The mysterious Zayn

"What happened to me? Let go!"

However, no one answered him. The place was so quiet that Dave couldn't even see anything because his head was covered with a black cloth.

Dave kept struggling to break free when he realised that he was suddenly in a strange place with his hands tied. Even the influence of alcohol that had been controlling his consciousness was slowly wearing off.

"What a noise! We haven't done anything yet," said Jack, one of the black-clad gang members.

Dave, who heard the chatter, was furious. "I'll get back at you if anything happens to me! Who's your boss? Bring them here and face me!"

The gang didn't respond back, but instead laughed at Dave's seemingly powerful demeanour.

Dave was even more furious that his ramblings were not responded to and instead humiliated, he struggled even more and continued to shout at the gang until the chair kept shifting until it fell over with Dave tied to it.

"You're so hard to tell, what a nuisance!" said Jack, just as he was about to reposition the chair, he heard the door open.

"Didn't I tell you not to touch it before me?"

The gang turned their heads and gasped, seeing the figure of a man escorted by two people on his left and right.

They then bowed their heads in respect.

"Sorry, sir. We didn't do anything to him, he just fell over on his own," Jack said.

Zayn squinted, looking at Dave who was still trying to get free despite his own difficulties with his condition.

"Wake him up," Zayn ordered coldly.

"Hey! Are you the boss?" said Dave, "Order your men to release me. Quickly!"

"Really? Who are you to tell me that? Bastard!" Zayn laughed.

Dave was getting annoyed, but for a moment he was silent trying to remember the familiar voice he heard from the man. But unfortunately he couldn't remember it correctly.

"Tell me, who are you? What do you want from me? My money? Tender? I'll give it to you, but let me go first. I'll-"

"Fuck!" Zayn, who had had enough of Dave's ramblings, moved and threw a fist right at Dave's face which was still covered by the black cloth.

For an instant Dave fell back in his chair, he whimpered in pain though his mouth did not stop cursing and not accepting the treatment of the people who made him so.

Zayn then crouched down and looked scornfully at Dave. "You think you can do everything with your filthy money? I'm not interested at all, all I think about all day is how the cruelest way to destroy you. Because death is not enough, it's too easy."

Dave was silent for an instant, those words were enough to make him tremble. He even swallowed as cold sweat started to run down his body.

"So, what do you want? What did I do wrong to make you do this?"

Zayn chuckled. He didn't expect his words to make Dave feel threatened.

"Are you still asking what you did wrong?" Zayn got up as he exhaled his rough breath, "think about it, I'll help you remember because we'll meet again."

"What? But that's-"

"I have to go. Think of it as a sweet introduction from me." Zayn walked away without hearing Dave's words.

At that, Dave was furious. His anger flared up again because in his life full of arrogance, this was the first time someone dared to treat him like that.

"Shit! Come back! We haven't finished talking yet, you coward!"

Hearing the swear words brought Zayn's steps to a halt. His jaw began to harden with both hands clenched. He then turned to his men who were around Dave.

"Looks like I changed my mind, play around with him before you take him home," Zayn commanded before actually leaving the place.

The boys gasped and seemed to get a breath of fresh air after trying to endure Dave's ranting and raving during their stay.

Without even lingering, they immediately moved closer to Dave. Meanwhile, Dave who was helpless with his body locked up could only scream as he was brutally attacked.

"Argh!!! I'll curse you guys!!!"

***

 Elsewhere, after the plane landed, Zoe and Barra took a car to Zayn's residence, of course with several other cars behind them. However, the long and tiring journey certainly made Zoe start to feel uncomfortable in the stomach and dizziness that slowly attacked.

"Are you okay?" asked Barra, seeing Zoe's obvious pallor, "let's go to the hospital first."

But Zoe quickly shook her head. "No, it's okay. I'm fine."

"Really?"

Zoe then nodded as she cracked a smile trying to be reassuring.

"Ok, just hang in there for a bit longer, we're almost there and you can rest well."

As they arrived, Barra helped Zoe out of the car and walked her along, Zoe was again surprised by the several burly men standing guard at every corner of the large modern Japanese-style house with traditional touches. The guards bowed respectfully as Zoe and Barra walked past. Even as the door opened, the servants who were busy passing by rushed over to give a warm welcome especially to Zoe, Zayn's younger sister.

"This is... Zayn's house?" she asked quietly, her voice almost inaudible due to her shock.

Barra nodded. "Yes, this is Zayn's house. You'll be safe here."

Zoe believed Barra's words, given the tight surroundings of the house. Barra then called out to the servants who then lined up neatly in front of her. 

"This is Zoe. Sir Zayn's sister who will be living here from now on. Make her comfortable and safe. Then make sure all her needs are met," she explained.

The servants nodded in understanding as Barra instructed them in great detail. To Zoe's amazement and astonishment, she felt like she was in another world.

"God... am I dreaming? Or is this just my hallucination because my head is still dizzy and my stomach is very queasy?"