Spence's POV:
"Let me check who it is." He said, breaking from the hug and getting off the bed.
As I saw him proceed closer to the door, his steps slowed down by the passing minute. After a certain point, he began to retreat back, rushing towards me.
"I am guessing... it's them. They have... found us." He said between heavy breaths.
My eyes widened in surprise and fear. I looked up to him and said, "I'll leave from the back exit. Let them catch me. I have nothing to lose now."
He grabbed my shoulders and shook me vigorously, as he tried his best to hold back his anger. Glaring at me intently, he showered me with a familial love that I had been craving since long. I left my limbs loose as I was encapsulated in his trance. He grabbed my arm and covered it with his other hand, sending me enough warmth to last a lifetime.
"Spence, go hide in the cupboard and don't come out till I ask you to." He whispered in his soft, deep voice, sending a tingling sensation in my ears.
"Okay." I gave a sharp reply before heading to the flimsy metal cupboard and sitting inside.
"Now remember, do not get out till I say it's safe okay?" He muttered as I saw him shut the door on me, leaving me in complete darkness. Even so, like every dark abyss has a streak of light, I saw a glimmer of light penetrating through the slit between doors.
I could hear loud noises outside the door. Creeping up against my feet, I put my face close to the light source. It enabled me to see the situation clearly.
It was the boss, Allen and two of his lackeys. For some reason, I could feel my limbs tremble as I saw them more and more. At a point, I almost collapsed but held myself for Paul. They looked no less than monsters who were on a human hunt. The shabby hair and devilish eyes were enough to bring tears to my eyes.
"I cannot cry now." I said to myself, wiping my tears and looking back at the scenario.
By this time, they had began to get physical.
The boss ordered his lackeys to attack Paul. They jumped on him at once and started throwing stiff punches and kicks to his belly. "Get off me right now!" He said as he tried to push them away but couldn't succeed.
They pressed their feet into his abdomen harder, causing him to arch his back before throwing up a glurg of blood from his mouth.
"I can't... Do it anymore." He said, as he collapsed, his limbs now lifeless.
At last, he had given up, like I did.
They had begun searching around the room like a dog searching for a piece of meat in the garbage. Tossing around every thing possible, they were looking around for something very important to them, but I was sure it wasn't me. It had to be something else. No one would search around for their plaything right?
'They don't want me.' I said to myself.
My heartbeat began to race more as they approached nearer to the cupboard. They couldn't see me but their occasional glances towards the cupboard were enough to set my nerves on fire. I almost felt exposed then. Right then, my glance shifted towards Paul, who was now getting up.
"Boss, I don't think it's here." One of the lackeys said as he picked a mirror piece.
"He's here, I am sure. Find him and kill him!" He yelled out loud. I shuddered in reponse.
"I am sure he's not here." Another lackey spoke up.
"Maybe he ran off to his house, but his mother is already dead." The boss seemed to wonder. His gaze suddenly shifted to the cupboard, where I felt his glare pierce through my heart.
"Who the bloody hell will check the cupboard? Your father?" He screeched, setting the lackeys off to work.
The moved the auxiliary furniture that Paul had kept to distract them and shield me. However, he was smarter than I anticipated him to be. With each knock on the door, my pulse rate was accelerating upwards, I began to feel dizzy as warm air escaped my ear canals. Shriveling myself, I moved to a corner, hoping they would not see me.
"Please go away. Please." I prayed to the heavens.
At that time, a familiar voice yelled out, "Stay away from the cupboard!"
I gaped in horror as I saw Paul walking towards me, fatally injured. He threw himself against the cupboard door, refusing to budge. He turned towards me for a second, where I noticed his face covered with blood up close. It was a frightening sight.
"Move away, Paul." The boss rolled his eyes.
"I won't allow you to open this!" He screamed.
"Well, there's only one thing left to do." He said, with a stoic face. Paul's eyes widened in fear.
"What are you waiting for dumb wits? Shoot him already."
With that, the lackeys took out a gun from their backs and aimed at the poor soul, pelting him with bullets. I gaped in horror as I saw his body collapse right before my eyes.