Chapter 6

Silas POV

I didn't go to the hospital about going blind.

Or rather, it wouldn't help even if I went. The damage was irreversible.

Until three nights later, deep in the night.

I was leaning against the headboard enduring the excruciating pain when the door was suddenly slammed open.

"Silas! Stop playing dead, get up!"

It was Zane's voice.

He grabbed my collar and dragged me off the bed.

"Where..." I stumbled, completely unable to find my direction.

"Leah's been kidnapped!"

Zane's voice carried a weird excitement.

"At the abandoned chemical plant in the west suburbs! They specifically asked for you to come alone to ransom her! If you don't go, they'll kill her!"

Kidnapped?

I tensed immediately, even my body's pain suppressed.

"Take me there."

I grabbed Zane's wrist in return, with such force it made him cry out in pain.

"Still so strong for a blind man..." Zane muttered, but didn't break free. "Let's go, the car's outside."

The whole way, the car sped along.

I sat in the passenger seat, gripping tightly the tactical knife I always carried. Even blind, this blade was part of my body.

At the abandoned factory, the surroundings were deathly silent.

"Leah's inside, second floor, innermost room." Zane pushed me out of the car. "Go in yourself. I'll call the police."

With that, the engine roared away.

I knew something was wrong.

But I had no choice.

As long as Leah was inside, even if it was hell, I had to jump in.

I felt along the wall, relying on subtle air currents and echoes to move forward step by step.

My ribs hurt with every movement, sweat soaking my back.

"Silas?"

From deep on the second floor came Leah's terrified voice.

"Leah!"

I rushed toward the sound but tripped over debris on the ground, falling hard.

"This was the top bodyguard back then? How'd he become such a pathetic wreck?"

Mocking laughter surrounded me.

Then came the dull thuds of clubs hitting my body.

"Ugh!"

I curled up, protecting my head and chest, gripping my knife tightly and using my hearing to judge their positions.

Three on the left, two on the right.

"Everyone freeze!"

I suddenly lashed out, the knife precisely slashing across the wrist of the person on the left. A scream immediately rang out.

Though blind, my hearing had become even sharper.

"You really did go blind?"

Leah's voice trembled with disbelief.

I had no time to explain. I felt my way to her side and cut the rope binding her hands.

"Go! Hurry!"

I pushed her toward the exit.

"Think you can run? Not so easy!"

Wind rushed from behind.

I turned instinctively and spread my arms, shielding Leah behind me.

Thunk!

The sound of a blade entering flesh.

A short knife plunged deep into my abdomen.

The pain made stars burst before my eyes, but I gritted my teeth hard and didn't make a sound.

With a backhand strike, I stabbed the attacker's shoulder.

The scene descended into chaos.

Just then, sirens wailed closer and closer.

Hearing the police sirens, the kidnappers immediately scattered like birds.

I clutched my bleeding abdomen, my body slowly sliding down the wall.

"Silas! Silas, what's wrong?"

Leah finally broke free and rushed over to support me.

Her hand touched my blood-covered hand and she screamed in terror."You're hurt... so much blood..."

"It's nothing... just a flesh wound..."

I smiled weakly, wanting to reach up and touch her face to make sure she wasn't hurt, but remembering my hands were covered in blood, I pulled them back.

"As long as Leah is okay."

Zane rushed in with the police.

"Leah! Are you alright!"

Zane rushed over, shoving me aside to embrace Leah. "I just finished calling the police when I saw Silas sneaking around with these people... I knew it was him!"

"What?" Leah froze.

Zane pointed at me lying on the ground, his face full of righteous indignation.

"It was him! He staged the whole thing! He was already fired by the Williams family and held a grudge. He wanted to use the hero-saves-beauty trick to gain Leah's trust and extort money!"

"These kidnappers are all actors he hired! I recorded everything!"

Zane pulled out his phone, playing a heavily edited recording that sounded like me negotiating prices with those men.

"No... that's not..." I opened my mouth, trying to explain.

Leah looked at me, her expression shifting from panic to disgust.

"Silas, to make me forgive you, to get back into the Williams family..."

"You actually gambled with my life?"

"How long are you going to keep up this act? Getting yourself covered in blood just to make me feel guilty?"