Chapter:22
"zayden"
I slowly opened my eyes, but the piercing light stabbed at my brain like a thousand daggers. I winced, raising a hand to shield my face. My head throbbed, and my mouth felt dry and bitter.
As I struggled to sit up, a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me to lie back down. I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. Where was I? The last thing I remembered…
I tried again, slowly sitting up and taking in my surroundings. The room was unfamiliar, with black and grey walls that seemed to close in on me. The furniture was sleek and modern, with a low table in the center of the room and two chairs facing each other. A large, grey couch dominated one wall, and a floor-to-ceiling window let in a flood of light.
I rubbed my temples, trying to clear the fog from my mind. That's when I saw him – a strange man standing in the doorway. His hair was a rich, dark brown, with hints of black, and his eyes were a warm, light brown. He had a strong, chiseled face and a tall, lean build. He wore a crisp white shirt and grey pants, with simple slippers on his feet.
"Ah, welcome back," he said, his voice low and smooth. "How are you feeling?"
I looked at him warily, trying to remember how I got here. "I'm fine…I think. I just woke up. Who are you? Where am I?"
The man smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Well, I saw you drowning in the water. Looks like you fell from the cliff. I was there to take some pictures, and I happened to see you struggling. I dove in to save you, and luckily, you were alive at the time."
I frowned, trying to recall the events leading up to this moment. Falling from the cliff? I didn't remember that.
As I moved my arm, a sharp pain shot through my chest. I winced, looking down to see a bandage covering my wound.
"You did this?" I asked the man, my eyes narrowing.
"Yes, I did," he replied. "After I rescued you, I saw the blood and searched you. That's when I found the gunshot wound. I did what I could to help you."
"Why didn't you take me to the hospital?" I asked, trying to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me.
The man's expression turned serious. "I couldn't. I had to get back urgently. But don't worry, I've taken care of you here."
As the man spoke, memories came flooding back. Nala shooting me, Kaiden… I felt a surge of anger and fear.
"You're his man, right?" I accused, my voice shaking. "You're Kaiden's man."
The man's expression was calm, but I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Who's man?" he asked.
"Kaiden's," I spat, trying to struggle to my feet, but my chest hurt and my legs felt numb. Fear gripped me. "What happened to my legs?"
The man rushed to my side, helping me back onto the bed. "It's okay, it's okay. You've been in a coma for many days. Luckily, the bullet didn't enter your heart, but it was close. You fell from a great height, and maybe the stress or fear caused your body to shut down. You've had some medical and physiological issues, but you'll be okay."
Just then, an older woman walked into the room, carrying a tray with a steaming bowl of soup.
"Hy, son," she said, smiling at me.
The man's expression suddenly turned mock-angry. "Mom, I'm your son! You should be calling me that!"
The woman chuckled and playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh, sorry, Khai. I forgot that you're the only son I have."
I couldn't help but laugh at the exchange.
The woman, Khai's mom, fed me the soup, despite my protests that I could do it myself. She was firm but gentle, and I found myself relaxing in her presence.
As we finished the soup, Khai's mom gave me some medicine and patted my hand.
"Rest now, son," she said. "You need it."
Khai nodded in agreement. "Don't worry about your legs, Zayden. I'll help you."
As they left the room, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was in grave danger. But for now, I had no choice but to rest and recover.
I drifted off to sleep, the medicine taking effect. The next thing I knew, Khai was gently shaking me awake.
"Time to get up, Zayden," Khai said, his voice gentle but firm. "We need to get you moving."
I groggily opened my eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. Khai was standing over me, a kind smile on his face.
"What time is it?" I asked, my voice rough from sleep.
"It's morning," Khai replied. "You've been sleeping for a while. Now, let's get you out of bed and into a wheelchair. We need to get you to the gym for some physical therapy."
I nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. Khai helped me sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed. I winced as I put weight on my legs, but Khai was there to support me.
"Easy, Zayden," he said. "Take your time. We'll get you through this."
With Khai's help, I slowly stood up and made my way to the wheelchair. Khai helped me sit down and then began to push me towards the gym.
As we moved through the house, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. I was still trying to wrap my head around everything that had happened, and I wasn't sure if I could trust Khai and his family.
But for now, I had no choice but to rely on them. I was too injured to take care of myself, and I needed their help to recover.
When we arrived at the gym, Khai helped me out of the wheelchair and onto a mat on the floor. He then began to help me with some physical therapy exercises, gently guiding me through a series of stretches and movements.
As we worked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Khai. He was being incredibly kind and patient with me, and I appreciated his help.
But despite my gratitude, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I wasn't sure what it was, but I had a sense of unease that I couldn't ignore.
