《Where Do We Go》


 01: Live or to Not Live

    It would have been pitch black if it were not for the dull moonlight seeping through the trees. There were no other signs of life ever since I arrived at the rickety bridge.


    Few people knew of the ancient bridge which has been standing here, God knows since when. Bridge of Time they called it -- my father shared this whenever we came hiking here back when I was a kid. He said that according to an old legend, his mother told him, that this bridge is said to be a line between life and death. And that is how its name came to be; since if anything could be between life and death, it would be time. It said that in ancient days, people could talk to those on the other side through the bridge. Apparently, the waters under the bridge were blessed by the deities to grant the wishes of those between life and death. I vaguely remembered being so intrigued by the story at the age of six, that I was not able to sleep all night; now after 14 years, it still intrigued me.


    I knew it was just a legend but towards the beginning, whenever I was here, I could still feel my father''s presence. I could remember his bright smile as I basked in the moonlight on the bridge. In all its tranquility, thankfully, the only sound I could hear was his heartwarming laughter. Nevertheless, as years passed, the bridge felt less and less magical. I still remembered him, but I could not feel him as much anymore. To be fair, I stopped coming by as much. That is what time was supposed to do, perhaps. It is supposed to slowly erase everything - happy memories, scars, and everything in between.


    But unfortunately, time does not always do that unbiasedly. Sometimes it diminishes the happy memories while the agonizing ones stay behind.


    Standing on the bridge, I stared, transfixed, at the waters lapping softly far below, unsure what I was hoping to find. Somehow, it felt like the right place to end.


    My arms were still stinging, and my left ear was still ringing. I smiled sadly at the moon, wondering if my father knew I was here like this. It was difficult to not silently wish that someone would just pat my head like my father used to.I am thinking of all kinds of nonsense now, aren''t I?


    Honestly, exhaustion was hitting me like a truck, that too, repeatedly. Holding on to the freezing railing tight was proving to be challenging. I could barely hear my raspy breath. It was not only because bolts of pain were running up and down my back, but because inside it felt like someone was choking me so much that taking even one breath felt cruel. There was no one around who could hold me once and say that everything would be okay and that I was not alone. I did not have a home to go back to anymore, and more than that I did not have the will to go on.Everything hurts.


    Before I could think anymore, I staggeringly somehow pushed myself over the railing and found myself standing on the edge of the bridge, holding onto the railing behind me. The wintry breeze sent shivers up and down my spine. Gushing sounds emanated from the waves; they were crashing into each other more powerfully now as if they were already mourning what was to come.


    My hands were slippery and somewhat warm because of all the blood. As I coughed, I could taste the growing smell of iron in my mouth. I gave a hollow laugh.I am dying either way. Is that it?This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Tears fell unbidden, though I couldn¡¯t call it crying. The raw pain and cold air burned as my breaths grew shallow and frantic. My knees buckled, and my head spun as despair took hold.


    I was not sure if I was, in fact, howling in resentment or if it was all in my head.


    Now that I was truly on the brink of life and death, it felt like I was finally registering all the disappointment, injustice, fear, anger, and anguish. I did not understand why and how I had come to this point in my life. I never properly stood up for myself. I did not even get a chance to have dreams. I did not make friends or fall in love. I did not make the stupid mistakes that young people make.How did I live so far?


    It struck me that I was more terrified than furious. I did not want to jump; I did not want my life to end like this.Why should I give up now on my own, after everything? Not sure how but I have to try to live somehow.


    I twisted my body and let go of one hand to turn around and climb back on the bridge.


    Maybe I was too shocked to scream when my remaining hand on the railing slipped accidentally.


    And I started falling headfirst.


    With the little remaining strength I had, I shut my eyes and prayed to whichever deity was listening and begged.


    I don''t want to die like this. I can''t. Please, let me live this once.


    The icy waters mercilessly slammed against my body like needles piercing everywhere. Water was swirling around me. As I sank deeper, the moonlight above my head disappeared. I could not flail my arms either since the ice-cold waters had rendered me almost paralyzed. Pure horror of my impending doom set in.I am dying.


    Please. I begged one last time with the tiny consciousness onto which I was clinging.For the sake of everything I tolerated and went through, please just for once, save me.


    I could not tell how long I prayed.


    In all the panic, it eventually dawned on me that I was not drowning anymore. The waters were unexpectedly calm in contrast to the previously agitated state. Neither was the water rushing in through my nose nor was I feeling any water pressure now.


    Why am I still breathing? Panic gave way to disbelief as the icy water wrapped around me like a cocoon, holding me between terror and awe.


