Chapter One

The sound of an immense blast from the car I abandoned a few moments ago made me realize the monsters had discovered me. My hands went numb from the cold and my lips turned blue. I couldn’t walk nor crouch here behind this ragged dustbin any longer because if I moved, they’d shoot me. 

I breathed as slowly as I could. Making sure they don’t hear me. I peaked a little. They were searching for me like dogs, looking through the alleys one by one. Before one of their gazes settled on the dustbin that was my shield, I immediately shoved myself back and closed my mouth with my hands. 

I prayed silently they didn’t find me. A few moments ago I was buying books. And now I am hiding from strangers who were trying to catch me. 

The moment I got out of the bookshop, a bunch of vans pulled up from behind me and tried to kidnap me. Before they could I kicked my way out of them and started my car but I was too late. They dragged me out by my arm. 

I offered money and they refused to say what they needed was me, the key. The key? I didn’t argue and watched as they poured Gasoline all over my car. As they got busy I sneaked out and ran to the alley where I am hiding now. 

I was frightened and confused. 

As I saw the end of the alley being cleared I clutched onto my bag. I can do this. I let out a deep breath and ran as fast as I could. I didn’t hear them after me so I ran and ran until I felt my legs sore. I couldn’t run anymore. 

I put my hands on my knees and gasped air. Looking behind me I didn’t see anyone. There was an un-constructed building in front of me. The best idea could be to hide there and call someone for help. Those thugs were about 20-25. I couldn’t outrun them possibly and go home. 

I walked slowly inside. There wasn’t anyone so I crept in and sat down on the cemented ground. I sighed. “What is happening.” I fidgeted with my phone and dialed my brother, Josh’s number. 

It rang for a while and got cut. I tried again and again and he didn’t pick up. I started crying. Who in the world could save me from this trouble if not my brother? I wiped my tears and started to dial his number hoping this time he might answer. 

I heard footsteps entering the space I was in. I was behind a rusted drum. If somehow anyone notices me they’d definitely kick me out in the open. But the footsteps were heavy. As if anticipating something and slowly approaching it. 

I put my hand on my mouth to make sure no sound comes out. The footsteps start to sound more vivid. I start to pray once again. What if those thugs found me again? 

I close my eyes shut. The footsteps came to a halt. I opened my eyes. Should I peek? I looked in the direction from where the unknown person was coming. No one. As if something betrayed me, I looked further. I sighed a relief and as I was about to put my back on the wall someone put their hand on my mouth to muffle my scream. I kicked my legs. The strength of this person was no match to mine. 

I scratched the hand that almost choked me and kicked the rusted drum to make it fall and make a sound. 

I fought my best. 

“Gloria, calm down. It’s me.” The voice of my brother resonated in the building. 

I stopped as he removed his hand. I looked him in the eye and jumped in his arms. He hugged me back tightly.

“Are you okay?” He asked. His voice dripped with concern. 

I couldn’t form a sentence. I got so scared. My hiccups were loud and won’t stop. He rubbed my back. 

“I got scared. T-Those men-” I broke down. 

“Ssh, it’s okay. Let’s get out of here first.” He said and held my hand while leading me out of the building. 

Maybe he knew I was in trouble. But how did he find me here? And those thugs? My head started spinning from questions. 

“What is happening, Josh? Who are they?” I asked. 

He held my hand tighter. His face was all sweaty and his shirt was stained with dirt. There were cuts and bruises on his arms and throat. He looked through the alley and walked us out. 

Though he didn’t answer my questions so I made sure to shut my mouth. The night sky was warning us of rain. The clouds nestled above us. When we left the building behind, he started walking more carefully. 

I looked at him. He wasn’t looking like my brother at all. Not my brother who was weak and sick all the time. Not the brother who was brought to our house years ago. 

My step-brother, Josh Chen was a heart patient for as long as I can remember. My parents had brought him to our house when I was Five and he was Seven years old. My parents wanted a boy for the longest time but after many tries, they had me which was a major disappointment they never expressed. 

He was the kindest and the most openhanded person I had ever come across. Someone who wouldn’t hurt a single soul.

Now that I look at him, my hand in his hand, his scarface, his shirt all damped, all I can think of is that he had hurt someone. Very badly. 

“Get in the car.” He said and I got inside. 

“What about you?” I asked not letting his arm go. 

“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about me. Go, wait for me back home.” He smiled at me.

Before I could ask him something the window was closed by the driver and the car started. Disturbed, I looked at the one who was driving. 

Kye.

“What is happening?” I asked him.  

He shrugged his shoulders completely avoiding my question. The side of his neck twitched. That happened only when he was nervous or angry. 

He was Josh’s friend or more like a bodyguard. I saw it ever since Josh joined work. He was a tattooed, broad, tall guy. He might look intimidating but if Josh trusts anyone with me other than my friend, Yu Nabi, that’s him. He is trustworthy but a man of few words. 

After all, he asked him to take me home. 

