A full tub of cold water was dumped over her, shocking her back to consciousness.
Her ears were ringing—sharp, piercing whistles—and her vision was a hazy blur. For a moment, she couldn't grasp where she was or whether this was some twisted dream or cruel reality. Then, she heard it—the dragging clink of chains across the floor.
Someone was approaching.
"Welcome home, darling."
The voice dripped with mock affection, and in that instant, clarity struck her like a blade.
"Griselda…" Alexa whispered hoarsely, her voice weak but edged with defiance.
The girl stood in front of her, holding a set of heavy chains. Her high ponytail swayed slightly as she stepped forward, a bold black "C" tattoo resting on her shoulder. Dressed in a fitted black shirt and jeans, she looked deceptively plain—yet there was something magnetically dangerous about her.
"What's the matter?" Griselda sneered. "Not the face you were expecting?"
Alexa stayed silent, taking in her surroundings. They were in a remote warehouse, far from any help. She was chained to the ground, her wrists raw from the restraints.
"What do you want from me now?" Alexa snapped, refusing to let weakness seep into her voice. She knew all too well that mercy had no place here.
Griselda's response was a cruel blow. She yanked hard on the chains, sending Alexa crashing back to the ground just as she had managed to sit up. The hits didn't stop—Griselda kept striking her, again and again, until Alexa coughed up blood.
"Boss said we can't kill her," a guard finally muttered from behind.
Griselda halted, breath ragged from exertion. "I don't care if you come or go," she said, voice like cold steel. "But you're going to do a job for us."
"What kind of job?" Alexa growled through clenched teeth, blood staining her lips.
"Still got that fire in you, even now… impressive." Griselda smirked. "We have some unfinished business with your dear friend, Zero. The boss wants him here. You're going to call him in. Then—maybe—we'll let you go."
She stepped closer, kneeling by the injured girl. With a twisted tenderness, she lifted Alexa's chin.
"You're still beautiful, you know? I always wondered what Asher saw in you. But now I get it," she whispered, her fingers trailing down Alexa's bruised jaw. "Anyone could fall for you… Lily."
The lust in her voice made Alexa recoil. Enraged, she spat in Griselda's face.
Griselda stumbled back, fury flaring in her eyes.
"You'll have to go through me before you get to my friends!" Alexa shouted, her voice cracked but defiant. "I may die here, but I'll never drag them into this hell! If you think I'll help you hurt them, you're dead wrong!"
Griselda's face twisted in rage. "You little—"She slapped Alexa hard across the face.
"Take her," she barked at the guards. "Teach her how to speak properly."
Two men stepped forward. They grabbed Alexa by the hair and began to drag her across the concrete floor toward a separate room.
"No! No, please—no! Someone help! Please!"For the first time, Alexa screamed in fear.
Griselda watched her with a wicked smile."My dear Lily," she said softly, "there's no one coming to save you."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
By the time Sam and Zero reached home, they were both drenched to the bone. Laughing as they stepped inside, the chill from the rain had already seeped into their very bones.
Suddenly, Zero sneezed—loudly.
"Zero! You okay?" Sam rushed to him. "How many times have I told you—stop getting soaked in the rain. Wait here."
Sam peeled off his soaked shirt and dropped it onto the table before disappearing into the hallway. A moment later, he returned with a towel and a dry shirt in hand.
"Here," he said, handing the towel to Zero.
But Zero just stood there silently, staring at him.
"Hey! Zero?" Sam gave him a slight shake.
Then, without waiting for a response, he stepped closer and began rubbing Zero's wet hair with the towel.
Zero blinked, suddenly pulled out of his daze. His heart pounded in his chest at the closeness—at the warmth of Sam's touch. Sam, completely unaware of the tension he was stirring, was simply worried about him.
Then Sam noticed the way Zero was looking at him—intensely, like he was searching for something in his face.
"What are you staring at?" Sam asked with a soft chuckle.
"...Just looking," Zero murmured, his voice distant and low.