    I was breathing underwater.


    What?


    Something felt strange, almost eerie.Am I dead?


    My heart sank.I am dead.


    Just then, the waters surrounding me lit up. Bright, blue waters.


    Flowers?


    With disbelief, I caught myself rotating and turning to witness what lay in front of my eyes.I am floating... in an underwater garden?


    There were flowers of so many kinds and colors, that I could only guess that some may be roses, peonies, and tulips. It took a while before it hit me that I could even smell the different fragrances too. If I were not convinced that I was facing death at that moment, I would even say all of it was breathtakingly beautiful.


    Shit. I must be dead already.


    Panic overtook the momentary bewilderment.


    I don''t want to be dead. Where am I? Is this the afterlife or something? What do I do? What do I do?!


    As if on cue, I noticed something glowing from the corner of my eye ¡ª it was a flower. A black tiger flower, to be precise.Why do I know that flower?


    It was tucked away carefully between some other black flowers. Suddenly, it unfurled with unnatural grace, surging toward me before I could react. The searing pain in my chest was brief but unforgettable ¡ªlike someone had twisted my insides in a full circle ¡ªleaving me gasping and trembling.


    As pain radiated through my chest, a voice, deep and resonant, echoed through the water: ¡°Then, live.¡± It wasn¡¯t a command¡ªit felt like a judgment.


    In a wink, dark shadows drained back into the waters and my vision got blurry again. The garden disappeared. The force that was keeping me suspended in the waters vanished too. And I plummeted into a black chasm underneath. I only saw the fuzzy outlines of the bubbles from my shriek as I got swallowed by the darkness from all sides.

 02: Complete Stranger

    Blazing, yellow lights. No..., are they white?


    I was squinting as I struggled to open my eyes. A faint, high-pitched buzz crept to my awareness.


    I groaned as I sat up in, what I realized was, a bed.


    What happened? And where am I? Did I ...not die? Or did I?


    I took a glimpse of my blurry surroundings. The room had white walls with only a closed, white door at the front and what looked like a closet, with a small, white side table next to it.


    I was still having difficulty keeping my eyes open. My head was throbbing from all the whiteness around me. I winced as I pressed my forehead subconsciously, trying vainly to get my bearings together.


    "You''re up." a balmy voice noted.


    It took me longer than I would have liked to realize that the voice was coming from the only door in the room now standing wide open. My eyes darted to where a tall man lingered with a tray in his hand. Surprise stole my voice, leaving whatever noise I might have made trapped in my throat. Ignoring the dull pain, I shook my head, hoping to clear my foggy vision and thoughts. It is a man..., but where am I? What''s going on?... Have I been captured?


    He was probably in his early twenties, close to my age. A loose black t-shirt hung from his broad shoulders and did little to hide his toned body. The t-shirt was tucked in lazily on his left side into a pair of black sweatpants. Black hair was sitting haphazardly on his head. His pale skin was smooth ¡ª almost otherworldly. On top of that, he fashioned a pair of circular, low-bridge glasses that framed his round, dark eyes. An indiscernible smile played on his thin lips. A smile that did not quite reach his eyes. Even in utter confusion and, honestly, distress, I could not help but stare at him. Something was odd.


    A chill ran up my spine. Who...?


    As he walked into the room, I was dragged back to Mother Earth.


    I croaked, "Stop! Don''t! Wait! Who...wh--"


    I started coughing uncontrollably before I could continue to spew more random words.


    My throat was parched and raw, and the adrenaline from the shock of everything wasn¡¯t helping. Each cough racked my body, leaving me gasping for air as I tried to suppress the fit. Between wheezes, I glanced at the man again. The strange smile was gone. He hadn¡¯t moved an inch since I¡¯d told him to stop¡ªhe didn¡¯t even pretend to offer help. Instead, he tilted his head, as if his way of assisting was simply waiting for me to acknowledge the glass of water perched on the tray he held.


    I didn¡¯t want it, but the wheezing was relentless, and my lungs felt like they were on the verge of collapse. To avoid the growing discomfort, I reluctantly gestured for the water.


    ¡°Careful¡ªit might be poisoned,¡± he said, his dry tone undercut by a flicker of amusement that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes.


    I stifled the urge to glare and focused on the water instead. The thirst clawing at me outweighed any concerns about its safety. I took the glass without a word and gulped it down as quickly as I could while not coughing it all out. The lukewarm liquid immediately soothed my throat.


    As I finally took a shaky inhale, the questions stormed back into my mind. Now that I could breathe, the full weight of my situation hit me. The fear coiled in my chest, growing tighter with every passing second. I was alone with a stranger¡ªin what I suspected was his bed¡ªand I had no idea how or why I was here.