As we finished up the physical therapy session, Khai helped me back into the wheelchair and began to push me back towards my room.
"Thanks, Khai," I said, looking up at him. "I appreciate your help."
Khai smiled and nodded. "No problem, Zayden. We're just glad to have you safe and sound."
But as I looked up at him, I couldn't help but wonder if that was really true.
"Khai, can I ask you something?" I said, looking up at him as he pushed my wheelchair.
"Of course, Zayden," Khai replied. "What's on your mind?"
"Why are you helping me?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
Khai smiled. "I don't know, you'll know it sooner. But for now, you just need to focus on getting better."
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Khai.
As the days passed, Khai and his family took great care of me. Every morning, Khai would help me with physical therapy, and then again after lunch. His mom would cook delicious meals for me.
When we are eating breakfast fast next morning . "where your father " I ask Khai
"My dad has some work to do, so he will go now," Khai said, as his dad prepared to leave.
I watched as Khai's dad departed, feeling a sense of unease.
"hey, how can he get back" I ask khai .
Who says back "throught chopper".
And then we walk back .
€____________________________________________________________€
As the days turned into a week, Khai's family continued to care for me. Khai's mom would often sit with me, chatting and keeping me company. Khai would help me with my physical therapy, patiently guiding me through exercises to help me regain strength in my legs.
But despite their best efforts, I was still struggling to come to terms with my situation. I felt frustrated and helpless, stuck in a wheelchair and unable to walk.
One day, I lost my temper. "I'm never going to walk again, am I?" I shouted, beating my legs with my fists. "It would be better if I just died rather than being a paralyzed person!"
Khai's mom rushed into the room, concern etched on her face. "Hey, don't cry, everything will be alright," she said, kneeling beside me. "You're not paralyzed, Zayden. The nerves in your legs are just swollen, that's all. You just need some exercise and hope."
I looked up at her, feeling a glimmer of hope.
She smiled and stood up. "Let's get some fresh air, shall we?" she said, pushing my wheelchair towards the door.
As we stepped outside, I was struck by the eerie silence. There was no traffic, no birds chirping, no signs of life anywhere.
"Where is everyone?" I asked, looking around.
Khai's mom smiled. "We're on an island, Zayden. We're alone here."
I felt a shiver run down my spine. Something was off.
As we walked along the deserted road, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. I looked around, but there was no one in sight.
"Khai's mom, can I ask you something?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course, Zayden," she replied.
"What's going on? Why are we really here?" I asked, my eyes scanning the horizon.
Khai's mom smiled, but her eyes seemed to hold a secret. "All in good time, Zayden. All in good time."
As the days passed, Khai's mom continued to cook delicious meals for me. One day, she made a hearty chicken soup, and the aroma filled the entire house.
"Khai, come and help me serve lunch!" his mom called out.
Khai walked into the kitchen, a big smile on his face. "What's for lunch, Mom?"
"Chicken soup, your favorite!" his mom replied, ladling the soup into a bowl.
Khai's eyes lit up. "Yay!"
His mom handed me the bowl and a spoon. "Here you go, Zayden. Enjoy!"
I took the spoon and began to eat, savoring the flavorful soup. Khai sat down beside me, chatting and laughing as we ate.
"I wish my parents were alive," I said wistfully, feeling a pang of sadness.
Khai's mom noticed the change in my expression. "What's wrong, Zayden?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
I took a deep breath, trying to hold back tears. "I just miss my parents. I used to fight with my mom, just like Khai does with you."
Khai's mom smiled. "Oh, yeah? What did you fight about?"
I shrugged. "Stupid things. But I loved her, and I miss her."
Khai's mom's expression turned serious. "Where are your parents now, Zayden?"
Khai's eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of something suspicious in them.
"They're dead," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Khai's mom's face fell, and she rushed over to hug me. "Oh, Zayden, I'm so sorry."
I burst into tears, feeling a wave of grief wash over me. Khai's mom held me close, stroking my hair and whispering words of comfort.
"You're not alone, Zayden," she said. "We're here for you. You're part of our family now."
I cried for what felt like hours, but Khai's mom held me the entire time, offering me comfort and support.
As I finally began to calm down, Khai's mom handed me a tissue. "Here, blow your nose."
I took the tissue and blew my nose, feeling a bit more composed.
Khai's mom smiled. "You know, Zayden, family is not just about blood ties. It's about the people who care for you, who support you, and who love you."
I looked up at her, feeling a sense of gratitude. "Thank you," I said, my voice shaking. "Thank you for being here for me."
Khai's mom hugged me again. "We'll always be here for you, Zayden. You're one of us now."