Last Night

Kai's eyes fluttered open, and he found himself in a room straight out of a fairy tale. He sat up, taking in the extravagant wealth that was visible in every nook and cranny. The bed he was lying in was fit for royalty, with exquisite linens that felt like they were made of the softest silk. On either side of the bed were marvelous antique nightstands, each adorned with intricate carvings and precious gems. As he looked around the room, his eyes fell on a large opulent wardrobe, its doors adorned with golden handles that shone in the sunlight. The windows on the far wall led to a veranda that overlooked a lush garden, and he could hear the gentle sound of a fountain in the distance.

A knock on the door jolted him out of his thoughts. He could hear the sound of heels tapping on the floor just outside. He hesitated for a moment before slowly making his way towards the door. As he reached out to open it, the room around him seemed to melt away, and he was left standing in a completely different place. Kai shook his head, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The warmth and familiarity he had felt in the grand bedroom had vanished in an instant, replaced by a feeling of confusion and disorientation. He looked around the small dormitory-style room, trying to piece together what was going on. The furnishings were sparse, just a simple bed and a single drawer, and the colors were dreary and monochromatic, unlike the vibrant hues of the previous room.

As he looked down at himself, he realized that he was no longer wearing the luxurious silk nightwear but instead an all-black uniform with a golden owl insignia on its breast pocket. He couldn't remember ever putting on the uniform or even owning it. Who was he? And where was he?

"I'm Kai, Kai...," he muttered to himself, his memory still hazy. He tried to remember his last name, but it remained elusive. Frustrated, he shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

Just then there was another knock at the door. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should answer it, but curiosity got the better of him, and he slowly opened the door. To his surprise, there was no one there.

He stuck his head out, looking up and down the corridor, but there was no sign of anyone. He did catch a glimpse of a woman walking away, but she disappeared around a corner before he could get a better look.

"Hey!" Kai called out as he ran after the woman he had glimpsed earlier. He raced down the hallway, the sound of his footsteps echoing off the walls. As he turned a corner, he found himself in a stunning garden, surrounded by lush greenery and fragrant flowers. The sun beat down on him, and he felt the warmth on his skin.

Kai looked down at himself, surprised to find that he was now dressed in trousers and a loose dress shirt with the two upper buttons undone, revealing his chest. His hair was down, and he felt it brush against his skin in the breeze.

As he ran through the garden, Kai felt a sense of freedom and exhilaration that he couldn't quite explain. He had no idea where he was going or what he was looking for, but he knew that he had to keep moving.

Kai saw the woman from before seated on a bench in a corner of the garden, surrounded by beautiful crimson lilies. Her back was turned to him, and he couldn't make out her appearance. Nervously, he approached her, tapping her on the shoulder to get her attention.

As she turned around, Kai was shocked to find that the woman had transformed into an arrogant man with the same strawberry blonde hair. It was Tristan de Martel, someone he actually knew.

Kai stumbled backward, almost falling to the ground at the sudden transition. He looked up at Tristan, who was now wearing an unnerving smile and a wicked look in his eyes. Kai could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up as he tried to make sense of what was happening.

"Tristan?" Kai asked, his voice shaking slightly.

Kai felt his heart racing as the man pulled him into a tight embrace. He tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong.

"What do you want from me?" Kai asked, his voice shaky with fear.

Tristan leaned in close, his breath hot on Kai's neck. "You're special, Kai. The Strix needs you, and so do I. We have big plans for you." He released Kai from the embrace, but his grip on his arm remained tight.

Kai felt a sense of unease wash over him as he looked into Tristan's eyes. He didn't trust him, but he couldn't deny the pull that he felt towards him. There was something alluring about Tristan, something that drew Kai in despite his reservations.

"The Strix? Tristan I don't," Kai said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tristan smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You don't have a choice, Kai. You're in this now, whether you like it or not."

Kai's heart was pounding even faster now as he struggled to free himself from Tristan's grip. The man's intentions were unclear, but Kai sensed danger looming.

Suddenly, he managed to break free and started to run, but his escape was short-lived as he was surrounded by distorted figures. Kai tried to fight back, but they were too many and too strong, encircling him and smothering him with their presence. Panic rising within him, Kai searched for a way out, desperately clinging to hope.

And then it happened. A hand grabbed onto his own, pulling him out from the center of colliding bodies. Kai clung onto it with all his might, his heart pounding as he fought against the others who were trying to drag him back.

Finally, a blinding white light filled his vision, and when it faded away, Kai found himself in a dense forest, birds singing and a cool shade over him. He took a deep breath, relieved to have escaped the danger that had threatened him only moments before.

