Gunshots ripped through the air.
Screams echoed from every direction as people scattered, desperate to survive.
I looked up at the starless, dark sky and then I felt it. The foreign object tore through my flesh, ripping out from the other side. Blood poured freely.
I fell on my knees, still looking up. Finally, after so many years, this is how it ends then I laid on the ground, my eyes closing slowly.
...
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The sound was slow, steady, patient, the kind of rhythm that felt like it had been there forever. It tugged me out of the dark and into something softer.
My eyes cracked open. A white ceiling swam into focus, faintly lit by morning light filtering through half-drawn blinds. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant and lavender, the strange mix hospitals use to hide the sterility. Polished wooden floors gleamed under the light, a vase of lilies sat on a side table, and the furniture was neatly arranged in warm browns and creams. It felt less like a ward and more like a hotel suite that had borrowed some medical equipment.
I tried to sit up. My body obeyed without the sharp, tearing pain I expected. My hands... fine. My face... whole, no cuts, no bruises, not even a scratch.
How?
The last thing I remembered was the sound of my own heartbeat fading into nothing. I'd felt my pulse stop. I'd seen myself die. And yet here I was. Alive… or at least I thought.
The door creaked open.
A woman stepped in, balancing a small tray with a pitcher of water and a cup. She was of average height, fair-skinned, with a heart-shaped face framed by a halo of blonde hair. Her lips were small and naturally pink, and her figure was rounded but crisp beneath a neatly pressed nurse's uniform.
"Oh, you're awake, mister," she said, her voice warm enough to soften the sterile air. She set the tray down, then moved closer to check my pulse, her touch feather-light. "What's your name, handsome?"
"Uh…" I stalled, caught in the sharp clarity of her blue eyes, the kind that sparked like sunlight on water. "Sam."
Her lips curved into a smile, and she jotted something down on a notepad before adjusting the monitor beside my bed. "Funny, my brother's name is Sam too."
"And you are?"
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her smile lingering. "Call me Tesla."
Tesla. Cute name and definitely too young for a nurse.
"So… Tesla," I said cautiously, "how long have I been here?"
"Approximately six months," she answered matter-of-factly while fiddling with the machine's buttons.
My brows shot up. "I was in a coma?"
"Yep."
Six months! Six months lying still while the world moved on without me, while she was still out there. The thought made my skin tighten. I couldn't afford to stay here, not when staying meant putting everyone in this building in danger.
She must have seen something shift in my expression. "Is something wrong? You look uncomfortable. Do you want some water?"
"No… I'm fine," I lied, though my voice sounded a little too tight. "When will I be discharged?"
"Not sure yet," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Just a few more tests." She turned toward the door.
"Hey, Tes," I called after her.
She glanced back, a curious smile tugging at her mouth.
"Mind if I call you that?"
She nodded, as if I'd passed some small test.
"Kay. I was wondering..."
"Yes," she interrupted, that smile turning playful. "I'd totally grab coffee with you once you're discharged."
I blinked. "What...?"
"Isn't that what you were gonna ask?" She laughed when she caught my stunned look. "Oh, I'm such an idiot."
"No, no… it'd be nice," I said quickly.
Her face lit up, bright enough to make me almost forget the dull ache still lingering in my muscles.
"It's just that, erm…" I hesitated, my eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you a nurse… or intel?"
One of her brows arched, the smile never fully leaving her lips. "Both," she said simply, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
I blinked. "Both?"
"I'll tell you about it when we grab that drink," she added, her voice warm. She reached for the door handle, glancing back at me with a look I couldn't quite read. "Looking forward to it though."
The door clicked shut, leaving me alone with the muted hum of the machines.
She seemed nice, too nice. I didn't want to get involved again in anybody's life.
The urge to escape gnawed at me. I ripped the wires from my body and crossed to the window. Below was a drop high enough to break bones, maybe I was in the VIP ward. Didn't matter. I had to leave before things got ugly.
The door banged open with a sharp crack against the wall. A broad-shouldered nurse stormed inside, her scrubs rustling with each heavy step, and a tall man trailed close behind her, hesitant, almost as if he were afraid of what he might find.
"What's going on in here?" she barked, her voice edged with authority, the kind that left no room for excuses. Her dark brows knitted together, eyes scanning every corner of the room with suspicion.
I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering in my ears. "Er… the room's hot so I…"
Her head snapped toward me, sharp as a whip. "The AC is on," she cut me off, her tone clipped, as if the very air should prove her right.
Before I could muster another lie, the man behind her stepped forward, his presence softer but no less overwhelming. His eyes glistened under the fluorescent lights, wet and desperate. "Son?" His voice cracked, ragged with disbelief.
