In order to break the awkward silence between us, Zhao said,” After the foreigners are eliminated, we will be free from influence forever. Doesn’t that thought fill you with happiness?”

I reluctantly murmured yes. But in my heart I had a feeling of uneasiness. Were there so many traitors in our society? Would Zhao and I be protected? I thought to myself. Slowly, Zhao and I fell asleep.

We woke up the next morning and found the city to be quieter than the previous day. The horrific screams, high pitched gunshots and deafening explosions were gone. The morning air was cold and I could smell the ash and smoke from not so far away. Suddenly, there were footsteps outside. They were cautious and quiet, but not quiet enough to not be heard. They slowly grew louder and louder, and my heart was filled with uncertainty about whether it was our friend or enemy. Zhao was the first to say something, “I’ll go check.”

I tried to stop him but he quickly walked out the door and out of my sight. After a few seconds of dreadful silence, I heard a loud clang, and then muffled yells. The noises filled me with terror as I heard more sounds of struggles. I could not take it anymore, Zhao needed help more than ever. I ran as quickly as I could, and as the closed door grew nearer, the yells of agony grew louder. I burst through the door and found the hot summer sun in the sky with the heat and light shining on me. I saw the rubbles of buildings on the street. Zhao was sitting on the floor, leaning against the rubble. A knife had pierced through his armor and was deep into his stomach. Blood was gushing out of the wound, and a large puddle of dark blood was on the ash covered ground. A few feet away a white man in a blue uniform lay on the ground. A gash ran deep down his thigh and his uniform was stained by the blood that came out of his slit throat. Zhao was breathing heavily, and I knelt down beside him.

“Forgive me. I have betrayed us.” He said.

No words could come out of my mouth. But I felt a sense of grief, anger and betrayal. I finally realized my foolishness when I was still a peasant, absorbed by the Boxer’s amazing claims and convincing words. Not only was I betrayed, but so were every one of the Boxers. I waited until his chest stopped moving, and I ran as far as I could, crying and screaming along the way.