through her mind. 'There has to be a way out of this,' she thought determinedly, her spirit reigniting with a flicker of hope.

However, as one hour melted into the next, her hope evaporated into despair, her eyes now mirroring the betrayal of her once confident plan. "My body... it's paralyzed," she whispered in horror.

The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. She couldn't feel her body at all. He must have manipulated her pressure points, a tactic both cruel and effective.

Rustle...

A sudden chill ran down her spine, not just from the cold breeze wafting through the open window but from the dawning realization of her vulnerability.

She let out a resigned sigh, "Is this his plan? To leave me here, helpless and alone, at the mercy of the elements or worse?"

She hadn't anticipated Wang Xiao to resort to such extreme measures. A deep sigh escaped her lips, a mixture of fear and acceptance of her grim fate.

Whoosh!

Just then, a shadow darted through the window with incredible speed, its presence a silent but potent force.

'They've come for me!' Anran's heart leapt with a mixture of fear and hope, but she remained silent, assessing the situation.

Soon enough, she felt a tingling sensation, a sign of returning life to her limbs. The figure, clad in a sleek black ninja outfit with a mask that hid their features, worked swiftly to untie her.

Feeling returned to her numb limbs, and she flexed her fingers, relief washing over her. "Ah, freedom at last," she whispered, her voice tinged with both relief and a newfound respect for her captor's skills.

"He was quite skilled," she mused, a grudging admiration in her tone, right before the door creaked open.

!!

The door creaked open slowly, casting a long, ominous shadow across the room. Anran's heart skipped a beat, unsure of what new threat might be looming.

But as the figure stepped into the dim light, her eyes moved in recognition and relief.

Standing in the doorway was none other than her uncle, Li Zhiming. He was a formidable figure, tall and broad-shouldered, with a presence that filled the room.

His hair was a miz of gray and black, cut short and neat, and his deep-set eyes were sharp and perceptive, softened by the hint of a smile at the sight of his niece.

"Uncle Zhiming!" Anran exclaimed, her voice a mixture of surprise and immense relief.

Li Zhiming's eyes quickly took in the scene — the ropes, the open window, the mysterious figure in black.

His gaze was calm yet piercing, missing nothing. "Ruoran, are you hurt?" he asked in a deep, steady voice that resonated with concern and authority.

"No, I'm... I'm fine now, thanks to..." Anran glanced at the masked figure, who had stepped back into the shadows, almost as if they preferred to remain unnoticed.

Li Zhiming nodded, his focus now fixated on Anran. He moved closer, every step deliberate and measured, his eyes locked onto her like a lifeline. "I rushed here the moment I heard your voice. Your tone raised a red flag, and I knew something was amiss. It's a relief you still remember my training for stress signals," he said, his voice firm, yet beneath it, a comforting warmth simmered.

As he reached out, his hands, large and rough, traced the ropes' knots with gentle precision before carefully untying them. Anran rubbed her wrists, feeling the returning circulation bring a tingling sensation that danced along her skin.

"Who did this to you?" Li Zhiming's voice turned as cold as ice, shedding the friendly uncle persona to reveal the fierce protector within.

Anran hesitated, her mind retracing the chilling memory of Wang Xiao's calculated cruelty and sinister intentions. "His name was Wang Xiao. He not only took Adam's life but others as well. He was overwhelmingly powerful, and I... I couldn't resist..." She finally admitted, her expression falling as she spoke, her own head hung low.

Li Zhiming's jaw clenched tightly as his eyes fell upon the scant attire clinging to Anran's form. A sudden, dark realization dawned upon him, sparking a fierce inferno within his gaze.

His usually calm demeanor morphed into one of lethal intent, his entire being radiating a deadly aura of fury. "He will pay for this," he vowed, his voice low and menacing, the promise of retribution being made.

Before the tension could escalate further, the mysterious figure in black stepped forward, their presence a silent yet potent force. "She's safe now, Li Zhiming. My duty here is concluded," they stated, their voice a distorted whisper through the mask.

Li Zhiming's fiery gaze softened momentarily as he turned to the figure, a silent nod conveying a deep-seated respect and gratitude. "Thank you," he uttered, the words heavy with sincere appreciation.

With a swift, almost ghostlike nod, the figure vanished through the window, melting into the night as silently as they had arrived.

Anran, still processing the whirlwind of events, looked up at her uncle with wide, questioning eyes. "What now, Uncle Zhiming?"

He met her gaze, his eyes now alight with a cold, calculated determination. "Now, we prepare our trap. I'll get you some clothes; change quickly. My men have secured the perimeter. He won't leave this place alive," he declared, his voice a chilling promise of the impending storm.

Li Zhiming's silhouette seemed to grow larger, a sentinel against the darkness, as he readied himself and Anran for the confrontation ahead.

Anran's nod was hesitant, a complex web of emotions reflected in her eyes. "Are we going to kill him...?" she murmured, her voice a mix of uncertainty and reluctance.

Li Zhiming's brow furrowed deeply, sensing the turmoil within her. "Why? Do you have second thoughts?" he probed, his tone laced with concern and a hint of surprise. At that moment, another person, clad in a neutral outfit, quietly entered, placing a set of fresh clothes behind her.

Anran shook her head, her reluctance palpable, her eyes briefly meeting the clothes before diverting. "Cough... Uncle can you please wait outside," she murmured, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

Li Zhiming's face morphed into an awkward expression as he stepped out, closing the door behind him.

Once alone, his demeanor shifted drastically; the stern, blank mask of a determined warrior emerged.

'Bastard, daring to lay hands on my chinese cabbage... He must die!' His thoughts were a storm of contained rage and sorrow, his expression a fierce mask barely containing the tempest within.

Invisible tears of frustration and regret mingled with his fury. He crossed his arms behind him, issuing commands into the still air. "Seal the entire city! No one comes or goes without our knowledge. And gather all the information you can on 'Wang Xiao'. Tap into the Pantheon network if necessary."

"Chief... Isn't this a bit much?" A man returned, the weight of an HK416 in his hands, its well-worn grip speaking of countless battles.

Li Zhiming's eyes narrowed, a fierce glint within them. "Too much? Call in the tanks if we must!" he declared, his voice a low growl. His face twitched with barely controlled anger, the intensity in his eyes like flames threatening to ignite the world around him.