    But, that wasn¡¯t my first concern.


    "It might sound stupid but am I..." I did not want to ask him such a futile question but, I had to check for my sanity''s sake. I hid a wince. "Am I dead?"


    "You were about to be." He coolly replied while putting the tray away on the, yet, again white, side table. "You were almost going to fall off the bridge when I caught you."


    I quietly pinched myself in the silly effort of confirming his words and funnily enough, let out a breath of relief. Okay, let''s believe his words for now. Not like I have much of a choice. So, seems like I might not be dead after all. And that''s not bad... I guess.


    Suspicion churned in my mind. Still, shoving it aside, I forced myself to ask, steadying my fragile voice, ¡°How long have I been out¡­? And where am I really and why bring me here?¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "Well, it''s almost evening and you''ve been out since the night before yesterday, so around 40 hours maybe. " He pulled some blankets out of the closet while nonchalantly answering. " And, you said to not take you to the hospital or to report to the police. We tried to convince you, but you were quite injured and were losing consciousness. I didn''t want us to be blamed later that we forced you into anything or having you die on us, so I took a video of you asking for our help and we brought you here - my family''s vacation house¡­ I know I''m pretty smart and attractive. No need to look at me like that."


    I was staring indeed but not for the reason he thought ¡ª I could not care any less about that. I started fidgeting with my hands. As I did not say anything in response, he took a brief look at me and steadily placed the blankets on the bed, "You... don''t remember anything?"


    I did not meet his eyes or reply, but I could tell he had already guessed that I remembered nothing. Nevertheless, in actuality, I was able to recall my memories, but only until a certain point on the bridge. Everything was unclear in my head from then on. I thought I fell from the bridge...


    Even though I was not a doctor or anything, I knew that if I had truly fallen into the water in this icy weather and in the condition I was in, there was no way I would have survived. In any case, I had other things to be more afraid of than being unable to remember the events from the bridge. Have I been kidnapped? No... they couldn''t have found me there at the bridge. Right?


    "How do you know of the bridge?"


    "It might come as a shock to you but it''s not some confidential information, you know. " He paused. " This vacation house is in the same forest where the bridge is. About four and a half miles from here. I have known the bridge for probably longer than you have. "


    I was trying to pay attention to him, but my brain was also running at its full speed, trying to piece together how I got here at the same time. Obviously, it was not working too well and instantly resulted in a more intense headache.


    Why is he acting like a know-it-all?


    I snapped at him before I could hold myself back, "Oh please, it might come as a shock to you too, but why should I believe anything you are saying? You could be lying. You are a complete stranger. Hell, you could be a kidnapper or some kind of criminal for all I know!"


    I must have lost it. Screaming at a possible criminal was clearly the best move here. I must have broken my brain completely since this is the point in my life where I choose to snap. Now, if he is not a criminal, he will surely throw me out...Great.


    "That''s up to you. You can just walk out of here and go wherever you want, you know. No one will stop you. Although I am not sure if you will make it too far in this condition. And you''ve some unusual injuries so I can tell there''s something else going on as well... - not that I care. It''s just that you were going to die, unfortunately, in front of us, so we had to save you. Also, I have that video of yours, so really, in any way, there won''t be a legal problem for us. And even if there is an issue, we are more than capable of hiring a really good lawyer." He suddenly seemed so cold and distant, that I was taken aback by his words. " So, suit yourself."


    I blinked uncomfortably and looked away. What was I expecting after freaking out on someone whom I don''t know, while he supposedly saved me?


    He was right though. If I tried to escape with my present health, I would probably pass out before I could exit wherever I was and there was not a safe place for me to run to anyway. I remembered everything that happened until when I was about to fall off the bridge. So, it was not like I had amnesia or anything like that. I just had no memories after my hands slipped on the bridge and everything else that happened before that night was hazy too. But, I was hurt severely, especially my head. If not anything else, given my injuries, it wouldn''t be too shocking if the feeling of being underwater was just a hallucination, right?... Wait... my injuries?


    Only now did I notice the bandages. They wrapped my arms and forehead like quiet reminders of a rough night. There was also a tiny butterfly needle attached to my left wrist, which I concluded was for IV fluids since there was an IV pole standing next to the headboard behind me. I perceived that I could also smell the menthol from the pain-relieving patches all over my back. I did not spot any of these before because the whole situation, specifically the man, overwhelmed me too much. Regardless of the stiffness everywhere, I did not feel like I was dying as I was on the bridge. My left ear was no longer ringing either. He did help me somehow, I guess.