My chest constricted. I froze, staring at him, the rest of the room blurring at the edges. That face, worn, older than I remembered, but unmistakable. Lines of worry carved into his skin, a familiar slope of the nose, the same hazel eyes that once watched over me with quiet pride.
"Dad?" The word left me in a whisper, trembling in the sterile air.
We moved at once, like something magnetic pulling us together. Two strides erased years of distance. His arms wrapped around me, clinging as if letting go meant I might vanish again. I buried my face against his shoulder, his scent of worn cologne and hospital air washing over me, and for the first time in forever, I felt like a lost piece had snapped back into place.
When the nurse finally left us, Jerry, my dad, stayed by my bed, smiling through tears. "You don't know how happy I am to see you awake."
"Yeah… I'm surprised myself, Jerry. But how is this possible?" The thought struck me again, sharper than before, curiosity gnawing at the edges of my mind. But he brushed it aside, taking my cold, pale hands in his. He held my gaze, eye to eye, his own still brimming with tears.
"Does it matter? You're alive."
I shook my head "No, you don't understand. If I'm alive, I can't stay here. She will find me and everyone here will be in danger, including you."
"She's gone, Zack," Jerry said firmly. "We locked her up in Nazi. No one escapes Nazi."
The air seemed to quiet. I gave a small, half-sided smirk as I stared into his hazel eyes, wide with a look that screamed that's not possible.
"It is, Zack. I've never been more certain," he said as if reading my mind, his voice steady, almost too sure of itself. "You're free from Zhebel."
Free? That's hard to believe . She's haunted me for ages, her shadow stitched into every breath I take and now this? Unbelievable.
I sank back into the warm embrace of the hospital bed, his words still echoing. Zhebel… gone?
Jerry brought food that evening, chatting about normal things, the weather, his work, things I hadn't heard from him in years. It almost felt safe.
When he left, the quiet pressed in. I stared at the ceiling, my mind replaying the past in sharp, ugly flashes.
The door opened softly. Tesla slipped in, still in her uniform wearing a grin that looked rehearsed. The room was dark and cozy, save for the thin spill of moonlight that cut across the walls and draped everything in silver. Shadows pooled in the corners, soft but watchful. When she appeared, I startled upright, my pulse quickening, eyes fixed on her dimly lit face. For a moment, she looked like a ghost conjured by the night.
"Good news," she sang, plopping onto the stool by my bed. "All tests are clear. You're free to go tomorrow."
"That's… soon," I said then her face brightened a little as she locked those blue eyes onto mine.
"Which means our date is sooner than expected." She winked.
I tried to sound casual. "Isn't that a little soon? I'll need rest."
"Oh, I'm not dragging you mountain climbing. Just dinner." She scribbled a number on a scrap of paper and slid it into my pocket. "Call me."
Her smile lingered a little too long before she left. The room felt colder after she was gone.
I found this a little too strange. In all my history with women, I had never encountered anyone like her before, and I had no intention of starting a relationship with this one. She was creepy, too creepy. Did Zhebel send her to get me, or what? Whatever the case may be, I'm not getting involved.
I lay back, switched off the lights, and closed my eyes. After a while, I fell asleep.
...
I opened my eyes, breathing rapidly. I was drenched in sweat. Morning light filled the hospital room. I inhaled and exhaled slowly to calm myself down. The sun was up, and the air felt peaceful. The only sound I caught was the faint noise of the busy road below.
I leaned back. I'm still here. So maybe what Jerry said was true.
Soon after, the door opened with a gentle pull, letting in a rush of warm air mixed with the faint scent of sweet perfume. A handsome young man in a lab coat, carrying a clipboard, stepped inside. Behind him followed the huge nurse from last night.
The door shut quietly behind them. The young man, probably in his late twenties, approached me with a bright smile.
"Hello, Zack," he said calmly.
I looked at him, surprised by the sound of my name. I hadn't heard it in… six months.
"Hey."
His smile widened, almost like he had caught me in some kind of trap. For a moment, it felt unsettling.
"Is everything to your liking?"
I nodded, though my eyes stayed suspicious. Then he stretched out his hand.
"I'm Doctor Simon."
I clasped his warm hand with my death-cold one. His skin was soft, too soft, like he had never worked a day in his life. Just as quickly, I withdrew.
"I've got news, boy," he said casually. "All results are clear. No broken bones, tissues are fine. You're good to go."
He gestured for the nurse to disable the machines.
"Good."
The air felt awkward, like he was trying too hard to make a good impression.
After everything was disconnected, I stood up from the bed, and he escorted me out.
