• My name is Jon and I have been a mortician at Xian Crematorium for the last three years. Now, every once in a while Mr. Chang comes in and 'collects' some of the ashes. Mr. Xian, my boss, tells me to just let him take sosme and leave, don't ask questions. Mr. Chang is Edmonton's Chinese mafia boss. He always comes in wearing an expensive looking suit and has a smile on his face that scares me. Well, last Tuesday when he came in for his usual pick up he requested something of me. Something utterly bizarre. Something...that almost cost me my life.

    XOX

    It was your normal average Tuesday afternoon; I had just finished cremating an old lady and was placing her ashes into the decorative urn that her family had chosen when Mr. Chang walked in. He was dressed in a crisp white suit that reminded me of snow.

    "Afternoon Jon, who do we have today?" He said, looking at the urn.

    "A Mrs. Carmen, Mr. Chang." I said, slight quiver to my voice.

    He nodded, turning the urn in his hands. "And how did she die?"

    "Heart attack sir." I replied. "She was very old."

    "I see." He removed a small teacup and pot from his coat. "Will you be so kind as to boil me some water Jon?"

    I nodded once and walked into the staff kitchen. Flicking on the kettle, I set the pot on the counter and tried to calm my shaking nerves. Mr. Chang scared me witless. The kettle whistled and I reached for it. Pouring some hot water into the pot, I took it back to the main viewing room of the crematorium. Mr. Chang stood waiting, his eyes on the front window gazing at everyone that walked through the massive malls Chinatown. I handed him the steaming pot and took a step back.

    "Do you know much about ancient cultures Jon?" He asked me, moving from the window to Mrs. Carmens ashes.

    "No sir I do not." I replied, swallowing the lump in my throat.

    "In some cultures what I am about to offer you is considered a great honor." I could not see what he was doing as his back was to me. "Are you open minded, prone to accepting suggestion?"

    I took another step back. "I like to think so sir."

    My face contorted in horror as he turnede. The lid to the urn was on the counter and Mr. Chang was stirring something in the cup, that scary smile on his face. "I want you to drink this Jon."

    I shook my head, hands covering my mouth and preventing the bile from escaping. "T-that's..."

    He nodded a single time. "Tea of the Dead. A delicacy and as I have already stated, it is a great honor to drink the deceased. It is said that the brew contains all of the knowledge and strengh of those passed. Drink."

    "No thank you Mr. Chang." I gagged. This was utterly digusting!

    The smile dropped and he advanced a little. "I was not offering you Jon. You will drink."

    "I will not drink Mrs. Carmen." I replied firmly, desperately scrambling backwards.

    He placed the cup on the counter and took another menacing step towards me. "You will drink or you will die."

    My breath caught in my throat. I discreetly placed a hand on my pocket. Good I had my cell phone. I was not the fastest runner in the mall, but judging the distance between me, Mr. Chang and the door behind him I guessed I could make it. I took a deep calming breath, plucked my nerves up from where they had scattered across the floor and ran. I heard him yell at me as I ran right past him and out the door.

    I had never in my life ran so hard or far. I ran out on Chinatown and into the general populous of the mall. People moved aside to dodge me as I ran, yelling profanities and giving me rude hand gestures. I dared not look back in case Mr. Chang was on my tail. The mere thought terrified me. Reaching the west side of the mall I ducked into a bubble tea store, leapt over the counter and crouched down low. As I steadied out my breathing, one ear on the door, I was confronted my two of the strangest people I have ever encountered. A small womana with green hair that looked like David Bowie in Labyrinth looked down.

    "Whwoo aree yuou?" She said, an exceptionally strange lilt to her voice. "Rikker, whe halve company!"

    Another woman, wearing a bunny hat and jeans covered in marker and paint came out of the back and spoke with the same lilt. "Whwoo ees eet Miser?"

    Miser shrugged and began blowing bubbles of all colours. "I d not know Rikker, hye jyust raan een hyere."

    I looked at the strange women as Rikker began popping the bubbles with a wooden spoon. "My name is Jon, Mr. Chang is trying to kill me so I ran in here."

    "Syo yuou deedn't dreek tha teeea?" Miser said shaking her head. "Poor thiiing."

    Rikker tilted dher head to the side and handed me the cup that was on the counter. "Dreenk thees. Eet will make yuou aswesomester that Meester Chang."

    I hesitantly accepted the drink and gulped it down. It felt warm, surpriseing for cold tea and I felt my energy come back. I nodded my thanks to the strange women and fled the store. I ran to the other side of the malkl where the security booth was located and ran inside. "Please, you have to h-"

    My words left me as I saw Mr. Chang standing in the booth. "I tried to warn you Jon. I told you that if you didn't drink it then you would die."

    I felt myself backing up against the monitors as he advanced. "Help me." I squeaked out. This was it. I was going to die here. I saw him pull a revolver out of his pocket...

    I woke, cold weat pouring down my body. I was panting, shaking and scared. My room. It was all a dream. I reached over and flicked my bedside lamp on.

    Mr. Chang stood beside my bed, cup of tea in his hand.

    "Now you will drink Jon."

    I screamed.