Darkness.It clung to him like thick miasma, suffocating, dangerous and inescapable.Thenâpain.A dull, persistent ache hummed through Rajaâs skull while his body feels like it had been trampled over. His limbs were heavy and his breathing was slow. His consciousness are in between the edge of waking and the pull of unconsciousness.Then, voices.Familiar voices.ââĶheâs waking up.âRajaâs eyelids opened slowly meeting the dim glow of lights above the ceiling . He let out a slow breath, his fingers twitching against the sheets beneath him. His body screamed in pain as he tried to move, but he ignored it.The first thing he saw was Claren.Seated on chair beside the bed, arms crossed, brows furrowed in what looked like compulsory composure. His sharp eyes studied Raja like he was assessing the damage the enemies did towards its body.Behind him stood Raoul and Michael, both tense, their stances rigid with unspoken frustration.âYou are finally awake,â Claren finally muttered, his tone
Rajaâs breath was steady. Too steady and too controlled as if he was not agitated a while ago.However, beneath that controlâbeneath that carefully measured silenceâwas rage.Father still sat across from him, dignified as always. Unbothered and unshaken by him. Like this was nothing more than an inconvenient meeting instead of Rajaâs full-fledged declaration of war.Father tilted his head slightly, studying him. Then, with a knowing smirk, he spoke.âYou might be wonderingâĶâ His voice was smooth, not hinting any amusement but his words does otherwise. âHow did I know?âRajaâs jaw clenched.Father exhaled through his nose, as if mildly entertained. He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping lazily against the armrest.âThereâs nothing I donât know about my sons.â His smirk widened, feeling proud. âNothing escapes me, Raja. Not your plan of betrayal. Not your foolish dream of freedom. And certainly not that boy.âRajaâs muscles tensed, his fingers curling into fists despite the weight
The world was spinning. He felt nauseous.Raja's breath came in slow, low inhales as the guards dragged his body down the long hallway. His wrists bruised from the tight cuffs biting into his skin, but he barely noticed. His mind was focusing on something more importantâhow to fight father and pressed him where is Tales. He's so weak now that he's no match for Father anymore.However , he knows his body well, it may be weak now, but that wouldn't last. And Oliver wasnât following. Is Oliver being complacent or he had a hidden agenda? No matter what, he knows what Raja's capability really is. No... It doesn't really matter what Oliver is plotting. He would do it anyway.He let himself be dragged, eyes half-lidded and shoulders slack. A predator pretending to be tamed. The guards gripped him tightly, dragging his weight forward without concern.They thought he was beaten.They thought he was done.Fools!He just need a little time to free himself from the dizziness. Thenâhe moved.A s
In a room beside Tales' captivity, Jake lounged in a 3 person couch, one arm draped lazily over the back of the leather couch, his legs stretched out comfortably. His knife twirled between his fingers, catching the faint light as it spun effortlessly.What will he do now? He knows Tales will escape so until Tales will break free, this knife will be useless. And when's will he hear some good news about Raja? It's getting boring now. Thenâhis phone vibrated.He glanced at the screen. It was his Father.Jake smirked. Finally! Took him long enough.He answered, bringing the phone to his ear. âTo what do I owe the honor, Father?âFatherâs voice came through, smooth and slow, but laced with undeniable authority. âWhat are you playing at, Jake?âJake hummed in amusement. âNow, now. You wound me. What are you saying?â he asked playing coy. "Don't play with me, Jake! Stop moving on your own unless you wanna make me kill you myself!""Ohh Father, I don't really know what you're talking about
Raja stormed down the hallway, his bloody shoes slamming against the marble floors, leaving behind a trail of blood. His body keeps aching, bruises forming beneath his torn clothes, but he barely felt it. It's like he's become numb. The rush of adrenaline drowned out the pain, leaving only rage. His eyes are bloodshot, devoid of any unnecessary emotions. His hands twitched, eager to wrap around Oliverâs throat and end everything.He stop after sometime. Facing the black huge door in which inside, Oliver is there. He gritted his teeth upon remembering how they got played by Oliver. He can't wait to kill him. But he needs to calm down. He needs to or else he'll be defeated. With a sharp exhale, he walked near the heavy double doors of Oliverâs office, grabbing the handle âonly to stop when he realized that he didn't need to be so polite. He didn't hesitate.BANG!Raja kicked the doors open, the wood slamming against the walls with a deafening crash.The scent of expensive cologne and bu
Raja lunged forward, his muscles screaming with effort as he cut through the space between them. He could still hear Oliverâs mocking tone, could still see Lila standing there like a puppet on a string. He didnât hesitate.His breath came out ragged, his heart pounding like thunder in his chest. There was no more thought. No more strategy.Only instinct.Only rage.He lunged.Straight for Oliverâs throat.But the moment his foot hit the marble floor in a sprint, the click of guns being released echoed through the room. Lilaâs guardsâhidden in the darkened cornersâraised their weapons.ThenâGunfire erupted.Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!Bullets shot through the air, shattering glass, biting into the walls around him. Rajaâs body reacted on instinct. He twisted hard and dove behind one of the thick marble pillars as chunks of stone exploded around him from the shots. Sharp fragments cut across his face, but he didnât stop moving.He counted the shootersâsix. No, it's eight.
