Dara

 

I opened my eyes and instantly shut them with major regret. Everything was sobbright as if a flashlight was shown directly into my eyes. It's been a considerable amount of time since I saw sunlight.

 

"It's locked. That's weird, the side door of the garage is always opened." I heard Claire's voice from far away.

 

 

"Do you have the keys?" Stefan asked, sounding like he was next to her.

 

I heard the jingling of keys and figured he was trying to unlock the door that led into the garage. In a distance, I could hear people yelling, some screaming, and the sound of guns being fired. We're my mafia already here? I forced my eyes opened to see the situation. Claire and Stefan were focused on opening the door a few yards away that they laid me down against the garage, leaving me unattended. I turned to look at the other side to see the house.

 

 

The windows were broken, a sign that YG had come and forced an entrance. I quickly closed my eyes and went back to the position I woke up in, pretending to be unconscious.

 

 

"He's got all this damn money and can't even fix a goddamn door." Stefan muttered, talking about Kyesang as he started to kick at the door.

 

 

"Would you hurry?" Claire asked. "It sounds like it's going bad in the house and I definitely don't want it to catch up."

 

 

I deeply inhaled and exhaled. My heart started pounding as I got nervous. I was going to try and make a run for it. I needed more time. I was moments away from getting pushed into a car and goes to who knows where. Then, there will be no guarantee that Jiyong will ever find me again. My attempt to escape was going to happen on the count of three.

 

One.

 

Two.

 

I hesitated. Doubts flood my mind right at the last second. it.

 

Three.

 

I was on my feet in a ragged movement. Not looking back, I pushed myself to lift up my legs to run away. I bit my lip, trying to distract myself from the old pain and the newer pain of my feet hitting the gravel.

 

 

"Stefan! Look!" I heard Claire yelled. The sounds of running footsteps followed after me.

 

 

I tried to quicken my pace. I ran not knowing where I was going, following the road that led away from the buildings. It was seconds later until I was tackled to the ground. I landed foreword with Stefan's arms wrapped around my waist. Even with Stefan holding me down, I tried to get him off of me. My attempts were useless.

 

 

Claire came running to us. "I opened then door already. Let's hurry."

 

She crouched down and gripped my arm. With Claire securing me, Stefan got up and grabbed my other elbow. The got me to my feet and began to drag me. I tried digging my feet in the ground and squirming in order to get free but I was too weak compared to them.

 

"Stop going against us," Claire said, whipping out her gun in threat.

 

"You wouldn't," I said. "Kyesang doesn't want me dead yet."

 

 

"Who said I couldn't shoot you and you'd stay alive?" She motioned at my feet with her gun.

 

 

Stefan stopped. We were halfway to the garage and decided to take a new approach.

 

"I'll carry her," he said. Stefan, then, carry me over his shoulder.

 

 

"Help! Somebody help me!" I yelled, resorting to my last option.

 

 

 

 

Jiyong

 

All the rooms were empty. Those that weren't were taken cared of. I finished clearing the first floor and I could hear Seunghoon doing the same upstairs. Chaerin joined me right as I exited the last room I searched.

 

"Did you check the basement yet?" She asked.

 

 

"No, let's go together," I suggested. I step aside in the hall and let her take the lead. We found the basement in no time. The door had a hanging sign with "basement" written on it.

 

 

I was the first to enter, doing a quick check for an all clear. I gave her a signal, telling her that it was safe to come in. Fortunately, there was no one there. Unfortunately, that included Dara. The only things left here were signs of a hostage.

 

 

At the center, dried blood covered the floor. Pushed slightly towards one end of the room was a chair and ropes of thick twine. Surrounding the chair were unidentifiable human waste.

 

"What the actual ?" Chaerin yelled. She stormed out, probably trying to find one of Kyesang's men to take her anger out on.

 

After taking one last look around, I went after her. After me, a strong sense of guilt followed.

 

 

 

 

 

Top

 

The garage's side door was opened. Before walking in, I scanned the area to see if anyone saw me. I slipped between the door once I confirmed that there wasn't anybody inside and locked the door behind me just in case. If someone came in, I'd be notified.

 

I walked to hide behind a car, picking a cute red slug bug to crouch away from view. I leaned against the vehicle and dug into my pocket, pulling out my fidget spinner to play with as I waited.

