The server's voice was panicked as he asked, "Are you okay?" He helped me to my feet and led me to a corner of the room, away from the inquisitory gazes.
"What happened?" I gasped out, feeling my side throb with pain.
"I don't know," I replied through gritted teeth. "I just got hit with a shiv. Someone must have jumped me." The server looked at me with wide eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again, concern etched on his face. I nodded, trying to maintain my composure.
He looked at me attentively before correcting my words. "This person threw a shiv at you from long distance, rather than explicitly jumping. We need to get you to an emergency room immediately."
The server's tone was urgent as he guided me towards the exit. "Do you need me to accompany you?" I shook my head up and down, my mind racing with thoughts of who could have done this to me.
We went with haste, trying to reach the emergency room. The pain hardly diminished, but the adrenaline of the situation kept me going.
As we arrived at the medical bay, the emergency room doctor took one look at me and rushed me into a room. I was immediately whisked away to a hospital bed, my mind racing with thoughts of who could have done this to me.
As I lay there, the doctor examined my wound and confirmed that it was indeed a knife wound.
He spoke with urgency, "Right now, the main priority will be stopping blood leakage. We'll need to clean and stitch the wound, and keep you under observation for a few days to ensure it doesn't become infected. But don't worry, we'll do everything we can to make sure you're okay."
'You're going to be okay.'
His affirmation resounded in my mind as my consciousness slowly dripped away. I felt myself slipping into a darkness that I couldn't quite understand. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a sterile white room, my wound bandaged and my body feeling weak and sluggish.
I tried to move, but the pain simply intensified, causing me to wince and let out a low groan. Looking around, I saw that I was alone in the room. The sound of beeping monitors filled the air, and I could hear the soft shuffling of footsteps approaching.
Who could it be? As the footsteps drew closer, I saw a figure enter the room. The person was tall and lean, with a sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes.
Wait a minute... I remember now!
"Harker? What are you doing here?" My voice came out weakly, my body feeling heavy and unresponsive. "I heard you were attacked. How are you feeling? Are you okay?"
He approached me slowly, concern etched on his face. As they came closer, I could see the scars on their arms and hands, evidence of a life spent fighting.
"I'm fine, but you shouldn't have wasted your time coming here," I managed to say through gritted teeth.
Harker shook their head. "I couldn't just stand by and do nothing," he replied. "What happened to you?"
"I got hit with a shiv," I replied, my voice still hoarse from the pain. "Who could have done this to me?" Harker shook his head.
"The answer eludes me. But we'll find out. We'll have to talk to the other agents and get a better idea of who could have done this to you." I nodded, grateful for his presence. "Thank you, Harker," I said softly. Harker looked at me with a small smile.
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"Yeah."
He paused for a moment before continuing. "Unfortunately, waiting is no longer an option. Secretary of Justice, has his team called in to investigate the recent rash of attacks on law enforcement officers. We need to be ready to take on whoever is behind this. After all, coincidences can only be coincidences until they're not." Harker's voice was resolute as he spoke.
"I'll make sure you're protected and that we can work closely with the other agents," he concluded.
I let out a ragged sigh. It's almost as if I'm a character in a book. As if the events of the past few hours had already happened, and I was just a player in a larger drama. I wondered who could have done this to me, and why.
Maybe I was a villain, going through my arc as the oppressed victim before unleashing my trauma on innocent citizens.
Maybe I was a hero, fighting for justice against the corrupt system that oppressed them. Or maybe I was just a pawn, caught in the middle of something bigger than me.
Once again, I sighed. Seeing my hopeless disposition, Harker changed the subject. "We plan on taking you elsewhere, now that the Secretary of Justice has granted you release, no restriction bars your freedom of movement. We have a squad of agents waiting on us outside, and our entourage consists of five bulletproof SUVs," he explained to my surprise.
"We'll be driving you to a safe location, where you can recover from your injuries and begin your investigation into who might have attacked you. It's likely that you know something about it. Or rather, you may have angered someone subconsciously. Many different possibilities to take into account."
I knew what he was hinting at; I had been investigating a case involving a wealthy businessman who had been laundering money through a series of offshore accounts. It was a complex web of legal loopholes and corporate maneuvering that seemed to defy any attempt to track him down.
But I didn't think that had anything to do with my attacker.
Suddenly, the epiphany hit like a truck on a sprawling highway.
Maybe one of Von's other ex-gang members saw me interacting with Gareth. This might be a stretch, but I imagine he might've interpreted our conversation negatively.
My mouth remained shut regarding my deduction; it could be wrong anyways. Plus, I didn't plan to find out more if this person was so sneakily violent.
It meant that he may have carried a concealed weapon that he was willing to strike someone at any point in time.
Allowing sleeping dogs their slumber aligned more with my modus operandi.
I gave a white lie, "Never had any beef with anyone here." Then, Harker clapped his hands four times loudly.
Someone appeared at the door with a wheelchair in hand.
"Maruyama, if walking is too much of a demand, this tool will help a lot."
Suspending my disbelief, my head just nodded. I couldn't begrudge them their assistance.
Harker gestured for me to climb into the chair. I did, my legs feeling numb from sitting for so long while my feet felt like bricks.
The wheelchair looked durable enough to bear my weight.
What drew my attention was the nice silver colouring outlining it. The leather seat was a standard black while a Manufacturer's Logo rested at the base. The wheels were reinforced and had a high-tech suspension system, allowing for smooth movement.
Its Logo was a typical design utilizing a fire-breathing dragon. It was a cool and sleek design that I couldn't help but admire.
Harker then beckoned for me to follow him.
The other guy also walked along with us.
I was about to ask his name when he volunteered himself for the task.
"Hi... You can just call me Max," he said with a light smile. I nodded at him, trying to hide my surprise. Max was a tall and lanky man with a thick beard and blue eyes.
Is having blue eyes a trend?
I thought it was interesting that both Max and Harker possessed the same coloured eyes.
As we rolled towards the car, I couldn't help but notice the way Max moved with fluid grace, his limbs seemingly weightless as he effortlessly propelled himself along.
"Step into the SUV, guys. We're heading to one of our branches in the DC area," Harker instructed as he opened the door for me.
The sound of the doors slamming shut echoed through the quiet car interior, leaving us alone in the silence. Max turned to me and asked, "What exactly brought you to America, Maruyama? Do tell."
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. But as I looked at Max, I saw no judgment in his eyes. Instead, there was a genuine curiosity that made me feel more at ease.
"It's not a heartwarming story by any means. Keep in mind that I am not a good person at all." Hammering at this point was absolutely necessary beforehand.
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