Deviant: No Longer Human

Wu Shenji shook his head, finding the conversations of these kids too advanced for his understanding. At their age, he hadn't even grasped the concept of girlfriends or boyfriends. Yet, these youngsters, seemingly ahead of their time, were surprisingly daring.

Swish!

With a swift movement, he left instantly, determined not to lose sight of them this time.

"Chen, they're leaving already?" Zhao Yang questioned.

Zhao Chen responded, "So are we..."

"B-But I haven't learned how to ski yet," Zhao Yang protested.

"Don't worry, Zemin and I will guide you through it," Zhao Chen reassured him.

"What!?"

Before Zhao Yang could voice his objection, Zhao Chen and Hao Zemin each seized one of his hands, forcefully propelling him forward.

In Zhao Yang's eyes, a fleeting hint of terror was quickly replaced by a look of amazement as the wind sliced against his body. He closed his eyes, embracing the exhilarating rush with sheer delight.

In perfect sync, Hao Zemin and Zhao Chen laughed inwardly, while Zhao Yang blissfully unware of the impending misfortune.

"Is that Zhao Yang!?"

"No, it's a human cannon!"

"Haha!"

Zhao Yang's descent down the slope became an instant spectacle, drawing the attention of onlookers. Even the teachers couldn't help but shake their heads in helpless amusement at the unexpected turn of events.

Unbeknownst to everyone, Zhao Chen had indeed orchestrated this, intending to use Zhao Yang as a human cannon!

______

"Yo, Wang Xiao!"

The call echoed through the crisp mountain air, prompting Wang Xiao to pivot, eyes narrowing as he identified the source—a figure trailing behind them.

A thoughtful frown crept onto his face, "Hey, you guys go on; I'll check something out," he called out to Wang Xueying and Zhang Sisi, slowing his pace.

Zhang Sisi and Wang Xueying exchanged a quick glance, the unspoken understanding passing between them as they continued their exhilarating descent down the slope, leaving Wang Xiao to investigate.

With a hint of exertion, Wu Shenji managed to catch up, breathing slightly heavier. "Man, you guys are like speed demons!"

Wang Xiao's smirk played on his lips, "Or maybe you're just slow... By the way, do I know you?" His gaze scanned Wu Shenji, searching for a familiar thread, but the blonde newcomer seemed out of place, not a face from their school.

Wu Shenji's lips twitched, an internal monologue running, 'Why are these siblings so direct?' Suppressing his inner turmoil, he conjured a friendly smile.

After all, the first step to winning over the girl was to navigate the brother.

Perseverance was the key.

"Haha... Not really, but I'm from 3rd senior high. I'm Wu Shenji." The introduction came with a friendly handshake, Wu Shenji aiming to make a lasting impression.

Wang Xiao reciprocated the handshake with a firm grip, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Wu Shenji. The mountain breeze carried the scent of pine, and the distant laughter of skiers echoed around them.

"Wu Shenji, huh?" Wang Xiao mused, the corners of his lips twitching into a smirk. "What brings you chasing after us?"

Wu Shenji chuckled nervously, his eyes flickering between Wang Xiao's scrutinizing gaze and the descending slopes. "Well, I heard the buzz about the fastest siblings on the mountain, and I thought, why not try to keep up?"

Wang Xiao's smirk widened, sensing an underlying motive. "Fastest siblings, huh? You got a thing for speed or just trying to impress someone?"

Wu Shenji's cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Maybe a bit of both," he admitted, scratching his head. "Anyway, mind if I join you guys?"

Wang Xiao glanced back at the disappearing figures of Wang Xueying and Zhang Sisi, then turned his attention back to Wu Shenji. "Sure, why not? Just try not to slow us down too much."

"By the way, how's my sister doing, Shenji?" Wang Xiao suddenly interjected, the snowy landscape around them blurring as they picked up the pace.

"Your sister? Oh, she's wel—" Wu Shenji began to reply about Wang Jiarong when realization struck, and he couldn't help but interrupt, "You know about me?"

Wang Xiao nodded, a playful spark in his eyes. "I know a lot about you, like—"

Before Wang Xiao could finish, his senses heightened, and he spotted an object hurtling towards him with astonishing speed. Adrenaline surged through him, and he swiftly steered left, venturing into the snow areas not meant for skiing.

"What the hell are you doing!?" he questioned, urgency in his voice as he tried to gracefully navigate the unfamiliar terrain and evade the oncoming danger.

_____

In the midst of their downhill descent, Hao Zemin and Zhao Chen flanked Zhao Yang, their eyes exchanging a silent understanding as they approached Wang Xiao.