Tales moved quickly, his footsteps is light and careful against the cold steel of the floor. Every breath was measured in the fear of being noticed....Strange! How come it's so quiet? Like no one's here?!Every corner he passed by was clear before he stepped forward. The building had gone too quiet.No guards.No Jake.Nothing.He should have heard something. The faint buzz of radios informing other guards of his escape, the stomp of boots, anything.But the silence was heavy. Almost Oppressive.Where is he?Where was Jake?The man who never left him alone. The man who enjoyed watching his unyielding facade, the man who wants him to bleed and suffer.Talesâ grip tightened on the bent fork in his hand.The air tasted wrong.As if something had already happenedâor was about to.But he didnât stop.He needed escape and find Raja.He needed to get the hell out of here.MEANWHILE...The office was a war zone.Shattered glass littered the floor. Bullet holes flashed in the walls like some
Raoul stood ten meters away from where is Raja standing, looking at its phone. He was analyzing Raja's expression to predict what will be his next move. That's the only thing he could do since Raja has sharp senses and moving close to him is like announcing his presence. He'll be killed in an instant. He gritted his teeth. Raja had been their leader for a long time but he need to think for himself. His phone was pressed on his ear. His expression was unreadable, calm even. Jakeâs voice filtered through the line. âEverythingâs set?âRaoul exhaled slowly. âI think he's on his way to find Zaden. Youâll have time to move all Father's confidential documents and analyze the vaults left by him.âJake chuckled softly. âGood job. You still have one task left, come here immediately after sorting things.âRaoulâs fingers tapped the metal railing beside him. âAlright.âA pause.âGood,â Jake said. âYouâll get your reward soon.âRaoul hung up. He closed his eyes for a moment. âForgive me,â he wh
Two Years LaterIt was early morning, the sun only just beginning to spill its gold over the horizon, casting soft light on the water that glistened like starlights. Gentle waves rolled onto the smooth, pale shore with a hush-hush rhythm, as though the ocean itself was content, no longer raging.The scent of freshly baked bread drifted through the open windows of the small kitchen. A warm, golden glow filled the room as the sun streamed through the window, catching on the various plants that hung from the rafters. The air smelled like saltwater and fresh herbs, mingling together creating a very fragrant smell.Tales stood at the kitchen counter, his hands moving expertly as he kneaded dough, humming under his breath. The simple rhythm of the task was grounding for him, a reminder of how far heâd come from the chaos that had once filled his life.Behind him, Raja was leaning against the doorframe, watching with a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips. His hair was ruffled becau
"I promise."Talesâ breath hitched, eyes searching Rajaâs with raw desperation. His voice trembled, barely more than a whisper.It wasn't enough. He need more assurance. He needs to know that this is not just a dream.âSay that you love me.âRaja didnât even pause. His answer came fastâlike it had been sitting on the edge of his tongue for far too long. His eyes were shining from the faint street lights as he said those words.âI love you.âThe air between them shiftedâthick, electric, impossible to ignore. It feels like Tales' saw millions of stars in Raja's eyes. His heart beat fast and he can only clench his hands on Raja's chest before surged forward, clasping his hands on Raja's nape. This kiss wasnât soft.It wasnât hesitant.It was fire and hunger and every unspoken word finally released. Their mouths collided with much urgency, lips crashing together like theyâd been starvedâlike they were desperate to claim, to prove, to feel. Hands tangled in hair, fingers fisted in clothes
"Are you out of your damn mind?!"Tales blinked because of the familiar voice. He rubbed his eyes to get a clear view of who it is and when he confirmed who it was, he immediately turned his face away. It's Raja!âWhy are you... hereâĶâ Tales managed to rasp, his voice thick with the weight of everything unsaid, all the pain that had built up in his chest. "You should've just stayed hidden. You tormented me so much and now you appeared and act like a hero? If you don't love me anymore, then don't bother. Do you take me for a pushover?!"But even so... even if I am a pushover âI missed you.Rajaâs gaze softened for just a second, but it was gone almost as quickly as it came. He shook his head, his voice dropping to a more dangerous tone. âYouâre an idiot, you know that? You think drowning yourself in alcohol will bring me back? It wonât.âTales stared at him, his breath coming in short gasps. His mind reeled, trying to process everything. Raja was here. Raja was standing in front of hi
