Prologue

HIS EYES ABRUPTLY OPENED.

The last thing he planned this day was to be in a dark, isolated place with a threat to his life coming. The bamboo floor scratched on his body as he was getting up from lying down. It was hard to see through the room with his eyes a bit fuzzy, but he can hear the clicks of pendulum, swinging back and forth that succumbs the silence. The musty smell of old books clashed the metallic odor of staled blood. The thought of blood shivered down his spine. He glanced on the curtain that was stirred by the wind, and his eyes blinked from the yellow streetlight that went through the room.

The room was a mess. Every time he attempted to step forward, his foot strode on something his sight could not even catch. His body jolted in fear. He felt a spasm of pain on his neck, and he realized he had been strangled for too long. The heat in the room didn't have any effect on him, as his body was chilled with sweat. He was scared, yet he held on to hope. Hope even if the situation dawned him otherwise.

The person responsible for his suffering as of now might not be too far. The thought made him tremble. He gasped for breath and held on a long blade he found. It was small, but it might suffice. It might not be enough to kill his abductor, but he needed to survive. He needed to survive and go back to where he belonged. He promised them he will strive for his dreams no matter what happens, and he is not going to let his abductor abolish those dreams for him. He will be a man, literally, to fight for his life.

I'll find you, he thought. I'll find whoever brought me to this hell. I will fight you.

With trembling hands, he held on to his weapon. He felt he was unarmed, almost risking his life. He didn't know whenever the person responsible for the hell he's going through might have enough weapons to kill him. He had a weapon earlier, but the captor might have done something. He didn't know how he even woke up from the floor. Perhaps, he passed out. But that wasn't as important as of now. He just needed to escape.

The room was pitched black, and it was hard to see through the darkness. He walked slowly to not make any noise on the bamboo floor.

A noise erupted. It was all too late.

"Love..."