"Looking at what?" Sam narrowed his eyes in mock suspicion.
"At how you act like my mom sometimes," Zero replied with a grin—a mask he quickly threw on to hide the truth. What he wanted to say was something entirely different. But he knew… some feelings were best kept inside.
Sam laughed and playfully tossed the towel in Zero's face. "Go take a shower already. I'm heading in too. Then I'll make us both some coffee."
Zero raised a brow. "You talk like you control time or something. And you always take longer than me in the shower."
"Not today. Watch—I'll be done before you!" Sam declared, and they both glanced at the clock like it was a finish line before heading off to their respective bathrooms.
Ten minutes later...
Zero was in the kitchen making coffee when Sam walked out, rubbing a towel through his damp hair. Zero placed two mugs on the shelf and smirked.
"Some people talk big, but when it's showtime, they flop like true noobs."
Sam turned to glare at him. "This time, I—uh—there was low water pressure in the shower!"
Zero winked. "Sam, have some shame. You're a noob, even in the shower. That's next-level."
Sam had no comeback. He just averted his eyes and muttered, "One day, I'll beat you. Just wait and see."
He grabbed his cup and retreated to his room.
"Challenge accepted!" Zero called after him with a laugh, lifting his own mug and heading to his room in the opposite direction.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Sim was asleep, her head resting gently on Maera's chest. Maera lay stretched out on the couch, one arm tucked beneath her head, the other absentmindedly running her fingers through Sim's hair. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in the bittersweet echoes of the past…
The Past:
She had touched Sara for the first time. Felt her lips. Breathed in sync with her for the first time. She didn't know whose life she'd saved that day—Sara's, or her own. But that evening, when Sara's heart had started beating again… something in Maera had healed too.
That day, her heart had stirred for the first time. That day, she realized Sara wasn't just a girl—she was a soul. A wound and a cure. A storm and the calm after it.
She had fallen in love.
It had happened during that camping trip… when Sara screamed at the sight of a snake. Maera never imagined that a harmless snake—without even biting—could leave behind so much poison in her life.
A vivid image of Sara's laughing face surfaced in her mind—those moments when Maera would teasingly call her "crazy" and lightly hit her shoulder. And Sara would smile… like a freshly bloomed rose basking in sunlight.
The Present:
I only came to steal your dreams, Sara... I had no idea that only you could heal my wounds.
Why is life such a cruel game? Why does it always ask for something as precious as a life just to play? What was Sara's fault? All she ever did was love... Could love really be this cruel? To give someone everything, and leave someone else completely shattered?
Maera's heart felt heavy with a quiet, sinking grief.
"Just a worthless business deal between our parents… and three entire lives were thrown on the line."
A single tear slipped silently from the corner of her eye, trailing down her cheek—quiet, unnoticed, like the pain she never spoke of.
She turned her head to glance at sara.
Sara lay asleep under the haze of anesthesia—so fragile, like a shattered porcelain doll. Broken in too many places.
A sharp ache stabbed through Maera's chest.
"Like the colors of an evening sky,You bloomed before my eyes.I was just a lonely night,And you… you were the moon I found.I kept watching you,Like a dream that came to life…And now that you're right here—How do I even believe it's real?"
Maera couldn't take her eyes off her.
"I've moved forward, Sara… but I was never able to leave you behind. And now... now I can't turn back either. I never imagined life would drag me to a point like this... where the glass shards sink into my chest... where all I can see is darkness."
"I honestly don't know… what I'm supposed to do anymore…"
She turned her head again. Her hand, which had been gently playing with Sim's hair, now rested softly against her neck—searching for a sliver of peace in that innocence.
She closed her eyes… and let life be, just for a moment.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Sam placed the coffee cup on the side table. Rain was still falling outside, and he couldn't sleep because of the sound—or maybe the rain was just an excuse. Frustrated, Sam picked up his phone and started playing Tetris. But in loneliness, thoughts creep in like demons, haunting you—and that's exactly what was happening to him.
The very thoughts he didn't want to think... were the ones echoing back at him.
