Dazed & Confused

[1]

{Sam's POV}

     I suddenly wake up to the orange light of the sun's rays hitting my face. I groan and sit up. What happened? I try and search for memories from before I woke up but, I got nothing. I look around and see I'm in an unfamiliar place. I get up and I instantly stumble, falling back onto the bed. I furrow my brows, Why can't I walk? I get up again, this time, shakily walking to the bathroom, using the walls as my support. I get to the bathroom, noticing the smallest of it. The feeling of claustrophobia builds up in my bones. I softly gulp and slowly make my way to the sinking, placing my hands down against the cold white metal for support as I look up into the mirror. Jeez my hair is really long, I note to myself as I run my fingers through my hair, noticing the dirty blond that my hair has formed into. How long was I out? I question to myself before looking around, deciding that I should probably shower. I slowly take off my shirt, trying to not rush myself and possibly fall down while doing so. I glance at the mirror, instantly noticing three stitch scars, both in the shape of deformed stars. One right on my heart, another directly under my collar, and the last right by my abdomen. I breathe out, staring at the marks on my skin as my breathing becomes uneven. What happened? I take a deep breathe, tearing my eyes away from the mirror to close and lock the bathroom door, taking off the rest of my clothes and putting it in a basket in the corner of the bathroom, assuming it's a laundry basket. I turn on the shower and hop in, feeling the warm water pierce my skin.

{After the Shower}

     I throw on a gray sleeveless shirt. My phone was on the charger when I woke up, probably fully charged. It's most likely be unused for however long I was out. I reach over and turn it on. I see more than a thousand notifications. Holy shit, I look at the date, all I currently know is it's summer and midday. My eyes widen at my screen. June 5th 2023. 2023?! I quickly go to my messages, not a single person has messaged me. Since when did I even have I phone? I recall back to the feeling of isolation growing in my chest. I know I didn't have a phone for a long period of time, I just can't remember when. I pull the charger off my phone, scrolling through my contacts. I click on Katrina's and start calling her, my phone ringing in my ear before I hear a click.
     "Kat?!" I exclaim urgently, my voice hoarse from the lack of usage.
     "Sam?!" I hear Katrina exclaim back. I wince at the sudden loudness of her voice, moving the phone off my ear for a second before turning down the volume and placing it back against my ear.
     "Are you okay? How are you feeling?!" Katrina asks urgently.
     "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm feeling a bit wobbly but that's about it." I pause before continuing.
     "Why was I out so long?" I manage to ask. Katrina sighs, clearly searching for the right words to explain.
     "You were shot Sam," Katrina pauses, letting it settle it. Oh really, I thought I was stabbed, I reply inwardly, knowing it's best not to say it out loud at the moment.
     "The mafia hunted you down and they tried to kill you. They almost succeeded but, clearly you're still here so they didn't. It put you in a coma for the past two years." Katrina finishes. I let it settle in. I remember being on the run, the fear and isolation that had become my life. I remember how on edge I was. I was always watching my back. I was nervous and skittish. I know that. I can feel it in my bones, it's an all too familiar feeling. But yet, I don't remember the incident that supposedly led me here.
     Question fill my mind. I decide it's best to suppress them for now, and focus on the present moment. I can get answers later.
     "You still there?" Katrina asks anxiously. I nod,
     "Yeah. Yeah, I'm still here." I reply flatly. Katrina shuffles over the phone,
     "Me and Brennan are gonna come over okay?" I nod once again, realizing how stupid it is since she can't see me.
     "Okay," Katrina shuffles more, closing a door before replying.
     "See you in a minute Sam."
     "See you in a minute." I reply softly before pulling the phone away from my ear, hanging up. I take a deep breath, rubbing my face. I probably shouldn't have let it settle in. Now I'm drained and in a fowl mood because of it. I sigh at myself before sitting down on the warm bed, waiting for the two to arrive.

[20 Minutes Later]

     I hear the door open as I walk back into the bedroom. I wave at the two, noting the differences. Katrina's hair is pitch black, as well as short and straight and layered. It's not as long and wavy as it was back when we first started dating. She's wearing a full face of makeup as well as a white tank top and dark brown sweatpants. Behind her is Brennen. He has his natural dark, curly brown hair and a middle part. He looks the same in the face besides the fact that he's aged a bit and has grown a mustache and has about six tattoos on his left arm. He's wearing a maroon hat, a black t-shirt and dark blue shorts. Normal L.A summer clothes. Katrina waves at me before coming over and swinging her arms around my neck, pulling me into a hug. I wrap my arms around her waist and hug her back. Brennen walks up behind her and waits until Katrina pulls away to dab me up. I softly smile at the two, the feeling of familiarity and unfamiliarity surrounding me. I know them. No, I knew them. They're different. I observe inwardly before gulping and glancing between the two.
     "We should definitely cut your hair." Katrina softly giggles, trying to break the tension. I smile and run my fingers through it.
     "Yeah definitely." I agree through a chuckle.
     "Do you want to dye it as well? As in like, lighten it?" Katrina asks, reaching up and playing with the long strands of my hair.
     "Sure. I already don't like the dark blond." I admit. Katrina laughs a bit,
     "Yeah, I thought you would." I glance down at the grocery bag of clothes in Brennen's hand.
     "Oh yeah, we brought you some clothes to change into. As well as some stuff to check to make sure that your body is okay and stable." Katrina tells me, motioning her hands towards the bag as she speaks. I nod,
     "Okay, as long as you don't poke me with any needles, I'm good." Brennen chuckles,
     "We're not professionals Sam, you're safe for now." Brennen assures as he opens the bag for me to see what's inside. Most of it is normal doctor things to check your heartbeat, ears, and such.
     "Oh! By the way, are your legs okay? Are you having a hard time walking?" Katrina asks worriedly. I shrug,
     "A bit, the first thirty minutes or so I was struggle but I think I'm okay for now. I might stumble a bit for a while. I think the muscles in my legs have weakened over time, that's probably why it's hard to stand and stuff." I state, Katrina nods softly.
     "Okay. We'll keep an eye on you from the next while until you can get your balance in check." Great, I get to be stalked around a house, I grumble inwardly.
     "But anyways, let's go. We're taking you to a hairdresser to deal with the mess that is your hair." Katrina teases, heading towards the front door.
     "Hey!" I whine sharply as I follow them outside, causing them to chuckle as we make our way to the car.

[Afterwards]

     "By the way, me and Kat were wondering if you feel like you'd be strong enough for stuff in the next couple of weeks or so." Brennen pipes up while staring at the road through his sunglasses. I furrow my brows and look up from the window.
     "Possibly. But what kind of stuff?" I ask, watching as Katrina and Brennan both look at each other in the two front seats.
     "This will be good for you. If you can surround yourself with strong people and such and build a sort of boarder around yourself, you may have a chance to survive against the mafia and be able to live kinda normally like you did in Vegas." Vegas. I think to myself as I recall racing around in slingshot cars and participating in illegal street racing. I owned a casino there and gambled and messed out with friends. Maybe that's where they found me.
     "Just tell me what it is." I state flatly, wanting them to just be straight up with me. Brennen and Katrina glance at each other again.
     "How would you like to join our gang?"

{A/N: Gangster Sam? Hm, sounds interesting👀. Literally, I'm not kidding, this chapter is 1,100+ words😳}