"Heirs of the Heart" (Pondphuwin, Geminifourth, Joongdunk)

Chapter:13_Intrigue and Intensity_

"Let me go...!" Fourth's voice pierced the darkness as he struggled against the invisible grip. Those hands-large and suffocating-held him in a vice-like hold. His screams, trapped in his throat, suffocated him in a desperate silence. Jolting awake, he gasped for breath, his chest heaving, his body drenched in sweat, and tears streaming down his face.

Trembling and feeling tainted and invaded, he whispered to himself, "Calm down, Fourth... It's just a dream," but his voice was shaking.

The nightmare had become an unrelenting tormentor, visiting him nightly since that horrific bar incident. Not even the strongest sleeping pills could keep it at bay. Those sinister hands haunted him, chasing him through the labyrinth of his subconscious.

He glanced at the bedside clock: 13:44. The numbers 13 and 4, symbols of death and betrayal in various cultures, had become his cursed markers. Every nightmare since the bar incident ended at this ominous cycle. Tonight's was the worst, ending at both. The sliver of moonlight that slipped through the curtains made the room more sinister. He gulped hard, trying to digest his fear, but he couldn't.

His whole body shivered with an unknown dread, the blanket tangled around his legs. He twisted the knot of the blanket, gripping it for his dear life as if it could shield him from his tormenting memories. The dark room felt like a haunted prison, and he longed to escape it.

Desperate to purge the memory, Fourth stumbled into the bathroom and collapsed under the shower. Hot water cascaded over him as he scrubbed his skin fiercely, trying to erase the vile touch. His flesh turned red and raw from the friction, but he didn't stop. He wanted to peel away the memory, to cleanse his body of the violation. He wished he could strip away his skin and replace it with new, untouched flesh.

Tears mingled with the water, unseen and unacknowledged, as he leaned against the tiled wall, eyes fixed on the ceiling, searching for a reprieve from the torment. The sensation of those unwelcome touches clung to him like a curse he couldn't escape. The shower heat couldn't wash away the chill of his fear, but he hoped it might at least make the memories a little more bearable.

-----

Chain's eyes widened as he saw Dunk enter the café earlier than usual. "You're here earlier than expected," he said, his voice carrying a note of surprise.

Dunk, shrugging off his hoodie and slipping into his barista apron, replied, "Dropped Mae off at the hospital. It's her physiotherapy day."

Chain followed him into the kitchen, his curiosity piqued. "So, Aunty Neung is there today?"

Dunk nodded absentmindedly while checking the kitchen supplies. "Yeah."

Chain, always one for details, asked, "But Dunk, how are you managing the expenses at Naravit's hospital? I hear it's a high-end place with top-tier treatments. Only the elite get treated there."

Dunk paused, a wry smile touching his lips. "You know,I wondered the same thing at first. But the orthopedic surgeon said they recently started a 75% cost-free physiotherapy program for people over 55. It's a new initiative that began just after Mom's accident. Seems like a bit of luck is finally on our side."

Chain clapped Dunk on the back, his grin widening. "See? Sometimes it's like the universe has your back. Don't lose hope."

Little did Dunk know, this unexpected turn of fortune was not just a stroke of luck but a sign of a greater blessing. Sometimes, divine help arrives through the most surprising channels, and Dunk was about to find out he had a guardian angel in his life, too.

-

"Sir, Khun Joong is here to meet you," Neo, Pond's secretary, announced through the intercom.

"Let him in," Pond replied in a gentle but commanding voice.