8. Attacked...
"What the heck is this?!!" Zeno roared, his voice ringing aloud in every corner of the factory. Not even the clinking and banging sounds of machines squeezing grapes could hide the anger in his voice.
"I_I_I'm sorry sir." The factory manager stuttered, standing in front of the man who was a complete six foot two was rather intimidating, and having to now face him when he was angry was even worse. Even the most affluent of scholars would be lost for words in face of his anger.
"T_The fruits didn't arrive on time from the Vineyard sir, that's why things were delayed, b_but we're running double shifts so we can meet the target sir.'' The man was too terrified to even wipe the sweat from his forehead. He just stood there trembling in front of the man, wondering why the owner of the company would come to such a low place as the factory. He could easily have sent someone, why did he have to personally show up and put terror in the hearts of everyone?
"It seems that this whole factory needs a reshuffling." He simply states, and all eyes went wide with fear of losing their jobs. "Since you cannot keep up to schedule, I'm sure there's someone else who can do a better job as factory manager." The man's breath ceased at that very moment, he was instantly covered in cold sweat, his eyes dilated and his fingers quaked in fear.
"S_S_Sir please, I_ I have a wife and three kids sir. P_Please sir" He had no idea why he was giving out these details, was it fear, or was he hoping the stiff man in front of him would show some mercy after hearing this?
"Well then when you get home, make sure to let them know how useless their husband and father is." Zeno deadpanned, and in one breath he said… "You're fir…"
"SIR!! We have a problem." Marco came running in with a tablet in his hand, interrupting and probably saving the man's life. As Zeno instantly turned his attention to him. "It's Luna sir, you need to see this." He says, handing over the tablet to Zeno.
"What did that diavoletto do this…" the words stopped right in his throat as soon as he saw the news article in front of him. His heart raced in a thousand directions, his eyeballs opened wider, his lips shuddered and his fingers trembled. This was the same feeling he got that day when he received the call that his home was under attack. The fear, that terrified feeling, it was all coming back to him as he looked at the tablet in his hand.
"L_Luna… Luna" his own breath choked him, at that point he couldn't think straight. "L_Luna" was the only word that left his lips as he placed the tablet back in Marco's hands and dashed out of the place, Marco following behind him.
No one knew what was going on, but if anything, the factory manager was grateful, for he was safe. At least for this very moment, he still had a job.
"W_Why won't anybody pick up…" he yelled in the car as he had dialed and dialed every number of every person in that house, and no one was picking up. She's alright, She's alright, he kept on telling himself. She had to be. But then he remembered telling himself these same words on his way to his house that day too, and Dan-a wasn't alright when he got there. And now the fear in his heart doubled.
"SOMEBODY PICK UP THE GODDAMNED PHONE!!" He cried, punching the walls of the car. "Just calm down, I'm sure she's alright. She's smart and strong and you know it." Marco, who was driving the car said, The man was driving as fast as he could, but it felt like they were in slow motion.
In a few minutes, Marco pulled into the compound. The car had barely parked well when Zeno flew out of the car, racing into the building, fear in his heart. She's okay, she's fine. He kept on saying in his head, but found it hard to believe those words.
"Luna!! Luna!!." He called out. "Papa… Grandma Maria!!" He yelled, running as fast as his long legs could move, kicking open every door that stood in his way, Marco following behind him.
"Luna! LU…" as he kicked open the next door, her name sank back into his chest. His knees trembled as he moved closer. Edoardo and Maria were both there, and… and…
"LU…" at that point, he felt his entire body burning up, and at the same time felt like he was in a tub of ice. Balls of sweat ran down his head, his stomach rumbled, he was suddenly feeling sick. His hands wearily went over his forehead, trying to calm himself as he took closer steps to the bed where she laid.
"Zeno." Edoardo called, but he couldn't hear a thing. He couldn't see Luna's face because Maria stood there.
"DK?" her voice passed through every nerve in his system, giving him the strength to quicken his steps and move forward, and she was there. She was okay. She wasn't covered in blood like Dan-a, she wasn't lying lifeless. She was fine.
"What are you doing here by this time of the day?" she wondered out loud as his figure came closer to her. She could see his finger trembling, and she could tell he too must have seen or heard about the attack.
Slowly, he crawled up next to her on the bed, his shaking hands reaching for hers."Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? How are you feeling? Does your head hurt? Why are you not in a hospital? What even happened? Are you feeling pain anywhere?" He instantly bombarded her with all the questions that came to his head, turning her body in every direction, checking for himself to see that she was perfectly fine, and that she had all fingers and toes complete.
Zee" she called, but he just kept on frantically searching every part of her body for even the slightest bruise or cut. "Zee! ZEE!!!" she called again, grabbing his huge arms with her tiny hands, and forcing him to keep his gaze steady and focused so he could see her clearly with open eyes. So he could take a minute and catch his breath.
"I'm fine DK. See." She turns her head left right and center. Turning and twisting on the bed so he could see her and know that she was fine. "I'm fine." She assures him again, and for the first time in almost an hour, he could feel his heart returning back to its rightful pacing. His ceasing breath was evening once again, his fingers still trembling from the shock he got. He'd never been more terrified in his life. The thought of losing her too, was enough to make him run mad. After Dan-a, Luna was the most important thing in his life, even though he never said it, she meant a lot to him. They grew up together, so he couldn't help but love her as his major family, as his little sister.
And he would ruin whosoever ordered the attack on his little sister.