FLASHBACK BEGINS (EARLIER ON BEFORE THE INCIDENT).
The helicopter whirred, a metallic insect against the sky, before settling onto the rooftop. The blades spun to a gradual, heavy halt as Uriel stepped out, his presence immediately commanding. A guard bowed low, a gesture of respect Uriel barely noticed as he headed for the door leading downstairs. He didn't care if he was late or early. To him, school was a waste of time—the only thing that made it worthwhile was bullying Megara.
He was dressed in a gray sweatsuit customized by Hermes, a bold Apollo logo emblazoned across the back of the hoodie. His Balenciaga sneakers were spotless, and his hair, though appearing freshly roused from sleep, only added a disheveled charm to his already striking looks.
The elevator chimed, the doors sliding open with a low hum. He walked out, glancing at the Rolex on his wrist. It was 11:29 AM, well past lunch. As he walked up the final flight of stairs, Chris and Pedro, who had clearly been waiting for him, greeted him.
His eyes scanned the hall, locking onto the grandfather clock next to a ceramic vase crafted from shells. "How have things been in my absence?" he asked, his voice low and even.
Chris handed him an iPad. "They've been normal, but Amaya and Tanya haven't been following the rules. They're still bullying Megara, even after the 'welcoming period.'"
Uriel scoffed, his gaze narrowing. "I also overheard the principal saying there's a chance Megara's scholarship could be revoked due to the complaints and a potential lawsuit."
A smirk played on Uriel's lips as he patted Chris on the shoulder. "Amaya and Tanya can do as they please. That's a female matter; I'm sure Megara can handle them. As for the principal, he can't revoke anything. They care too much about status and talent to kick her out."
Chris looked at the floor, confusion clouding his features. "Megara has no beneficial status, though. She's just the daughter of a meager worker. And while she's talented at sports, it's still possible to get her kicked out. Isn't that what you want?"
"There's a rumor Megara is the daughter of Black Agate," Uriel said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, audible only to the two of them. "And as you all know, he brought down the Wills and Moore families. We can't afford to lose her. She's the only bridge blocking me from being discovered."
Pedro looked stunned. "Boss, she's an imposter! Bringing her into the spotlight will only add more trouble to her life, especially with the Wills and Moores on her trail.
"Uriel nodded slowly. "Unless you have something else up your sleeve? Chris chimed his in voice low but questioning.
His eyes gleamed with mischief as he typed on the iPad. The message displayed on the screen: "She is the perfect fit for our plan, and we are going to protect her, but only from the sidelines."
He continued walking, then stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Make sure Hugo or Zack doesn't know about this." He didn't wait for a reply, simply walking away.
Chris and Pedro exchanged a look before following behind him. Uriel stopped again, not far from them. "What class is Megara in today?" he asked, a sudden unease settling in his gut.
"P.E. class. That's what she's supposed to be having after lunch," Chris replied, handing him the iPad with her class schedule.
Uriel smirked, tossing the iPad back to him as he entered the elevator to the second floor, where the basketball court was located. He stalked out of the elevator and headed straight for the gym. He came to an abrupt halt when he saw a tracksuit bearing Megara's name lying in front of the door—tattered and torn.
He bent down, picking up the uniform from the ground. "Shit," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the door before him. "This really is Megara's uniform."
Uriel's knuckled turned white from fisting it was the first time in his entire life he had been scared. He had never felt lost or troubled even when he was kidnapped when he was age 12 he fought his way out but now here his was quivering over another person who was his worst enemy.
He stepped four deets away from the door before kicking it open with full force knocking the door off it's hinges and sending it flying. He scanned the area in search of Megara only to find her bloodied and bruised. His heart pounded furiously in his chest trying to escape his ribcage.
Uriel was seeing red sounds became muffled and inaudible with each passing second all he could hear was the sound of his own heartbeat. He saw Megara uniform torn as she managed to clutch her torn uniform covering the exposed shoulder. He didn't wait for an explanation from any of them before punching the blue sky out of the leader's face.
