BANG.
The shot rag out from across the store as the store rang with silence.
Footsteps could be heard from a man in a dark hood, his face as concealed as possible. A cold shiver ran down Itsuki as he comforted the young girl beside him, who was crying silently. As she was about to wail, he covered her mouth, and motioned a finger to his mouth. The girl nodded frantically, and scooted closer to Itsuki as her small body felt manic. Itsuki's heart raced as he tried to collect his breaths. The scent of blood was present near them, one of many employees gunned down as he could see through the small crack of the door. The body convulsed as blood dripped from their mouth, and Itsuki looked away.
"GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY YOU FUCKIN' GOT, ANYTHING VALUABLE!"
"S-S-Sir, you've taken a-all the money we've g-got.."
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, WHORE!"
Another shot rang out, and a terrified shriek rang throughout the room.
"YOU TALK WHEN YOU'RE TOLD."
"NOW EMPTY YOUR POCKETS."
The girl shook as she clung onto Itsuki tightly. She silently wailed as Itsuki's shaky hand ran through her hair.
"YOU."
"HEHE, I'VE FOUND MY VALUABLE."
"What are you doing? Let go of me! LET GO!"
Step.
Step.
Step.
"M-M-Mommy.." The girl cried faintly.
"MOMMY!"
The girl ran out of the closet, her pants wet from fear itself.
And yet, it was somehow a miracle that Itsuki had also run out to the girl.
The girl went toward her mother, clothes being ripped off by this savage of a man.
The hooded man had noticed, and laughed as he began to point gun towards the little girl.
Itsuki ran, tears brimming in his eyes as his entire body began to throb.
He wasn't sure whether it was fear or instinct that made him do what he did.
He jumped in front of the girl and grabbed her as a shot rang out once again.
Itsuki fell to the floor with the girl in his arms, a sharp pain spreading throughout his body. The girl cried, mouthing the words he'd remember for the rest of his life.
"Thank you."
All he could form was a smile as his stomach began to coil up, bloody bile spewing from his mouth. The little girl screamed as she shook Itsuki over and over again. His vision began to blur as his body had began to grow hot. He looked at his hand with the small amount of strength he had left, and noticed his hand stained with blood as he lay beside his own bloody vomit. He could hear a strong thump on the floor of the convenience store, workers yelling to pin him down and the cries of many as they cried to the police over the phone.
And as he looked up with tears brimming in his eyes, he realized that the little girl was still there, watching over him as tears rolled down her face.
'I don't want to die.'
That was the last thought of Nakagawa Itsuki as he passed on to the heavens...or so he thought.