After we went to a few more stores and before I knew it, it was dawn. He got me a lot of things, I have my own money, but I didn't use a cent.
We're in the elevator that leads to the inside of his house from the garage, and we are standing in awkward silence. I look at him just to catch a glimpse and I catch his eyes. We kept our relationship mutual since the day I came here. We didn't hug, we didn't kiss, we didn't do anything.
All we did together was train and eat.
As the elevator doors slide open, revealing the spacious, modern interior of his home, an unspoken tension hangs in the air. He breaks the silence, "You can put your things in your room."
We know where Diego and his team are hiding, Volkov is in Zade's warehouse, all that's needed now is action.
One more training session and then we are done. I put all the things he bought for me away and step out for dinner because I'm hungry, and I smell something cooking. I think I forgot to say that this man is the best cook alive.
"What are you making?" I asked as I skipped down the stairs in more comfortable clothes. "Pizza." He replied. I almost jump up in happiness.
As the aroma of fresh pizza fills the air, we sit at the dining table, sharing a meal that goes beyond the usual protein-packed regimen. The conversation shifts from strategy and training to lighter topics, revealing facets of each other we hadn't explored before.
The night unfolds with laughter and easy camaraderie, a stark contrast to the intensity of our mission. It's a brief respite, a stolen moment of normalcy in the midst of chaos. The cityscape outside the window seems to pause, watching as we forge connections that extend beyond the confines of duty and danger.
In the midst of this ordinary yet extraordinary evening, the bond between us deepens. The impending confrontation with Diego and Volkov looms, but for now, we find solace in the simple pleasure of good food and shared moments. As we savor the last slices of pizza, a sense of unity settles over us, fortifying our resolve for the challenges that lie ahead.
. . .
The next day was a blur of emotions as we navigated the sterile corridors of the hospital to bring Kim back with us. Seeing her weak but smiling filled me with both relief and concern. Zade, always the pillar of strength, reassured her, "We're taking you to my place. You need a proper place to rest and recover." Even though I had to force the words out of him, he sounded gentle and genuine.
Kim hesitated, a mix of gratitude and uncertainty on her face. "I don't want to be a burden, especially with everything going on." As I stood here, I could spot similarities in looks between her and Zade. Hair texture, lips, face shape and accent. I'd like to think Kim looks like their father whereas Zade looks like their mother. But they had shared features between both parents.
"You'll never be a burden to us, you saved me." I reassure her. "Zade, tell her." Kim raises her head swiftly at the mention of Zade's name. Her eyebrows raise in hope. But then they dropped just as fast.
With a nod, Kim agreed to stay at Zade's house.
The drive back was filled with attempts to lighten the mood, sharing stories and jokes to distract from the weight of the situation.
Entering Zade's home, Kim marveled at the warmth and genuine care that enveloped the space. The tension that lingered in the air had transformed into a sense of unity and support.
Zade, ever considerate, showed her to a cozy guest room. "Make yourself at home, Kim." I'm so happy he is putting aside whatever bitterness he has towards the world and being generous.
Throughout dinner, laughter echoed, and the atmosphere became a blend of shared stories and plans for the future. In the midst of it all, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for the makeshift family that had formed in the face of adversity. Even though she still seemed unsettled whenever I mentioned "Zade" she still look so much better.
As the night deepened, I saw Kim slowly realizing that, in this circle, she was not a burden—she was a cherished part of our journey. The challenges ahead might be formidable, but the strength derived from these newfound connections became a beacon of hope in the looming darkness.
. . .
Morning rolled by faster than I could blink, and before I knew it, I was prepping to go hunt the man who tormented me for long enough. The sun struggled to pierce through the thick blanket of angry, gray clouds, casting a chilly gloom over the city. The wind carried a biting cold that seemed to seep into my bones, a fitting reflection of the icy determination that fueled my pursuit of justice.
Zade, his silhouette sharp against the muted backdrop, joined me as we stepped out into the cold. The air hung heavy with the promise of rain, and the clouds overhead seemed ready to unleash their pent-up fury. It was as if nature itself recognized the gravity of our mission, adding a somber tone to the already ominous atmosphere.