    I didn¡¯t trust him. He could be anyone¡ªmaybe even someone working with whoever might be after me. But panicking wouldn¡¯t help. For now, I decided to play along, thank him, and stay on his good side while I figured out my next move.


    "I am... sorry. I didn''t mean to sound rude earlier. And..., thank you for taking care of my wounds and for saving me...I am... I am just really frustrated and scared as you can imagine. I only vaguely remember the feeling of falling. And you are saying you saved me from falling, but I can''t seem to recall that at all. Not even... " ¡ª I nervously fiddled with the bandage on my right thumb ¡ª " not even my past really... Everything is fuzzy and broken..."


    That was a lie. Lying was not my forte, not even petty lying. It did not feel great, but if he truly was not involved in kidnapping me and instead, saved me, I figured I might be able to stay safe here for a while if I hid my past.


    He shrugged as if to say he did not care enough to feel offended by what I said earlier. Instead, he pointedly told me, "Nothing to thank me for. As I said, we saved you just because you happened to be there. As for your wounds, we have an in-house doctor of some sort ¡ª who helped with them. Also, your clothes are as they were in the closet; I put them in a plastic bag. They were dry, except for the blood from the wounds. Didn''t think it would be a good idea to meddle with them before you woke up. So yeah, you definitely didn''t fall into the water."


    Wait, wait a sec... my clothes. Who changed my clothes? Him?!


    My eyes shot to his face, catching the faintest glimmer of mischief in his gaze. Shit.

 03: Just Kai

    I would have jumped out of bed if it were physically possible, " You changed my clothes?!"


    He automatically inched away from the bed andimperturbably responded, " You''ve been unconscious for almost two days in this very room of a house that apparently belongs to a complete stranger, your own words, and this is your biggest concern?"


    After taking a quick look at me, he perchance realized I was still appalled.


    He scoffed, " I didn''t change your clothes. The housekeepers helped with that. Female housekeepers. And I have better things to do than that. This is my first time coming to this room after bringing you here from the bridge, which was such an easy chore, as you can imagine. "


    I awkwardly cleared my throat and quietly said, " That''s okay then, I guess."


    He simply raised his eyebrows in amusement and slowly turned to leave. As my stinky luck would have it, that is when it occurred to me that I needed to use the washroom and there was not one in the room from the looks of it. Must be the IV fluids.


    Although admittedly I was embarrassed and still uneasy with this man around, I blurted out before he could exit, " Excuse me... um...I really need to use the loo please."


    Even though he was standing with his back facing me, I could tell that he was laughing inwardly. Did I just say loo? Loo?! Have I ever used the word loo in my life before? Did I truly break my brain? Honestly, even if I did, is the word this funny to him?... ugh.


    He turned back to face me and simply smirked, "When our housekeepers come back from the grocery store, I will ask one of them to take you to the loo, so in about 20 minutes or so."


    As much as I wanted to smother him with a pillow, I could not wait 20 minutes. So, I put on a smile and emphasized, "Um...thank you but if you can just tell me where the washroom is, I can just go now by myself."


    "Alright. You just go out of this door and take a right. Keep walking and you will see an exceptionally beautiful fountain. Don''t stare at it for too long because you might get lost. Take a left from there and go down the second stairs you see on the way. It will take you to a corridor. The guest loos are there." His weak attempt to hide the smug smile made it more obvious that he was just messing with me at this point.


    Right, I will magically walk all the way there with all these injuries by myself. Does he have to behave this way when I am like this?  It made me furious¡ªnot just at him, but at everything.


    The anger wasn¡¯t really about him¡ªI hardly knew the man. It was about the unbearable, exponentially increasing weight I¡¯d been carrying for so long. A dam inside me had burst, and now, every raw, jagged piece of my brokenness came rushing to the surface. I realized, with a sharp sting, that the feelings that had led me to that bridge¡ªthose dark, suffocating emotions¡ªwere still there.


    Yes, I¡¯d survived. Yes, I¡¯d been pulled back from the brink. But survival doesn¡¯t erase the scars, does it? The wounds of my past were still etched deep, unhealed, and screaming for attention, reminding me that a second chance at life doesn¡¯t mean the pain vanishes.


    My heart began to beat faster than before.


    He must have felt something was off as I did nothing but look vacantly at the doorway past him. He carefully articulated, "Maybe you hit your head too hard and your sense of humor is gone. Anyway, I do have a bit of time to waste now, so follow me. I will show you the washroom."


