7: When Chaos Reigns

Chapter Seven:

When Chaos Reigns

—

The last 24 hours had been a rollercoaster of emotions for Samson. It was his birthday, a day he always dreaded, marked by a deep sense of sadness. He had felt anger after running into Curtis, and then shock and confusion when he met Christian, learning things about the father he had never known. Now, faced with the fear of imminent danger, he found himself in a life-or-death situation. It all felt surreal.

—

[Evening]

Samson hit the floor of his bedroom with a heavy thud after Christian threw him.

The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the faint glow of streetlights filtering through the window.

His mind raced with adrenaline, leaving him in a daze and struggling to comprehend what was happening. He recalled noticing the handguns the intruders were wielding when they burst in.

As he sat up, Christian's words replayed in his mind: "Your life may be in danger." A surge of gratitude washed over him for having met Christian today rather than tomorrow. Without that encounter, he shuddered at the thought of what those men might have done to him.

While still in a daze, he heard a loud grunt and the sounds of a struggle coming from outside his bedroom. 

Fear engulfed him, and without a second thought, he crawled underneath his bed, convinced it was the safest option in case anyone entered.

As the struggle continued outside his room, he could hear his own heartbeat thundering in his ears. With wide eyes, he stared at the bedroom door frame, terrified of what might happen next.

For the next ten minutes, muffled sounds of struggle filled the air. With each passing minute, his heart raced faster.

Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of a silenced gunshot startled him, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through his body.

For a moment, the chaos hushed, and he heard a voice call out—twice—followed by two more silenced shots. Then came the heavy thud of a body hitting the floor.

Another silenced shot rang out, and silence enveloped the apartment as Samson lay frozen under the bed, anxiously staring at the door. He hoped it would be Christian who walked through, not one of the intruders.

Just when he thought all was quiet, a loud crash echoed through the apartment, accompanied by a grunt of pain.

For the next five minutes, the sounds of thuds, crashes, shattering glass, and anguished grunts filled the air.

Listening to the chaos unfolding, Samson suddenly heard the unmistakable sound of someone choking and gasping for air. Two scenarios raced through his mind: either Christian was choking one of the attackers, or he was the one being choked. That thought ignited a fire within him; he knew he had to take action. It was a matter of life or death—if Christian was in trouble, he would surely be next.

Fueled by adrenaline, he crawled out from under the bed and made his way to the door frame, peeking around the corner.

As he cautiously looked out, he took in the state of his apartment, then spotted a tall, muscular man with his back to him, looming over someone who was struggling on the floor. Their legs kicked desperately while their arms flailed, searching for a way to escape.

Samson's heart raced as he watched the scene unfold, his mind racing to devise a plan to help Christian. He quickly scanned the area for something—anything—that he could use to confront the tall man.

Then he spotted it: Christian's handgun, left behind as he hid behind an upturned table.

Glancing back at the two men, particularly the tall one, Samson realized he seemed too distracted to notice him going for the gun. With a surge of determination, he moved toward it.

Silently, he crept over to the gun, picked it up, and retreated back into the doorway of his bedroom, his heart pounding in his chest.

He had never held a gun before, and it felt lighter than he had imagined. But would he actually use it? The thought of pulling the trigger weighed heavily on him.

As he looked at the two men, he saw one towering over the other, his massive frame resembling a bear as he toyed with his prey's life. The man beneath was desperately fighting for survival, his gasps for breath growing fainter.

As he raised the gun, Samson felt his arms trembling. The weight of the weapon was both unfamiliar and intimidating in his grip. He knew he had to act quickly—Christian's life was at stake. Each faint gasp for air from Christian was a chilling reminder of the urgency of the moment.

But could he do it? Questions swirled in his mind like a storm. 

Could he truly pull the trigger? The thought sent a jolt of fear through him, igniting a clash between his survival instincts and his moral compass. 

Could he take the life of the intruder—the man who, despite being a threat, was still a fellow human being? The enormity of that choice weighed heavily on his conscience.

Samson's heart raced, pounding in his chest like a drum echoing the chaos around him. The tremors in his hands intensified, not just from fear but from the gravity of the decision he faced. Every instinct urged him to hesitate, to consider the consequences of his actions. What if he missed? What if he took a life and couldn't live with the aftermath?

He took a shaky breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling within him.

Yet, the urgency of the situation pressed down on him like a weight. Christian was depending on him, and the thought of failing—of never knowing the truth about his father—made the stakes even higher.

He had to make a choice, and he had to make it fast.

In that moment, as chaos raged outside, Samson stood at the crossroads of fear and resolve, grappling with the questions.