CHAPTER TWO: WHO THE F#CK IS HE?
1742 Words
ZACHARY'S POV;
I jolt awake from what one could hardly call a bed. Beads of sweat on my forehead.
Same nightmare!
The same nightmare always gets me up. The screams of my comrades and the wails of those we swore to protect. And the smell of their blood, still fresh in my mind. And the promise.
Save her.
I remember it all.
I glance at the small wall clock—
Fu#k!!!
I throw off the covers and jump down, my feet hitting the floor with a soft thud.
I overslept.
A violent cough grips me. My chest and throat burn, and my eyes water. I grab a bottle of water from the table and gulp swiftly. The pain is becoming unbearable and I know I don't have much time left. I know what keeps me going is the promise I made to them—to her.
I swiftly put on my hoodie and shirt and hurry outside. The night air is calm, not harsh.
Just like that night. That dreadful night.
The memories hit me, but I shake them off. I don't want to remember anymore. I need to be present.
**Focus!!**
The past is the past, and there's nothing I can do about it. I quicken my pace. Eliza's beautiful smile flashes in my mind, and my eyes blur immediately. Tears well up. I blink rapidly, pushing them back.
I pause and cover my mouth immediately with my handkerchief as the cough comes again—this time more violent and harsher than before. I glance down at the handkerchief.
Patches of blood!!!
I hiss and stuff the handkerchief back into my pocket. I quicken my pace. Her scent is faint—she's not at home. I rush to the bus station and get on the next bus, heading to the one place she's most likely to be at this time. I make sure to get off the stop closest to hers and walk up to her place.
I catch her scent and a sigh of relief escapes me. I turn around to leave knowing she is safe here—safe at her place. Suddenly—
The loud sound of the truck's horn shatters the quietness of the night. I spin around immediately to face the source of the sound. I see a girl standing in the middle of the road. She is far for me to see her face clearly. Her body is rigid, and she can't seem to move.
No!!
She doesn't want to move. She seems unfazed by what is a sure death, but I can hear her heartbeat—she doesn't want to die. The headlights shine on her face revealing her Identity.
Instincts kick in. I sprint with all I have got. She is far from me, but I don't give up. The truck's tires screech as the driver struggles to stop it—to no avail. Tears stray from my eyes and get lost in the wind.
**Why? Why would she want to kill herself?**
A sharp pain pierces my heart. Pain from the realization I don't wish to accept. The truck is closer. I won't reach her in time.
I stop abruptly and open my mouth to scream her name, hoping she will snap out of any trance she is in. Tears well up, blurring my vision. I blink rapidly. My chest heaves as air struggles to fill my lungs. My mouth is open but no words come out.
**I have failed!!**
I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, tears escaping, anticipating the worst.
I open my eyes.
Nothing. The truck has driven away and there is no body—her body—on the road.
It is dark again.
Then I see those eyes. I recognise them. Those menacing red eyes. He holds someone in his arms who looks alive—I can hear her heartbeat.
I exhale heavily. I am relieved she's safe but—
Those eyes—
He swiftly turns his face towards my area but I have already slipped into the shadows. I know better than to face him in my state now. Lena is safe and that's enough for me. I will watch her from afar as I have done. I walk away from the area and I cough again.
More blood patches.
I had expended too much energy than my body could give.
**She's alive…**
My lips part into a smile. I raise my head to the sky.
**Thanks Moon Goddess.**
***************************************
LENA’S POV:
I hear voices. Muffled initially but slowly it gets clearer.
Last thing I remembered? I had fallen on the road and accepted my fate. Somehow, I had lost consciousness.
Am I alive?
I feel alive. I don't open my eyes. I don't even try to. I focus on the voices around me. I'm on the other side of the road.
“Why did you save her?” A young man's voice, filled with irritation, is what I can hear.
“Was I supposed to let her die?” another young man's voice replies, calmer and deeper.
“We were STRICTLY warned not to interfere. He won't be pleased if he finds out.” The young man warns, still irritated.