FLASHBACK ENDS.
The room is silent but the air filled with tension as Uriel's anger keeps bubbling up though his effort are being made to strangle them. The machines whirred it's beeping sound continuous doctors flood the room each giving maximum attention to an unconscious Megara.
The head doctor walked over to Uriel who raised his head from between his hand with anticipation. "Sir the young lady is out of critical condition. She sustained a few broken ribs and some bruises and cuts but luckily thanks to her early arrival and the surgery she is out of critical condition. Uriel breathes a sigh of relief dismissing the doctors who left in a haste but hushed silence remaining only the head doctor.
The head doctor looked at Uriel who gave him a questioning look. It was evident that he was contemplating what to say to Uriel about her condition in regards to her awakening.
Uriel sighed rubbing the back of his neck in trepidation. "Say what you want to say and get out! He said his voice raw and intimidating.
The head doctor gulped as he bowed his head avoiding eye contacts with Uriel knowing if not avoided the consequences could be dire. "Well sir though she is out of critical condition there is a....um...slight problem that shouldn't be much of and issue. He said stuttering from Uriel's sheer gaze.
"What's the problem? I'm sure it isn't something money cannot handle. Uriel inquires in a questioning tone.
"It's about her awakening date. He announced dropping the bombshell. "She might awaken after a week due fatigue and lack of proper resting. The fight also contributed to which she lost a considerable amount of blood for someone of her gender.
Uriel nods. "I see Doctor but now I want you to get her transferred to your most elite room with the best medical service and personal. He ordered standing up from his seat as he slipped in a black card into the Doctor's breast pocket. "Of this incident you are to speak to no one about it, do you understand?
The Doctor looked at a terrifying Uriel nodding in agreement before adjusting his stance and also disappearing from the hospital room.
Uriel's gaze fell on an unconscious Megara who had an oxygen mask to her nose. "Just you wait Megara whoever tries to cross you on my turf has crossed me and I'll make them pay. He grinned wickedly before kissing the back of her palm and stroking it gently.
Hugo paced the hospital entrance, a restless predator trapped outside his den. The two guards Uriel had hired stood like statues, unmoving and unmoved by his mounting rage. Uriel's instructions were clear: no one, especially Hugo, was to be allowed inside.
Hugo stopped, his veins throbbing, and stomped toward the guards again. "Let me in, you pathetic lumps of metal!" he snarled, his voice a low growl. "I'll make sure your security firm is out of business by morning."
A guard, a tall man with black hair, laughed—a sharp, jarring sound that cut through Hugo's anger. "I respect you as a member of Z3, Mr. Arnold," the guard said, his voice firm but not unkind. "But you should choose your words carefully. Our employer hired us to follow his orders, and he's the only one who can fire us. You have no authority here."
Hugo's glare flickered, momentarily stunned by the man's defiance. He stared at the guard, who loomed over him, his shadow a dark, oppressive threat. Without another word, Hugo spun on his heel and strode back to his car, fumbling for his phone. "I'll call him," he muttered, "just give me a minute."
The guards watched him go, a mix of pity and speculation on their faces. "It's a shame, really," one of them said. "The 'beloved' Hugo, Uriel's right-hand man, shut out of the hospital. What do you think happened between them?"
"Maybe it's a girl," the other guard mused, looking around to make sure no one was listening. "Or a power struggle. Either way, something's not right. Speaking of which, I saw that Jefferson kid bring in a girl earlier. She didn't look good at all."
The third guard's eyes darted around nervously. "Zip it," he hissed, his voice a low warning. "Their business isn't our business. Uriel's minions are everywhere, and don't forget who his friends are. Pedro, the last-born of the Oscar Mafia family, is a known killer. And there's Zack from the Oswald's. Don't go looking for trouble you can't handle."
