One Door Leads To The Other

Confusion swirled around Zeyn, engulfing him in a haze of uncertainty. His life had taken an unexpected turn, delving into realms he never imagined. With each passing day, the weight of his newfound knowledge grew heavier, burdening his soul.

"They say it's easy to bear secrets alone," Zeyn muttered to himself, "but once third parties get involved, the matter is no longer a secret."

His thoughts revolved around one person: Akira. Despite never meeting her face to face, her presence lingered in his mind like a haunting melody. Dreams became his sanctuary, the only place where he could converse with her, guided solely by her voice.

The pursuit of knowledge had shifted, morphing from researching vampires to unraveling the mysteries of extraterrestrial beings. Amidst the chaos, Akira remained his beacon of light, offering glimpses into his own identity.

"Who am I?" Zeyn whispered into the void, his voice barely audible. "Is it possible that I have lost my mind? Akira, Akira! Who is she?"

As if on cue, Layla entered the scene, her presence both comforting and unsettling. She moved with an air of confidence, as if she belonged in Zeyn's world more than he did.

"Thinking?" Layla inquired, holding a double cream yogurt in her hand.

Zeyn sighed, a mixture of frustration and resignation evident in his voice. "Go put that back where you found it. And I don't appreciate your tendency to intrude unannounced."

Layla merely smiled in response, unfazed by Zeyn's rebuke. "When duty calls, I Layla will answer. Here, sign!"

Zeyn signed the document with a weary hand, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Akira and the mysteries she held. Layla's presence only served to remind him of the chaos that had infiltrated his life.

"You are the worst PA I have ever had," Zeyn remarked, unable to mask his irritation. "With Diane, I never had to deal with all of this."

Layla's smile widened, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes. "True, with Diane, you never had to deal with all of this. But with me, you have the pleasure of facing reality head-on."

Their banter was interrupted by a moment of silence, the unspoken tension hanging heavy in the air. Zeyn motioned for Layla to sit beside him, a silent invitation she accepted without hesitation.

For a brief moment, they sat in silence, the rhythm of their heartbeats the only sound in the room. It was a moment of solace amidst the chaos, a fleeting respite from the storms raging within.

"I don't mean to interfere," Layla began tentatively, "but what happened yesterday after receiving the call?"

Zeyn hesitated, unsure of how much to divulge. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he finally admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Layla arched an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Your eye turns red, can there be more bizarre things about you? And if so, why would I be shocked?"

Zeyn recounted the events of the previous day, the cryptic call that had sent his world spinning out of control. "I received a call from what I believe is home," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Layla's eyes widened in surprise, her interest piqued. "What do you mean? Did one of your parents call?"

Zeyn shook his head, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. "Not my parents, but someone looking for someone whose eye turns red. I misled them, fearing for my safety."

"Why?" Layla pressed, her curiosity bordering on obsession.

"Because danger could have befallen me if I told them the truth," Zeyn admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "Akira warned me that they are after my life."

Layla's expression darkened, a frown marring her features. "Who is Akira?" she demanded, her tone laced with suspicion.

Zeyn hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "A girl from my dreams," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "She seems close to me, though we've never had direct contact."

"Is there a way to reach her?" Layla inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Zeyn nodded, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. "Perhaps. If Mrs. Andrew could reach me, then I can find a way to contact Akira."

Layla's expression softened, a hint of concern in her eyes. "Do you trust her?"

Zeyn nodded, his resolve firm. "I see no reason not to."

Layla's eyes narrowed, a sense of doubt lingering in the air. "Well, I do. If she's as close to you as you claim, why hasn't she reached out directly? Yet a stranger managed to contact you in just a few days. My point is, if she wanted to talk, she would have."

Zeyn sighed, a sense of frustration washing over him. "Perhaps," he conceded, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But I won't dwell on what-ifs. I have no idea what's holding her back, but she always seems rushed."

"Maybe if you think of her more often, she'll see your desire for contact," Layla suggested, her tone tinged with skepticism.

Zeyn's thoughts drifted back to Akira's words, her cryptic warnings echoing in his mind like a distant refrain. "You had contact with one of the Andrews?" she had said. "Keep them distracted, tell them lies. Tell them you have a brother and a family on Earth. If they know you're alone, they'll dethrone you."

The implications of her words sent a shiver down Zeyn's spine, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. "I see you have a guardian," she had added. "I don't like her. In everything you do, you don't belong here... Shhh, my time is running out..."

Layla's voice broke through his reverie, pulling him back to the present. "Do you have any information about your parents?" she inquired, her tone gentle.

Zeyn shook his head, his thoughts still consumed by Akira's warnings. "I think you've asked enough questions for today," he replied, his voice distant.

Layla's smile faltered, a hint of concern in her eyes. "Okay, okay," she conceded, her tone tinged with disappointment. "But I wanted to learn more about you."

Zeyn sighed, a sense of resignation washing over him. "I barely know about myself," he confessed, his voice tinged with regret. "I was raised in an orphanage, and my supposed parents were Nail and Peter Smith. But DNA tests revealed I'm not related to them at all."

Layla's eyes widened in surprise, a sense of shock evident in her voice. "That must have been tough," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zeyn shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips.