Draw a Blank

5. They're different

"Amnesia? What do you mean?"

Hearing Luken's sharp tone, the young nurse Nick hired immediately gulped. "Doctor Nick was still unconvinced at the time, and that's just a guess. Given how Allen's condition is, it seems to be true."

Luken glanced at the nurse with a displeased expression. "Then where did Nick go?"

The nurse lowered her head as she answered, her voice very small, "He's out of town on urgent business."

After saying that, there was an inexplicable feeling of suffocation. The nurse barely dared to move let alone look at the situation. She worked here actually only because she had to. Just because Nick offers a huge, and she needed the money, she was forced to take this job.

Her name is Eva Sanders. She was still very young even for an intern at a hospital, but her academic skills were good and she had experience treating patients.

Previously, Eva had only heard from rumors circulating, that the Black Dragon was a notorious organization full of bad people. She didn't expect that the organization she had often heard about through rumors was now a place where she made money.

Eva smiled bitterly.

"But he said he'd be right back," Eva said.

"So while he's gone, you will take care of him?"

There was the sound of chairs moving and footsteps. Eva who was thinking about how to get out of this job, when she heard the question, she gave up. When she looked up, she saw Luken was standing in front of her.

This figure in front of her was actually very handsome, with a strong body hidden under his work coat. His sunken eyelids stretched all the way to his temples, combined with a high nose bridge, looking intricately handcrafted. On his long face was a sharp chin with spikes of thin hair, creating Adonis' masculinity. Even because of his dark blue eyes, there was a mysterious look in his icy cold eyes.

Overall he was like a statue that couldn't be touched carelessly.

"Y-Yes, sir."

Luken ignored it, he had even lost his appetite. As soon as he passed Eva, he saw the door to Allen's room was open and it was dark inside. He turned around only to find Eva in the same position.

"Why are you still here? Take care of him quickly."

Eva gasped, she said haltingly, "I'm sorry, but can you accompany him to breakfast for a while, sir?"

This time Luken actually turned to face her again. In a flash, Eva's souls were suffocated again by the oppressive pressure of this tall man. Since Luken was nearly 1.9 meters tall, he actually looked like he was looking down on Eva. Eva really couldn't stand this oppressive aura.

"Why?" Luken asked.

"This is Doctor Nick's request." Eva, still nervous, wanted to curse that damn Nick in her heart. Why did she have to agree to this one order?

"Why should I accompany him? What's my business?"

Doctor Nick advised Allen to communicate frequently. He is in good condition all the time, but he needs to talk more. Patient with blurred memory, very vulnerable to his own thoughts. Doctor Nick is worried about his mental state.

It wasn't very clear, but because it was too quiet, Eva could hear Luken sigh. The man returned to his seat.

"Bring him here."

As the nurse went into Allen's room, Luken massaged his throbbing head. It wasn't that he didn't have time to accompany the boy to breakfast, but he didn't understand why he had to do this?

Nick knows that Luken doesn't want anything to do with the Walkers, but he's purposely bringing him closer to Allen. History in the past can repeat itself if he stands on the same pattern. Naivety, greed and betrayal—Luken didn't want to be in that circle anymore.

While continuing to spin with past thoughts, Allen had already arrived at the long table. He was standing directly across from Luken's desk still on the IV in his hand and a nervous look on his face.

"G-Good morning," Allen said hoarsely.

This annoyed Luken so he pushed the glass filled with water. "Why do you keep standing?"

"Sir Nick said I was your bodyguard."

"Then?"

"Then ..." Allen pursed his lips, he was just doing what bodyguards used to do, and now he was confused.

"Your legs are shaking." Luken interrupted him impatiently.

Allen glanced down, although without looking he already knew his body was shaking, it was because his legs were still weak.

"Allen, have a seat. It's okay to sit because you're still injured." Eva intervened.

The two of them were in a heavy atmosphere filled with the pressure of Luken's strong aura. Too bad, the person in power was not aware of the two people's fears. A servant came after Luken called him.

"Prepare some porridge for him," Luken said to his servant, then looked at Allen. "Are you allergic to anything?"

People who suffer from amnesia certainly won't remember that, or even the smallest of things. Luken had almost forgotten about this.

So before Allen could answer, he said to his servant again, "Then, porridge and meat."

After the food was served, there was silence in the room, the only sound was the spooning from Allen's bowl. Luken himself was just pensive, staring at Allen's way of eating, which was somehow the same as that person. They would both lick their lips after one bite and make a light tasting sound.

Of course, Allen knew he was being watched. "You're not eating, sir?"

"Why are you talking while eating?"

"Ah?" Allen felt he was doing something inappropriate and immediately fell silent.

Actually it didn't matter whether Allen spoke while eating or not, but once Allen's face was similar to Rayyan's, Luken's emotions were a little provoked. Many people Luken had killed in this world just because of a small mistake. His reputation as a ruthless mafia is unquestionable. Seeing Allen who was similar to Rayyan, he couldn't pretend to deny that Luken hated him.

Luken coldly said, "Continue your eating."

***

Normally, Luken would go to a business meeting with an illegal goods investor. Somehow these past few days, they had all changed their appointments, or else Damian had completed the task for him.

A leader of a high organization, actually does not do much. Luken was the luckiest to have competent and reliable subordinates, for example Damian. Even though Damian seemed to be playing around a lot and had a strong temper, he was the one who could carry out the task well.

"Is Allen eating well? How is he doing now?" asked Nick on the phone.

"He is still alive."

There was an annoying crisp laugh on the other side, as well as the sound of the incoming wind knocking on the speaker so that the sound became disorganized. Then Nick said, "I really can't go back right now. Damy hurt his wrist because he hit people too hard."

