ch. 5 | TO INFINITY AND BEYOND

"Mother...?"

I mumbled weakly when I saw two shadowed figures in front of me.

"Dad! Mom!"

Reaching for them, I could only move my other hand; it was as if my body was paralyzed, and I felt cold shivers on my skin as you desperately called out their names.

In the spur of a moment, a light appeared behind them, the two figures you saw were slowly fading away, succumbing to the dark red light.

Not just that they were shadows, but their faces were far more than visible.

Attempting to scream, but nothing came out of my mouth, no sounds, nothing.

"Save us."

You jolted awake, feeling a pang of ache in your head.

Gasping for air, you just had a nightmare.

I couldn't remember anything about it, and when I tried to close my eyes again to sleep, it didn't work, and I banged my head in frustration.

Still, it was no more use now.

Looking around, the place is different.

It's not the usual plain white walls, popcorn ceiling, lanky ass apartment with paper scratched thin walls.

This appeared to be more modern, with a high ceiling, the ceiling design resembling cloud haste, and white walls with grey and black shades, with other miscellaneous.

The room appeared to be a living room because it was so large and spacious.

The bed's pillars were gold with silver embellishments, and it had a roof-like structure with curtains on the sides.

My first instinct was to get my phone, and I smiled as I quickly found it.

Taking it, I opened my phone and called my friends to seek help.

But then a hand snatched my phone from my grasp.

My eyes widened as I looked up, and there, by my side, was the man from yesterday.

"It's you again!" I yelled, but he was unfazed. He only looked down at me, both hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall.

"Damn, it's too early for you to shout like this." He yawned as he sat by the side of the bed, and I backed up a little, sitting a little too far away from him, which he noticed.

"Don't be scared, I won't bite." He only smirked as he lazily turned his head to you.

"How can I be so sure?" You angrily replied. "You look like you bite ankles, 'tho. Stank bitch."

"What am I even doing here?! Get me out of here right fucking now. I have more shit to handle. Don't add up to my damn problems." Many questions and problems linger in my mind, but I know that the man in front of me can't solve those.

"Done?"

"What—?"

"You need to calm down," he mumbled.

"Let me introduce myself first." The man stood up, walking in front of the bed.

He looked at my state as I'm sitting on the bed, a furious but terrified expression on my face. I'm confused, lost, and had no idea what brought me to this moment.

Overall, he loved it.

"...I'm Dominic Saitō."

"I couldn't care less," I mumbled.

"We need to work on that attitude, yeah?" He sighed.

"Keep saying that while you still can, but you'll regret saying those filthy words from that mouth of yours in the future days." His tone abruptly changed from cheerful to stern.

"Wait, what do you mean future days?" I uttered, perplexed and everything, unable to comprehend what was going on.

"Isn't it obvious from the start?" Dominic raised a brow.

"What?" 

"You still need a role to take. You missed a lot."

"Stop with this bullshit. I don't understand a shit you're saying." I said as each word has a rough tone in it.

Dominic clicked his tongue, then leaned closer to you, his eyes level with yours, a menacing look he gave, looking directly at me. His hand went to my cheeks, his calloused veiny hands in contact with my soft skin.

"You won't understand for now."

While he's grazing my cheeks, brushing strands of my hair behind my ear, his mouth went to your ear, whispering something as you felt his chilly breath on your neck.

"But for now, just do whatever we say, okay? It'll bring you a fortune."

My eyes widened, staring at the wall behind him, feeling my heartbeat quicken in fear as his tone was menacing and full of nefarious schemes.

"Let me repeat it once again, we—"

On cue, the double door opens, revealing three men.

"Dom, what the fuck are you doing?"

"Ah, they're there," Dominic said as he got off the bed and straightened his posture.

The three men stood in front of me, looking in my direction, while I sat at the side of the bed, not looking at any of them.

"Hi, Allura," Lorenzo asked, an executive and member of Regio. "How are you ?"

I remained silent, refusing to respond, my lips not moving as if only quivering. I observed the man who asked me, and I remember him. He was the one sitting at my side on the couch that day when I served them in the VIP room. The one with short, slicked-back dark hair.

"Well, let's start with the introduction first. Can't have a foreign face being so confused." Lorenzo sarcastically said, especially on the 'foreign'.

