Victoria stepped out of the airport's departure door. She took in a whiff of air.Home at last.Her trip to Finland was one of the many business trips she had slated for the year. When she received the call from Harriet concerning Jasper's accident, she had to hastily round up her business trip. She had to see Jasper. She needed to. She spotted her designated driver who was walking towards her.“Good morning Ms. Stefani. I trust that your business trip was a success.” The driver said as he collected her bags and gestured towards the car. Victoria hummed absentmindedly. She followed the driver towards the vehicle, a black and sleek SUV. The driver hurriedly placed her bags in the trunk and rushed to open the car door for her. Victoria climbed into the car. Few moments later, they were driving away from the airport.Victoria cleared her throat. “Murphy, I need you to drop me off somewhere. It's urgent.” Victoria announced. She recited the hospital's address to Murphy, who imputed it i
When Luna arrived at the hospital, the tension in the air was suffocating. As she approached Jasper’s room, she noticed a crowd of nurses and doctors rushing in and out. Her stomach twisted. Then she saw her.Sophia was pacing outside the room, her arms crossed, her expression tense. There was an elegantly dressed woman who was standing beside her. Luna stopped in her tracks. A cold shiver ran down her spine. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but her feet wouldn’t move. Instead, she turned to a passing nurse. “Excuse me. I'm Mr. Mason's wife… what’s happening?” The nurse paused, her expression sympathetic. “Mr. Mason's condition worsened. The swelling in his brain stem became critical. The doctors had to rush him back into surgery.” Luna’s breath hitched. “No…” she whispered, her fingers trembling. The nurse placed a hand on her arm. “They’re doing everything they can.” Luna barely heard her. The words echoed in her mind like a cruel refrain— back into surgery, brain st
The hospital room, once filled with despair, now buzzed with cautious optimism. Three weeks had passed since Jasper’s second surgery, and with each flicker of his eyelids, each twitch of his fingers, hope rekindled in the hearts of those who waited for him to return. The swelling in his brain stem had reduced significantly, and the doctors were now speaking of recovery, of a slow but certain return to consciousness. It was good news—great news. With Evans’ help, Luna was given the freedom to visit her husband. Evans reported Sophia's antics to the doctor in charge and a visitation schedule was drawn. Extra care was taken to ensure that Sophia's and Luna's visits never overlapped. The schedule was enforced and strict measures were threatened if any of the women went contrary. Luna had spent her visitation days reading books to her husband. Whether he heard her or not was unknown. It didn't discourage her. She relished every moment spent with him. She prayed fervently for him to rec
“I don’t… I don’t remember you.” The words rang in Luna's ears. The words kept haunting her. The hospital room had felt too small, too stifling, as those words echoed in her mind. And now, even after Evans had gently led her away from the tense scene, even as they stood in the dimly lit hospital corridor, the shock refused to fade. Jasper didn’t remember her. He didn’t remember their intimacy, their life together—the memories they had shared, their journey together. He had forgotten the way he once looked at her, the way he had whispered promises into her skin, the way he had sworn he would always be in her corner. And now, he was a stranger. “Luna.” Evans’ voice was gentle, pulling her back to the present. He stood beside her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder, his eyes filled with concern. “I know this is a lot. But you need to breathe, okay?” Luna exhaled shakily, nodding, but the lump in her throat refused to dissolve. “How do I fix this, Evans?” she whispered.
