"Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden."

-Phaedrus

Chapter 15 "In need to find my missing piece"

In six months... November 2020

I stagger up right as I cover my wound with my hand. The blood is spilling incessantly. I try everything I can to decrease the amount of blood streaming down my body as I pace for bandages and strings to stitch up my stabbed wound. My legs are flimsy and the side of my stomach is numb. I'm losing a lot of blood as my apartment is breaking down. The ceiling lights are hanging and flickering the last extent of electricity they have. Bodies are laid down unconscious or dead all over the floor, some on the table and others on the stairs creating a river of blood. I wince as I step over the bodies and continue walking. Once I reach my desk, I stumble as I open the desk strongly for it had been jabbed when the shooting began. I had hid myself behind it when they barged in. I opened it to take out my gun and closed it too hard so I could prepare myself for the upcoming fight. I sit down on my legs and notice the floor is as cold as ice. I look out the curtain-less window and see the night sky; the illuminating buildings; the cars racing each other; and planes' light glinting as they pass by. Everything seemed so normal yet so different. This time I felt so alone. I look away from the window and focus on my wound again that has spilled more blood than before. First I pull up my shirt as I begin to clean my wound. I grunt as the alcohol stings my broken skin. Once the bleeding decreased, I stitch it up and put a patch on it. I pull my shirt down; unexpectedly, I can sense my soaked-with-blood-shirt as it rests against my stomach. I solemnly glare down and see my hands painted with my blood. I clutch them into fists and couldn't help but shed two or three tears. I raise my head as I inhale again and relax myself for a moment to breathe in everything that has happened. I survey what's around me and see the men on the ground. Some of them will wake up in any second, I acknowledge. I have to leave.

I stand up unevenly and snatch a cloth to clean my hands. I head over to the window while wiping most of the blood off. As I am one step away from the window, I see my reflection: My brown chestnut hair is all tangled up; there are scars all over my arms, legs, hands, chest, and face; my shirt is dusty and fortunately black so no one will see blood; and my jeans are also dusty. My eyes, though, they still glow a strong blue.

After seeing myself, I glance at the concrete floor and press the circular mark on the ground with my foot. A small part of the floor opens and brings up a cupboard with my hidden stash. I follow it with my gaze as see it rise a bit over my head. I open the cupboard and see my guns and knives hung orderly on the sides; boxes of bullets stack over each other; and a bag filled with new clothes, new ID with passport, new phone, and money. I open the bag and place guns, knives and bullets in the bag. Except one gun, I hide it behind my back and in my jeans and I slide two daggers in each shoe. As I put my jacket on, I hide both gun and knives in it. I close the cupboard and press the glowing button inside it so it could go back to its first state. I swing the bag over my shoulder and trudge away as the cupboard becomes invisible again.

More are coming, I think. They want information; they want Adalyn. The fights over for now. However, I can't let them get to her. Though, she's safe; I hope. I never really got the chance to see her leave or to say goodbye. She just disappeared.

I searched for her ever since. She wanted to do this on her own, but I couldn't let her, this is not something you can do on your own. On the other hand, who can blame her?  I would've done the same if it were me. Once I'm at the door, I open a drawer and take out the half hand gloves. I put them on my hands whilst closing the door to the apartment. I take out my old phone when facing the door again. I hack in their security system and turn off all cameras. After that, I lock the door to my apartment and leave. I glance up and see the cameras are off. When I'm at the elevator, I lay down my phone on the floor to crush it, until I receive a phone call. I don't recognize the number. Before answering, I make sure I can track the caller with the new phone.

I press the button to the elevator. When the door opens and I enter, I answer the call.

"Hello, who's calling?" I question, facing the metallic doors.

At first, there is no answer, just the sound of car driving rapidly. Then, I become paralysed as I hear the caller respond, "Michael? Is that you? Please, listen."

I stop breathing. I stop feeling. I stop doing everything except listening.

"Michael! I need you to listen, okay? I know you're there, I need you to listen, please Michael, I know you're angry." A desperate voice says.

I inhale as I say, "You just left."

"That's not the point-"

"Not even a goodbye," I strongly say, "You just left." Unwillingly, small tears appear at the corners of my eye.

"Yes, I left. I left willingly so nothing would happen to you."

"What made you think I would be protected with you gone? We're all in this together! We all agreed!" I exclaim all of the sudden. I turn around and peer at the view through the glass walls. I lived on 58th floor, going down is going to take some time.

"I didn't agree! I didn't agree to anything!"

"I needed you! You were my partner! My best friend!"

"I can't talk about this right now!" I hear alarming in her voice.

"What are you talking about?"

"My time's up Michael, I won't be able run away from this one. But I need you to know-"

"What's going on?" I ask with worry.

"They're after my mom, Michael. You need to protect my mom. Don't let them get to her, got it?"

I listen to her surroundings, "Who are you running away from?"

"Promise me you'll protect my mom!"

"Where are you?" I ask alarm. I check the new phone and see where the call is coming from. She's in Columbus. She's home. I hear her voice again, but she didn't get to finish.

"They want her-"

I hear the sound of a collision between cars. I hear an explosion. I hear the tires sliding over the road. I hear grunts and things tumbling down. But worst of all, I hear her scream.

After six months, I say her name, "Adalyn!"

The elevator rings and the doors open. I'm on ground floor.

I head to my car and put my things away. Then, I drive.

I drive to save Adalyn.