"Weather suits the mood," Zade remarked, his breath visible in the frigid air. His eyes, usually warm and comforting, now mirrored the storm within. "Let's end this, Aia."
We made our way to the waiting car, the cold metal of the door biting into my gloved hand. The engine rumbled to life, and we navigated the slick, rain-slicked streets toward the outskirts of the city. The rhythmic patter of raindrops on the car roof provided an ominous soundtrack, as if nature itself conspired to underscore the gravity of our mission.
As we approached the abandoned warehouse, the wind howled through the desolate structures, carrying with it a haunting melody that mirrored the turmoil in my heart. The temperature seemed to drop even lower as we neared our destination, the atmosphere thickening with tension.
The warehouse, now a silhouette against the brooding sky, stood as a testament to forgotten secrets. Zade parked the car, and we stepped out into the cold downpour. The raindrops, like tears of the heavens, clung to our clothes, adding weight to the already heavy moment.
"We go in quietly," Zade's voice, barely audible over the drumming rain, held a solemn edge. "And we finish this."
The hunt for Diego unfolded against the backdrop of a storm both within and around us. The cold rain, the gray clouds, and the relentless wind mirrored the emotions coursing through my veins. Each step toward the warehouse felt like a stride into the heart of the tempest, where justice and revenge danced in a delicate balance.
The entrance to the warehouse yawned before us, a cavernous maw that seemed to swallow the feeble light around it. Zade and I exchanged a glance, a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of our mission. The rain intensified, drumming on the corrugated roof like a spectral choir singing a lament for the forgotten.
We approached with caution, footsteps muffled by the symphony of rain. The rusty door, clinging to the hinges with defiance, groaned as Zade eased it open. A cold draft swept through the entrance, carrying with it the scent of dampness and abandonment. We slipped inside like shadows, the darkness of the warehouse enveloping us.
The space was vast and eerily silent, broken only by the steady drip of rainwater leaking through the roof. The faint glow of emergency exit signs barely illuminated the edges of the cavernous room, revealing forgotten crates and machinery draped in dusty tarps.
Our senses heightened, we moved with purpose, navigating the maze of forgotten relics. The cold seeped through the soles of my boots, numbing my steps as we delved deeper into the heart of the warehouse. The echoes of our breaths bounced off the walls, magnifying the stillness that clung to the air.
Then, a distant sound cut through the silence—a soft whimper, barely audible over the rain. Zade and I exchanged a glance, our shared understanding fueling our resolve. We followed the haunting sound, weaving through the labyrinth of shadows, until we stumbled upon a dimly lit corner.
There, crumpled against a stack of crates, was a girl—her frail form shivering, a cascade of wet, tangled hair veiling her face. The dim light revealed tear-streaked cheeks, and her eyes, wide with fear, darted toward us as we approached.
Zade's gaze softened as he recognized the haunted look, a reflection of the pain we both knew too well. Without a word, he gestured for me to stay back as he approached the girl with gentle reassurance.
"It's alright. We're not here to hurt you," Zade whispered, his voice a soothing melody amid the cacophony of rain. The girl's eyes flickered with a mixture of relief and skepticism, but she seemed to sense the sincerity in his words.
As Zade comforted her, I scanned the surroundings, my senses on high alert. We had found more than just Diego's hideout—we had stumbled upon a piece of the puzzle, a girl whose cries echoed the pain of captivity. The warehouse, once a sanctuary for shadows, now bore witness to the delicate dance between rescue and retribution.
Zade continued to offer words of comfort to the trembling girl, coaxing her to stand. With a hesitant nod, she moved towards the entrance, glancing back at us as if unsure whether to trust the newfound guardians in this labyrinth of shadows.
As she disappeared into the rain-soaked night, Zade and I exchanged a determined look. The haunting cries of others echoed through the cavernous space, drawing us towards a narrow hallway at the far end of the warehouse.