    Tears were welling up in my eyes. I did not want to reply to him, even though I heard his voice as clear as day. Without making any eye contact with him intentionally, I silently dragged myself to the side of the bed and slowly got off to stand on the floor. I could not tell if I was actually shaking or if it was all in my head. Am I having a panic attack now or what?


    Both my legs gave away at once.


    Right then, there were two hands holding me up by my arms. It seemed like I had still yet to recover from the cold from being out on the bridge because his hands felt like the autumn sun on my skin. The warmth ran up my arms, and down to my torso in pulses. Surprised, I inadvertently looked up at him. His face was closer than I would have guessed; I was staring directly into his eyes.


    "I think you are having a panic attack. It will be okay. Focus on one thing and breathe. Count steadily from one to five on each in-breath and each out-breath."


    Much to my own astonishment, I followed obediently and took a deep breath. 1.. He had this light, citrus musk scent with hints of vanilla that was washing over me in waves. 2... One would not be able to notice it if they were not standing this close, but his eyes had beautiful tinges of black and mocha around his pupils. 3... The eyes were doe-like and rounder than I had initially thought and almost enthralling. 4... Nonetheless, unlike his hands, the eyes felt cold. 5... And, oddly, in contrast to the rest of his face, there were bags under his eyes as if he had not slept in days.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    He added, " Now, let it out slowly and count to 5 while you do so."


    I let out my breath slowly while counting again. I wonder if he has his own history too, maybe like mine -- who knows.


    I was no longer trembling. He took his hands off me carefully and stepped back. Whatever spell had swept over me when I was in close proximity to him ended. My heart was still pounding but for a different reason possibly.


    I looked away instinctively.


    I knew he did not have to help me calm down. He could have left me by asking me to rest and to handle myself on my own. That would have been understandable too. Maybe he''s not a bad person. Maybe he''s like a gangster, who is not a jerk?...


    So, I mumbled only loud enough for him to hear a little, "I am okay now. Thank you for that. "


    He gave his signature shrug and moved away to my left. Sliding his right hand into his sweatpants pocket, he motioned towards the door with the other one. While still avoiding looking at him, I took a step. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from yelping because of the sharp pain. Apparently standing was not the main issue here -- trying to walk was what undoubtedly hurt the most.


    The man must have again noticed the expression on my face because he dryly offered, "You can hold on to my arm to relieve some of the weight off of your legs if you want. I am not gonna sue you for it."


    I was not sure if it was my meaningless pride or the fact that I was embarrassed that I was unwantedly showing vulnerabilities to this stranger again and again -- whether it was being discovered by him on the bridge in a nightmarish state or almost crying in front of him -- but I simply shook my head. I did not look up to see his reaction and bit my tongue to take another step toward the door. It stung worse this time. I somehow stopped the grunt from escaping my mouth.


    I kept my head down, closed my eyes, and held my breath to balance and take the next step -- still refusing to look at the man.


    He had a fleeting tone of urgency in his voice when he said this time, "Okay, you don''t have to hold my arm. I am going to hold you up. If you don''t like it, feel free to shove my hands away."


    His right hand reached out for me and hesitated for a moment as if still waiting for my permission, despite his words. That made me meet his eyes. There was no mischief in what he said this time. This is so stupid. I should just take the help when I clearly need it and it''s being offered.


    I pushed my unease aside.


    When I nodded, he calmly expressed, "Hmm, I don''t think that carrying you would be a good idea due to your other wounds. I think the best way would be to have you lean on me so there''s less pressure on your legs as you walk."


    Soon, I felt his right arm across my back; his right hand held me by my hip on my right side. Using his other hand, he tucked the back of my left shoulder into the front of his right shoulder so that I can shift my weight. Finally, he offered his left hand for added support.


    The only problem was that, in a flash, I was too aware of how physically close we were and was not sure anymore how to shift my weight toward him. Before I could continue struggling in my mind, he said "You can just think of me like a wall and just lean against me, so you can just take my hand, here. "


    I was fairly sure my cheeks were starting to get flushed as I started to feel that warmness again as if emanating from him and into me. This was unknown territory for me. Yet, I followed accordingly and held his left hand with mine. The warmth of his hand settled snugly against the cold of mine. I gently leaned against him, visibly trying not to put too much pressure on him, worrying if I was making him uncomfortable.


    Probably after reading my body language, he casually shared, " You can lean a bit more you know. I am not the one who is hurt with like a million injuries. In fact, I am very fit and quite athletic, so frankly, it is a little insulting if you think I will collapse under your weight. So, yeah just be comfortable, and let''s walk when you are ready. "


    Even though I had probably turned into a tomato at that point, I was still grateful that he was comfortable saying things like that since otherwise I would still be very awkward.


