The Mission of Stealing Heart

By Kathy Shi-???

In New York in December of 2015, when Mark breaks up with Kathy after three years of living together, she loses herselfand awakens in Paris in 1925. Thus the strangest journey of her life begins.

As Kathy crosses time, space, and the spirit world in an attempt to discover who she is, she visits New York and Paris, along with Guangxi and Yunnan in China, embarking on marvelous adventures on the way. She makes a bet with Coco Chanel and ends up unexpectedly in the arms of a stranger. In the spirit world, she meets the soul of Allen; his singular friend, a black bear named Jack; and Allens wife Tracy. But it seems Allens body and soul are separated forever, and his soul cannot return to his body. The small group of friends set off to find a new heart and a compatible source of energy for Allen. Will they succeedand will Kathy ever find her way back to the life she once knew?

In this science fiction novel, as one woman travels through time and space, she encounters new friends in need of help in a distant future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Aug 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781480835931

Kathy Shi-???

Kathy Shi is an author and poet who was born in Beijing, China, and has been living in United States for more than a decade. She is a women of deep faith and spirituality, enjoying the study and exploration of Buddhist teachings. In August 2015, her first collection of poems, New York Bloody Rose, was published in China. She currently lives in Jericho, New York.

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Copyright © 2016 Lijuan Kathy Shi.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Cover design by Wen Chang.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-3594-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-3595-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-3593-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016913553

Archway Publishing rev. date: 8/29/2016

CONTENTS

1 New York, 2015

2 Conversation with Coco Chanel

3 Adventure in the Netherworld

4 Meet Tracy at Allen’s House in New York

5 Allen Tells the Experience of the Black Bear and Himself in the Middle of Netherworld

6 Visit New York

7 Steal Heart

8 Back to the Coffee Shop

9 Going Back to the Year 2015

1

NEW YORK, 2015

It was December 23, 2015. I was already in my office on the twelfth floor of the Empire State Building in New York City, and it wasn’t quite seven o’clock in the morning. Last night was another sleepless night for me. It’s been more than a week since Mark left my apartment. No matter how many messages I leave on his cell phone telling him how much I’ve been worrying about him and missing him, there has been no call from him. I would rather believe that something terrible has happened to him than think he has been just around the corner.

Mail was piled up in front of me. Letters were like my thoughts floating in the air. Old Jimmy sensed something; he asked me to discuss the Chinese company’s New York fashion-show project later this morning. I could recall nothing about the project other than the project manager, Mr. Wang, with his big belly and tubby figure. I tried to dig deeper into my memory of the project by drinking one cup of coffee after another.

Just then, my phone rang. I hastily tried to find it in my messy handbag. My God! It’s Mark! I was so excited that my hands shook. My coffee spilled all over the floor, and I forgot about everything. With tears in my eyes, I answered with a hoarse voice. Hello? I said.

I’ve given some thought to our relationship, Mark said coldly. Let’s take a break. He paused for a moment and then added, I would like to take back the stuff I left in your apartment. Would it be okay if I stop by at ten on Saturday morning?

I felt dizzy; everything was rocking in front of me. Over the phone, Mark’s familiar voice kept coming. Hello? Hello?

I tried to hold the desk as I sat down, but the chair kept getting away from me, farther and farther.

Kathy, what’s wrong? Jimmy appeared from nowhere and helped me to sit down on my chair. Are you all right? Should I call 911?

I could see his face right in front of mine and could hear his concern. I squeezed out a few words. I’m fine, Jimmy, I said with a forced smile.

Why don’t you go home and rest? You must have caught a cold. My daughter Jennifer is sick too. Take a break; you’ll be as good as new tomorrow! he said. Could you please give me the files of that Chinese company’s New York fashion-show project? Mr. Wang’s project? he said with a warm smile.

I grabbed a red folder from my desk and handed it over to him.

Want me give you a ride home or call a cab? he asked.

I tried my best to keep smiling. Thanks, but my apartment is nearby our office. Walking may be a faster way to get back.

He looked at his watch and nodded. You may be right; it’s rush hour. So take care. I’ll see you tomorrow!

I walked out without looking back. He went after me and shouted, Kathy—your cell!

I turned around, smiled at him, grabbed my cell phone, and walked toward the elevator. The elevator door opened, and quite a few people exited. They seemed to be saying, Good morning! to me, so I kept saying it back. Good morning! Good morning! People in the elevator looked at me and smiled. I did not want to be seen, so I kept my head low while passing by the crowd waiting for security check. Once I was clear, I ran out of the building door.

Christmas was in the air. Red, green, and gold decorations dominated the street. A variety of merchandise dazzled in the window displays in every store. At street corners, fundraisers in Santa suits were chanting blessings as they rang their bells. Crowds, as usual, swept over the streets like waves.

New Yorkers don’t seem to be willing to pause, even for Christmas Eve; the city streets bustled with energy. Chaotic and unlimited business opportunities characterized the city. By this point, the surrounding skyscrapers were so familiar that they seemed to have become an integral part of my everyday sights. I was walking mindlessly without listening or watching anything. It seemed the whole world did not exist anymore.

I almost ran into a young couple holding hands as they chatted and smiled in front of Macy’s window display featuring a snowfall. I couldn’t help but stare at them. They looked just like Mark and me three years ago. The couple appeared to be baffled by my gaze, shrugged, and left my sight.