"The name's Lorenzo Takahashi." The one with short hair says, standing in front of me as I'm sitting at the side of the bed.

"What?" Leo grunted while Lorenzo nudged his younger brother. The younger one clicks his tongue in annoyance, hesitating to speak up.

"...Leo- Leo Takahashi."

"And lastly, Toshiro Fujii."

I sat on the bed, hands on my lap, my gaze fixed on the floor, never leaving it, never daring to make eye contact with the four men in front of me.

"How long will she be acting like—"

"Shush it, Dom, she's still new here." Lorenzo cut him off, while Dominic raised both of his hands in front of his chest and scoffed.

"Well, let's start, shall we?"

"Huh?" I finally let out even just a single sound. It relieved them a bit.

"Follow us." The four men said, finally standing up from my seat. They made me walk out of the door first before them, finally taking a final glance at the room that I was in. The door closed with a loud thud.

Walking through the corridors, I observed the place. It was so wide and large. I notice that I'm on the third floor, with a large chandelier on the high ceiling, and the walls were a shade of mixed white and black, with portraits on each wall that had a golden frame. Each hallway was filled with rooms, yet it was so spacious and well-organized.

And there, a wooden double door was met.

The double door opened to reveal a large room inside, a dining table inside, fancy chairs on either side of the table, and a range of food served at the table.

Bodyguards were positioned in the corners of the room.

"Sit down," Toshiro commanded.

I sat in the middle, still refusing to look at any of them. My sight was fixed on my lap, feeling the cold ambiance of the room.

"Before we say something, eat first."

My hands gripped the utensil tremblingly, and I ate the food slowly, still wary of my surroundings.

After all, I had no idea what brought me here, waking up in a different place with no idea where I was, meeting unfamiliar faces except for the four men whose credibility was low and they were basically threatening and who knows what their intentions were.

"Enjoying the food?" Lorenzo asked while he sat on my left side, while his younger brother, Leo, was on my right. Toshiro was beside Dominic as they were sitting on the opposite side, facing me.

"Can you not fucking watch?" I mumbled, my gaze still fixed on the food, anger still churning in my chest. 

For now, they ignore those risky words you've been hurling at them.

"How was it?" Toshiro asked, of course, you gave them nothing in response but a simple nod.

I ignored all of their questions, not caring or paying attention to them, but one question has lingered in my mind since I awoke earlier, one question to myself that I want to answer.

Where's Zacharias?

"Something on your mind?" Dominic raised his brows as he looked at me.

"We can easily read you, you know. Mind sharing any of your thoughts with us?" Dominic asked, casting a sly glance at the men, giving them hints.

Not wanting to give them any answer or hope, I just continued eating. I don't care about a single thing at this moment except for my sanity.

Well, of course, except for my stepmother who's still in the hospital.

"First of all, why am I here?" I asked, wanting to see my stepmother already.

I was silent the entire time, and the first sentence they heard from me was that. Admit it or not, they were a little hurt, but they also felt a little hope of you finally being able to speak to them.

"And what am I going to do here? Also, when can I go home—"

"You're not."

I finally looked at them after hearing their answer, they smirked as they finally got my attention, finally looking at them with those gazing glossy hazel eyes.

"You'll be staying here with us."

"For what reason exactly?" I retorted, finally responding with full sentences.

"Don't you want a job? A proper home living, perhaps," Lorenzo said.

"Let's place an offer. You'll be working with us, serving us in the same way you did at your previous job, but just in a different place." He added.

"Fuck no. I have a stable job—" A flashback from last night hit me as I paused to continue my words.

I panicked and looked at them with a troubled expression.

"As expected, your reaction would be like that," Leo muttered, who has been quiet the whole time.

"It's gone! You have nowhere to go, Allura." Dominic laughed, as if enjoying my misery.

"And why is that, you may ask? You have no source of income now." They added.

"I can always pick another job!" I answered back.

"Well, that's the problem... What if we refuse? After all, you are so stubborn." Dominic responded, while I only rolled my eyes at him, which was immediately noticed by the men.

"Don't give us that look." Leo sternly said, the sudden drop in his voice startled me a bit.

"Or else we'll actually give you a reason to actually do that."

