Chapter 36

Third Person Point of View

Who are you?” Axel demanded, glaring at the man before him.

“What do you mean? It’s me, Zayne,” the man replied, his voice dripping with nonchalance. Axel’s eyes narrowed, suspicion and anger boiling within him.

“Is that so?” Axel said, his tone cold. Without warning, he used his strength to lunge at Zayne. He attacked and he seems to be flashing out in second.

“You know, even if he annoys me,” Axel said as he swung his sickle at Zayne, who deftly evaded the attack, “he’s not dumb enough to hit La-La.” Axel struck again, his movements precise and aggressive.

“What do you mean by that?” Zayne asked, feigning innocence. Axel stopped mid-swing, his eyes locked on Zayne.

“That guy had a lot of life aura,” Axel explained, his gaze hardening. He glared at Zayne, now fully aware of the threat. “You have a sinister aura, the same as the Life Hunters,” he said, his voice filled with menace. “So I’m going to ask you again: who are you?”

Zayne’s smile widened, his laughter echoing eerily. “You found me,” he said with a flick of his finger. Axel’s eyes widened as he felt a strange pull. He tried to pull away, but his wrist was glowing blue, his soul beginning to fade.

“You—” Axel started, but his voice trailed off as he realized what was happening. Zayne’s appearance began to change before his eyes.

“You- you’re Dorian,” Axel muttered, recognizing the figure before him. Dorian’s smile grew even wider. He smiled widely so much that the aura around him creeps.

“You really know me,” Dorian said, his tone smug.

“You’re the wild one?!” Axel exclaimed, anger and disbelief evident in his voice. He glanced worriedly at La-La, who was still unconscious.

“Worried that your friend’s soul might perish?” Dorian taunted, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. Axel’s gaze locked onto Dorian, filled with fury and despair as if the weight of the world had fallen upon him.

Axel’s aura became overwhelmingly dark, the air around him thick with an ominous, dense feeling.

“Chill, your friend is already human—killing her is the only way I can take her beautiful soul,” Dorian taunted.

Axel’s eyes widened in shock at Dorian’s words. In a burst of anger, he charged at Dorian, but Dorian vanished instantly. Axel was stunned, his disbelief palpable as he saw Dorian reappear beside La-La’s unconscious body.

“You fucker!” Axel yelled, rushing towards them. But before he could reach La-La, Dorian leaned down and kissed her forehead, then disappeared once more.

Axel looked around frantically but found no sign of Dorian. He ran, searching for him, but Dorian was gone. Axel quickly hid his sickle and returned to La-La’s side, checking her body anxiously. Despite his fear, everything seemed fine. Axel hugged La-La tightly, his heart racing as he checked if she was alive or dead. He was in agony, clutching her limp form with desperation. Though La-La remained unconscious, she was still breathing.

What’s going on here?” Zayne asked, arriving on the scene. He and Axel had just stepped out to grab some drinks and food for La-La. Seeing La-La unconscious and covered in blood, Zayne dropped the plastic bags he was holding and rushed over.

“What happened to Ms. Lanaya?” Zayne demanded, his voice trembling with fear and urgency. He tried to reach for La-La’s body, his hands shaking as he desperately tried to pull her away from Axel.

“I said, what happened to her?!” Zayne shouted angrily, his voice rising with frustration and panic.

Axel, still clutching La-La tightly, looked up, his face etched with fear. His eyes met Zayne’s, filled with the raw pain of seeing La-La in such a state.

“She’s been attacked,” Axel said, his voice strained and filled with anguish. “Dorian—he came here, and… and I couldn’t stop him.”

Zayne’s face paled as he heard Axel’s words. His heart pounded in his chest, and tears welled up in his eyes. “No… No, this can’t be happening,” he muttered, his voice breaking. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he gently but firmly took La-La’s body from Axel’s arms.

Carefully, Zayne laid La-La down on the ground, his hands tender and cautious. He checked her wounds, his movements urgent yet delicate. The sight of her blood-soaked clothes and the faint rise and fall of her chest tore at his heart. He could barely contain his fear and grief.

“Please, hang in there, Ms. Lanaya,” Zayne pleaded, his voice cracking with emotion. “I need you to be okay. I need you to fight this I can’t lose you after all this time. When I already found you”

Axel watched, his own heart heavy with despair. He stood back, giving Zayne space, though every part of him wanted to help. He could see the pain in Zayne’s eyes, mirroring his own. It was clear that Zayne was as devastated as he was, fighting to hold back his own tears.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Zayne worked quickly, applying pressure to La-La’s wounds and checking her vital signs. His hands trembled as he tried to stabilize her, his mind racing with fear and determination. He could not afford to lose her—not after everything.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zayne looked up at Axel, his face a mask of resolve and exhaustion. “We need to get her help—now,” he said, his voice steady but filled with urgency.

La-La Point of View

My head ached terribly, and as I opened my eyes, I saw a white, unfamiliar ceiling. I looked around and noticed Yuna sitting by my bed, her face showing signs of relief as she slept.

What happened? Zayne—didn’t he try to kill me? My mind raced as I clutched the bed, trying to make sense of the situation. I could still feel the pain in my neck.

“How could he do that?” I muttered, gripping my neck. The reality of Zayne’s attack was sinking in. Was everything I suspected true? Did he really intend to kill me?

“Senior?” Yuna’s voice brought me back to the present. She looked visibly relieved to see me awake.

“Where am I?” I asked urgently. Yuna quickly grabbed a glass of water from the side table and set it down beside me.

