Kínitos strained beneath the killer's weight, his left hand clawing at Suris' wrist to stop the scalpel hovering over his throat. His right hand trembled as he fought to hold back the knife in Suris' other grip. The killer's skeletal frame pressed down like an iron vise, his bony knees digging into Kínitos' ribs. Sweat dripped into Kínitos' eye, burning like fire as his vision blurred into twin, wavering shadows of Suris' gaunt face.
**"There's no fucking way I'm dying here,"** Kínitos growled through gritted teeth.
**"Sir, are you still there? I'm locating your address!"** The dispatcher's voice crackled from the phone on the floor.
**"District 11—Heaven's Apartments!"** Kínitos roared, veins bulging as Suris snarled and slammed his head against the floor.
**"Shut the fuck up and *die*!"** Suris hissed, rancid breath hot on Kínitos' face.
**"His name's Suris! Don & Doner—10th floor, accounting!"**
Suris' eyes widened, panic flickering beneath his rage. **"I'll gut you alive!"** He leaned harder, the scalpel's tip pricking Kínitos' skin.
Fear twisted into defiance. **"If I'm finna die, you're finna rot in a cell, bitch!"** Kínitos thrashed, muscles screaming, but Suris' grip held like steel cables.
**"No escape. No heroes,"** Suris sneered, spittle flecking Kínitos' cheek.
***Crack!***
A boot collided with Suris' temple. The killer's head snapped sideways, skull cracking against the wall. He slumped, limbs splayed, eyes rolling white.
Kínitos gasped, rolling free. Monti stood over him, clutching his ribs, face pale but jaw set. **"Get up!"**
Monti lunged at Suris, kicking his ribs. The killer groaned, scrambling for his scalpel. Kínitos snatched his knife from the floor, blade trembling in his blood-slick hand. He lunged—
***Slice!***
Suris' scalpel raked Monti's thigh. Monti staggered, crashing into a bookshelf. Kínitos swung again, but Suris parried, the scalpel slashing his forearm. The knife clattered away.
**"Persistent pests,"** Suris spat, pulling a second scalpel.
Monti hurled a shattered lamp. Glass exploded, shards embedding in Suris' cheek. **"Move!"** Monti dragged Kínitos into the hallway, their boots slipping on blood.
**"Killer in the building!"** Monti bellowed, pounding on doors. Tenants peered through cracks, wide-eyed.
Suris rose, face streaked with blood, and lunged—
***Ding!***
The elevator doors creaked open. Kínitos collapsed inside, hand pressed to his stomach. Blood seeped through his fingers, pooling at his feet. Monti mashed the ground-floor button.
**"You're hit,"** Kínitos slurred, nodding at Monti's bloodied shirt.
**"Missed me,"** Monti lied, ripping his sleeve. He cinched the fabric around Kínitos' waist. **"Hold this."**
**"Gonna die… in this shithole…"** Kínitos' voice frayed, words dissolving into wet gasps.
**"Shut up!"** Monti shook him, voice breaking. **"Ambulance is coming!"**
The elevator hummed, fluorescent lights buzzing like hornets. Kínitos' vision blurred—Monti's face melted into shadow, then sharpened again. His limbs turned leaden, the floor tilting beneath him. The metallic tang of blood filled his nostrils, mingling with the elevator's stale musk. *Cold. Why's it so cold?*
***Ding!***
Doors opened to a lobby crowded with gawking tenants. **"Move!"** Monti shouldered through, half-dragging Kínitos outside. Neon signs bathed the street in garish pink and green. Sirens wailed in the distance, too far.
Kínitos stumbled, legs buckling. Monti hooked an arm under his shoulders, dragging him forward. **"Alley—there!"**
Kínitos glanced back. Suris emerged from the building, scalpel glinting. Their eyes met—then the killer vanished into the crowd, a shadow among bodies.
**"HERE! HELP!"** Monti screamed, staggering into traffic. Horns blared; tires screeched.
Kínitos sagged, grip failing. Monti lowered him to the curb, pressing on the wound. **"Stay awake!"**
**"Club… your treat…"** Kínitos mumbled, tongue thick.
**"Damn right,"** Monti lied, blinking back tears.
---
The elevator's buzz had been the last thing Kínitos remembered clearly. Now, the world swam—streetlights smeared into glowing streaks, voices muffled as if underwater. Monti's face flickered in and out of focus, his words distant echoes: *"Stay with me… stay…"*
Kínitos' hand slipped from his stomach, blood soaking his jeans. The pain had dulled to a numb ache, his body betraying him. *Tired. So tired.* His head lolled, darkness gnawing at the edges of his vision.
**"Look at me!"** Monti shook him, desperation sharp. **"You're not dying here!"**
Kínitos forced his eyes open. Monti's face blurred, doubled. The street tilted sideways.
**"Almost there,"** Monti hissed, hauling him up again.
They lurched forward, Kínitos' boots scraping pavement. Red and blue lights flashed ahead.
**"Found them,"** Violet murmured from the rooftop, black smoke curling around her ankles like serpents. Below, Kínitos and Monti collapsed near the ambulance, their figures small and broken against the city's indifferent glow.