I walked into my tiny apartment. I could smell Mark everywhere, like a ghost. After all, we had been living together in here for three years. Thanks to my splitting headache, I was groggy, and standing on my feet seemed impossible. Could I just have a cold? Subconsciously, I walked into the bathroom, opened the medicine cabinet, grabbed a handful of pills from several bottles, casually stuffed them into my mouth, and washed them down with a glass of tap water.

I sat heavily on the couch and touched my cello. I held it in my arms and burst into tears. I started pulling the strings as I cried. My cello began to sob with me, weeping for the days and nights in the lengthy past three years. My soul was filled with the eruption of my tears and Bach Prelude No. 6, but all of a sudden, the sound faded away. I felt I was in the air, and then everything turned dark.

I must have been woken by the sunshine; the glare of the sunlight made me dizzy, and I smelled something refreshing. My body was rocking back and forth as a mild breeze stroked my face. I felt warm and comfortable. I opened my eyes wide and found that I was seated in a carriage drawn by four white horses running on a straight avenue.

I asked, Where am I?

Champs-Élysées! the coachman replied without looking back.

Surprised, I shouted out. "Paris?"

The carriage moved on without any response. I searched for an explanation or a clue in my surroundings.

2

CONVERSATION WITH COCO CHANEL

Spring sunshine always gave me a feeling of coolness alongside its warmth. The sunshine was turned into shreds that pierced the trees. These slanted shreds of light covered the green leaves with a layer of golden color. The cool air made the pedestrians button up and tighten their clothes. Some even knotted their collars to stop the cool air from seeping under their clothes. The Eiffel Tower stood by quietly in this golden picture. It observed everything that happened on the Champs-Élysées below—the people passing by, the carriages that moved with disordered rhythms to their steps, and the patrons outside the coffee shop with the red roof and green door.

In this part of Paris, all seemed to be peaceful and elegant under the sunset. Maybe because it was spring or because the shopkeeper was trying to get more business, the coffee shop flew a flag. With its black velvet base and golden edge, it flew proudly in the wind. The sound it made drew the attention of the café’s patrons.

The carriage slowly stopped at a coffee shop. The coachman opened the door and politely extended his hand to help me climb down. I walked into the café uneasily and was a bit confused when an elegant and fashion-forward lady greeted me with a smile.

"Bonjour!" she said with enthusiasm.

I felt I was pushed in front of her, so in a panicked voice, I replied, Bonjour!

She looked me up and down in a strange way. Half of her face was covered by a black-and-white floppy hat that made her red lips even more conspicuous. What happened to you today? You are not like you! she said in a calm and oddly familiar tone.

I took off my gloves and sat across from her, all the while smiling and pretending to be calm. I untied the first two buttons on my jacket, and once my neck was exposed, I felt a bit more relaxed. I took the cigarette pack on the table and suddenly saw the bronze letters on the lid of the exquisite pack: Coco Chanel.

Surprised and excited by this woman, I started to observe her. I opened the cigarette box, withdrew one, and put it in my mouth. Then I moved closer to Coco’s face so I could light my cigarette from hers. I smoked fiercely, burning the cigarette faster. I might even be smoking too fiercely, I thought nervously. There was even a flame on the cigarette. I blew out heavy smoke and watched the flames disappear. It was like a cloud flying by and spreading out to find its home in all directions. I picked up the gloves on the table and knocked off the dust on my white pants and black riding boots.

Then I turned to look at her. Coco wore a dashing suit, and the collar of her white shirt was up, like a general’s. When Coco put her feet up on another chair, I noticed her boots. They looked sexy in the flickering light. Coco leaned against the chair next to the window, so she could see everything on the Champs-Élysées, including the beautiful Arc de Triomphe. She lit a cigarette, and the smoke blurred the beautiful view. Coco turned her head to me, and I was mesmerized by the shine on her red lips in the golden light of the sunset.

She smiled and said, Let us start now! I bet gentleman; you bet beauty!

I looked at her with some hesitation. In a flash, Coco turned the matchbox upside down twice and threw it up in the air.

Pia! she shouted.

The matchbox flipped twice and then hit the ground.

Easy! I said.

Okay, Coco said with a shake of her shoulder. Your turn!

I puffed twice deeply and picked up the matchbox, then threw it fiercely toward the ceiling. The matchbox flipped twice in the air and crashed on the table. It flipped several times before settling down on the table. Beauty! Beauty! Ha-ha! I win! I screamed.

My scream caught the attention of people around me. An old guy with glasses seemed to be shocked. His mouth opened wide, and his glasses fell to the tip of his nose. Coco raised her right index finger and reminded me to be quiet.

I laughed secretly and said in a low voice, Beauty! I win! I will question today!

Coco then shook her horsewhip twice to show that she agreed.

Let’s compete to see who can entice a gentleman first within one minute. I smiled mysteriously.

Coco quietly responded. What about losing?

I winked at her and said without thinking, The person who loses needs to solicit a male on the street.

Okay! No regrets! Coco laughed this time, indicating no doubt. It seemed that she was very confident.

3

ADVENTURE IN THE NETHERWORLD

Who goes first? I asked.

Coco and I talked and laughed. I stood up, but my left foot staggered. My body fell back several steps. As I thought more about it, a big hand grabbed my right arm. I tried to look around, but someone pushed my body. I leaned forward and fell into someone’s chest. His shoulders were very wide, and his chest was very warm. I also felt familiar with the sound of his heartbeat and how his body smelled. I was still in my own thoughts as I raised up my head. My eyes caught his eyes, which looked like the sky. As we stared at each other, I enjoyed the familiarity. It had been a long