Calm in the Chaos

I was in trouble.

I didn't have detailed information about the gang I was up against, just an approximate number of enemies. What a headache… and backache. I wasn't in optimal condition, and I doubted I'd fully recover before Friday. Damn it.

Thanks to Zoe, at least I knew a bit about what I'd be facing and wouldn't have to fight blindly. However, there was another problem: the people who had gone to my house after I'd finished off Arthur's gang. I needed to contact Maximus.

According to Razer's memories, Maximus was the family butler, the one in charge of everything. I called the nurse, and after explaining the situation, she handed me a cell phone to reach him.

After a few rings, Maximus answered.

—Hello?

—Maximus, it's Razer.

—Young Master Razer! I'm glad to know you're alive —he replied with relief.

—I'm also glad to know you're okay, Maximus. Where are you?

—I'm at the mansion, young master. We took care of the "cleanup" —he said, referring to disposing of the bodies—. Was it you who caused all this?

—Yes.

—I saw the body of young Arthur from the Ashford family. I suppose that boy never left you alone.

—No, but that's a problem resolved now.

—Well, young master Razer. Where are you now? —Maximus asked, sounding concerned.

—I'm at Valle Sereno Hospital. Could you come pick me up?

—Are you alright?

—Yes, minor injuries. Also, could you send someone to pick up one of the bikes I used?

—Of course. Give me a few minutes, and I'll be there, and I'll send someone for your bike.

—Thank you, Maximus.

—At your service, young master Razer.

Now all that was left was to try to recover and prepare for next Friday. Total chaos was coming, and I hoped to come out of it alive.

...

Maximus picked me up from the hospital, and now I was back at the mansion. Many employees and several police officers were handling the piles of bodies. Why the police? Well, it's normal; they had to identify the bodies and inform the families. Of course, no charges would be filed against me.

I went to my room. Maximus had brought my gear with me, so I headed to the "secret room," as I liked to call it. I had to reorganize the things I'd used. Maximus offered to take care of the suit; he promised to send it for repairs and upgrades since it had sustained some damage. I kept the weapons with me and started placing them back in their spots.

That night had been total chaos: my first kills, my first moments close to death. However, my heart didn't falter; it felt strangely natural, without the slightest tremble in my hands. Neither Razer nor I had gone through something like this before, so this calm was... unusual.

But well, it worked in my favor. From now on, things would only get worse.

After arranging the weapons and bullets, I lay down on the bed with a stabbing pain in my back, a remnant of the bullet the doctors had extracted. Did it hurt? Yes. Would I recover by next Friday? No, unfortunately not. The shoulder wounds, from the impact of the bullet, were minor and only caused a slight discomfort, but I'd need time to be in shape.

Staring at the ceiling, I couldn't help but think that maybe my death was near. Facing so many people was almost a suicide mission, but there was nothing else I could do except prepare. I didn't have friends who could help me. Zoe, of course, was out of the question. This was my fight. Where was Razer's family? I didn't know. Not even Razer knew. They had left the mansion a month ago, and there'd been no news of them, only of the servants.

You know what's funny? On Monday, I'd have to go to school. Isn't it amazing? Classes keep going, while everyone out here is killing each other and committing atrocities, but school stays open.

Funny, but oh well. I guess I'll have to attend. Maximus informed me that cleaning the entire mansion of blood and such would take days, so going to school would be optimal to let the employees do their work without interruptions.

I guess Monday will be my first day of classes in this body. I hope everything goes well.