The first two guards swallowed hard and nodded, their bravado gone, as they returned their attention to the entrance, their silence a testament to their fear.
BACK INSIDE THE HOSPITAL WARD.
In a luxurious hospital ward, Megara lay unconscious. A massive chandelier cast a warm glow over the room, highlighting the high-end amenities: a mini-library, a television, and a personal kitchen island.
Uriel stood by a large window, his gaze fixed on the city skyline. He had already spotted Hugo's Porsche far below and knew a call was imminent. When his phone rang, the caller ID confirmed his suspicion. A smug smile touched his lips as he answered.
"Hello?" Hugo's voice was deep and furious. "Uriel, why won't you let me in?"
"Dogs aren't allowed in, Hugo," Uriel replied, his voice cold and challenging as he poured a whiskey into a tumbler. "Megara needs rest, and I won't jeopardize that."
"What did you just say to me?" Hugo growled. "Weren't you the one who orchestrated all this to get her out of school? So why play the hero now?"
Uriel smirked, a fleeting question echoing in his mind as he stared at the unconscious Megara: Why was he playing the hero? He dismissed the thought, taking a sip of his whiskey before setting the glass down.
"Wanting Megara out of school is one thing, but wanting her dead is another," Uriel said, his voice hard. "You know me, Hugo. I don't resort to such underhanded methods. I'm as plain as paper."
"You can deceive me, but you can't deceive yourself, Uriel," Hugo scoffed.
Uriel's hand tightened around the glass. "I will see Megara, even if I have to get through fire." Hugo replied his voice confident.
Uriel exhaled, his eyes on a painting of a hanged man on the wall. "Tell me, Hugo, has anyone ever gotten what I've laid my eyes on?" When Hugo remained silent, Uriel continued, "I won't waste any more time on you. As a friend, I advise you to stop being a fool."
"Do you really think you can protect Megara?" Uriel's voice was accusatory. "You have paparazzi on your tail, and your father would never let you be friends with her. Why are you putting her in trouble?"
Uriel smirked. "I cover your tracks all the time. Remember when you two were spotted at McDonald's? I handled the media. You could have been all over national television, but you weren't. Shouldn't you be grateful?"
"Shut up!" Hugo barked.
Uriel laughed. "What do you want, Uriel?" Hugo asked, his tone resigned.
"It hasn't come to that yet, but since you asked, it isn't much," Uriel said, his voice dripping with mischief. "You must return to Z3 immediately."
"Why must I return? I'm tired of being your pawn. I don't want to do evil anymore," Hugo retorted. "I'm sick of bullying others. Megara even got hurt because of it."
"You're not my pawn! Z3 is a legacy we built together, and I won't let your stupidity ruin it for me," Uriel snapped. "You'll do as I say. You will see Megara, but not today. She needs rest."
Uriel hung up, then threw his glass against the wall, where it shattered. A guard rushed in, but Uriel's fierce glare froze him in his tracks.
"Send someone to clean this up," Uriel commanded.
The guard nodded and left.
His phone rang again. Pedro's name flashed on the screen, and Uriel answered immediately.
"Boss, we found out who ordered the attack on Megara, and you won't believe who it is," Pedro's voice was a mix of anger and reverence.
"Who?" Uriel demanded, walking onto the balcony.
"It was Chaplain. He paid the boys handsomely," Pedro revealed. "He wasn't alone, but the others haven't been identified yet."
Uriel's nostrils flared. His vision turned red as he began to pace. "Pedro, you have one hour to dig up all the dirt you can find on his family. Or you'll be an object of my frustration. Do you understand?"
"Yes, boss," Pedro replied. "What do you intend to do to him?"
"Nothing yet. I'd like to visit him myself and thank him for the opportunity he's given me to vent my anger and wrath," Uriel said, his voice laced with malice.
"Understood," Pedro affirmed, ending the call.
Uriel kicked a lounge chair aside and stormed out of the hospital.