Even while playing Tetris, Zero's image appeared in Sam's mind. Annoyed, Sam tossed the phone aside. When he turned for water, the jug was empty. He didn't even have the strength to go get more. Instead, he closed his eyes and lay down, trying to fall asleep.
But sleep wasn't coming.
His mind kept replaying Zero's words and gestures—each one standing right in front of him, tauntingly vivid. The more he tried to ignore them, the harder it got.
For a long while, he just lay there with his hand on his forehead, eyes shut, struggling to sleep.
But Zero's voice rang in his ears:
"Oye Sam…""It's nothing, you just…""Sam, wear a shirt.""You're reacting just like my mom.""Then keep me with you, okay?"
Zero's voice—his words—spun endlessly in Sam's head.
In frustration, Sam got up and went out to the kitchen, took out sleeping pills, and swallowed one with water. His eyes instinctively shifted toward Zero's room. The door was locked.
A strange disappointment settled in his chest.
He shook his head and returned to his room, lying back down again.
Even after a while, sleep still wouldn't come.
Click.
The door creaked open.
Sam's ears perked up. He kept his eyes shut, lying still.
Someone walked in… slowly… softly… approaching him.
It was Zero.
Sam could recognize his scent anywhere—and besides them, no one else was in the house.
Zero's fingers gently touched Sam's cheek, caressing softly. Sam stayed silent. Then Zero's hand moved to his hair, his fingers running through them gently… tenderly.
Zero leaned in closer and whispered:
"Sam… if only you knew… what I feel for you…"
Sam's heartbeat quickened.
Zero leaned even closer—his lips near Sam's cheek, then by his ear.
"I can't stay away from you… but I can't come closer either…"
Sam's eyes remained closed, but quiet tears slipped from their corners.
Zero took his hand.
Sam's fingers twitched slightly.
Zero, whispering with a broken voice:
"Forgive me, Sam… I just needed one moment… one moment where I could pretend that everything was okay…"
He leaned in again—this time, a kiss on Sam's cheek. Soft. Barely there. Like a ghost.
And then—
Flash.Silence.
Sam jolted awake—his eyes wet at the corners. He didn't understand… was it a dream or reality?
He looked at the side table. The coffee cup was still there.
But he couldn't figure it out.
That warmth on his cheek—still present.That touch on his fingers—still lingering.The room still carried that familiar scent.
A sharp wave of pain surged in his head. Sam held it in his hands.
"Why do I feel so helpless?" he thought.
Then it came to him…Maybe because… he's my friend.My brother-in-arms.Twenty years of my life have been spent with him.
Maybe… that's why.
Sam felt utterly powerless now.
He leaned his head back against the bed's headboard and sat in silence.
Meanwhile—outside, Zero stood leaning against the wall outside Sam's room. Head resting on the wall. Eyes shut.
He was at the edge of his self-control.
He wanted to cry—desperately—but he couldn't.He didn't understand why these feelings were growing inside him.Why the more he tried to run… the more entangled he became.
Why was he ruining such a long, deep friendship?
But he was helpless.
He pulled his hand out of his pocket and stared at it.
He could still feel Sam's warmth on his fingers.
He touched his lips.
Why do I keep doing this in a daze?
He banged his head softly against the wall in silent frustration.
And then—Tears broke past the dam in his eyes like a flood.He began to cry.His heart felt restless.
He slid down the wall and sat on the floor, hiding his face in his knees…and sobbed.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Zero was sitting on the couch — eyes red, completely silent. When Sam stepped out of his room, his own eyes were swollen.Zero looked at him."Sam, why are your eyes so puffy?"Sam stared back at him with surprise, as if saying, "You really have no idea, do you?"But instead, Sam replied, "That's exactly what I was about to ask you — why are your eyes red?""Uh… I just…" Zero faltered, trying to come up with something.
Before he could finish, Sam cut in:"Last night… did you come into my ro....?""No."Zero denied it instantly, before Sam could even finish the question.
Sam went quiet.
