Chapter:17
( Couragness, the lost one)
I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. I was in the basement, the cold concrete floor beneath me. Zayden's assistant, Harper, had tortured me for what felt like hours. My body ached, and my stitches throbbed in pain.
The previous night replayed in my mind like a haunting melody. Zayden sat beside me, his purple eyes dimmed by the weight of his own demons.
His words they still hurt .
How his life turn . He doesn't deserve this neither do I .
It's a bad thing.
The cruel fate .
I don't know what will more happens after this .
I was so immersed in my imaginative world that I forget someone is coming downstairs .
It's zayden. He's holding a tray something in it . A glass , a plate and a bowl .
He walk straight to me and sit beside me .
"Your breakfast sunset " he say with a smile .
Sunset then I remember how he discribe my eyes before .
"Are you blushing" he say .
Then I realized that my cheeks are returning red from shyness .
It's ..it's feel like a new thing to me .
A new thing .
The best thing I guess .
"N...no I'm not" I say .
I hold the tray .
"Porridge, fruits , juice only for you" he say .
"Only for me" I repeat .
"I haven't sever breakfast not even food to anyone for the past years".
He say .
"But you do now and especially to me" I say .
"That's great to hear" .
I eat all the food while zayden was just looking at me barely blinking .
I eat the food it's been half an hour .
"You been staring at me like if you blink I will run away" I say
"No you will never run. You will be with me . You remember right our conversation" .
What what he's talking about is it about .oh it's about lats night .
""Yeah , about I ask you to be with me till the end" .he says .
"Well, will you give me my freedom" I know this will happen I have been thinking about it for some minutes .
I wanna know cause what if it's a cage to a beautiful one .
"Yeah, you can where ever you want . You are free" he say
"Then let me go now".
I say .
His expression changes so suddenly. He's back to his cold version .
"Never" he say .
"I will never let you go . Never let you leave me . It's my choice okay."
He says angrily ..
"But it's my life" I say .
"Now it's not your life is nine . You are mine and whoever try to take you I will kill them even if it's you .Nala" he say an then walk away .
I shout " I'm not your pet" I says .
"We will see" he shout again .
It's been whole day zayden didn't come back . His maid came and say
"I'm having some issues at my house I already ask boss and I'm going back . If you need anything tell me now" she say .
"Well, I don't need anything except water" I say .
"That's great I already bought some bottles here.and the last thing Don't try to do anything. Nobody is here . Everyone is gone so, nobody will come to help you" she says and then left .
So, nobody is here .mean I can yes I can .
But let's wait what if it's plan of zayden .
I have wait for two hours .nothing happened.
I stand straight , gather my courage and walk towards the stairs untill I saw zayden coming downstairs.
Why is he here ? .
He's not looking okay .
Maybe it's cause of kaiden again .
I suddenly walk back and sit on the bed .
"What happened" I ask .
"Do you know, Nala," he began, his voice cracking with emotion, "I used to believe in the world? I thought it was a place where good could triumph over evil."
Wait what happened. Why is he back to his sentimental state again .
He paused, his eyes welling up with tears.
"But now… I don't know anymore. It feels like the world is just a cruel joke. A place where the strong prey on the weak."
His voice dropped to a whisper, his words laced with despair.
"I feel bad, Nala. I don't feel like it's a world where one can live."
"I don't where to go ,whom to talk . I came here cause in this state I can only think about you Nala . I'm breaking Nala .it's hurt . It's hurt again . Why it happened?" .
"What happened?" I ask .
"All that could never happened" he says.
"You are strong right zayden . This world I'd cruel but it doesn't mean it will make you weka . You are the most strongest person I have ever known".
I say .
His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of the person he once was, before the darkness consumed him.
As the night wore on, Zayden's tears turned to sobs. I pretended to comfort him, all the while thinking about how I could escape.
I want to escape to help him . Only I can help him . I can't see him in this state it hurt somehow it hurt more then anything.
More then my own wound.
The feeling of helplessness is really worst .
It will make you forget your own pain .
It can gather up all the courage .
I wanna escape but zayden is in bad state he needs me . He came cause he needs me and I wanna run cause he needs it to . He needs my help more then my company .
And then, in the dead of night, I saw my chance. Zayden was crying uncontrollably, his body shaking with sobs. I slowly got up, my injured body screaming in protest.
I took a deep breath, summoned all my strength, and hit Zayden with all my might. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
"Sorry, sorry for everything but I really couldn't live like this . Seeing you in pain hurt me more then anything zayden . I'm sorry for being selfish this time . I'm sorry for everything. I'm thankfully to you to caus eyou make me gather my courage . It's my fight . I have to fight."
I stood over him, my chest heaving with exertion. For a moment, I felt a pang of guilt.
"Zayden," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "You were once a good person. I hope you can move on."
But he didn't respond. He just lay there, his chest rising and falling with each breath.
I knew I had to keep moving. I took one last look at Zayden, then turned and ran.
I walk out of basement. This house seems to be completely different everything is either black , white or grey . Is it a school or some office . It's texture is somehow giving sickness vibes but the emotion of sadness, pain and cruelty to .