I widened my eyes at the statement, not wanting to anger Leo, I just stayed put, but I'm cursing them in my head.

"You have no rights-" I uttered in gritted teeth.

"Hmm, this is taking too long. She still doesn't want the offer?" Toshiro sighed. I only shook my head in response, still refusing.

The men exchanged looks, then they nodded as if they were having a conversation.

Dominic threw a photo at the table.

Looking at the photo, my brows furrowed in confusion.

"Who?" I whispered.

It seems like a family photo was shown in the photo, with a woman on the right side, and on the left side, is a man.

"Your parents," one of them said. "Who else?"

My family photo?

"Wait... Where did you get that?" My curiosity was piqued even more. I know I'm the one in the middle even if my mind is in haze.

It can't be. I've been working hard to find my parents as well, but they just found this just an instant. A group of strangers? Tho' except for one man.

But a red X mark was drawn on both of your parent's faces.

"Why is it there?"

Remembering how your parents are already dead, you can't help but connect the dots.

"Is it something that has to do with you...?"

Many, a lot, other questions have been asked, yet all of these are unanswered questions.

"How can you be so certain, accusing someone without making a strong statement or providing evidence, hm?" Dominic said.

"You're fucking vile!" I shouted, but you heard a gun click. Dominic suddenly stood up and pressed the gun's barrel on the photo.

For now, they let your tone slip for a while.

"Stay with us, and maybe you'll know about your parents." The man spoke.

"Give me that photo!" I tried to reach the photo on the table but Dominic quickly grabbed it, his reflex was fast enough.

"Fucking son of a bitch." I cursed under my breath.

"Accept our offer, and we'll help you find them," Dominic said as the photo slipped between his fingers, waving it in front of my face.

"How can I be so sure?" I asked in suspicion.

"Don't you remember? We are almost leading Japan!" Dominic hysterically laughed.

"You think our credibility is low, right? So explain why we have your 'lost' family photo that even you can't remember?" Lorenzo tilted his head.

"We are capable of everything," Lorenzo added.

Guns, a large mansion, owning several residences, surrounded by bodyguards, bulletproof glass, bank vaults...

Gulping, you removed your gaze from him, furrowing your brows.

"Oh, right, we forgot to mention. Perhaps this will make you remember your place."

Suddenly, heavy rain began to fall, colliding with heavy thunder.

"You're working with a gang."

Feeling my heart thump out from the words, my body froze in its seat as I heard the word.

The room fell silent, only the rain outside was heard.

I wasn't stunned by the fact that they were in a gang, but rather by the manner in which he mentioned the word.

All sorts of colors left Allura's face, chills ran down her spine.

I loathed gangs, for a reason that I also despise.

"I don't want this."

Was there really a choice?

"I'm sorry, but I'll gladly refuse the offer."

That was your final decision. Any offer, any job, I will accept regardless, not just when something is in the way, especially if it is associated with gangs.

Ruining innocence, wreaking havoc, and committing crimes were sure in their dictionaries.

I'm well aware of how dangerous this organization can be, how time can be so unjust, how history repeats itself, and how the cycle never ends in even the most endless possibilities.

For the most part, my scintilla was strong enough for them.

Yet anything that is related to those, I fucking despise it, hate it in any way and angle.

I loathed gangs, for a reason that you also despise.

Never imagining yourself becoming one of them.

My intuition was correct. They are a part of the gang ever since in that VIP room.

But I? I never want to be any part of it.

The men were startled by my sudden action as I stood up from my seat, the utensils clanking as I dropped them.

Their eyes were drawn to me, astounded by my little stunt, and they were intently watching every move I made.

I reached for the door handle, but as I twisted it, the double door opened.

I looked up, and there he was, the man from last night.

"Zacharias..." As I saw the man in front of me, my voice got stuck in my throat, shivering with fear.

I stepped back as he walked towards me, staggering back as I only avoided his gaze.

"What's the commotion?"

He looked behind me and he saw the four men who were sitting there comfortably, while they had a smirk on their faces and an amused look, rather.

"Allura is acting like a brat once again. She refused the offer and stated that she would leave." Toshiro informed as he bought a glass of wine, drinking.

"Oh? Is that so? I see."