"There's a message from Maera. She says she needs to talk," Zero quickly changed the subject.Sam nodded faintly. Neither said more.
In silence, they both freshened up and left for the café, heading toward the location Maera had sent — still not speaking a word.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
The four of them were now sitting in the café, waiting for Alexa.The rain had stopped, but dark clouds still loomed over the sky, and the weather was cold — a sign that winter was setting in.
Maera had tried calling Alexa for the eighth time now. Still no answer."Alexa's phone keeps showing switched off," Maera said."Maybe her phone died — probably no charge," Sam offered.
But Zero had a bad feeling. A gut instinct that something was seriously wrong. Still, he stayed quiet.
Just then, a waiter arrived with their coffees, placing them down hurriedly before walking away."That waiter was acting kind of weird," Sam noted."There's a note here," Maera said, picking up a small folded chit."It's for Zero," Sim added."Let me see," Zero said, taking the note and opening it.
His eyes widened in shock. Sam noticed the change in his face and immediately snatched the note from his hand.
"If you want Alexa safe, come alone… to this address. And don't try anything clever."
"What the—" Sam whispered in disbelief.
Zero looked truly distressed. He had a sinking feeling, and it was all starting to make sense now."This note's for me. I have to go there. Alone," Zero said in a dead serious tone.
Sim, Maera, and Sam all looked shaken."Zero, don't try to play hero. Alexa's been kidnapped, and now you're about to walk into the same trap — willingly," Sam snapped.
"You don't understand how dangerous these people are," Zero replied, his voice heavy with concern."Oh? And how would you know?" Sam shot back."BECAUSE I DO," Zero said firmly.
Sam was stunned. "What do you mean? How do you know them?""I just do. It's a long story," Zero muttered."So what — you and Alexa are both running some shady operation behind my back?" Sam was furious now.
Sim and Maera looked back and forth between the two, visibly anxious.
"Alright fine! Listen up," Zero finally gave in."These people… they run a massive criminal network. Assassinations, human trafficking, drug smuggling, contract killings — it's all routine for them."Alexa used to be a part of it, a long time ago. But she left — walked away from it all.And now I'm caught up in it too, because I have something they see as a threat — video proofs. I don't even know what exactly they are, but Alexa told me they're dangerous people, and I believe her."
Zero paused. The others stared in stunned silence, the color drained from their faces.
"You knew all this… and never told me?" Sam asked, furious.
"Because I couldn't risk your life, Sam. If anything happened to you, I…"Zero stopped mid-sentence. Sam stared at him.
That feeling — that unspoken tension — surrounded them again.
Zero suddenly stood up."That's it. I'm going. And no one's following me."
With that, he stormed out of the café.
Outside, Zero lit a cigarette and started walking toward the address… the house they had mentioned.
Back inside the café, Sam, Sim, and Maera sat in tense silence.
"We have to do something," Maera said firmly.Sam ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. "Zero never listens to anyone."
"Maera," Sam said, "I have a plan. But I'll need both of you to help me.""Just tell me — I'll do whatever it takes," Maera said immediately. Sim nodded in agreement.
"Okay, listen closely…"
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Zero first went straight to his house.He entered his room and pulled a gun from the drawer of his bedside table.After changing clothes, he set off toward the address mentioned in the note.
Some time later, he arrived.It was an isolated, desolate place.As he moved forward, he saw an abandoned warehouse.He stepped inside, but a few men stopped him.
"Hey! Where do you think you're barging in?" one of them asked rudely."I'm Zero," he replied.
The men looked at each other and exchanged a silent message with their eyes.
"Alright, come on in," one of them said at last.Zero followed them inside.
When he entered the inner area, he saw Griselda — sitting calmly, polishing her knife.
"Well, well… Mr. Zero. So you're the one," Griselda greeted him with a smile.
"Where's Alexa?" Zero asked, his voice firm and rough.
Griselda smirked and gestured to one of her men.The man went into another room and returned dragging Alexa along.
