60 The Football Hooligans Part 1 (2/2)

He looked again at Michael who sat in the corner as if his soul had been taken away from him. Tang En quietly left.

The hallway was empty, and the pale white light could not shine into the morgue. Tang En felt a fire burning in his chest and surging upwards. That stifling feeling of oppression did not lessen, instead it tightened even more.

He decided to leave that place.

As he walked near the hospital gate, he saw a taxi parked on the roadside. A panicked woman ran out of the car and stumbled into the hospital building. Then Walker came out of the car and quickly followed.

Tang En hid himself in the shadows. He did not want anyone to see him. Just as the taxi was about to leave, he hurried up and stopped it with his hand.

The usually bustling Forest bar was very quiet that evening. There were not many customers. Those people who were still there drank with their heads down and talked in low voices. It did not look like a bar where fans gathered. The owner of the bar, Kenny Burns, sat behind the bar and wiped a glass repeatedly. But it was clear that his mind was not on the glass. He was looking toward the door, but he looked like he was in a daze.

The door opened, and the expression in his eyes changed. But it was not Tony Twain or Des Walker who came in. It was Bill who was always with Michael and John.

Upon entry, Bill looked around the bar strangely. The Forest team had finished the regular match season today. Everyone would have come to the bar to drink, chat, and celebrate. How could it be so quiet? He looked up at Burns and found that Burns was watching him. So he raised his hand and said hello.

”Hey, Kenny. Do you know what happened? Where's everyone?”

Burns replied, ”They didn't tell you?”

”No. I just came here after dinner... Oh, that's right. I saw Tony on my way here.”

Burns stared at Bill.

”He asked me where Mark Hodge and the others usually gather. I don't think he looked very well... Uh, Kenny, what's going on?” Bill was half-finished speaking when he found that the customers in the bar had stood up from their seats. The way they stared at him made him shudder.

Burns got up, leaned across the bar and grabbed Bill's clothes. ”Was he alone?”

Bill nodded, and he was scared. What happened today? Everyone was acting all weird.

”B*stard!” Burns whispered. ”Bill, if anything happens to Tony... Damn it! We must bring him back! Goddamn it!”

He ran out as he finished his words.

Bill looked at the strange scene, utterly confused.