Marsha staggered as she looked at the man writhing in agony with his severed hand. Breathing heavily, she tossed something pale she had been holding onto the ground in front of him. The man, staring blankly at his own severed hand that had fallen before him, let out a terrible scream and lunged at her.
“Wow, she plays rough.”
Theo, who had appeared suddenly, kicked the man, sending him flying like a leaf. How did she cut this off too? Theo said with surprise, looking at the palm lying on the floor.
“Behind you.”
Marsha, who had been looking Theo up and down, said curtly. Theo turned around. A bald man who had just jumped over the wall was aiming a gun at Theo. Really? Theo quickly raised both hands, his eyes wide. Marsha, hidden behind Theo, secretly drew her gun and aimed at the man.
“Drop the gun.”
“You drop yours, pretty lady.”
Theo stuck out his tongue in disgust at the bald man’s sleazy voice. Marsha, looking at the man with pity, glanced upward.
Michael, who had been watching the situation blankly, tossed the bed mattress out the window as if throwing a paper airplane. The bald man, suddenly crushed under the falling mattress, fired his gun into the air in surprise. Seizing the opportunity, Marsha shot the panicking man in the head. The pure white mattress was stained red with blood from the man who collapsed without time to scream.
“Need help?”
Theo extended his hand to Marsha, who was leaning against the wall. Marsha looked down at her palm, where blood was dripping onto the floor from a loosened bandage, then pulled out another pistol from inside her coat and threw it to Theo.
“Ever used one?”
“Of course.”
I’ve lived here for years. Theo, catching the gun, carefully surveyed the surroundings.
“So who are these guys?”
“……”
“Come on. I need to know what’s going on if I’m going to help or not, right?”
Marsha said impassively.
“They’re something like mafia.”
“Ah, mafia! So that’s what caused all this trouble.”
Is it a very serious situation? To Theo’s question, Marsha nodded.
“Is this related to Hunter too?”
“……”
“Damn, I guess it is. Where is Hunter now? Is he at least alive?”
“……”
“W-Wait, is he dead?”
“You take the back door, I’ll take the front.”
“Answer me before you go!”
“They’ll be coming in droves soon. Stay alert.”
Theo gritted his teeth as Marsha ran toward the front door. The bed mattress sprawled beside him was already soaked bright red.
* * *
Entering the room, Hyungoh discovered Michael with his head sticking out the window. Thank goodness you’re safe. Michael turned around at Hyungoh’s relieved sigh and smiled brightly.
“Choi!”
“Michael, did you just hear gunshots? It could be dangerous over there, come here.”
“Okay, Choi.”
Hyungoh picked Michael up. Huh? As he bent down to set him on the bed, he saw only the sunken bed frame. Why is it like this? When Hyungoh asked, Michael buried his face in Hyungoh’s shoulder without answering and nuzzled against him.
“Choi, you know.”
“Hmm?”
“Choi doesn’t lie.”
“Hmmm?”
“I believe in Choi.”
Michael stroked Hyungoh’s back. It was a cautious touch. Hmm. Hyungoh rolled his eyes.
“Why are you suddenly saying things like that?”
Michael’s anxious emotions traveled through his trembling fingers to Hyungoh’s back. Hyungoh patted him soothingly. Ah. Could he have had another nightmare? Michael, glancing at Hyungoh’s profile as he stood lost in thought, spoke up.
“You won’t run away, right?”
“Run away?”
“You promised you wouldn’t run away, remember?”
“…Umm, sure.”
When did I make such a promise? Hyungoh answered in a daze. Michael smiled. But his eyes remained coldly fixed.
Just then, Michael perked up his ears at the faint sound of breaking glass. Hyungoh, who hadn’t heard the sound, tilted his head as Michael stared at the door.
“Michael?”
“Put me down.”
Hyungoh obediently complied. As soon as his feet touched the ground, Michael moved to stand in front of the door.
“I’ll be right back.”
“What? No, Michael. I told you it’s dangerous.”
“Herick is outside. So it’s fine.”
But Choi needs to stay here. Michael firmly stopped Hyungoh who tried to follow him.
“Don’t come out. Absolutely not.”
Taking advantage of Hyungoh’s startled reaction to his commanding tone, Michael went outside. Walking quickly down the stairs, he found a vase that had been placed on the wall leading to the living room now shattered.
Michael spoke to Herick, who was standing blankly in front of the stairs.
“Why are you standing there like that? Without coming up.”
“……”
Herick bit his lip. Michael glanced at the pistol Herick was holding and spoke again.
“You haven’t changed.”
Herick, struggling to meet Michael’s emotionless gaze, soon wore a hurt expression. Michael didn’t care. His finger pointed at Herick’s gun.
“That’s you, Herick. When you don’t like something, you put holes in it. You want to destroy it.”
“……”
“Because you can’t control yourself, you rely on that piece of metal, sometimes regret it, fear it, but then put holes in someone again.”
“Stop it, Michael.”
“You’re selfish, Herick. To escape your guilt, what did you choose? Acknowledgment and apology? Or denial and avoidance?”
“I said stop it!”
Herick shouted, covering his ears.
“Why do you hate me?”
Herick’s voice trembled faintly. Though he wasn’t crying, Herick looked pitiful, like a child abandoned by his parents, with his face contorted as if about to burst into tears.
Michael pondered deeply.
“Herick, you break me.”
“I’ve never broken you!”
Michael closed his mouth. He looked at the agitated Herick with unfocused eyes and sighed mockingly. Herick felt his blood boil at Michael’s bored-looking face.
“What’s the difference between that guy and me?”
“You mean Choi?”
“Yes. He’s just going to run away soon. But I would give my life to protect you.”
“Choi won’t run away.”
“Do you really think so?”
Herick laughed coldly and crouched in front of Michael. He gently took Michael’s small hand, kissed it, and whispered.
“Come on, tell me your real thoughts.”
“……”
“Hyungoh is destined to run away, right?”
Michael silently reached out to Herick. After caressing Herick’s neck as if tickling it, he opened his eyes wide.
“See. You are breaking me.”
Herick swallowed as Michael began to strangle him. After choking painfully, he met Michael’s trembling eyes. Haha. With veins popping in his neck, Herick curled his lips into a grin.
“Who are you blaming? I only voiced what you were thinking.”
Michael tightened his grip. A groaning sound escaped from Herick as he scratched the floor. His head tilted further backward.
Just as Herick’s eyes were about to close, a gunshot rang out nearby. Michael turned around. A dark shadow that had approached the window spotted Michael and lunged. The window shattered instantly under the man’s massive build.
Michael released Herick. He looked up at the man indifferently. The man, limping but approaching quickly, pressed the gun barrel against Michael’s forehead.
“So you’re the treasure of the Gostin family.”
Herick, who had been lying on the floor coughing, reached out in shock. The man smiled widely. Run, Michael! Michael ignored Herick’s desperate cry. He simply stared coldly at the man until he placed his finger on the trigger.
