Zughaib's vision blurred as he slowly regained consciousness. His body ached from the tight restraints and the rough handling by the suitmen. The events of the interrogation with Orwen played over in his mind like a broken record. The promises, the threats, and the cold, calculated smiles of the men who now held him captive. Everything had gone dark after Orwen's final words, and Zughaib barely remembered being subdued by the suitmen behind; the agents acquired the chosen one.
Now, as he blinked away the remnants of unconsciousness, he realized he was in the driver's seat of a van, his one hand restrained to the steering wheel and the other strapped to the gearshift. His wrists throbbed from the restraints, and the dull ache in his muscles made it difficult to focus. His head swiveled to assess his surroundings—a plain white van, nondescript, but with the distinct stench of something sinister.
In the center console, a walkie-talkie crackled to life. Zughaib's sharp gaze locked onto it just as Orwen's voice poured through, cold and authoritative.
"Good morning, Mr. Zughaib," Orwen's voice carried the faintest hint of amusement. "I hope you've had a refreshing nap. Now, down to business. You'll be delivering this van to North Sandalcreek Port, warehouse no.23 to be precise. Don't even think of trying anything funny, stick to the plan and deliver the courier, no questions."
Zughaib's eyes narrowed as he listened, his jaw tightening.
"Oh right, Keep your head down," Orwen continued. "You'll see black station wagons with white-colored bumpers and sideskirts prowling around. Those belong to DARKCON. Avoid them at all costs. They won't hesitate to stop and kill you if they find out if you were the one driving this van."
The intercom clicked off abruptly, leaving Zughaib in silence save for the low hum of the van's engine. He sat there for a moment, allowing the weight of the situation to settle in. He was being used as a pawn in some twisted game, and Orwen's manipulation hung over him like a dark cloud.
With no other option, Zughaib sighed deeply and adjusted himself in the seat, his muscles protesting with every movement. He tested the restraints on his hands, but they held firm. He gritted his teeth, staring through the windshield. Slowly, he shifted the van into gear and started driving, the streets of the city passing by in a blur as the sky above began to darken, signaling the approach of night.
---
The van moved at a steady pace through the streets, but Zughaib's mind remained sharp despite the discomfort. His eyes flickered from the road ahead to the mirrors, constantly scanning for any sign of the DARKCON station wagons. Orwen's warning echoed in his ears, a reminder of the danger that loomed around every corner. He had no intention of being caught by DARKCON, but avoiding them in a city crawling with their operatives would be a challenge.
As he turned onto a quieter street, Asiaville came into view, its vibrant lights and bustling crowds a sharp contrast to the tension knotting in his chest. For a moment, the normalcy of the scene almost threw him off—people going about their lives, blissfully unaware of the underworld battles being waged in the shadows.
But then something caught his eye.
In the distance, near to the Fire Dragon Hotel, he spotted Zaid. His brother stood out in the crowd, dressed sharply in a beige suit, a bouquet of roses in one hand and a neatly packed dish in the other. Zaid looked out of place, a little nervous, but there was a glow of anticipation in his posture.
Zughaib's grip tightened on the steering wheel as he observed his brother from afar. He wondered briefly who the flowers were for, what Zaid was doing, and why he hadn't mentioned anything. But the thought passed quickly—Zaid's life was his own, and Zughaib had too much on his plate already.
As Zughaib's eyes drifted back to the road ahead, he saw a lush purple glistening luxury sedan pull up beside Zaid. The car's sleek, polished exterior screamed wealth and importance. Zaid looked toward it with a wide smile, his face lighting up as the door swung open. Without hesitation, Zaid entered the car, and within seconds, the sedan drove off, leaving Zughaib watching from a distance.
A sigh escaped Zughaib's lips. There was so much about Zaid's life that remained a mystery to him. Even after all these weeks together, it seemed there were parts of Zaid's world that he had kept hidden. But Zughaib didn't have time to dwell on it. His own situation was precarious, and any moment spent lost in thought could cost him dearly.