Alexa looked horrible.She was covered in blood, her entire body bruised.Zero froze in fear — he had always been a sensitive soul, and the sight shook him.
"So, Zero," Griselda said, "here's Alexa. Now give us what we want, and we'll give her back to you."
It was a simple deal.
Before Zero could respond, Alexa screamed in her hoarse voice:
"Don't you dare, Zero! Don't give them anything.They're going to kill me anyway… but if you give them that video, they'll kill you too.They're monsters.Zero… you have to live. Live for Sam."
"Alexa, you…" Zero started, but Alexa gave him a faint smile.
"Yes… I know everything. You can't hide your feelings from me, Zero."
Griselda had been watching them, clearly irritated."Okay, if you two are done with your emotional drama, can we get back to business now?"
"Well then? Are you giving us the video or not?" she asked, then suddenly grabbed Alexa by the hair and sliced her cheek with her knife.
"AAAGHHH!!" Alexa screamed in pain.
"GRISELDA!!" Zero shouted."If you lay even a finger on my friend again, I swear I won't let you live," he threatened.
But his threat didn't seem to faze Griselda one bit.She clenched her jaw, clearly mocking him.
"Oh really? You think you can stop us?" she sneered.
"Don't forget," Griselda said with a sinister smile, "if I'm speaking nicely, that doesn't mean I won't act."
She gave a signal, and one of the guards moved toward Zero.
But before the guard could do anything, Zero struck him.The guard fought back and twisted Zero's arm behind his back.Zero elbowed him hard in the face and managed to break free, pulling out his gun.
"Oooh, so our little rat brought a gun too," Griselda mocked.
Zero regretted coming here alone.He pointed the gun at the guard, who only laughed at him.
This time, Griselda stood up and began walking toward Zero."No, Griselda!!" Alexa screamed.
But Griselda never listened to anyone.
She approached Zero swiftly and — in one quick move — lunged and snatched the gun from him.Zero staggered backward, but the guard behind him grabbed him tightly.Zero tried hard to escape, but failed.
"Let's see how tough you really are," Griselda muttered, loading the gun.She aimed it at Zero's ribs, and then —
"THAAA!"
She fired.
But Zero twisted just in time, and the bullet merely grazed him.
"Ugh, too bad, Zero," she smirked.
She aimed again —But this time, Zero ducked, spun, and landed a brutal elbow to the guard's head, knocking him unconscious.
Two more guards rushed in.Zero was wounded, but still fighting.
Just then…Police sirens echoed from outside.
"Boss! The police!" a guard shouted, running in.
"Shit!! You bastard!" Griselda screamed and kicked Zero hard.He fell to the ground.
"EVERYONE TO YOUR POSITIONS!!" she shouted.
By then, Sam and Maera had also stormed inside with the police, both holding guns.
Alexa's condition was terrible, but with great effort, she crawled into a safer corner.
Meanwhile, Zero had gotten his gun back.
The entire warehouse erupted in gunfire.The echo of bullets filled the air.Griselda's guards were relentless, putting up a tough fight.And the police were fully engaged in the shootout.
"Sir! These guys aren't letting up!" one officer shouted.
"Hold your fire," the head inspector, Tanaka, commanded."Let them waste more bullets. When they run out, we'll move in."
"On your command, Tanaka-san," the officer responded.
Griselda knew it would be nearly impossible to fight the entire police force.And if they ran out of bullets, they were finished.She started to quietly give the order to retreat.
"Our ammo could run out any moment.Start pulling back. Exit through the back gate," she instructed.
At that moment, a shot rang out —One police officer was hit in the arm, and his gun fell to the ground.
Alexa saw this.In spite of her injuries, she crawled forward and picked up the gun.
She was just about to hand it back when —Griselda, who was preparing to escape, spotted her.
"I'm not letting her get away," Griselda growled."I will take revenge for Asher."
She clenched her jaw and fired two bullets:
THAAK! THAAK!
Just then, Zero saw her — and screamed:
"Alexa!!!"
