FROM STREET TO CEO

WHO AM I ?

He got scared when he saw the bruises on his face from the punches. That's when he ran outside, dashing out of the house into the rain. As he stumbled out into the rain-soaked night, the bruises on his face throbbed with every beat of his heart. Panic set in, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he sprinted away from the house. The fog swirled around him, shrouding everything in a damp, grey mist. He couldn't see more than a few feet ahead, but he knew they were closing in.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the fog, growing louder with every step. He pushed himself to run faster, his feet pounding the wet pavement in a desperate bid for freedom. But it was too late. A car burst out of the fog, its headlights blazing like a predator's eyes. He tried to dodge, but the car struck him with a sickening crunch, sending him flying through the air. 

Mike's body crumpled to the ground, his limbs splayed at awkward angles, as the car's impact sent him flying through the air. The sound of screeching tires and crunching metal filled the air, followed by a spectral silence. Mike's head cracked against the pavement, and his vision blurred, his consciousness slipping away. A crimson pool spread from his head, staining the ground, as his eyes fluttered closed.

When Mike finally struggled to open his eyes, his head throbbed like a drum, and his mind was foggy. He was met with the sterile beeps of hospital machines and the antiseptic smell of a hospital room. As he tried to sit up, a wave of weakness washed over him, forcing him back onto the bed. Memories of the fight with Mark, the rain, and the car accident swirled in his mind, but everything after that was a blur.

Mike's hand instinctively went to his head, but it was restrained by handcuffs to the bed rail. Panic set in as he wondered why he was being held captive. Just then, the door creaked open, and a woman with grey hair and spectacles approached. Her face seemed familiar, but Mike couldn't quite place her.

"Welcome back home, Axel," she said, her voice firm but detached.

Axel? Who's Axel? Mike thought, confusion swirling in his mind. And why is she calling me that? He tried to speak, but his words slurred together, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes drooped shut again, and he felt himself being pulled back into the darkness, unable to resist the void that claimed him.

When Mike woke up again, he found himself in a luxurious room, surrounded by opulent furnishings and lavish decorations. He was lying on a plush bed, his head resting on a soft pillow. He felt a strange headgear on his head, but he couldn't see what it was. As he tried to sit up, he realized he was handcuffed to the bed again. Panic set in as he struggled to free himself, but it was no use. He called out for help, but his voice was muffled, unable to escape the room.

Just then, the door creaked open, and the same old woman from the hospital entered. She approached him with a calm demeanor, her eyes fixed on his. "Who are you?" Mike asked, his voice shaking with fear. "Why am I here?"

The woman sat beside him on the bed, her expression unreadable. "You are Axel, the heir of the Rykard Empire," she stated, her voice firm. Mike was taken aback. "What? No, that's not possible. I'm Mike, not Axel."

The woman's expression didn't change. "From now on, you are Axel. You must forget your past and embrace your new identity." Mike was stunned, his mind reeling with questions. What did she mean? Why was he being held captive? And what was the Rykard Empire?

The woman's words were cryptic, but one thing was clear: Mike's life was about to change. The woman's expression turned grave. "Soon, you'll have to face the press and address the ongoing issues," she said, her voice firm.

The woman rested Mike's head back on the pillow and sat beside him, her eyes fixed on his. "Don't forget everything I'm about to tell you," she said, her voice firm. "You must cram it into your mind, no matter how hard it may seem."

She handed Mike a paper, which he took with a shaking hand. "What is this?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"This is your new identity," the woman replied. "You are Axel, the direct heir of the Rykard Empire. You were on your way to Las Vegas when your plane crashed. But you didn't die, Axel. You survived."

Mike's eyes widened in horror as he read the paper. This couldn't be true. He was Mike, not Axel. He didn't own an empire. He was just a normal guy.

The woman seemed to sense his confusion. She brought out a picture from her pocket and handed it to Mike. He took it, and his heart skipped a beat. The person in the picture looked exactly like him.

"Who is this?" Mike asked, his voice shaking.

"That's Axel" the woman replied. " You might be wondering why he looked like you" 

Mike's mind was reeling. He didn't know what to believe. He looked at the picture again, and then at the woman. She seemed so serious, so convinced.

"But how?" Mike asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "how does this even possible? how can we look so much alike?"