“He won't find out if you don't tell him. Come on bro. We are not evil.”
“They don't know that. To them we are evil, the bad guys, so we act like it.” Still irritated.
A brief pause.
Then a deep sigh.
“It's not safe out here. Come on, let's take her to the estate.” The irritated one said.
A chuckle.
“Thanks.”
Another sigh.
“I better not get into trouble for your actions.”
“You won't.”
Strong arms lift me. As I pull against him, my eyes flutter open and I catch a glimpse. I could see his brown eyes and…a scar. My eyelids get heavy and I drift off to sleep.
*********************************
The morning sun's rays rest on my face, pulling me from my sleep. It doesn't take long to realise I'm not in my bed.
I widen my eyes as panic settles in. My heartbeat increases. I sit upright and scan the unfamiliar room. I slip out of the covers and breath slowly, deeply to calm my nerves.
**Where am I?**
I head to the only door I can find in the room. My fingers grab the door knob and I twist—
The door opens and I bump into him.
He's tall. Broad shoulders and…undeniably handsome. A crease forms on his forehead as he stares down at me.
“Sorry.” I stutter, stepping back. He looks young—likely my age mate or Christian’s.
His blue eyes are not the ones I think I saw from last night and there is no scar on his face.
He just stands there, his eyes fixed on mine. His gaze is searching, It bores into my soul. I blink rapidly and shift my gaze away from his.
A loud growl cuts through the silence. We both look down.
My stomach!!
I remember I didn't have supper last night. I slowly look up to see him looking at my stomach. Worry lines form on his forehead and a brow raises.
He smirks; “we have to fix that. Stay here ” He turns and leaves.
I exhale loudly.
**Who the fu#k is he?**
I walk back to the bed.
Two minutes later; the door opens and a man dressed in a chef's apron walks in and sets a food tray on the table.
“I hope it's to your liking,” he bows, “my lady.”
I smile at him, furrowing my brows. “Yes. I'm sure I will enjoy it.” I stutter. “Thanks.”
“You can call me using the intercom if there's anything you dislike.”
I didn't even notice the intercom earlier.
“Of course.”
I wait till he leaves and dash towards the table, tearing down on the fried chicken first. I don’t even notice the sauce that is meant for it.
**God! The food tastes good.**
In less than five minutes, I'm done with the food. Seeing that no one is around, I open to let out a belch—
**Fu#k!**
The door opens the exact moment the belch escapes. My eyes widen with shock and I close my mouth with both hands in shame.
The young guy from earlier enters the room with a smug on his face.
**He heard it. Silly me.**
“Was it that good?” He smirks.
I bury my face with my hands to cover my shame.
“Come on. Time to get you back home. Follow me.” He turns to leave.
“Excuse me, please.” I stutter again. Honestly, he scares me.
He stops, and turns to face me.
I inhale deeply.
“I don't know how I'm still alive. And I don't know how you saved me but…I really appreciate it. Thanks.”
The smirk is back, “believe me love, it wasn't up to me but I will take it anyway.”
He pauses.
The smirk is gone.
His brows knit together and his voice is low; “whatever it is you are going through now is just for a season, not a lifetime. You will get through this and come out even stronger than you think. It's okay to not be okay but don't let this moment define you.” He stares me directly in the eyes. I can see the warmth in them.
His words sink deep.
A brief pause.
“Come on now.” His smirk is back, he turns and walks off. I quicken my pace, walking behind him out of the door.
We get to the front door of the mansion and I see a driver. As we get to the door of the car, he opens and holds the back door.
The young guy stops abruptly and faces me.
I halt in my tracks.
The warmth I saw earlier disappears and something else is there, something dark.
A chill runs down my spine.
**What now?**
He looks at me intensely and walks to me. I didn't move—I couldn't. The air thickens all of a sudden and my legs stay frozen
His eyes darken, turning from their usual blue to an unnatural shade of yellow. His lips part slightly and then—
A low growl—
- Writer