Before Alexa could run—Zero leapt in front of her.Both bullets struck him hard, wounding him severely.
When Sam saw it, his soul shuddered in terror.
"ZEYAAAAAAD!!!" he screamed.
"SHIT!" Griselda cursed — her first shot had missed.But now that Zero had fallen, she didn't miss her next chance.She fired two more bullets —This time, they hit their mark.
"AAGHHH!!"Another scream rang out.
Alexa's.
The moment of chaos gave Griselda the distraction she needed —She and her men fled the scene.
Six police officers chased after them.
Alexa was already bleeding heavily.Sam, burning with rage, sprinted after them too.
Zero, though gravely injured, forced himself toward Alexa.He gently lifted her head into his lap.
"Alexa... breathe... no, sh... don't..."Zero could barely speak — his voice trembled with pain.Blood soaked his side.
Alexa had taken a bullet to her shoulder and another in her lower abdomen.Her breathing was weak and shallow.She struggled to speak, each word a battle:
"Zero... tell everyone... life... wasn't all that bad after all... and that I love you all... so much...And tell Sara… that I… I love her… deeply...Tell her I'm sorry…I couldn't help her… I failed her…
My eternal life… is about to begin now…Thank you, Zero… for trying… to save me…Thank you… so much."
In those final moments, her whole life flashed before her eyes —Sara's smile,laughing with friends,joking at the café,teasing Sam and Zero,all of it… replayed like a film.
Then — Alexa smiled…and gently closed her eyes.A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye —and disappeared into her skin.
Zero couldn't hold himself together anymore.
Just then, Sam came running back, gasping.
Zero tried to stand —but his body gave out, and he collapsed.
Before he could fall completely —Sam caught him.
They both sank to the ground.
"Zero!! Hey, Zero!"Sam cried, his breath coming fast.
Zero was deteriorating quickly.He'd lost a lot of blood.
On the other side, Maera had now reached Alexa and held her gently.
At that moment, an officer arrived and reported:
"Sir, unfortunately they got away —but we did manage to capture one of them."
"Arrest him.And call an ambulance — immediately!!"the head inspector ordered.
"Yes, sir," the officer replied and rushed off.
Tears streamed down Sam's face.He held Zero, trembling, shaking him gently.
"Zero… if you die, I swear I won't let you rest in peace, you bastard!!"His voice cracked, choked with grief."If you die… I'll die too," Sam sobbed.
"Just breathe, okay? The ambulance must be almost here. Just breathe, dammit!""Don't close your eyes… don't you dare. Stay alive.You're my heart, Zero… you're my whole damn heart."
And in that moment—Zero felt it.He finally understood…
He loved Sam.
The realization hit him harder than any bullet.But the pain that followed…was the truth that he would never get the chance to say it.
Zero pressed one hand over his bleeding wound,and with the other — he gently reached out,and cupped Sam's cheek.
"Sam…" he whispered,"I'm glad you're okay.And I'm glad that… in this moment… I'm in your hands."
And in his heart, he thought:
"If something were to disgrace the bond of childhood frienship
then i will scarifice that love to save that friendship.."
Zero smiled —softly, painfully, lovingly.
And then—
"NO, NO, NO, Zero!" Sam cried.
But Zero's hand fell limply from his cheek —and his eyes gently shut.
"NOOOOO!! ZEYAAAAAAD!!"Sam screamed,his voice raw and broken as he pulled Zero into his arms.
"The breeze today carries the scent of parting,The skies themselves seem heavy with goodbye.
Even yesterday felt like tomorrow's memory,And today's presence seems already behind.
At every turn, at every road, someone may depart—Such is life's deal, such is destiny's design.
We meet, we part, yet the heart aches all the same,Even if we've walked this road before, a hundred times.
But when the moment of farewell truly arrives—Even brave hearts can't help but cry.
In the silence of goodbyes, don't hold back your prayers,Say goodbye—but with love, not with pride.
This gathering, this moment—it demands only one thing:Not to forget… but to remember with light."
TO BE CONTINEUD....