Hah. Hah. Hah. Tales stopped running in the middle of the road as he put his two palms on his thighs. He was out of breath and his sweating buckets. His heart was pounding so much from running and the information he acquired. 'Oliver Ortega, even now, you're still hunting me and making me miserable.'Does Raja knew? Why? Why would he want me to know that Oliver is my father? When he could just bury it for the betterment of us. Even now, the taught of Raja's disappearance seems to bury the weight of the recent information he just acquire.Call... I should make a callâOh.Tales crouch in frustration. He don't have a phone, and even if he had, be don't know Rajas personal number. Still, if he had, he could have ask his unanswered questions. Why hadnât he called? He couldâve at least sent a message, some sign that he wasnât lost to him forever. But he had vanished. Not just physically, but emotionally, disappearing without a trace, leaving him with nothing but the ache of abandonmen
Tales stand up and patted his pants before walking back inside the headquarters. He went into his room and find out that his belongings are still there. He clench his teeth. This hurts like hell. He may not want to admit it but Raja's disappearance leave a bitter taste. He packed his belongings but he stop midway when he heard that he's not alone. Who is it?Is itâIt couldn't be himâThe sound of footsteps echoed down the empty hallway of the headquarters. Tales immediately towards the terrace and looked down from above. His hand grips the rails tightly anticipating the person who's here but to his disappoinment it wasn't him butââTales?âHe blinked, caught off guard by the familiar voice. Then his vision become clearerââRia?âShe stood in the base of the staircase, a little out of breath, holding a paper bag in one hand and a curious look in her eyes. Her long black coat fluttered as she stepped inside. For a second, she didnât move. Then she smiled.âWow. Youâre really here.âTa
A Month Later.Tales had healedâphysically, at least. The bruises had faded, the wounds had closed. He hadn't been discharged, he was just given pain meds and instructions to rest to avoid stress. But resting was impossible.Because Raja never came back.At first, Tales had understood. He told himself Raja was busy. That he was handling his men, making sure they had shelter, rebuilding what was lost.But a week turned into two. Then three. Then a full month.No visits.No calls.No messages.Tales tried to ignore it. Tried to pretend it didnât hurt, that it didnât eat away at him every time he glanced at his phone and saw nothing.But it did. It really did.He hated how much it affected him.How much Rajaâs absence felt like a wound all on its own.Tales feels like waking up in the aftermath of a storm that only he rememberâwhere the sky looks calm, but everything inside him is in ruins. Itâs like carrying around a wave of silence in your chest, every breath echoing against his jumbl
The hospital was colder than Raja expected. Too white and too sterile. The scent of antiseptic seems to clung desperately to his skin, mixing with the dried blood in his body. He hadnât moved from his spot beside the bed since the doctors had taken Tales in.He will not leave. Not until Tales opened his eyes.If Tales were to... No. That can't happen. It shouldn't happen or else he'll really follow him to hell.When he had first stormed into the emergency room, carrying Talesâ limp, bloody body in his arms, the entire hospital had gone silent as if the scene they're witnessing straight out of the movies. The nurses had frozen in place, their eyes widening as they took in his disheveled state."Get me a fucking doctor!" Raja had roared, his voice slicing through the silence like a blade."Sirâ" one of them had started hesitantly."Put him into the bed. Now." One of the personnel that seems like a doctor shouted to gain the attention of the people who's in dazed and is hesitant to appro
Back to the present.The air smelled strongly of blood. It soaked the concrete of the building, pooling around the bodies of Jakeâs men, their throats slit, skulls broken, guts spilling out onto the floor. Raja stood among the massacre with his chest heaving and sweat mixing with the splattered blood that coated his skin. His blade dripped, each drop of blood falling with a rhythmic pat against the ground.Jake on the other hand sighed after his long flashback of memories. He's irritated of why he remembered that now. He look at Raja who's attention is not on him but on Tales. âYou really like him huh,â he mused, gazing towards Tales direction. âDidn't really know you like used products." He dissed.Raja flinches and his aura darkened, but after sometime, his facial expression is relax. "You can't get anything by saying such nonsense, Jake. You still have to die." He says while his focus was still on Tales. His body. His breathing even though it was shallow and faint. Too faint."Oh
Jakeâs resentment festered like an untreated wound.For years, he swallowed the bitterness, forced himself to held his head high in front of Oliver, forced himself to play the loyal unambitious son, even as something in him curdled and rotted with every passing day.He shouldâve given up. He shouldâve accepted it. Raja became Oliverâs favorite. Raja became the chosen one. Raja was the one who mattered.But Jake wasnât built to accept. He wasnât built to be cast aside. He was trained for survival. So if Oliver didnât see him as his sonâThen Jake would make sure Oliver had nothing left to see at all. If he couldnât be Oliverâs greatest creation, he would be his greatest failure.However, that alone wasnât enough to burn Oliverâs empire to the ground. Being a disgrace would only give a little to no impact towards Oliver and the organization. NoâJake wanted to carve it apart, piece by piece, while Oliver was still alive to witness it crumble.And so, he planned.He started with Victor.