The air crackled with anticipation as Zhao Chen uttered a directive, "Do it."

Without a word, a choreographed sequence unfolded. Hao Zemin smoothly disengaged from Zhao Yang's side, swiftly converging with Zhao Chen. In a synchronized move, they propelled Zhao Yang forward, launching him towards Wang Xiao.

!?

"Waaaa!?"

Zhao Yang's initial confusion morphed into pure terror as he found himself hurtling uncontrollably across the snowy terrain.

"What are you doing!?" Wang Xiao's exclamation carried a mix of frustration and surprise as he skillfully navigated to avoid the oncoming Zhao Yang.

"I-I can't control it!" Zhao Yang's desperate yell echoed, tears streaming down his face.

His colossal figure surged downhill, hurtling towards Wang Xiao with a collision imminent just a few heart-stopping steps away.

"H-Help me!" Zhao Yang's plea echoed through the crisp mountain air as he desperately tried to follow in Wang Xiao's path.

Wang Xiao's mind raced, scanning the landscape for a solution. His eyes lit up as he spotted an area with thinning snow near the edge of the extending forest. In an instant, he changed course, navigating towards the less treacherous terrain. Slowly but steadily, Zhao Yang's uncontrollable speed began to wane.

Finally, they came to an abrupt stop near the precipice of a cliff. Wang Xiao couldn't suppress the inward curse, "This idiot would kill me along with himself!"

After losing control and relentlessly chasing Wang Xiao in a desperate attempt for help, Zhao Yang finally came to a halt. He dropped to his knees, his body trembling, and tears welled in his eyes.

Wang Xiao glanced at him with a mixture of disdain, "What a crybaby."

However, his expression shifted to a frown as he surveyed their surroundings. Deep inside the forest, near an abandoned cliff, they seemed disoriented. Fortunately, Wang Xiao could still trace the path they had taken.

Deciding to abandon Zhao Yang in his shaken state, Wang Xiao turned to leave when he suddenly heard more people approaching.

"It's you!" He instantly recognized the first one as Hao Zemin, but the second person was unfamiliar to him.

Hao Zemin gasped, catching his breath, "Wang Xiao, we didn't mean for this to happen! Zhao Chen got a bit carried away with the plan."

Wang Xiao raised an eyebrow, "Plan? What plan?"

Amidst the dense forest, the unknown figure with Hao Zemin stepped forward, a casual smile playing on his lips. "I'm Zhao Chen, Zhao Yang's brother. We were just trying to have some fun, didn't mean for it to go this far."

Wang Xiao's countenance darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes. "Fun? You call it fun when it nearly killed both of us?"

A hidden smirk danced on Zhao Chen's lips, "Oh, come on, you didn't die, did you?"

Wang Xiao's instincts kicked in, and he took a step back, subtly positioning himself nearer to the cliff. "So what?" The realization dawned on him that this might be a meticulously planned scenario.

Hao Zemin nudged Zhao Chen, "Brother Chen, isn't this enough?"

Zhao Chen chuckled, "What are you talking about? Don't you want to teach him a lesson? Wang Xiao! Beg on your knees, and we'll let you go."

Wang Xiao's eyes narrowed, 'So it's about that...' he glanced towards Zhao Yang and Hao Zemin in succession, but his mind wasn't wavered.

"Beg on my knees? You must be out of your mind," he retorted, a defiant edge to his voice.

Zhao Chen's smile didn't waver, "Well, it's your choice. But refusing won't make things easier for you."

Wang Xiao's gaze darted between Zhao Chen and Hao Zemin, gauging their intentions, he infered Hao Zemin as harmless, but Zhao Chen seemed slightly insane to him.

The distant sound of wind rustling through the trees and the muted rush of a nearby stream added an eerie backdrop to the confrontation.

Hao Zemin, seemingly uneasy with the escalating tension, attempted to diffuse the situation, "Brother Chen, let's not take it too far. We made our point."

Zhao Chen, however, remained resolute, "No, Zemin, he needs to learn a lesson about respect."

As Wang Xiao's mind raced, conflicting voices echoed within him.

'Don't beg, it's better to die than do it!'

'What nonsense, if you can live another day, all is worth it!'

Two distinct perspectives waged war in Wang Xiao's thoughts. With a deep breath, he cast a backward glance, his mind momentarily turning blank. Below him, a straight cliff awaited, but a layer of snow offered a potential shield from the impending impact.

In that split second, a choice hung in the balance – honour or survival?