 

 

I woke up to yelling.

 

 

"Help!" I heard a coarse female voice yell out. "Somebody help me!"

 

 

I shook my head, trying to shake the sleepiness away. I had fallen asleep from being bored of waiting. The fight spinner
that was once in my hand had fallen to the floor. I picked it up and exchanged it for my gun. I got up to a crouch and looked at the door. I was propped open. Regarding the sounds of gunshots from the distance, I heard footsteps coming in closer.

 

First to walk in was a woman. She ran her hand over the wall. When she finally found the switch, the woman  the lights. She didn't move from the door as if she was waiting for someone to catch up to him. My guess was right. In walked another man, carrying a woman. I knew it was Dara, but it was hard to recognize her.

 

"Jiyong, she's here," I whispered, loud enough for Jiyong but quiet enough for the two enemies to not hear. "She with a
man and a woman."

 

"Don't let them get away. I'll be right there." Jiyong replied.

 

 

Seeing how Dara looked broke my heart. She had thinned down and looked exhausted. She had stopped yelling and started to cry. She sobbed so hard that her bruised-covered body shook. She thrashed around in the grip of the man.

 

 

"Let me go." she begged.

 

"Hurry and pick a damn car, Claire." The man with Dara over his shoulders said. Claire took out her car keys from her jean pocket and pressed the bottom of the remote to unlock the car. The vehicle's headlights next to me flashed.

 

 

. I had to start taking them down before they discover me, or else the element of surprise would be ruined. I aimed with my gun, the man carrying Dara or the women, Claire?

 

 

If I shot one, it'll notify the other. I frowned. They walked towards the car and I waited for them to align, hoping the events would turn out like the phrase "killing two birds with one stone."

 

 

Once they were side by side, I choose not to waste the opportunity. Right as I pulled the trigger, Claire dropped the car keys and bent down to pick it up. The bullet hit the dude carrying Dara, sending them both to the ground.

 

 

"Holy !"Claire cursed.

 

 

 

Dara

 

It happened out of nowhere. At the sound of a gunshot, I was falling. To break my fall was Stefan's dead body. A bullet has pierced his heart and blood leaked from his open chest.I gasped and scrambled away from Stefan as he took his last breath. I looked up andbspotted Top.

 

"Holy !" Claire cursed, just as surprised as me.

 

 

She whipped her gun to the direction of Top and started shooting. With her back towards me, I watched every bullet she fired miss and lodge into the surrounding exterior of the cars.

 

 

As for Top, he couldn't shoot because of his unclear shot. To better his aim, Top moved away from the car he was hiding behind, revealing himself. This was a good opportunity for Claire, and she took it.

 

 

What was he thinking? Why would he let himself be in the wide open? Claire raised the gun and aimed at Aiden. Out of instinct, I channel my strength. I had to stop her because there was a great chance of her shooting Top. They both raised their guns at the same time, but Claire beat him to it.

 

 

I watched in slow motion as her finger wrapped around the trigger as I jumped at her. I was able to tackle Claire to the
floor, but I was too late. The bullet was shot out of the gun and into Top's direction.

 

"Top!" I yelled out, even though I knew my warning was useless.

 

 

--

 

I screamed in horror as I watched Top dropped to the floor, clutching his side. In the corner of my eye, I saw Claire getting up from her fall and reaching for her gun that had skidded away. There was no way Top could defend himself if Claire got a hold of the weapon. I lunged from the ground and got her legs, tripping her. She struggled to get out of my grip while I tried to keep her staying on the floor. She raised her leg and forcefully brought it down. Missing my head, her five-inch heel dug into my left shoulder.

 

 

I screamed in pain and my muscles instinctively let go of her. She slipped away from me and quickly grabbed her gun. Claire aimed at Top who was attempting to stand up.

 

 

"No!" I screamed, begging with tears running down. Even with my blurry wet vision, I could see the red blood stain at Top side.

 

 

Contrary to my plead, she pulled the trigger and I saw Top get shot for the second time. He collapsed onto the floor, falling backward from the force of the bullet that hit him.

 

 

"Top!" I yelled as I jolted up. My intentions were to run to him and see if he was okay but Claire was between us.

