The Call He Feared

Nyra's pov 

I noticed the smell first, Coffee, Warm bread…Something expensive.

Then I realized, this definitely wasn't my room.

My eyes snapped open.

Gray walls, dark furniture, huge windows overlooking Vancouver, a guitar by the wall and  

a familiar black hoodie on a chair.

My stomach dropped…

Oh no.

Slowly, I turned my head and a sleeping figure lay beside me.

Dark hair, sharp jawline,gray sheets.

Kaizen Arclair.

I froze.

"What the hell?!"

Kaizen groaned and pulled a pillow over his face.

"Five more minutes."

"KAIZEN!"

One eye opened, then the other, He looked at me.

And smiled.

"Morning."

I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

"What am I doing in your room?!"

"You passed out."

"I passed out in the study room!"

"And now you're here."

"That's not an explanation!"

He laughed.

"You looked uncomfortable and I don't have access to your room"

"So you carried me here?"

"You're welcome."

I stood up.

Bad idea.

The room spun.

Before I could fall, a hand caught my wrist.

Strong.

Warm.

Steady.

"You okay?"

For a second, I forgot I disliked him.

Then I remembered.

I pulled away.

"I'm fine."

"Clearly."

A tray sat on the bedside table.

Coffee.

Toast.

Fruit.

Pancakes.

"What is that?"

"Breakfast."

"For who?"

"You."

I blinked.

That answer came too easily.

Like taking care of people was normal for him.

Which didn't fit the Kaizen I knew.

Suspicion crossed my face.

"It's not poisoned," he sighed.

"I didn't say it was."

"You thought it."

I picked up the coffee.

The warmth settled into my hands.

Then his phone vibrated.

Everything changed.

His shoulders stiffened.

His jaw tightened.

He stared at the screen.

Worried, angry…

Then afraid.

Slowly, he stood.

"Stay here. Don't go to your room yet"

"What?"

"Stay. Here."

He headed for the door.

I caught a glimpse of the caller ID.

CHAIRMAN.

The door slammed shut, leaving me with questions.

Who was Kaizen afraid of and why would he ask me to remain in his room? 

Nyra is left alone after Kaizen walks out, she is annoyed because he keeps ordering her around.

She thinks..

"Typical Kaizen, Always dramatic, Always acting like the world revolves around him."

Looking around his room I noticed something; a medicine box, hospital bills hidden in an envelope in the drawer, a picture of Kaizen with his mother and younger brother…

A completely different version of him, immediately I start questioning everything.

His voice outside jolted her back to reality.

Kaizen.

He's angry on the phone.

But the words shock her.

"How much time?"

Silence.

His hand tightened around the phone.

"No, please don't get her involved, Don't tell her."

Another pause.

His voice dropped.

"I said I'll get the money."

Nyra freezes.

Money?

For what?

Then: "Chairman, I don't care what you want from me."

Her breath catches.

Chairman?

Who is that?

She accidentally makes noise.

Kaizen turns.

He knows she heard.

"You were listening?"

"No."

"Nyra."

"Okay fine. Maybe I heard a little."

His expression changes.

"Forget everything you heard."

Anger welled within me. 

"You can't just tell me to forget things!"

"This isn't a game."

"And neither am I."

Silence.

"You need to stay away from me."

She laughs bitterly…..

"Funny. You were the one who carried me into your room and ordered me to remain in your room like a captured bird"

That hits him.

Because he knows he cares, he is just trying to protect her from the mess he is in but Nyra can't understand. 

Nyra goes back to her room angry at herself for drifting to sleep, because she wouldn't have woken up in his room to witness his bossy attitude that got her upset. 

Suddenly she hears a noise which later turned into yelling and shouts from students…

Masked men were outside their lodge.

Kaizen notices too.

His whole personality changes as his cold demeanour returns, he becomes alert and protective. 

He shouted almost immediately running towards her. 

"Lock the door."

Fear gripped me as cold sweat broke on my forehead….

Still watching the masked men cart away with students. 

"Who are you afraid of?"

"Not who."

Silence followed solemnly…

"How many.” 

Tears already welled up in my eyes. 

What have I gotten myself into? 

“You're a Kidnapper Kaizen”

For a second, he just stared at me..then he laughed.

Not the arrogant, teasing laugh I was used to.

A short, exhausted laughter.

The kind that carried too many secrets…..

"If I were a kidnapper, Solenne..."

His gray eyes locked onto mine.

"...you'd be the last person I'd let near this place."

Another scream echoed outside.

Closer this time,

My heart nearly stopped.

The masked men were moving through the courtyard.

One student tried to run.. 

He was tackled before he got five steps.

A hand clamped over my mouth before a terrified gasp could escape.

I froze.

Kaizen.

His chest was pressed against my back as he pulled me away from the window.

"Do you want them to see you?"

His voice was barely above a whisper.

The heat of his breath brushed my ear.

My pulse went completely out of control.

Not now.

Not when people were literally being dragged away.

But my stupid heart clearly hadn't gotten the memo.

His hand remained over my mouth.

Firm, Protective and Steady.

The realization hit me almost immediately.

Kaizen wasn't hiding from them…

He was hiding me.

Slowly, he lowered his hand,

Neither of us moved.

The space between us disappeared, I could hear his breathing.

Could see the small cut on his jaw.

The faint bruise peeking beneath the collar of his shirt.

Bruises? 

Again.

My eyes narrowed.

"You knew this was going to happen."

His expression hardened.

"No."

"You told me not to leave your room."

Silence.

"Kaizen."

Another silence.

"I knew something was wrong."

The answer sent a chills through me.

A loud bang rattled the hallway.

Both of us jumped.

Someone was trying doors.

Room by room.

Getting closer.

The confident campus king vanished completely, In his place stood someone else.

Someone dangerous….

Someone scared….

Someone prepared….

Without warning, he grabbed my wrist.

"We're leaving."

"What?"

"The basement."

"No way."

"Nyra."

"I am not hiding underground with you!"

The look he gave me made my stomach drop.

Because for the first time since meeting him...

He looked genuinely angry.

Not annoyed..

Not playful…

Terrified…

"They're looking for students."

Another bang,

Closer.

"They don't take everyone."

Bang!!!

Closer.

"They take specific people."

Bang!!!

Right outside our hallway.. 

My throat we

nt dry.

"How do you know that?"

Kaizen's jaw tightened.

For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer.

Then he said quietly…

"Because I've seen it before."

The hallway suddenly fell silent.

The kind of silence that felt worse than the screaming.

Both of us froze.

Then came the sound of footsteps.

Slow, 

Deliberate.

Stopping directly outside my door…

A shadow appeared beneath it.

And someone tried the handle.