_

Kai took a deep breath and tried to steady his racing heart. He opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings, trying to figure out where he was. As he was looking around, he heard a soft whimper coming from his side. He turned his head and saw a small, fluffy brown coyote curled up next to him, fast asleep. The coyote's tiny nose twitched as it breathed in and out, and Kai couldn't resist the urge to smile at the adorable sight.

The cute coyote's presence had a calming effect on Kai. He leaned against a nearby tree stump, still unsure of what he should do next. As he absentmindedly petted the soft fur of the sleeping coyote, he found himself lost in thought. The repetitive motion of his hand over the coyote's fur was soothing, and Kai couldn't help but get lost in the moment.

Kai's mind was still consumed by the strange dream he had experienced. He couldn't shake the feeling that it was a warning about Tristan and the Strix. His suspicions were only strengthened by his fragmented memories of being held captive in a Strix hideout. The tattered remains of his clothes, stained with blood in several places, only serving to further fuel them. The confusion and betrayal he felt surging inside of him was overwhelming.

Kai's thoughts then shifted to the woman from his dream. Who was she, and why did she seem so important? His frustration grew as he tried to make sense of the jumbled memories and emotions swirling around in his mind. He needed to know the truth about the woman and their relationship. The answers to his questions were out there, and he was determined to find them no matter what it took.

As Kai was deep in thought, he felt a gentle movement next to him. He glanced down and saw the coyote starting to wake up from its nap. The little creature stretched its legs and yawned, its tongue lolling out of its mouth. Kai couldn't help but smile again.

The coyote appeared surprised to find itself curled up next to a human and swiftly scuttled away behind a nearby tree. Kai observed as the furry creature vanished from his sight.

Kai's heart sank as he realized their time together had come to an abrupt end. He knew it was foolish to expect a wild animal to form a bond with a stranger, but he couldn't help feeling disappointed. With a heavy sigh, he resolved to focus on the task at hand - figuring out his location. As he attempted to rise to his feet, the lingering effects from yesterday hit him hard. His knees gave way, causing him to crumple to the ground once more.

"Looks like they really did a number on me," Kai muttered to himself, his frustration and helplessness mounting. Suddenly, the coyote appeared at his side, attempting to support him with her much smaller frame. Kai felt a sense of gratitude and wonder wash over him at the coyote's unexpected gesture.

"Thanks, but I can stand by myself," Kai said firmly, gathering all his strength to do so and prove his point. As he managed to rise to his feet, he smiled courageously at the coyote. Their eyes met - his mismatched ones meeting the coyote's striking blue ones - and Kai felt something inside him waver.

"You're not a simple coyote, are you?" he asked, noticing the animal's body tense up at his words. "Don't worry, I've got my own secrets. I won't pry," he added reassuringly.

Kai's words seemed to have done the trick, as its body gradually relaxed. After a few seconds, the coyote nodded towards a trail leading away from the small clearing with the tree stump.

"You want me to follow you?" Kai asked, and wasn't too surprised when the coyote seemed to respond with a nod. "Well, it's better than staying out here in the middle of nowhere. So, where to?" he said with a smile and a laugh, before following the coyote as it led him deeper into the forest. For a brief moment, he forgot about the chaos surrounding his very existence and instead focused on enjoying the present.

_

Tristan's fancy office was in disarray, with objects strewn all around. The man himself was in a state of anger, cursing at someone's incompetence and threatening to have their head on a spike. He regretted having someone so incapable take part in such an important operation.

"Dammit, dammit all to hell!" he shouted, his frustration palpable in the air.

As he raged on, Tristan's eyes fell upon the painting of his sister, Aurora, and a vicious snarl formed on his face. He grabbed a knife and was about to tear it apart when he heard a knock at his door.

"What?!" he barked out, his frustration boiling over.

"I deeply apologize for interrupting you, sir. But Lady Al-Rashid is requesting to meet with you. She says it's urgent," a female voice said timidly.

"Aya? She's here?" Tristan's anger quickly subsided at the mention of the woman's name.

"That's correct, sir. She's currently waiting-," the woman began.

Tristan cut her off, ordering her to have Aya sent to one of the meeting rooms instead. "Tell her I'm in an important meeting and will arrive shortly," he said firmly, not wanting to be disturbed by her presence just yet.

"Of course, right away sir," the woman replied before her footsteps faded away.

Tristan ran his hand through his hair, leaning on his desk. He noticed the painting again but ultimately left it alone, tidying himself before stepping out of his office as if nothing had happened.

_

Kai stood before a small crevice, where the coyote had led him. He guessed it was her den as she went inside and nodded for him to do the same. However, Kai realized that he was far too large, only managing to get his upper body through the opening.