I don't know where to go . I run towards the door . I open it it's a living room I run back and walk to the right of the basement where ei find a way out .
I open the door and it's really the front door .
I run outside .
I run ..run fats. He needs my help more then my company I remind myself again .
The cold night air hit me like a slap in the face as I emerged from the basement. The wind was howling, and the darkness seemed to swallow me whole.
I stumbled forward, my injured body screaming in pain. My stitches had opened, and blood was flowing down my legs.
I gritted my teeth and kept running. The trees seemed to blur together as I sprinted through the forest.
I could hear the sound of footsteps behind me, but I didn't dare look back. I kept running, my heart pounding in my chest.
The darkness seemed to stretch on forever, but I pushed on, driven by my desire for freedom.
And then, just when I thought I couldn't run anymore, I saw a glimmer of light in the distance.
I summoned all my strength and sprinted towards it, hoping against hope that it was my ticket to freedom.
As I ran towards the light, I suddenly heard the screeching of tires. I turned to see a car coming straight towards me. The driver slammed on the brakes, and the car skidded to a stop just inches from my face.
I tried to look at him . He's looking similar. Wait it's...it's Lenny . He's alive . What , how .
Lenny's eyes widened in shock as he took in my disheveled appearance. I was equally shocked to see him alive. I had assumed he was dead after witnessing him get shot.
He walk out of car straight towards me .
"Lenny?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "Is that you?"
His black eyes . They somehow give me hope that maybe it's the right thing to run .
Lenny's face contorted in a mix of relief and concern. "Nala! Oh my god, what happened to you?"
"I'm fine .let's...let's go" I says .
He leapt out of the car and rushed towards me, helping me into the passenger seat.
"I thought you were dead," I said, my voice still shaking. "I saw you get shot."
Lenny's expression turned grim. "I was shot, but I managed to get out of there. I've been searching for you everywhere."
As he started the car and began driving, I asked, "How did you find me?"
"I've been tracking Zayden's movements," Lenny replied. "I had a hunch he might be hiding you somewhere around here."
I leaned back in my seat, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me.
"We need to get you to a hospital," Lenny said, glancing at me with concern.
"No, we can't I don't wanna go to hospital". I says .
"Oh, right I forget it's . Your trauma . It's okay we can go to somewhere else for treatment".
I nodded, closing my eyes as the darkness closed in around me.
We drove in silence for a while, the only sound being the hum of the engine.
Finally, Lenny spoke up, "Nala, what did Zayden do to you?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Lenny's gentle tone put me at ease.
"He tortured me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "His assistant, Harper… he was the one who actually did it."
Lenny's face darkened, his jaw clenched in anger.
"We'll get them, Nala," he promised. "We'll make sure they pay for what they did to you."
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Lenny.
"Where are we going?" I ask .
"My house" he say .
As we pulled up to Lenny's house, I realized I was safe. At least, for now.
But as I looked over at Lenny, I knew that this was far from over.
The I remember that .
As we drove through the deserted streets, the hospital's bright lights came into view. Lenny's hands were steady on the wheel, but his eyes kept darting towards me, concern etched on his face.
We pulled up to the emergency entrance, and Lenny quickly jumped out to help me. He gently supported my weight as I struggled to stand, my injured body screaming in protest.
"Easy, Nala," he whispered, his warm breath on my ear. "I've got you."
With Lenny's help, I hobbled into the Lenny's house , the bright fluorescent lights overhead making me squint. The antiseptic smell and enveloped us, a cacophony of sounds that overwhelmed my senses.
"Is it_" .
"Yeha I know your favorite song . It's paralyzed" .
Wow he still remember that . It's all that I need . I wanna cry now and it will help me .
Lenny quickly flagged down a nurse, who rushed over to help us. "We need a to take care of you , now," Lenny urged, his voice firm but controlled.
He call someone and after 10 minutes .
Two lady doctors with two nurses came in .
Doctor ask the nurse .
"Check her temperature,her whole body for woundand other things" .
The nurse nodded, swiftly wheeling me into a nearby table . Lenny followed close behind, his eyes never leaving mine.
As the medical staff swarmed around me, Lenny stood back, his face set in a determined expression. I knew he wouldn't leave my side until I was safe.
The next few hours were a blur of tests, treatments, and questions. Lenny answered as many as he could, his voice calm and reassuring.
Finally, the doctor came in with a warm smile. "You're going to be okay, Nala," she said gently. "But you need rest. We'll get you some medicine and injection".
As they tell me and leave.
I walk the doctor out .
Lenny walked beside me, his hand on my shoulder. I felt a sense of gratitude towards him, mixed with something more… something I couldn't quite define.
He help me move back to bed .
Lenny helped me settle in, his eyes scanning the space to ensure everything was okay. As he turned to leave, I reached out, my hand brushing against his.
"Thank you, Lenny," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He turned back, his eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the world around us melting away.
Then, Lenny smiled softly. "Anytime, Nala. You're safe now."