 

 

She began to turn around, possibly aiming for me next. For the second time, I threw myself on her. I landed on top of her as we finished our fall face forward. I watch the gun fall and slipped under a nearby car, making me more courageous. Claire tried squirming her body to either get me off or position herself on her back but I shoved hernhead to the cement. She went limp after a groan and I scrambled off of her to go to Top.

 

 

"Top! Are you okay?" I asked, crouching over. He had curled into a ball, shielding and clutching his wounds. "Where did she shoot you?"

 

"I can't feel anything," Top said, even though his face told me different. He somewhat straightened out, revealing his had one bullet right above his left hip. He had another one lodged lower in his thigh.

 

"You must be going through shock," I said.

 

"No, I'm not shocked," he wheezed. "This isn't the first time I've been shot. I saw her shooting me too."

 

 

"That's not what I meant, Top." He clenched his eyes shut as he tried regulating his breathing. "Keep your eyes open, I don't want you passing out." He opened his eyes, a bit wider than usual.

 

 

"You don't have to open them that wi-"

 

"Watch out," Top said, warning me.

 

"Huh?"

 

 

The next thing I knew, I was kicked away from him by the stomach. I landed on the ground a few feet away from Top.
Looking up was Claire towering over me.

 

 

"You ," she said as she wiped the blood dripping down her forehead. I tried to get up but she kicked me down at my
injured shoulder, sending me back to the ground. She kicked me once more, this time in my stomach, letting me have it before stalking towards Top.

 

I tried to reach for her legs to stop her but failed. The pain in my shoulder little by little was getting unbearable. Top reached for the gun, which he had set aside of him prior. Right as it got in his grasp, Claire stepped on it.

 

"I don't need a gun to kill you," She said, kicking it away.

 

 

I closed my eyes and thought to myself that this was going to be the end of it. I could hear Top getting punched and kicked at by Claire. I unclenched my eyes, opening them. Glistening, from how the light was hitting it, was Claire's gun. Under the car was my last hope.

 

 

Strands of hair clung to my face from the sweat I accumulated from dragging myself across the floor. My left arm was useless at this point. Even though I tried my best not to move it, it still hurt badly. Giving myself a reason to stop, I turned around to see if Claire noticed me. Her back was turned to me as she tortured Top with his fists and feet.

 

Top was coughing up blood. He could barely open his eyes. Wanting to put an end to this, I hurridly forgot my harsh
discomfort and continued. I was gasping for air by the time my fingertips touched the gun. I quickly sat up, propping myself against the car I had received the gun from. I held the gun up with my right hand.

 

 

Unlike how it was in the movies, I didn't have my left hand to stabilize. The gun began to get heavy within my hold. I began to doubt myself as I stared at the back of the person I was planning to end. Below her was Top who was at the brink of death. Cruel humans deserves cruel ends. Chaerin was right, it was either me or them. After pointing in the direction of Claire, I closed my eyes and forced myself to pull the trigger multiple times.

 

I stopped shooting when I realized there was no longer the sound of gunshots as I pulled the trigger. I didn't know when
I started crying but I blinked away the tears as I tried to look at the final result. As soon as I saw it, I couldn't look away. I saw Claire's body on the ground, bullet holes in almost every part of her body.

 

 

I lowered my hand and tossed the gun aside. My eyes left Claire's lifeless body, moving to see Top. His body was also
limp.

 

As quickly as I could, I semi-crawled semi-dragged myself to him. He was still breathing. I stuck my fingers on his neck,
trying to count his pulse. However, my exhaustion and hysteria were clouding my judgment of time. The counts of his pulse were making me confuse and the world around me was spinning.

 

"Dara!"

 

I looked up to see Jiyong running towards me. His footsteps lightened as they came closer to me as sound began to fade. Behind him was Lorenzo who went to Top's aid. Jiyong knelt down next to me as he wrapped his arm to comfort me.

 

 

He pulled away to talk to me. I saw Jiyong speaking, but I couldn't hear anything. My blurry gaze shifted back to Claire's body. It sank in. I killed her. I shot Claire. I murdered someone. Jiyong started to shake me as I began to hyperventilate. My vision only went blurrier and darker.

 

 

I could feel my consciousness slipping away. My exhaustion took over, and I was once again embraced by darkness.

 

 

--

Jiyong is too late, eh?