As Mako sprinted through the open door, her heart pounded against her ribcage like a drum. The cold night air hit her face, sending a shiver down her spine, but she didn't stop. Behind her, she could hear the sounds of the battle raging—the shriek of energy clashing against energy, the cries of pain, and the shouts of commands.
She could feel the heat of Kai's presence behind her, but she didn't dare look back. She had to keep moving. She had to escape. She had to—
A gunshot rang out, followed by another, and another. Mako skidded to a halt, her heart skipping a beat. She turned around just in time to see Kai stagger backward, his body jerking as bullets tore into his chest. The police officers, who had been waiting in ambush, fired relentlessly, their weapons flashing in the darkness.
"Kai!" Mako screamed, her voice breaking with panic. She took a step forward, but Kai raised a hand, a pained smile on his face.
"Go!" he shouted, his voice strained, but firm. "Get out of here, Mako!"
Mako hesitated, torn between the urge to run and the desire to help him. "No! I'm not leaving you!"
Kai shook his head, his body trembling from the impact of the bullets. "You have to," he gasped. "There's no time… you're the only one who can get away. Don't waste this chance!"
The police officers continued their onslaught, their bullets cutting through the air like deadly bees. Kai's body jerked with each shot, blood staining his clothes, but he held his ground, his gaze locked on Mako.
"Go!" he yelled again, a desperate edge in his voice.
Mako's breath hitched in her throat, her eyes wide with fear and anger. She could feel the tears burning in her eyes, blurring her vision. "I can't just—"
"You can, and you will!" Kai's voice was fierce, even as pain flickered across his face. "Run, Mako! Now!"
The urgency in his tone snapped her out of her hesitation. Mako clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "Fine!" she shouted back, her voice raw. "But you better not die on me, Kai Nakamura!"
Kai managed a weak grin, his breath coming in short gasps. "Wouldn't dream of it…"
Mako turned on her heel, her legs pumping as she sprinted away from the chaos, the sounds of gunfire echoing behind her. Her mind raced as she ran, every instinct screaming at her to turn back, to fight, to do something. But she knew she had to keep going. She had to trust that Kai knew what he was doing, that he would find a way to survive… somehow.
The sounds of gunfire grew fainter as she put more distance between herself and the prison. Her chest burned, and her legs felt like lead, but she kept pushing forward, refusing to slow down. The city loomed ahead of her, a maze of streets and alleys that offered a slim chance at escape.
She darted around a corner, her breath ragged, and ducked into an alleyway. Her heart pounded in her ears, and her lungs screamed for air, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop. She had to keep moving.
Back in the prison yard, Kai's vision blurred as blood seeped from his wounds, soaking his clothes. The pain was excruciating, but he clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay on his feet. His knees wobbled, and his muscles screamed in agony, but he refused to fall.
The officers hesitated, their guns still trained on him. One of them, the leader from before, stepped forward cautiously. "He's still standing?" he muttered, disbelief evident in his tone. "How the hell is he still standing?"
Kai's breath came in ragged bursts, each one a battle against the pain coursing through his body. "Guess… I'm just tougher than I look," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
The leader's face hardened. "Shoot him again!" he barked. "Don't let him—"
Before he could finish his command, Kai's eyes flashed with a sudden intensity. He summoned the last reserves of his strength, raising his hand. A faint glow surrounded his fingers, flickering like a dying ember.
"Enough!" he roared, his voice filled with a defiance that defied the agony tearing through him. "I'm not done yet!"
The glow intensified, but then faltered, the energy dissipating as quickly as it had appeared. Kai's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, his body finally giving in to the damage it had sustained. He coughed, a wet, painful sound, blood staining his lips.
The police officers moved in cautiously, their guns still trained on him, but their expressions were a mixture of fear and confusion. The leader approached slowly, his gun raised, but his eyes were wide with disbelief.
Kai looked up, his vision swimming, but he managed a faint smile. "Mako… get away…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
His vision darkened, and he felt the cold concrete beneath him as his consciousness began to slip away. The last thing he heard was the distant sound of Mako's footsteps fading into the night.
Mako kept running, her heart heavy, tears streaming down her face. She didn't know where she was going, but she knew one thing—she wasn't going to let Kai's sacrifice be in vain. She would survive. She would fight. And she would find a way to make things right.
As the city swallowed her in its labyrinthine streets, Mako felt a new determination harden in her chest. Whatever came next, she would be ready.
And she would never forget the man who had saved her.