Shaking off the distraction, Zughaib focused on the task at hand and continued driving toward North Sandalcreek Port. The streets grew quieter as the day gave way to night, and the weight of the city pressed down on him. He passed a few DARKCON station wagons along the way, their dark, ominous presence sending chills down his spine. He slowed the van at each sighting, ducking into side streets and hidden alleys to avoid being seen.
Every time a station wagon appeared in his mirrors, his pulse quickened, but his instincts kept him out of sight. He carefully maneuvered through the city until he finally saw the distant outline of Sandalcreek Port—a cluster of warehouses and docks lined up against the inky water, their shapes barely visible in the fading light.
---
Zughaib rolled the van to a stop in front of warehouse no.23, his breath slow and controlled as he surveyed the area. The warehouse was surrounded by towering shipping containers, casting long shadows in the dimly lit port. Everything was still, save for the occasional rustle of wind through the metal structures.
He cautiously pulled the van into the open garage, the heavy steel door grinding shut behind him with a loud thud. The sound echoed through the empty space as lights flickered on overhead, casting the warehouse in a harsh, sterile glow.
Two suitmen emerged from the shadows as soon as the van came to a full stop. They moved toward the vehicle with a cold precision, opening the driver's door and immediately releasing the restraints from Zughaib's wrists. His muscles ached from the tight bonds, but the freedom of movement was a small relief. One of the suitmen spoke formally "Your duty is a sign of courage, till then...", the suitmen gave a roll of cash to Zughaib, which he groggily felt until putting back into his pocket
Another one of the suitmen shoved a bright flash camera in his face, the blinding light momentarily disorienting him. Zughaib's vision blurred as the flash went off, and when he blinked, the light seared into his retinas, leaving him dazed.
Before he could react, everything went dark again.
---
When Zughaib came to, the harsh lights of the warehouse were gone, replaced by the soft glow of the setting sun. He was no longer in the van, no longer in the cold, metallic confines of the warehouse. Instead, he found himself sitting on a bench in a quiet place, his body leaning back lazily as the evening breeze rustled through the leaves of nearby trees.
It took him a moment to recognize the familiar surroundings of Cadona Corniche—a small, peaceful area on the outskirts of the city. Birds chirped in the distance, and the gentle hum of the city seemed muted here, as if the chaos of his life had been momentarily left behind.
Zughaib rubbed his eyes, trying to make sense of how he had ended up here. His head pounded slightly, but there was no sign of the restraints, the suitmen, or the van. It was as if he had been dumped here, free to go, though he knew that nothing in his world was ever that simple.
As he sat there, still trying to shake off the remnants of disorientation, his eyes caught a familiar figure in the distance—Zaid, walking hand in hand with a slender looking woman with wavy black hair, fair almond skin ,dressed in an elegant indigo dress and adorned sapphire jewellery. She moved gracefully, her laughter carrying softly in the breeze as Zaid smiled warmly beside her.
Zughaib watched from the bench, a mixture of relief and resignation settling over him. His brother was safe, living a life that, for now at least, seemed untouched by the shadows that haunted Zughaib's every step.
With a deep sigh, Zughaib tore his gaze away from the scene and scanned the park. His eyes fell on a grey colored, black stripped convertible muscle car parked near the edge of the lot. It looked unoccupied, and in that moment, a plan formed in his mind. He wasn't done yet—not by a long shot.
Quietly, he approached the car, his instincts guiding him as he reached under the dash. The familiar snap of wires was all it took before the engine roared to life. He glanced around once more, ensuring no one was watching, before climbing into the driver's seat.
As he drove off, the wind whipping through his hair, Zughaib's mind was already racing toward the next move. Whatever game Orwen and DARKCON were playing, Zughaib knew he had just become a bigger part of it.
And this time, he would be ready.