    As we attentively walked towards the door, the pain much more manageable now, it came to my mind that I did not know his name or who he was. I peeked at him; since he was much taller than me, my head was basically against his chest. He was facing down, concentrating on my feet -- probably to make sure I did not step on him.


    I hesitatingly asked, "So who are you? Like your name? You never shared your name."


    Although I was looking ahead, I could tell that his eyes had shifted to my face. " You didn''t either. Do you remember yours? "


    " I asked -"


    " Don''t tell me that you are going to say you asked first so I must answer first."


    Okay... he is still quite annoying. Anyway, I should still get to know his name, that is, if he says the truth.


    I put on a sarcastic smile, " Hi, my name is Zara...just Zara. And who are you? "


    He abandoned my left hand to open the door.


    "Zara... Nice. " I could not decipher his tone as he returned to holding my hand. "Well, honestly, given the circumstances and all, I can''t say it''s nice to meet you, Zara but I am glad that it looks like you will not be dying on my watch, at least. And my name is Kai. Just Kai. "


    Kai. The name rolled around in my mind, familiar yet foreign, carrying an air of gravity I couldn¡¯t place.


    " Well, frankly, I am not sure about this situation or you, Kai, but thank you anyway for helping out so far. "


    We had exited the room by then.


    "As I said, it was in some way, the least problematic way to be out of this situation so there''s no need to feel so much gratitude toward me. Also, I should let--"


    " Yeah, yeah. You have made that abundantly clear, " I pursed my lips and retorted.


    "Well, that''s a surprise. She has a sassy side. I told you. The ones that look the quietest turn out to be the most surprising. And not to jinx it, but have you seen Kai complying with someone this nicely before on the first encounter? Miracles happen after all. ", a bright voice rang through the air, followed by a mix of chuckles and short-lived laughter.


    My eyes shot away from Kai to the source of all this.


    Without missing a beat, my jaw dropped.


    What the actual hell?


    We had left the room I was in and were now standing in an expansive drawing room, at the other end of which, there was a set of sofas amongst other things. Sitting in them were four men -- four, young men other than Kai. Four men wearing black clothes just like him. Four men with ethereal looks like him. Four men who gave me chills from the first glance, just as he did.


    My stomach twisted.

 05: The Brothers

    I was frozen on the spot. The men were all observing me inquisitively from afar. It looked like they had just spotted a very rare deer in the wild and were waiting for its next move¡ªlike if they did anything too quickly, I would bolt.


    Honestly, I probably would, if I could.


    Kai saw my face, his expression a mix of awkwardness and mild concern. ¡°So¡­ uh, I was going to say that I should probably tell you¡ªwe¡¯re not alone.¡±


    My heart hammered against my ribs. The sweat beading on my forehead and above my upper lip was starting to trickle down. It felt like someone had lit a fire on my cheeks.


    He could have other people staying at the vacation house, right?¡­ Right? No, this has to be a trap. They must be the gangsters. They must have somehow found me¡­ but how so quickly? I can¡¯t even fight off one of them like this¡ªlet alone the whole group. Oh God, I have to get out¡­ but how?


    My thoughts spiraled into chaotic loops, each more frantic than the last. Are these people actually my saviors¡­?


    ¡°Hey, are you still with me?¡± Kai¡¯s voice broke through my panic, grounding me just enough to pull me back into the room. His grip on my arm, steady yet loose, was the only thing keeping me from launching myself out the nearest window like a startled pigeon.


    I mumbled, ¡°Hmm. Yeah, yeah¡­¡±


    I wasn¡¯t sure if it was because of how close we were standing or because Kai could simply read people that well, but he could clearly sense how flustered I was.


    ¡°So, before you continue freaking out¡ªwhich, honestly, would be a real hassle given your current state¡ªthese are my older brothers. And, well, this is our vacation home, remember? We came here to relax, and we found you at the bridge when we were out together.¡±


    The four men nodded in their own ways. From where I stood, they didn¡¯t exactly scream ¡°kidnapper¡± or ¡°gangster,¡± but I knew better than anyone how deceiving appearances could be.


    Still, the pieces started falling into place. Kai had been referring to ¡°we¡± and ¡°us¡± back in the white room. I hadn¡¯t caught on then, but now it was clear. Maybe he wasn¡¯t trying to trick me. Maybe.


