Chapter 21: A New Reality

"FUCK!" Duke bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls, as Nadia's scissors delved deeper into his wound. He arched off the makeshift operating table, his body tensing in agony.

"Easy, Duke. I know it hurts, but I need to get the bullet out," Nadia said, her voice calm and steady.

"Fuck! Careful! You're digging a hole in my leg, Nadia!" Duke snarled, his words laced with pain and anger.

"I'm trying to save your life, Duke. And I need to take out the bullet in order to do so," Nadia replied, her eyes locked on the task at hand.

"Save my life? You're killing me!" Duke shouted, his body trembling with each probe of the scissors.

"I'm almost done, Duke. Just hold on one sec," Nadia said, her voice softening.

"Almost done? You've been saying that for hours!" Duke growled, his curses turning to ragged gasps as Nadia finally extracted the bullet.

Nadia smiled, holding out a bottle of alcohol to Duke. "All done! Here, have this."

Duke grabbed the bottle and chugged it without hesitation, unaware of Nadia's plan. As he spat out the liquid, coughing, and sputtering, Nadia swiftly poured the second bottle over his wound.

"You bitch!" Duke yelled, his eyes widening in shock and pain.

Nadia's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Language, Duke," she chided, her voice firm but playful.

Duke glared at her, his voice tight with pain. "Forget your bedside manner, Nadia."

Nadia chuckled, her gaze never leaving his wound. "Well, at least you're feeling feisty. That's a good sign. The alcohol was to disinfect your wounds."

Duke's expression turned from anger to understanding, and he nodded, wincing in pain.

Nadia continued, "Sit still while I go get something to close up the wounds. We're not done yet."

Nadia returned with a suture kit and began the process of closing Duke's wounds. She cleaned the area again with antiseptic and then applied a topical anesthetic to numb the skin.

"This might sting a bit," she warned, as she began to suture the wound shut.

Duke watched her with a wary eye, his face tense with pain and suspicion. He didn't trust her, even if she was helping him. He remained still, but his body was coiled tight, ready to spring into action if necessary.

Nadia worked swiftly and precisely, her fingers moving with a practiced ease as she closed the wound with small, even stitches. She tied off the sutures with a gentle tug, then applied a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and covered the area with a sterile dressing.

"There," she said, stepping back to examine her handiwork. "You should heal quickly, but we need to keep an eye on it to prevent an infection."

Duke nodded curtly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Thanks," he grunted, his voice gruff and unyielding.

Nadia's expression remained neutral, her eyes never leaving his face. "You're welcome, Duke. Just remember, I'm only helping you because it suits my purposes. Don't get too comfortable."

Duke's gaze narrowed, his voice laced with skepticism. "I'll be stupid to do that. What do you intend to get from this? I still stand firm with my decision earlier. So don't get your hopes up."

Nadia's face remained impassive, her voice calm and detached. "You should rest. We'll talk when you're up and feeling much better."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Duke to his thoughts. He watched her go, his mind racing with questions and doubts. What did she want from him? What were her true intentions? He remained still, his eyes fixed on the door she had exited, his body tense with anticipation and wariness.

But as the minutes ticked by, Duke's eyelids began to droop, his body succumbing to the exhaustion and pain. He tried to fight it, but his thoughts grew hazy, and his head nodded forward, his chin hitting his chest.

Despite his best efforts, Duke managed to drift off to sleep.

————

Duke woke up to the sound of hushed voices, his mind foggy and his body aching. He tried to sit up, his head spinning and listened intently to pinpoint the source of the noise. As he focused, he realized the voices were discussing him.

"...can't keep him here much longer, Nadia. He's getting too close," a voice said, the words echoing off the walls.

Nadia's response was calm and collected. "I know, but we need him. He's the only one who can help us now."

Duke's eyes snapped open, and he looked around the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Nadia stood beside him, a concerned expression on her face.

"Welcome back, Duke. How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.

Duke's mind raced as he tried to piece together what was happening. He remembered the fight, the pain from the bullet, and Nadia coming out of nowhere to help. But where was he now? And who was the other voice?

"Where am I?" Duke demanded, his voice firm but shaky.

Nadia hesitated before answering. "You're in a safe house, Duke. You were brought here after… what happened."

Duke's eyes narrowed. "What happened? This wasn't the room you brought me in initially. And who was that voice I heard?"

Nadia's expression turned sympathetic. "That was Ryker, a friend. And as for what happened...we'll discuss that later. First, let's focus on you getting better."

"You've done enough, and I thank you," Duke said, his voice firm. "But right now, I want to go home."

Nadia's face fell, and she shook her head. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Duke. Your house isn't a safe place for you right now."

Duke's face fell, and he felt a pang of desperation. "My bike… can I at least have my bike back?" he asked, his voice laced with hope.

Nadia's eyes filled with regret. "I couldn't retrieve it, Duke. I'm sorry. I know how much it means to you, seeing as it was your only means to do your job effectively." She lets out.

Duke's heart sank, remembering the first time he had lost his bike in the first alteration. He felt a sense of loss and frustration wash over him.

Nadia continued, her voice gentle. "Duke, you need to understand the system and what it's about, and why it chose you."

"Chose me?" Duke's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Yes," Nadia replied. "The system has rejected many others like you. It either kills them or rubs them off their sanity."

Duke's eyes narrowed, unsure where this was heading. But his curiosity was piqued. "How do you know so much about the so-called system, Nadia?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

Nadia hesitated before responding, her eyes darting around the room. "Because I was part of the team that created it."

comment 7 comment

Vote

SEND GIFT

Load failed, please RETRY