The dim emergency lights flickered overhead as we approached the corridor. The air grew thicker with tension, and a sense of urgency propelled us forward. We moved in silence, the wetness of the floor beneath our boots a stark reminder of the relentless storm outside.
As we reached the hallway, the faint glow revealed a row of cells. The sight sent shivers down my spine—each cell harbored a girl, their eyes reflecting a mix of fear and hope as they caught sight of us.
The guards, clad in dark uniforms, stood like sentinels before the cells, their attention fixated on the captives. Zade and I huddled together in the shadows, concealing ourselves from the watchful eyes of the guards. The soft patter of rain outside provided the perfect cover for our whispered conversation.
"We can't take them head-on. We need a plan," Zade murmured, his eyes scanning the corridor for any sign of movement.
I nodded, my mind racing as I surveyed our surroundings. "We have silencers on our guns. If we time it right, we can take out the guards without alerting the others."
Zade's gaze met mine, a silent agreement passing between us. The plan took shape in the midst of the shadows—a synchronised dance of precision and stealth.
With our guns in hand, we moved with the fluidity of shadows. The silencers muffled the sharp cracks of gunfire as the guards fell one by one, their bodies crumpling to the cold, damp floor. The sudden silence that followed was deafening, the only sound being the soft sobbing of the girls in their cells.
Zade and I hurriedly approached the cells, unlocking each one with a sense of urgency. The girls, some frail and weakened, others defiant with resilience, emerged from their confines. Tearful eyes met ours, gratitude and disbelief intermingling as they stepped into the dim light.
"We're here to help," Zade assured them, his voice a beacon of reassurance in the darkness. "You're safe now."
As we led the girls out of the corridor, the weight of the rescue mission began to lift. The warehouse, once a bastion of despair, now echoed with the footsteps of newfound hope. The storm outside continued to rage, but within the shadows, a quiet revolution had taken place—one that would bring justice to those who had suffered in silence.
The rescued girls followed us cautiously as we continued to explore the decrepit labyrinth of the warehouse. The floor creaked beneath our feet, protesting the weight of the secrets it had long kept hidden. Each room we entered revealed more captive souls, their eyes flickering with a mix of disbelief and hope as we released them from their chains.
As we pressed forward, our steps guided by the urgency of our mission, Zade and I eventually reached a point where the path diverged. We exchanged a silent nod, deciding to cover more ground by exploring different routes. My heart raced as I ventured into the shadows alone, the echoes of my footsteps merging with the distant cries of the rescued girls.
In the eerie silence, I navigated the maze of rooms, my senses heightened by the anticipation of confrontation. The air grew thicker as I approached what seemed like the heart of the warehouse. It was there, behind a half-closed door, that I heard the muffled sounds of a conversation.
I edged closer, the warped wood of the door concealing me as I strained to listen. Diego's voice, cold and calculating, cut through the quiet, accompanied by the faint hum of a luxurious office."They won't find me. I'm at a place where they can't even get a whiff of me," he boasted confidently over the phone, his arrogance evident.
My hand tightened around the grip of my gun as I prepared to confront the man who had orchestrated so much pain. Just as Diego continued with his sinister monologue, a bottle slipped from my fingers, crashing to the floor with a startling shatter.
Diego fell silent, his eyes widening with a mixture of fear and disbelief. I burst into the room, gun raised, and there he was—seated behind a pristine desk in an office that stood in stark contrast to the decay surrounding us. The room was adorned with modern furnishings, a cruel testament to the stark dichotomy between captor and captive.
He fumbled with his phone, panic etched across his face. "You won't—"
But his words were cut off by the clatter of my gun hitting the desk. Diego's gaze met mine, a concoction of terror and recognition in his eyes. The phone slipped from his trembling hand, bouncing against the polished surface before crashing to the ground.
"Look at what we have here," I said, my voice steady despite the fury coursing through my veins. "Happy to see me again, baby?" I grinned.
Diego, cornered and defenseless, stared at me with the desperation of a predator suddenly becoming prey. The walls of his self-made fortress had crumbled, and in the ruins, he faced the reckoning that had long been overdue. I fired my fun and shot him in the shoulder, so close to the most precious organ in the human body.