    Let¡¯s calm down, okay? Panicking isn¡¯t going to help¡ªit¡¯ll just make things worse. First, figure out what¡¯s happening. Then, wait for a chance to escape when your health improves. If they wanted to kill you, they¡¯d have done it already¡ªright? That means there¡¯s time. Worst-case scenario? Push your luck until it snaps. Solid plan. Yes. Yep. Totally foolproof¡­ You¡¯ve held on through exponentially worse things, Zara. Deep breaths. You¡¯ve got this. Probably.


    Kai gestured toward a door on the far side of the room, past the sofas where the men sat. ¡°The closest bathroom is over there. Let¡¯s get you there first. After that, we can do introductions, if needed.¡±


    The mention of a bathroom brought back the urgency I¡¯d been ignoring in my newfound panic. Ridiculously enough, the moment I was reminded of it, I realized I needed to use it quite badly. I nodded quickly, trying not to think about how absurd it was to worry about that given the current situation.


    In any case, it was obvious that Kai¡¯s words weren¡¯t entirely for my benefit. One of his brothers, perched on the edge of the sofa, looked like he was about to stand and approach me. But as soon as Kai spoke, the man leaned back again, as if he¡¯d reluctantly decided to let the youngest sibling take the lead. The others, meanwhile, exchanged looks that I couldn¡¯t quite decipher¡ªequal parts curiosity and mild amusement.


    Their eyes followed me as Kai guided me across the drawing room. The weight of everything I¡¯d been through was starting to bear down on me again. Exhaustion tugged at my limbs, and I didn¡¯t have the energy¡ªor the nerve, for that matter¡ªto acknowledge the men properly. My mind locked onto the bathroom door ahead, as though it were some kind of sanctuary. I blocked out everything else, focusing solely on putting one foot in front of the other without collapsing.


    Nonetheless, the silence in the room¡ªbroken only by our slow, shuffling steps¡ªamplified the awkwardness. The distance between me and the door felt unbearably long.


    I stole a glance at the group and muttered, barely audible, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have guessed you were all brothers¡­¡±


    One of the men chuckled, his tone rich with amusement. ¡°Well, that¡¯s presumptuous of you. What if we¡¯re all adopted?¡±


    ¡°Unlikely, but sure ¡ª¡± Before I could form a proper response, I glanced at the man¡ªand the words didn¡¯t just catch in my throat; they staged a full-on protest, barricading themselves from leaving my lips.


    ¡®Handsome¡¯ was a criminal understatement. The man exuded a magnetic, effortless elegance that felt almost unfair. A playful yet kind smile tugged at his pillow-soft lips, lighting up his bright, round eyes with a genuine warmth. His wavy hair fell in perfectly imperfect locks, framing his face in a way that seemed both accidental and maddeningly deliberate. Honestly, he could¡¯ve been considered stunning even if he¡¯d been plopped down on another planet.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Despite his tired demeanor, his presence radiated a comforting energy¡ªa stark contrast to Kai¡¯s sharper, more intense vibe. Kai, however, didn¡¯t seem to share the sentiment. He was glaring at the man with unmistakable annoyance, his expression practically screaming, Not again.


    ¡°Ah, not now,¡± Kai muttered, his voice laced with thinly veiled exasperation, like someone bracing themselves for an all-too-familiar routine. ¡°Please¡ª¡±


    ¡°Kai. Zane. Let¡¯s calm down,¡± a firm, steady voice cut through the tension like a hot knife through butter. ¡°She¡¯s already overwhelmed. Let¡¯s not throw anything else at her.¡±


    So, the absurdly attractive man is Zane.


    Kai grumbled under his breath but eventually relented. ¡°Got it, Theo.¡±


    And he¡¯s Theo.


    The atmosphere in the room shifted subtly as Theo spoke, his calm authority settling over everyone like a quiet, grounding presence. Zane, now grinning with a teasing glint in his eye, leaned back in his seat, shrugging as if to say, Fine, I¡¯ll behave¡ªfor now.


    Although I didn¡¯t know them, it was clear from their body language that Theo was the one they all listened to. There was something unshakable about him, an effortless command in the way he carried himself. The way the others deferred to him was starkly different from how they treated Kai, who seemed more like the youngest sibling they humored out of fondness. Theo, though? He felt like the center of the room¡ªthe quiet axis they all unconsciously revolved around.


    He smiled at me gently, his dimples deepening in a way that softened his otherwise commanding presence. ¡°To clarify, we¡¯re Kai¡¯s cousins, so you¡¯re technically right¡ªwe¡¯re not brothers in the strictest sense. But we¡¯re closer than most siblings.¡± His voice was warm and reassuring. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us. If you need anything, just let Kai know¡ªor any of us, really.¡±


    I nodded faintly, finding it hard to meet his steady gaze for too long. Theo signaled Kai to continue, and we resumed our slow trek toward the bathroom.