“This is Dr. Zayne’s place, a private house,” she explained, placing the water on the table. “What do you mean, Zayne’s place?” I asked, confusion coloring my voice. Wasn’t Zayne the one who attacked me?

“Dr. Zayne is the one who healed you, Senior. You were attacked by a wild one, and Mr. Axel said it was part of the Life Hunter’s group, the wild one came from their class” Yuna said.

I was still confused. “Senior, do you still feel unwell?” Yuna asked, concern evident in her voice. “Should I call Dr. Zayne?” she said and about to stand up but I grabbed her.

“No—don’t call him. Just call Axel; that would help,” I said, feeling a pang of anxiety. “Okay, Senior,” Yuna agreed. “But you should know, you’ve been unconscious for three days. We’ve all been worried.”

“Three days? What do you mean?” I asked, my voice trembling. “It’s been three days since you lost consciousness, but it’s a relief that the wild one didn’t destroy your soul,” Yuna said.

If Zayne was indeed a wild one, I should have perished, but I didn’t. That thought weighed heavily on me.

A Few Moments Later

“What do you mean the wild one disguised himself as Zayne? Wasn’t Zayne the one who attacked me?” I asked Axel.

“Yes, he disguised himself as Zayne, and Zayne is the one who healed you” Axel confirmed. I touched my neck, the memory of the attack lingering. The grip felt the same as the one I’d felt during the assault before. It was clear that I was being targeted.

“Dorian,” Axel said, his voice filled with anger.

“Dorian? Who is that?” I asked.

“It’s the name of the wild one. He’s a batchmate of mine, and it seems he’s really targeting you,” Axel said, his tone unmistakably furious.

I’m not sure what Axel’s holding back, but his serious tone and the change of topic make me even more uneasy.

“What do you mean he’s targeting me?” I asked, trying to understand the situation. “Why would a wild one target me?”

Axel hesitated before answering, his eyes troubled. “I don’t know the reason, but—”

“But what?” I pressed, sensing he was hiding something.

“It’s nothing,” he said quickly, avoiding my question. The evasiveness in his tone only heightened my concern.

“Axel, you’re hiding something, aren’t you?” I insisted.

His expression turned more serious. “He seems to know your location, so I’m sure he’ll come back,” he said, shifting the topic away from my question.

“I know that,” I replied, frustration seeping into my voice. Axel then placed a brochure on the table next to my bed. “Cut yourself off from Zayne for now. Dorian might use his identity again to attack you. This is a house in Demart City. Yuna and I have petitioned for a change of your location since the wild one already knows where you are. It’s better to move there and stay safe. The wild one is mostly targeting Love Hunters, as you know.”

I looked at the brochure, feeling a mix of irritation and confusion. “We’re the weakest so it’s targeting us? What kind of nonsense is that?” I snapped. “Why is this decision being made for me?”

Axel’s eyes softened with concern. “I know it’s frustrating, but it’s for your safety. Dorian is dangerous, and we need to act quickly to protect you. I’m making these decisions because I need to ensure you’re safe.”

“I understand that you’re trying to help, but I should be involved in these decisions,” I said, feeling the weight of being sidelined. “I don’t want to be left out of the process, especially when it concerns my safety.”

Axel’s serious tone weighed heavily in the room. “Do you even know how dangerous the situation is, La-La? You almost died!” he said, his voice laden with concern. I was shocked he raised his voice.

I responded with a bitter edge. “I’m already dead, so what’s the difference?”

Axel’s expression grew more stern. “La-La, you will perish if you don’t act quickly. You need to get out of here before Dorian finds you again. We almost lost you once. If we’re too late, we might lose you permanently.”

His words left me reeling. “What are you talking about?” I asked, confusion lacing my voice.

Without answering, Axel stood up abruptly. “Leave today without Zayne knowing. Leave without a trace. La-La, it’s a choice between surviving or perishing,” he said coldly. “The decision is yours.”

With that, Axel walked out of the room, leaving me stunned and alone. His anger was palpable, but beneath it was a layer of frustration that was evident.

I clutched the edge of the bed, feeling the weight of Axel’s words pressing down on me. Was I really this naïve? The situation seemed to be spiraling out of control, and I was caught in the middle of a dangerous game I barely understood.

Yuna entered the room, looking concerned. “What’s going on, senior? Why did Mr. Axel leave so suddenly? Did something happen? He seems angry”

I struggled to gather my thoughts. “Axel said that the wild one is targeting the Love Hunters. It’s better for me to relocate since the wild one already knows my location.”

Yuna nodded thoughtfully. “Mr. Axel is right, senior. You should leave this place. It’s not safe.”

I forced a bitter smile, feeling the weight of my decision settling heavily on my shoulders. “Let’s leave now, Yuna,” I said, trying to muster the strength to get up from the bed.

Yuna’s eyes widened in confusion. “Wait, now? Are we leaving immediately?”

“Yes, now,” I insisted, standing up with her help. I still felt weak, but Axel’s urgency had made it clear that there was no time to waste. Even it’s still annoy me on how he said it to me.

As I stood there, I couldn’t help but think about why leaving was so necessary. Axel’s warnings were not without reason, and the fear of the wild one—and my past encounters—made it clear that I had to act quickly.

Things are getting dangerous.

The thought of seeing Zayne again made my stomach churn. The person who had attacked me had used Zayne’s face, and that realization haunted me. I bet each time I will saw Zayne, my fear would resurface, tangled with confusion and distrust. His face, once familiar and safe, had become a symbol of my vulnerability. The idea of confronting him, or even being around him, filled me with dread. I was terrified of what might happen if I had to face him again, knowing that the person who tried to kill me had worn his face.