He groaned and screamed like a baby, I almost laughed. "Zhaian, listen, don't do this-" I cut him as I tsked. "Did i not say the very same thing back to you that night?" My words were clouded with emotions, screaming and shouting in my head like the cross clouds outside. My throat was heavy and my actions were done due to my anger, hatred and bitterness. My unfading need for fitting revenge intensified and I placed my gun on the floor. I kicked it with my foot so it's by the door.
"Come on," I called for him like a dog. "Beat this poor girl up."
Not only did he have an injured shoulder, he was wearing tight clothes.
I didn't wait for him to approach me as i jumped on the wooden table and used my elbow to knock him on the nose. He clutched his now broken nose as blood seeped out of it uncontrollably.
I bring out my anger I held in for months. I use everything in the office to hurt him, I stab a chair's leg on his manly part, until his whole front was filled with blood and he couldn't scream anymore. Even then I take shards of glass and stab him everywhere, tears were blurring my vision as the memories flashed in my mind.
"You look stunning in my marks, baby doll."
Stop, stop, stop.
"You'll be all mine after I buy you all for myself." He coaxed as he ran his fingers through my lips that he sealed.
Stop.
"You boyfriend could never make you cum like I do." He giggled like a wolf as he continued his assault on me with his inhuman toys.
Please stop.
"I'll never stop, after today, you'll like it. I wont have to tie you up anymore."
I raise the the sharped chair leg to stab in his throat but a female voice stops me. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." I pause my actions and look behind me. Its the same lady, light hair and blue eyes. I recognize her from somewhere other than the mansion. I've seen her before.
What doesn't pass my eyes though is Zade, she has a gun held behind his head. My eyes are filled emotion and repulsive decisions. "Don't shoot him," I rasp.
"Mom, please." Zade begs.
Mom. He called her mom.
It all snaps, she's the pregnant woman who raised him, the one who hurt him, the one who raped him. The woman he thinks to be his mom.
"I'm not your mother!" She snaps, "Your mother is dead, you hear me? I killed her." Regardless of the gun to his head, Zade turns to look at her. "Why are you doing this?" I've never heard him to hurt, or seen him cry.
"Zade-"
"Stay there or I'll shoot him." She said to me. " She crouched down to pick up my gun too, and Zade didn't retaliate, he'd never do this, but his emotions are getting the better of him. "You're not my son, you're your fathers illegitimate son. Not mine." She grits.
The truth seems to sink into his head and I could feel his heart drop. I could feel his pain from a distance, I wanted to hug him, I wanted to kiss him and tell him it was okay.
"And she's the girl who repeatedly took you away from me." Her blue eyes land on me and the guns shift positions. She points it at me.
"I don't care if i die, as long as i take you with me to your grave." I say with a bloody smile. She laughs, am evil laugh. "Darling, I'm going no where."
I look at Zade, passing an apology through my gaze and I look back to the monster I can barely call a woman. Swiftly, I raise my foot and kick both the guns out of her hands. Unfortunately for me, she held the other one super tight and managed to shoot my in the thigh before it dropped to the floor. Zade takes the guns from the floor and points it at her.
"i'm not dying along." She smiled, "You all are coming with me." With that she pulled out a gun from her coat and, and before i could comprehend anything, I felt a stinging pain below my shoulder. Zade shoot her, too many times to count, and too many places to see.
What remained was a distant beeping noise in the background.
I collapsed to the floor, clutching my most pained part and i choked out blood. "Aia, there's a bomb, we need to go." Zade panicked, as he held my head. I smiled at him, "You'll be okay." I choked, blood seeping out of the side of my mouth. "You're strong." It hurt to speak, but I had to get it out before my lungs run out of oxygen.
"You sister, Kim needs you more than anything."
He picked me up and raced through the corridors, "I love you." I whisper.
I used my last breath to say to him, "I love you so much."
____
I'm sorry😞 but like it's almost 4k words