Dr. Myers, a middle-aged neurologist with kind but perceptive eyes, entered the room with a clipboard in his hand. He had been briefed on Jasper's loss of memory. He had combed through the observation and reaction reports noted down by the doctor who had been present during Jasper's awakening. Now, it was time to assess just how much damage had been done to his memory. “Jasper” Dr. Myers began, his tone professional yet gentle. “It's a fine day. How are you feeling? You look healthier. It's safe to say that everything is in order.” He stated. Jasper hummed in agreement. However, he watched the doctor curiously. Dr. Myers chuckled at Jasper's attempt. “I need to ask you some questions to determine how far back your memory loss extends. Do you feel up to it?” Jasper let out a slow breath. “I don’t think I have much of a choice,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. Dr. Myers nodded. “Let’s start with something simple. Can you tell me your full name?” “Jasper Mason.” “Good. And
Jasper was propped up against the pillow on his hospital bed, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of his untouched cup of tea. The past few weeks had been a blur—a frustrating maze of missing memories and conflicting truths. He had woken up to a world that no longer made sense, surrounded by people who claimed to love him, yet each day felt like he was being pulled in different directions. Victoria sat beside him, her hand gently resting on his arm. “You look lost,” she said, her voice soft, tinged with sadness. “I know this has been hard for you.” Jasper sighed, rubbing his temples. “That’s an understatement.” He glanced at her, searching her face for something—anything— that might trigger recognition. “Victoria…This is unsettling. Waking up with a chunk of your memory gone isn't something I'd want anybody to experience. It's like groping for a wall in the dark. I wish I could remember you.” Victoria smiled, though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “We were close, Ja
The view from Jasper’s hospital window had become a monotonous part of his days. He watched the world move on outside, while he remained trapped in a life he no longer recognized. Two months had passed since the accident, yet his memories remained an empty void stretching across recent years of his life. Today, Evans was visiting. Jasper looked up as his friend entered, his sharp business attire slightly rumpled. It was evident that Evans had also been weathering rough days. He had dark circles under his eyes, a sign of stress Jasper could recognize even if he didn’t remember the cause. “Hey,” Jasper greeted, adjusting himself in bed. “Hey,” Evans replied, forcing a smile. He pulled up a chair and exhaled heavily. “How are you feeling today?” Jasper shrugged. “Physically? Fine. Mentally? To be determined.” He chuckled dryly.Evans smiled at Jasper's attempt at a joke. “Yeah. We need to talk.” Jasper studied him. “Business?” Evans nodded. “The investors are restless. Some
Jasper watched as Luna's demeanor transitioned from fear, to despair and finally to mirth. Her laughter rang out throughout the corridor. Jasper watched her warily. She looked like a possessed woman.Luna's laughter wasn't borne out of joy or happiness, but out of the hopelessness of her situation. She had been backed into a corner and there seemed to be no exit in sight. Sophia had played her trump card. She had shown her deceptive prowess. Sophia had covered all her bases. Luna was handicapped. She had no cards to play. Her wedding to Jasper was never publicized; so wedding photos were never taken, the marriage certificate and contract were held by Jasper's lawyer; and knowing how cunning Sophia was, it was safe to believe that she had already reached out to the lawyer. The wedding ring, which was supposed to be her last-ditch effort, had been seized by Sophia a day after Jasper's amnesia was confirmed. Luna's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She stared at Jasper, pain vis
Two Months After The Shootout The courtroom had been silent when the judge read the sentence. Life Imprisonment Alexander Mason, once a feared man, had sat expressionless as the verdict was delivered. His fate had been sealed—the culmination of years of crime, deceit, and brutality. The United States government had wasted no time in securing his extradition. The evidence against him was overwhelming: the murder of Jake Morgan and Jung Yen, the torture and grievous bodily harm inflicted on Sebastian’s mother, Luna, Lin and his funding of a terrorist cell (Black Sentinel).There had been no grand farewell or dramatic objection from him; just a simple nod as the gavel came down, condemning him to a lifetime behind bars. His reign of terror had ended. In the weeks that followed, Thomas and Sebastian worked closely with the local authorities in Vietnam. With Alexander gone, the Black Sentinel crumbled, their remaining members either arrested or fleeing into the unknown. The contraban
Five Hours EarlierThe convoy moved steadily along the winding dirt road, a line of black Humvees and trucks kicking up clouds of dust under the gaze of the moon. Inside one of them, Sebastian sat with his hands bound, his jaw clenched. Lin and Luna sat beside him, equally restrained. Across from them, Alexander Mason sat, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Sebastian had expected many things when Alexander’s men had dragged Luna, Lin and him, bagged their heads and tossed them into the van, but the sight that greeted him when he had reoriented himself was not one of them. The moment his eyes landed on her, his breath caught in his throat.“Mum?” His voice cracked, disbelief rendering him momentarily frozen. Her eyes widened, and before anyone could react, Sebastian lunged forward, pulling her into his arms. Her thin frame trembled as she clung to him fiercely, her silent sobs shaking her body. “You’re alive.” Sebastian whispered, as he deepened the hug.Alexander chuckl
