WINTERI sat in the garden, reflecting on my life like I usually did whenever I had some alone time. Dawn was taking a nap at the moment and Pat was keeping watch over her. As I leaned back on the rocking chair, I took a deep, long breath.To say that I had gotten over the events of the last weeks would be an understatement. It had taken my days before I was finally able to walk back into this garden. It used to be my favorite place, but I wasn't so sure now.I only came here because staying holed up in the room only made me feel more like a prisoner. Out here, at least, I didn't feel that bad and I could think a little more clearly."Hey!" someone suddenly called out to me.I turned around to find Kai walking over with his hands in his pockets. I hadn't seen much of him lately. Why was he here? Did he want to get on my nerves like he usually did?"Ermm..." I mumbled, not knowing what to say in response to the Hey.When he came before me, I straightened up on the chair. Then I noticed

WINTERMy jaw dropped to the floor as soon as my eyes fell on the new man's face. "What the..."With a frown, he walked into the room, heading straight to the perverted man. He punched him in the face before any words were said. "How dare you put cuffs on her and also attempt to hit her? Have you lost your mind?""I'm sorry, boss. It was stupid of me," the pervert pleaded, holding his nose in pain."Get lost!" the new man commanded. "I will deal with you later."As soon as the first two men hurried out of the room and shut the door, I finally closed my mouth and swallowed. My wrist was released from the cuff at the same time."Please tell me that I am dreaming?" I asked once I found my voice.The man smiled. "Fortunately, you are not. It's really me.""It was you that sent those guys to kidnap me?" I asked again, my head feeling very full. "Why did you do that, Eric?"Eric sat on the edge of the bed and flashed me a warm smile. "I promised to get you out of that hellhole, didn't I?"I

KAI-VIIThe boom was so loud that the coasters on my desk slipped and clattered on the floor. The windows also rattled a little. I ran over to the one closest to me, only to find that there was a huge cloud of smoke outside. Nothing, not even my fleet of cars in the driveway, was visible. What the hell just made that sound? What was going on out there?I went to the side window and found that the garden was covered in smoke too. It wasn't as thick, but I didn't see anyone there. As I looked around desperately, more booms came from outside. They were less louder than the first but equally concerning."Ivan!" I yelled for my bodyguard.When I turned around and saw that he wasn't behind me and he didn't come running at my call, I stood frozen. It took me a while to remember that he was dead.I jumped over Pat who was crouching on the floor with Dawn still in her embrace. Rushing into the corridor, I saw that it was empty. There was no sign of my men."What's happening!" I asked, but no

SEVENThe air in my throat seized at the sight above me. My fingers slipped off the gun. If it weren't for the band over my shoulder, the gun would have dropped straight to my feet.My eyelashes quivered as I continued to look up. "Hey! Don't do it! Please!"I didn't know where that plea came from. It just slipped out. However, I didn't regret it. Anything for my child. Anything for Dawn's safety!Kai threw his head back and laughed out loud. "I didn't know you had the word "please" in your dictionary, Seven Greywolf. I thought it was not in your DNA to plead for something, especially from someone you deem to be beneath you!"I don't even know who the fuck you are! Why would I think you are beneath me?An argument popped into my head, but that wasn't what I said. "It doesn't have to be this way. Please, stop dangling my child and remove the knife from her throat. Please!""If you do this, I promise that no harm shall come to you," I added desperately.Kai laughed again. "Do I look lik

RATIOThere had been no news from Kai for days. Although I asked Nora to keep an eye on him, she hasn't reported anything strange to me since her last visit. All was well. Even my wound hadn't bled in two days.I sat playing chess all by myself like I always did. Just as I moved a piece, I heard a scream from downstairs. I froze and listened, only to hear Dr. Longman say, "Shit!"In the years he had been working for me, I knew that the leprechaun only cursed when an experiment didn't go as planned or when he stubbed his toe on one of the numerous equipment.Either way, I stood up, went to the corridor, and looked down. "Anything the matter?"Dr. Longman who should no signs of physical discomfort looked up to me with his face filled with fear. He stammered, "No... Nothing.""Don't lie to me!" I roared, my eyebrows arching.Dr. Longman jumped and trembled. By the time I took the stairs downstairs, he was sweating all over as if he had just been dipped in water. He stumbled backward on t