We came down to the lobby, and I saw Jerry waiting in the sitting area.
"Hey, Dad, you're here?" I called out as I walked over. He greeted me with a hug so tight I could hardly breathe.
"I wanted to be the one to take you home," he said, finally pulling away. I gasped in and out, catching my breath.
"Home?" The word felt strange, unusual. "I don't have a home." My voice dropped low, like I didn't want anyone else to hear. "You know I can't follow you back to your house. Bia… she'd be furious."
"You don't have to follow me to that house. I got you a place, somewhere we can both catch up on time," Jerry said with a smile. His grin was bright and sincere, his eyes lit up with excitement. I returned it, though mine felt dull in comparison.
On our way out, I saw Tesla coming in, holding a white clipboard against her chest. Her uniform was short and tight, her figure impossible to ignore. She smiled and waved at me, then pressed her hand to her ear, imitating a phone, and mouthed, "Call me."
Jerry, who caught the whole thing, threw an arm around my neck and chuckled. "Wow, man, you got yourself a chick already."
I scoffed. "Nah, she's… weird."
"Weird or not, she's hot. You better call her and you know, start a life," Jerry said, ruffling my hair as he walked ahead.
I smiled faintly. He was excited for me but I wasn't. I wasn't about to let my guard down and lose the people I love again. Especially him.
We took a cab, and after a while, we arrived at an apartment. Not too fancy, but manageable. We paid the driver and went inside.
I was fascinated by the place's ambience. It was what I had always dreamed of, a normal space I could finally call home.
"Wow, Dad, it's… I don't even know what to say."
He smiled. "Thank you would do. Anyway, make yourself at home. I better go catch up with Bia, you know how she gets."
"Yeah, you should."
He stared at me for a moment, like it was too early to say goodbye. Like he didn't want to leave. Not yet. I gave him a reassuring smile.
"Hey, I'll be fine. You go ahead."
He pulled me into another hug before finally waving. "Well, see ya later." And with that, he left.
The door closed behind him with a soft bang. I smiled still admiring the place. This was cool, really cool. The house was well furnished, with mild paintings and soft fur rugs. I sat down on the leather couch. He really outdid himself this time.
I explored other areas of the house, the kitchen, well furnished; the bedroom, perfectly arranged. Everywhere was to my liking. After touring the apartment, I had a nice bath in the hot tub. Incredible.
About an hour later, I came out of the bathroom, got dressed, and collapsed on the bed. It was the softest thing I had laid on in years, so soft I didn't even realize when I fell asleep.
I heard gunshots. I could feel the bullets tearing through my flesh. Then I woke up, panting. I was sweating profusely. I calmed myself down. It was just a dream, but it felt so real. I looked around. Crickets were chirping, it was evening already.
I laid back down, my head on the pillow, staring at the ceiling for over thirty minutes, unsure of what to do. Then my stomach rumbled.
"Okay, let's go find something to eat," I said, rubbing my belly as I stood up and headed to the kitchen. The moment I got there, I rushed to the fridge. Inside were lots of fruits, snacks, and more. I grabbed a loaf of bread and some soya milk, then went to the living room, where I collapsed on the couch, filling my stomach.
I wanted to watch TV, so I picked up the remote on the glass table. Right next to it was a phone box. Curious, I picked it up and opened it. Inside was a sleek black smartphone, thin and shiny, with its screen glowing faintly when I touched it. It felt almost alive in my hand, smooth as glass.
I'd never used a phone before, so I wondered how it would even work. The screen lit up fully when I pressed it, showing strange colorful icons. I tapped one by mistake, and loud music suddenly blasted from the device. Panicking, I fumbled and pressed everything at once until the music stopped. My hands were sweating as I swiped the screen again and again, accidentally opening random apps I didn't understand.
It took me nearly fifteen minutes of trial and error before I managed to find the keypad. Even then, I pressed the wrong numbers twice before finally dialing the one Tesla had given me. I held the phone close to my ear, unsure if I was even doing it right. Then, suddenly, i heard her voice through the device.
"Hey, Sam, is that you?" she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement.
"Yeah, it's me," I replied, a little uncertain.
"Oh, thank goodness! For a second I thought you ditched me." She let out a playful giggle. "So? How's my patient doing? Still alive?"
"I think so," I said with a weak chuckle. "At least… mostly."
"Ha! That's good enough for me. Because you know what? We're going out tomorrow."
"Wait... tomorrow?" I asked, frowning.
"Yup. Tomorrow. My day off. And don't even try to argue, mister, because I already picked the spot."
I sighed. "Do I even get a say in this?"
"Nope," she said cheerfully. "It's a date. And I know just the place, Douns' Hill. Brand-new restaurant, classy but not too fancy. Perfect for us."