"There is a problem?"

"As usual he lost control when Night Owl's men refused to reveal where their leader was."

At this time, Allen was sitting in a wheelchair pushed by Eva. From behind the window, Luken couldn't see his face clearly, but the gentle morning sun bathed him nicely. This point of view made the boy look like a luminous figure.

Luken realized that he was staring too intensely, and immediately averted his gaze.

"Jean has found their location." Luken sat back in his chair.

"Really? It took Jean a long time to do that. Not usually."

Jean was the name of Luken's trusted informant whom he had recently asked to investigate about Allen. Although not much could be found about the person who might be behind Allen, he had obtained a lot of other information.

After more than a month of inaction after the chaotic auction, Black Dragon began to strictly search for the mastermind of all this. Previously, they had deliberately kept quiet to see how far this fellow would attack.

But it seems that the other party has guessed this workflow, and chose to run away.

Too bad, in an instant, his informants got their location.

"Jean is so busy," Luken replied, without explaining what the busyness was.

"I'll be back in two days. Damy said you've sent him somewhere else. Could it be the place where the leader of the Night Owl is?"

"No."

There was a brief pause, Luken guessed Nick's expression was frowning at this point. Then he heard his voice again. "Why? Did you feel that they weren't involved so you let them go?"

Nick is very sharp and observant. He could always understand what Luken was thinking, but even if his guess was correct, it was only part of it. This time Luken wasn't going to let them go because he wanted to make sure of it himself.

If it had anything to do with Allen Walker, maybe he could get a clue.

"I'll see them myself."

"Oh?" Nick's voice was startled. "Be careful."

"I can handle it."

The Night Owl leader was old, but he was greedy and deceitful, compared to Luken, there was nothing dangerous about him except for the two bodyguards that the old man had recently hired. Luken knew they were notoriously dangerous, but he felt this was just a fair business discussion. He didn't want any fuss.

Moreover, the leader of the Night Owl was actually his own uncle.

"All right," sighed Nick. "By the way I want to ask you for help. Eva said that Allen had nightmares that he would wake up at night and cry ..."

Luken frowned at Nick's pause.

"... So can you see him? I mean, check how the dream will make him self-harm or not."

This words made Luken's eyes narrow. Raindrops started to fall for no reason even though the sun was still shining. An unpleasant cold air came in through the gap in the open window.

"I don't have time."

As he said this, Luken stood up and looked out the window. Allen was still there, except that he was alone, his distant figure looking small and frail. Amidst the light drizzle, he sat as still as a lifeless statue, looking ahead with an icy aura.

Luken gritted his teeth.

Before long, he saw Eva running with a black umbrella. She cradled the handle of the umbrella around her neck as both hands turned Allen's wheelchair. Luken's jaw clenched as Allen's eyes looked into this window, as if he were staring at him.

***

"Don't leave him alone."

Eva's body trembled. To be suddenly called into Luken's private room certainly didn't bode well. Her guess was right, because as soon as she entered, Luken immediately discussed the matter of Allen who she had left in the rain.

Despite being scared, Eva reasoned, "I went back inside to get the blanket and had trouble finding it anywhere, that's why I was inside for too long."

Luken's eyes were still calm, but that look was clearly dangerous. "Nick has entrusted this task to you, which means I have faith in you too."

"Mr. Luken, please forgive me. I promise not to do it again."

"Where is he now?"

"He has fallen asleep after taking his medicine."

The clock showed eight o'clock in the evening. Luken took a long time to come to terms with what had happened this morning. Even though he was curious in the end, there was a slight feeling of denial in his heart.

"Then go," Luken ordered.

It didn't take him long to get up from the chair right after Eva left. He took a cigar from his silver case and lit a fire. A light smoke came out of his mouth and nose, the aroma created was so strong that Luken felt a little nauseous. Over half an hour, he smoked four cigarettes. All the trash gathered in a dragon-shaped ashtray made of luxurious solid wood. Looking at the silver case again, only two sticks remaining, Luken finally stopped.

He arrived at Allen's room a few minutes later. In the room, the soft lighting coming from the nightlight cast a faint shadow on the tiled floor. Quite beautiful and warm. Then he approached the side of the bed where Allen lay. Only to find the young man sleeping restlessly and uneasily, the skin on his cheeks moist and glistening with sweat.

Nightmare?

As soon as Luken touched his skin, it felt as hot as fire. Luke frowned. This young man has a high fever. Luken looked at his face for a moment, unexpectedly at that moment Allen opened his eyes weakly.

"I-I'm thirsty."

Luken glanced at the table and found an empty water glass. He was about to go to get some fresh water, but a weak hand tugged at the hem of his shirt.

"D-Don't ..."

Allen's words were indistinct, his face red with fever and his lips opening and closing several times.

This helpless expression, his gestures, the touch of his hot skin—everything reminded Luken of Rayyan. He tried so hard to hold back the fire in his chest, so that his throat moved.

"What do you say?" Luken asked still nonchalantly.

"Don't go."

It was obvious that Allen was trying hard to keep his eyes open. In a semi-conscious state, Allen's hand moved to grab Luken's large, calloused fingers, placing them against his chest. Of course this was due to the effect of a severe fever, he wouldn't remember this deed tomorrow morning.

"Sleep. I'm here."

Luken's tone was heavy and warm, tickling Allen's sensitive skin, he smiled.

In the end when this expression appeared, Luken's fingers subconsciously grabbed the fragile neck beneath his buttoned pajamas as if to strangle him. Only when he heard regular long breaths and the heaving of chest breathing did Luken give up.

Allen did look like Rayyan, obviously because he was the son of that bastard.

But they are different people.

Sighing, Luken left the room, he walked with a confused feeling.

tbc.