I sighed and sat down. The rain was pouring down. Everything was blurred. So was my mind. I couldn’t comprehend everything that was happening in just a matter of a few moments. 

—

I came back home and took a shower. Kye didn’t leave. He was downstairs making me something warm because I got wet while trying to run home after he parked the car. Though I insisted he not to he did it nevertheless. I tried to ask him a few questions but if there was something he was good at other than scaring people, it was trickery. 

Ever so smoothly, he avoided all of my questions and sent me upstairs.

I sat down on my bed. Josh wasn’t home yet. My worries were increasing. Kye never left Josh in any trouble. If Josh was out there fighting those thugs then wasn’t Kye supposed to be there?

“Ugh,” I ruffled my hair out of frustration. 

Kye knocked on the door and bought inside the soup. Placing it on the table, he was about to leave when I asked, “If you plan on not telling me anything about all of these then I at least deserve to know where Josh is at.”

His back was facing me. And the twitch on his neck was visible once again. He was nervous. 

“He’s fine.” He said. His voice was so deep that it was almost frightening. 

“Where is he?” I asked. 

“Somewhere,” 

“Where? Can’t you be clear? He is my brother and we left him there. Do you know who those men were? Josh is in danger.”

I heard a small chuckle from him. “Josh is in danger? That’s new.” 

“Huh?” My voice and my face were in disbelief. “What are you saying? He is weak and there are thugs around him if that’s where he is.”

“That’s how you portray him. For how long will you live in pure oblivion?” He was facing me now and his eyes were shining. Adamant. 

“What are you talking abo-” Josh entering the house made me stop. 

I ran downstairs. 

He was soaking wet but thankfully I didn’t spot any injuries on him. His shirt was ragged and his hair was scraping his face. He looked tired and his old wounds that I saw earlier were slowly drying their blood. 

I ran closer to him. “Are you okay?” My voice came out smaller than I expected. When any issue was regarding him my nervousness shot up to the sky. 

“I’m fine, don’t you worry.” He said and smiled while lightly tapping my cheeks. 

He left me in the dining room and went inside his room. Kye came downstairs and followed him inside. They locked the door leaving me with confusing thoughts that were close to making me go crazy. 

I sighed and decided to go out to get some fresh air. Though I was scared of those thugs following Josh to the house regardless of my fear I wore a jacket and headed out. Their confusing behavior was suffocating me. And the incident from earlier was to be brushed out of my head if I wanted to focus on simple things. 

–

I looked around. The street was calmer than usual. And suspiciously the street was empty when usual it'd be filled with most people.

I sighed and sat down to wait for the bus. I walked too far and was out of energy to walk back home.

The night sky was clear and beautiful. I always loved the vastness of it. The bed of the stars twinkling away and the moon shining glamoured the path I walked on. It was peaceful though I didn't feel at peace at all.

I rubbed my hand to make it warmer because I was getting constant chills. I looked around again. The bus was too late today. I heard a car approach from a distance roaring on its way. And there wasn't one car. There were several of them. One is black and the others surround it as if guarding it.

Woah. Is it the president? I have never seen a site like it before.

All of it stopped right in front of me. There was a puddle in front of me and before could look at the cars stopping I felt a splash on my entire body. My clothes were soaked as I gasped. From my hair to toe, I was dripping.

I looked at the one responsible for showering me in the middle of the street. They all stopped and didn't even cast a glance at the person they did this to. One of them got out of the car and opened the door for the man who stepped out of the black SUV. The man was so big that he dominated the street just at one glance. Dark hair, a dark suit, and eyes so dark that they almost scared me when he looked at me.

I scoffed. His eyes screamed arrogance. What a jerk. I got up and made my way toward him. He was in charge. I was sure.

"Hey!" I shouted in front of him.

The entire pack looked at me at once. Their eyes were enough to convince me to walk away but I didn't. I made the same arrogant face as him and shouted, "Are you blind? Can't you see a living, breathing person sitting there on whom you splashed all this water? Huh?"

He looked at me. His eyes were cold and I couldn't quite comprehend what he felt. His eyes scanned me from head to toe. I could smell his disgust very clearly.

"Who are you all? And can't you apologize? You soaked me fully, man. I demand an apology." I said.

His men were dumbfounded. As if I was the only one in this world to demand an apology.

There was a guy right next to him. He looked almost the same as him but he was smaller in build. He scoffed at me. "Kid, go your own way. Don't look for trouble so late at night."

I glared at him but my smile afterward was as cruel as I could make it look, "It's cute how you think you can scare me because you're the only one who thinks so. Look at your mouse face. Perhaps, you are cranky because you just wet your pants."

I heard one of them trying to not laugh. I put my hair back, "Next time, you try and act like this street is yours do remember me." I said and looked at the man beside the one I just roasted.

His eyes. They were amused. I didn't want to get a second thought about it that he was so very magnificent to look at. "What's your name?" He asked.

"Gloria, "I said without hesitation. I didn't say my last name because who knew who he was and what he might do.

I walked away not bothering to look back.