    <hr>


    Kai pushed the bathroom door open and hesitated, his tone hovering somewhere between detached and oddly reluctant. ¡°Use the sink and walls for support. If you need anything¡­ yell or something. One of us will hear you.¡±


    I glanced up at him, catching the briefest flicker of hesitation in his posture. Is he weighing whether I¡¯d somehow trip over my own feet the moment he lets go?


    Whatever the reason, I let go first, steadying myself against the sink as I stepped inside. Without sparing him another look, I closed the door and locked it behind me.


    For the first time since waking up in this disorienting situation, I exhaled deeply. The solid barrier between me and the rest of them was more comforting than I expected. It felt like I¡¯d finally carved out a tiny pocket of safety, however temporary.


    At least now, I can use the toilet in peace.


    <hr>


    As I washed my hands, I caught my reflection in the mirror. To say I looked worn out would not even begin to cut it. My face was gaunt, almost unrecognizable, as if the person staring back was someone else entirely.


    I reached up and lightly touched the bandage wrapped neatly around my forehead. It wasn¡¯t as sore as I expected, though the sight of it still made me wince. My left eye and lips showed faint traces of swelling, painted with tinges of blue and purple, like the aftermath of a storm. Tiny cuts decorated my cheeks, their raw edges glistening under some kind of ointment. Bandages hugged the corners of my left ear with a quiet firmness, a subtle reminder of how close I¡¯d come to unraveling completely.


    As my gaze traveled further, I began to notice the faint marks that didn¡¯t seem fresh. Subtle discolorations¡ªshades of faded green and sickly yellow¡ªran along my upper arms, barely visible under my sleeves but unmistakably present. Older bruises, chronic reminders of my past. I reached for one without thinking, my fingers brushing lightly over the surface. As I pressed, it wasn¡¯t painful anymore, but tears welled up in my eyes as deep resentment and heartbreak stirred inside, in a place I didn¡¯t know how to reach.


    I should just be grateful to be alive right now. But how can I, with everything that¡¯s happened? How do I keep moving forward when I don¡¯t even know what ¡°forward¡± looks like anymore? Can I actually ever move on? Still¡­ I have to hang in there. Even if I don¡¯t know what to live for, I know now that I don¡¯t want to die. So, I have to.


    I let out a shaky sigh and dipped my head, avoiding my reflection as though it were judging me. Turning away, I finally noticed the space I was in.


    The bathroom was enormous¡ªlarger than any I could have ever imagined. The white marble floors radiated warmth against my cold feet, and the soft glow of hidden lighting gave the room an almost dreamlike quality. Past the toilet and sink near the door, the space expanded into what felt like an entirely different world. On one side stood a sleek shower encased in glass walls, and on the other, a luxurious corner bathtub surrounded by lush, vibrant plants. Between them sat a wooden bench, simple yet inviting.


    I wasn¡¯t sure what drew me to it, but my legs seemed to carry me forward on their own. The warmth from the floor climbed up my legs, chasing away some of the bone-deep exhaustion. Slowly, almost hesitantly, I sank down onto the bench.


    I¡¯m so tired. I just don¡¯t want to go back outside. I don¡¯t want to think about what¡¯s happening or how everything in my life feels broken beyond repair. I¡¯m too exhausted to panic anymore. Too drained to even be scared.


    Without much thought, I swung my legs up onto the bench and curled into a fetal position, resting my head on my arms. My body felt heavy, but the bench beneath me was surprisingly comfortable.


    Sleep was creeping up on me faster than I expected. Drowsiness blurred the edges of my thoughts, pulling me into its quiet embrace. I didn¡¯t even hear the faint clatter of the bathroom door or notice it opening.


    I might have caught a soft exhale¡ªbarely audible¡ªbefore I felt two firm hands scoop me up. My body was weightless, floating like I was drifting in a dream.


    Am I floating?


    My eyes fluttered open, just enough to catch a blurry glimpse of a man¡¯s face. His round, warm eyes hovered above me, framed by slightly furrowed brows that seemed equal parts confused and concerned. There was something familiar about those eyes, something safe. But before I could place him, my lids grew heavy again, and the world went dark once more.


    This is so cozy.


    The gentle motion of being carried lulled me further into sleep. Somewhere on the edge of consciousness, I heard a voice¡ªfeminine, soft, and clear.


    ¡°Zane, can you lay her down in my room for now?¡±


    And just like that, I let go, surrendering to the quiet comfort of the moment.