CHAPTER 7: WAKING UP IN THE UNKNOWN

Denzuo's eyelids fluttered open. His vision blurred and hazy, he lifted a shaky hand into the air.

"Where... where am I...?" he murmured.

Turning his head slowly to the left, he spotted Akira lying on a separate bed. They were close, but not close enough to reach.

"Akira... hey," he whispered, barely audible.

No response. Denzuo gathered strength, pulled his body sideways, and called again, louder.

"Akira!"

Still nothing.

He sat up carefully, wincing as pain shot through his body. "Akira!" he called out again.

Akira's hand twitched, his voice groggy and annoyed. "Shut up, Denzuo... Let me sleep."

Denzuo pouted. "You woke up before me and didn't even bother to check if I was alive?"

"Body... hurts... don't care..." Akira groaned, eyes still half-closed.

The two sat in silence for a moment, the ache in their bodies slowly reminding them of the beating they'd endured.

Then it hit them.

"Wait... where are we?" Denzuo said, glancing around.

Akira blinked. "This... doesn't look like that abandoned apartment."

They looked at each other, panic creeping into their expressions.

Denzuo gasped. "What if we're in enemy territory?!"

"Yeah," Akira muttered, "could be. After those guys beat the crap out of us, maybe they dragged us here for more."

"But…" Akira's brows furrowed. "Why are our wounds bandaged? There's medicine on the nightstand too. That doesn't make sense."

Denzuo nodded slowly. "This place looks more like a guest room than a hospital... definitely not a clinic."

"Check the door," Akira said. "See if anyone's out there."

Denzuo hesitated, then slid off the bed, groaning as he held his side. He crept toward the door, turned the knob, and peeked outside.

Two men stood chatting in the hallway, dressed sharply—dark coats, weapon holsters, and an unmistakable aura of authority.

Denzuo blinked twice. "Mafias...?"

He stared, his brain still catching up. Wait. Mafias? What the—?!

One of the guards noticed him. "Hey, you okay?"

Denzuo yelped and slammed the door shut.

Akira sat up slowly, concerned. "What happened?"

Denzuo stammered. "Ma...mafia... they're... mafias outside the door!"

Akira's eyes widened. "Are you serious?!"

Denzuo nodded rapidly, pressing his back to the door. Footsteps approached.

Without thinking, Denzuo snatched the bedside lampshade, holding it like a weapon.

Akira groaned. "What are you doing? We're already half-dead!"

"Shhh!" Denzuo whispered, gripping the lamp tightly.

The door clicked open.

Without hesitation, Denzuo swung the lamp.

BAM!

A pained shout echoed in the room. "WHAT THE F\CK?!"

Brixton stumbled in, clutching his forehead. "You aimed at my HEAD?!"

Denzuo froze mid-swing, eyes wide. Akira sat, stunned.

Shaun stepped in behind Brixton, rubbing his temple, trying not to laugh. Zedd followed silently, expression unreadable.

Behind them, Bryan entered—and burst out laughing.

"Oh man! Brix! You always brag about your ninja senses!" Bryan clutched his stomach. "Guess they took the day off, huh?"

Brixton glared and hurled the broken lamp remains at Bryan. "SHUT UP!"

Bryan dodged, barely. "Oooh, still got aim though!"

Even Shaun cracked a smirk.

Zedd held up a hand. "Enough."

Silence returned.

Zedd stepped closer to Akira, who struggled to sit upright.

"You alright?" Zedd asked, his voice low but calm.

"I guess..." Akira said, then tilted his head. "Wait. What's going on? Why are you here? Did you save us?"

He paused, brows furrowed. "Aren't you... mafias?"

Zedd looked him dead in the eyes.

"Yes."

Denzuo's jaw dropped. "So we are captured?!"

"No," Zedd said. "You were rescued."

Akira stared, still trying to wrap his head around it. "Why?"

Zedd turned to the others. "Give them a minute."

He walked out of the room, hands in his pockets, leaving a trail of confusion behind him.

Bryan gave them a thumbs-up. "You're welcome, by the way."

Shaun nodded silently and followed Zedd. Brixton, still rubbing his head, glared one last time before slamming the door shut behind him.

Akira and Denzuo sat frozen.

Denzuo finally whispered, "This is the weirdest day of my life."

Akira nodded. "Yeah... and I think it's just getting started."