Thomas adjusted his night-vision binoculars and focused on the camp below. Locating the camp after Jasper's direction wasn't hard, coupled with the fact that they had high-tech surveillance devices. The camp was a hive of activity, armed personnels moving swiftly in all directions. From their vantage point, he and his team had a clear view of the entire setup. The black tent in the center caught his attention again. Jasper had been clear. That was where Sebastian's mother was being held.However, getting into the camp wasn't going to be easy. It was heavily guarded and its location in the centre of the camp was a tactical nightmare. Thomas arched his brow as he noticed a pattern. There was a tall, bearded man, immaculately dressed, who strolled leisurely around the camp. As he walked, soldiers paused and slightly bowed to him in respect. This led Thomas to believe that the man held some sort of high authority. He was definitely the top dog in the camp, the shot caller. Thomas zoo
Sebastian’s head hung low, blood dripping from his temple. His wrists were raw from the metal shackles that bound him to the wooden post. His body screamed with pain from the beatings, but he had endured worse. He would not break. He just hoped that Jasper had been able to escape and call for help.Lin was slumped beside him, barely conscious. Her face was swollen, her lip split open. They had fought. They had endured.With a venomous stare, he spat out a lump of blood on the boot of his torturer. The torturer was a bulky, dark man who had been tuning them up for days in search of information. He had proven to be an unyielding captor, and the fact that Sebastian and Lin refused to talk infuriated him. A knock vibrated the door. The torturer's attention snapped to the door. He had instructed his minions not to interrupt him whenever he was at work. With an irritated voice, he snapped.“Who's there?” He bellowed.No response.Sebastian and Lin exchanged weak glances. They were glad fo
Jasper’s breath came in ragged gasps as he sprinted through the dense undergrowth. Twigs snapped underfoot, branches tore at his arms, and the darkness seemed to press against him from all sides. After running and simultaneously scanning his environment for hours, he had done it.He had escaped the camp.But now what? Realization dawned on him. Adrenaline had driven him out of the camp, but now that the rush was fading, reality set in.Where the hell was he?The jungle was vast and like a green void. He had no compass, no map, and no idea how far he had run. He sighed as he mentally facepalmed himself.He had been so reckless.How was he going to locate the shore where the boat had been hidden?He forced himself to keep moving. There was no turning back. As the hours stretched into days, Jasper’s pace slowed. His legs burned, his lips cracked from dehydration, and his stomach twisted painfully from hunger. No food. No water. The sun was relentless, beating down on him thro
Jasper had begun to believe his father had abandoned him again. Days had passed without any word from him. It was therefore surprising when his father strode into his tent on a cold evening. His father stood at the entrance of the tent, a smug look on his face. Jasper hated how unaffected Alexander looked. He clenched his fists. “Where are my friends?” “They’re fine.” His father replied him, his voice devoid of emotion.Jasper studied him. He didn't believe anything he said.“I want to see them.” His father exhaled through his nose. “That won’t be happening.” Before Jasper could retort, Alexander held up a hand to cut him short. “I didn't come here to banter words with you. I came here to give you a choice.” Jasper’s jaw tightened. “What choice?” “You leave this island. Tomorrow morning, a helicopter will arrive. You’ll board it, and you’ll forget you ever saw me.” Jasper stared at him in disbelief and confusion.“Excuse me?” He inquired.“You heard me.” Jasper let out
Two days passed by in quick succession. Ever since Alexander stormed out of the tent, he hadn't returned. The only people who had entered and left the tent were the nurse who came to change his bandage and the maids who came to drop off food and water for Jasper and the strange woman I'm the corner. Two days confined in a space with a mute woman who was like a lifeless husk—unwilling to socialize. The morning of the third day, Alexander decided to bless Jasper with his presence. Jasper sat on the edge of his chair, his father’s piercing gaze locking onto him like a predator studying its prey. Without any form of pleasantries, Alexander decided to swoop in for the kill. “Let’s try this again.” He said, his voice calm but firm. “My apologies. I wasn't entirely honest with you. Your friend Jung is in custody, that you already know. However, we also managed to capture two other people plus the commando-lady we picked up two weeks ago. They've already been questioned and I have to give i
Jasper groaned as he stirred, pain radiating from his injured leg. His mind was foggy, the lingering effects of morphine dulling his senses. As his mind cleared, the first thing he registered was the smell of roasted coffee beans. Last time he checked, they weren't on a vacation island which provides luxuries like hot frothy coffee. With a huff, he sat up and properly assessed his surroundings. He was in a tent, that much he could deduce. The tent was well furnished, two plush couches arranged perpendicular to each other, a large shiny oak table in the centre, maps and documents spread across it, expensive-looking artworks propped up against the foot of the tent and another king-sized bed situated in the opposite corner of the tent. Glancing at his foot, he noticed that it had been neatly wrapped up with clean bandages. He sighed.His nostrils traced the source of the coffee smell. It came from a coffee pot which was placed on a tray with cups on a table in the corner of the tent. T
From the shadows, figures emerged. At least five of them, dressed in a mixture of camouflage and dark clothing, their faces partially covered with cloth. Each one wielded a weapon—rifles, machetes, even crossbows.The leader, a tall man with a bald head, stepped closer. Unlike the other men, he didn't cover his face with a cloth. From the slant of his eyes, he seemed to be of oriental origin. However, his English was surprisingly clear and well-pronounced. “Who are you? And what are you doing on this island?” His voice boomed and reverberated around the forest floor. Sebastian's mind whirled as he tried to figure out the best way out of their current predicament. Looking at the men, it was evident that they weren't government military personnels; instead, they looked like the pirates that Lin had warned them about. Sebastian exchanged a tense glance with Luna. He knew one thing for certain. They were in serious trouble.“We are researchers, on a research mission to uncover the w