Zacharias then grabbed my wrist, shocking me a bit as he looked at me with a darkened narrowed gaze. 

"Is that true?" I was dazed by the sudden drop in his voice.

"Did you perhaps forget what they told you a while ago?"

I refused to speak. I only gave him a hostile look directly into his eyes. 

"You will stay here. You're not going anywhere. You hear me?"

"What about my sanity? All of you are too selfish, to begin with." I said, trying to let get my wrist off of his grip, but it only tightens more.

"I have my own fucking reasons why I loath people like you."

I am filled with more than wrath, anger, and anguish as I recall how much I despised the expression on his face, the same expression I scorned days ago with Azazel in the hospital. Oh, so this is Zacharias, huh?

"I just want to go home. My living state is already miserable, and you just add it up!" I raised my voice at him, rage filling my chest.

Suddenly, a deep chuckle erupted from the men and the others. I expect them to respond, heck, shoot you or kill you. I'm unfazed. Those goals I had quickly gone down the drain. 

Zacharias lifted his pistol. My eyes flew to the Glock. I didn't notice he was holding one until he lifted it, he bought the gun under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. He then leaned forward, getting closer to my ear, feeling his searing breath on my skin.

"I am not the Zacharias you heard from that friend of yours." His tone was blunt and stern. "Keep that in your fucking mind."

"How many times must we remind you? All of these childish acts will be for naught in the end."

"Because you know why?" The tip of the gun dug deep into my neck, my lips quivering as he looked me in the eyes, eyes to lips.

"Your chances of tasting freedom are as good as gone."

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them back, gulping as the cold metal weapon grazed my throat. Zacharias then removed the gun, walking away as he faced his back to me.

"Lock her up. I want security twenty-four-seven for all corners in this place."

"Starting today, my rules will be more than strict and stringent."

"No one will get out or roam freely until I say so. Bring her to the room."

Zacharias' commanding tone is orotund, clearly wanting everyone to hear, including the men, especially me.

"And most and foremost, never leave your eyes on her."

Zacharias looked back at me with a blatant stare... a stare that can remind you of his demeaning stone-cold presence.

"For who knows what she can do."

Then there, Zacharias left the room, closing the large double doors with a loud thud.

My eyes widened. My body froze as I was standing there. Behind me were the men. There's held-up long breath in my chest as they looked at me amusingly.

I looked down at my trembling hands. My pupils dilated as I jolted when I felt a man walking behind me.

I didn't miss the smirk forming on Dominic's face as he walked in front of me, leaning forward and leveling his eyes on me.

"Aw, did you hear what he said?" He pouted, imitating my pitiful look with a fake sad expression on his face.

He's clearly provoking me.

My body is tense. I glared angrily at Dominic, and I bit the inside of my cheek. I wanted to punch him right now, but my clammy hands refused to move.

"Let's go to your room," Lorenzo said as Leo, Toshiro, and Dominic walked outside of the room.

Following behind, I walked into the same hallway again. I want to forget this place.

Walking into my room, the men left me alone. I closed the door harshly behind them. I sat cautiously at the edge of the bed, and I finally let out my tears.

I sank deeper into the sheets, hugging my knees as I placed my chin on top and curled myself even more.

I sobbed about how baffled, threatened, scared, and lost I am.

I cried, pleaded to God, and even to thin air for an answer, and I have a lot of questions running through my head.

The sudden boom of thunder outside scared me, and the way I jolt every time when even a single sound resonated had an effect on me.

I sobbed even more, finally letting the tears from a while ago flow, finally letting the lump out of my throat, thinking the men were all gone and they couldn't hear my pleading cries, my despair mewls, and my frantic begging.

Well, that's at least what I thought.

At the other side of the door, a man was standing there.

Carefully listening to my words, his heart showed no remorse.

No remorse.

"What a loss," Zacharias muttered.

Thunder and lightning, just like the path, how all immense prospects can lead to a solitary grievance, destroying everything in their paths, their words marking your skin like permanent, how you stumbled upon this.

"With endless possibilities..."

After all, nothing is impossible, right?

"...Your fate will be subjected to us..."

Yet, here I am, living under the same roof with the thing I despise the most in your life.

"...May it be the past, present, or future."