"Us?" I muttered under my breath. "That's… interesting."
"I'll take that as a yes," she said quickly, ignoring my tone. "So, let's say… eight in the morning?"
"Eight?" I nearly choked. "That's insane. Who eats at eight?"
She laughed. "Normal people, Sam. Breakfast exists, you know."
"How about four p.m. instead?" I countered.
There was a pause, then her smile practically bled through the phone. "Four it is. I'll even let you buy me dessert."
"Lucky me," I muttered.
"Lucky me," she teased. "See you tomorrow, Sam."
The line clicked, leaving me staring at the screen.
This can't be happening!
Morning came with a splash of cold water on my face. I bolted upright, ready to attack the intruder only to find Jerry holding an empty cup, grinning. "Wakie-wakie, son. It's 10 a.m. and we've got plans."
"You do know I have a name, right?" I muttered.
He laughed, sitting on the edge of my bed. "Old habits. Anyway, I've got a whole list of father-son activities."
I raised an eyebrow at the page he handed me."Wow, that's a really long list," I said, flipping it open but not bothering to read a single line. "Look, I've got my own plans. But if this is that important to you, I guess I'll have to cancel."
"Whoa, man, hold your horses. What plans are we talking about?" He pushed the list aside and fixed his eyes on me, like he was searching for something in the emptiness of mine.
"I called Tesla, like you told me to. I'm supposed to meet her for our... date," I admitted with a sigh.
"Then don't cancel," he said quickly, excitement creeping into his voice.
"Why not? I don't even want to go. I've been trying to come up with an excuse all night, and now this feels like the perfect out." I blinked with a mix of relief and defiance. I didn't want to get tangled up in anyone's life again. I just wanted something simple, something normal.
"Zack, you're going. We can pick this up another time or I promise we'll be done before your date." He patted my back with a firm hand. "Now go freshen up. We've got a lot to do"
Dragging my feet, I headed for the bathroom. My plan for the day had been simple: sit at home, eat popcorn, watch TV, and cook up some excuse to ditch Tesla. But Jerry had to interfere. I couldn't blame him, though. After years of unbelievable chaos, he was just glad to have his son back.
When I came out, Jerry had already picked out my clothes. Nothing fancy, just a hoodie and a pair of blue jeans.
The day was… surprisingly good. We played games, shared greasy food, laughed like we'd never lost time. I almost forgot what haunted me until Jerry got a call and left in a rush.
Alone, I decided to walk to Douns' Hill early. But as I walked, Zhebel's voice whispered through my head, pulling me back to blood and fire. The past clawed at me until my steps faltered.
...
It was evening, past four, Jerry came by to my place. the front door was ajar. Inside was chaos, my room a mess.
"Oh no," he breathed, and ran.
He found me at the beach. I stood at the edge of the water, dark sword in hand, wind howling and sky churning above us. The air was thick with the power to split worlds.
"Zack!" he shouted over the storm. "You don't have to do this!"
"I can't stay here!" My voice was warped by the shadows twisting around me. "If I go back now, you'll all be safe!"
"She's gone, Zack! Zhebel's gone!"
"Lies!"
"Then let me show you."
He stepped forward, gripped my hand, and tore open a rift in the air. Through it, I saw her, bound in chains, screaming in a place that reeked of fire and despair.
"She can't harm you anymore," Jerry said. "You're free."
The rift vanished. The clouds scattered. My knees hit the sand. For the first time, I believed him.
" Zhebel has taken enough from you already, your mom, Thail, don't let her take your life as well. Live it while you still can" Jerry said as we hugged.
"I got to go to Tesla, i think I'm late already" i said as we both laughed.
...
The restaurant was quiet when I arrived. Tesla was already packing up to leave. I checked the time, it was past six. She must have been waiting for me. I sighed and walked up to her.
"Hey, Tes." I forced a smile. She turned to face me. The simple red dress she wore caught the fading light, but her expression didn't match, it lacked the excitement I'd expected.
When her eyes landed on me, a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Thought you wouldn't make it," she said softly.
"Me neither," I admitted, grinning like I hadn't been planning to run away just a few hours earlier. "But I won't bail. I'm sorry I'm late, I lost track of time. But if you don't mind, dinner's on me."
"Okay," she said, her smile softening as she sat back down.
All my life, I've been running, marked from birth for a fate I never asked for. I've lost more than I can count. But Jerry's still here. And maybe, for now, Zhebel is gone.
Maybe I can live like a normal person.
Maybe I can stop looking over my shoulder.
And for the first time in forever… maybe I'm not afraid to try.