Chapter:23
"zayden"
As the days turned into weeks, I grew more determined to walk again. Khai's mom had told me that I wasn't paralyzed, but the nerves in my legs were swollen. I was determined to prove her right.
Khai, being the supportive friend he was, offered to help me train. We started with small exercises, like wiggling my toes and moving my legs slightly. It was frustrating at first, but Khai was always there to encourage me.
"Come on, Zayden! You can do it!" he'd say, holding my legs in place as I tried to move them.
At first, it was just tiny movements. But gradually, I started to make progress. I could lift my legs off the bed, then move them from side to side. Khai would hold my hands, and I'd try to stand up, but my legs would buckle beneath me.
Khai never gave up on me, though. He'd just smile and say, "Try again, Zayden!"
And I would. Over and over and over.
One day, after weeks of training, I finally managed to stand up without Khai's support. I was shaking like a leaf, but I was standing!
Khai whooped with excitement and hugged me tightly. "You did it, Zayden! You're standing!"
I grinned from ear to ear, feeling an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment.
But Khai wasn't satisfied with just standing. He wanted me to walk.
"Come on, Zayden! You can do it!" he'd say, holding my hands as I took tentative steps.
At first, it was just a few steps before my legs would give out. But gradually, I started to make progress. I could walk across the room, then down the hallway.
Khai would run alongside me, holding my hands and cheering me on.
And then, one day, I did it. I walked all the way around the house without Khai's support.
Khai's mom was waiting for me at the finish line, a huge smile on her face. "I knew you could do it, Zayden!" she exclaimed, hugging me tightly.
I grinned, feeling like I was on top of the world.
But as I looked at Khai, I saw something in his eyes that gave me pause. A flicker of… something. I wasn't sure what.
"Khai, what's wrong?" I asked, feeling a shiver run down my spine.
Khai's smile faltered, and he looked away. "Nothing," he muttered.
But I knew something was off. And I was determined to find out what.
Two years passed, and I grew stronger and more confident. I had grown to love Khai's family like my own, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it was time for me to leave.
"I want to go back to my old life," I told Khai's mom one day.
But she just smiled and patted my hand. "Not yet, Zayden. It's not safe."
I frowned, feeling frustrated. "What's not safe? You're always saying that, but you never tell me what's going on."
Khai's mom just shook her head. "Trust us, Zayden. We're just trying to protect you."
But I didn't want to be protected. I wanted to be free.
I kept pestering them, asking them to let me leave, but they just kept saying no.
One day, Khai came to me with a sly grin on his face. "I'll tell you what, Zayden. If you can run from here to the old oak tree and back in under 10 minutes, and hit 5 targets with your rifle, and do 20 push-ups in under 2 minutes… then we'll let you leave."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's impossible."
Khai just shrugged. "Then I guess you'll just have to stay here."
I knew it was just a way to shut me up, but I was determined to prove him wrong.
I spent every waking moment training, running, shooting, and doing push-ups. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't seem to meet the requirements.
I'd run as fast as I could, but I'd always be a few seconds too slow. I'd hit 4 targets, but never 5. And those push-ups… ugh.
Days turned into weeks, and I was about to give up. But something inside me refused to quit.
And then, one day, it happened. I ran faster than I ever had before, my feet pounding the ground in a blur. I hit all 5 targets with ease, my rifle firing smoothly. And those push-ups… I did 25 in under 2 minutes.
I stood up, panting, and looked over at Khai. "I did it," I said, a grin spreading across my face.
Khai's eyes widened in surprise, and then he nodded. "Okay, Zayden. You win. You can leave."
But as I turned to walk away, Khai called out to me. "Hey, Zayden."
I turned back to him. "What?"
Khai's eyes gleamed with a mischievous light. "I think it's time we called in a chopper."
My heart skipped a beat as I realized what was happening. This wasn't the end. This was just the beginning.
And with that, everything went black.
I woke up to the sound of Khai's voice. "Time to leave, Zayden. Your luggage is packed."
I rubbed my eyes, still feeling a bit groggy. But as I looked at Khai, I felt a surge of determination.
"Wait," I said, grabbing Khai's arm. "It's time for me to leave, so at least tell me the truth. What have you been hiding from me all this time?"
Khai's expression was neutral, but I could see a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "You'll know soon enough, Zayden," he said.
I narrowed my eyes, but Khai just smiled and pulled me towards the door.
Outside, I saw two helicopters waiting for us. Khai's mom was already seated in one of them, while Khai gestured for me to follow him to the other.
Before going toward helicopter I turned to Khai with a question. "Can you take me to my company?" I asked.
Khai raised an eyebrow, but then nodded. "Okay," he said. "But are you sure you're ready for what's waiting for you there?"
I felt a shiver run down my spine, but I steeled myself and nodded. "I'm ready," I said.
Then his mom came out of helicopter to me
As we stood outside, preparing to board the helicopters, Khai's mom turned to me with a curious expression. "Zayden, it's been days since you've been with us. Can you tell me about your life before you came here?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Khai's mom's kind eyes put me at ease, and I began to open up.
"My father was murdered by his business partner," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was just a kid when it happened. After that, my life became a living hell."
Khai's mom's expression turned sympathetic, and she reached out to put a hand on my arm.
"They tortured me for 7 years," I continued, my eyes dropping to the floor. "I was beaten, starved, and locked in a tiny room with no light. It was hard for me to leave, but I knew I had to escape."
I took a deep breath, remembering the pain and fear I had endured.
"I left my sister with a family I didn't know, and I ran. I lived in the forest for two years, always looking over my shoulder. I tried to recover, to heal from the wounds of my past."
But the memories still haunted me.
"When I returned, I found out that Zayden Fuad was dead. And that's when the monster was born. They called me Mortifer, the death bringer."
Khai's mom's eyes were wide with shock, and Khai's expression was grim.
"I did terrible things," I admitted, feeling a wave of shame wash over me. "I hurt people, killed people. But there was one person who changed everything."
I thought back to Nala, the woman I had kidnapped and tortured.
"I met a woman named Nala," I said, my voice filled with regret. "I shot Max, a spy working for Kaiden, and kidnapped her. My assistant tortured her, but I soon realized that she was innocent."
I remembered the way Nala had looked at me, with hatred and fear in her eyes.
"I gave her medicine to help her heal," I said. "But it was all a betrayal. She hated me, and she had every right to."
I recalled the day Nala had shot me, just as I was about to kill Kaiden.
"She shot me when I was going to kill Kaiden," I said. "And that's when Khai rescued me."
Khai's mom looked at me with tears in her eyes, and Khai put a hand on my shoulder.
"We're glad we found you, Zayden," Khai said. "You're not a monster. You're a survivor."
I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at Khai and his mom. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had found people who truly cared about me.
With that, we boarded the helicopters, ready to face whatever lay ahead.