『Neizan: Owen, I'm going to try to lose them. I need to get out of sight, or they'll corner me. 』
『Owen: Understood. I'm reaching Elena's location. 』
『Neizan: Sorry, but I have to hang up. I'll call you later. 』
After several relentless minutes of pursuit, Neizan managed to take a crowded highway, using the traffic to gain some distance. He maneuvered skillfully, taking a sharp curve at high speed. Momentarily stopping behind a group of vehicles, he rolled down his window and steadied his pistol. As soon as the black car appeared around the curve, he unloaded his weapon with precision. The bullets hit the windshield directly, injuring the driver and causing him to lose control, crashing at an intersection and blocking his pursuer's path.
With trembling hands, Neizan released the weapon, placed both hands back on the wheel, and pressed the gas to escape. Barely seconds had passed when two men in black jumped out of the other car, firing automatic weapons.
『Neizan: Ah, damn it! 』
The car was hit by a hail of bullets, leaving several holes in the body and, to make matters worse, one of the rear tires was punctured. With the car wobbling and increasingly difficult to control, Neizan tried to hold steady, but the pain was weakening him. He coughed, and as he looked at his hand, he saw traces of blood; another bullet had struck him, this time in his side.
Finally, after several minutes of frantic escape, Neizan managed to get far enough away. He stopped the car in a secluded spot, away from the road. He got out with difficulty, staggering, and went to the trunk, where he took out a first aid kit. He opened the case, pulling out bandages and a coagulant antiseptic spray. Clenching his teeth, he held the bandages tightly as he sprayed the liquid on the wounds on his abdomen, shoulder, and arm. The spray burned intensely, but Neizan endured the pain in silence, knowing it was the only way to prevent an infection before he continued his escape.
When he finished bandaging himself, his breathing was still heavy, but his gaze remained steady. He knew the fight was far from over.
Neizan's scream tore through the silence as he clenched the bandages tightly between his teeth. The pain was unbearable; the adrenaline that had kept him going was beginning to wear off. He removed his black jacket and shirt, revealing open wounds and dried blood. He would need superhuman willpower to do what came next. Taking a pair of tweezers from the first aid kit, he hesitated as he brought them closer to his arm. Deciding it would be safer to sit down to avoid collapsing, he settled on the ground.
Once seated, with monumental effort, he inserted the tweezers into the wound. The pain intensified brutally; each movement of the tweezers made him scream louder as tears filled his eyes. At last, he managed to extract one of the bullets that had been lodged under his skin, but he looked deplorable. Neizan felt his strength draining; the amount of blood he'd lost was quickly sapping his energy, and he was barely staying conscious.
『Neizan: I need… the morphine. 』
With trembling hands, he reached into the kit and pulled out a syringe of morphine. He knew the opioid's effect would relieve the pain just enough to give him a chance to extract the bullet from his abdomen. He injected it into his opposite arm, holding his breath as he felt the temporary relief spreading. He wrapped the wound on his arm as best he could and took up the tweezers again, now directing them toward his stomach.
But as soon as he inserted them, the pain returned, sharper and deeper than before.
『Neizan: AAAAAAAAAH! Damn it! I can't! 』
Despite probing through the tissue, he couldn't locate the bullet. Frustrated, he yelled:
『Neizan: Where the hell is that damn bullet?! 』
Finally, he gave up and withdrew the tweezers. The pain was too much, and he feared that, due to the angle of entry, the bullet might have reached his liver. His pulse trembled uncontrollably, and he felt a hemorrhage begin in one eye while he coughed up blood. Neizan rewrapped the remaining wounds, grabbed his weapon, and, staggering, made his way through the streets until he found a dark alley.
The night's silence was broken only by his heavy breathing, echoing more and more raggedly. His heart pounded, his steps grew unstable, and the cold seeped into his skin. A clap of thunder split the air, announcing rain. Drops began falling from the sky, darkened by thick clouds, soaking him instantly.
Neizan's strength was beginning to fail. Feeling dizzy, he leaned against a nearby wall, unable to go any further. Alone in the narrow street, his vision was blurring, and he understood he couldn't take another step. His body shook as, little by little, he sank to the ground, overwhelmed by the pain flooding his body.
『Neizan: Agh! 』
His mind was trapped in a whirlwind of sensations, a chaos of agony. In that moment, he wished he could escape it all, rid himself of the despair consuming him. The sound of his phone broke through his thoughts. With effort, he slid it out of his pocket and saw it was a call from Owen.
『Owen: Neizan? Where are you? 』
『Neizan: Wait… I'll send you my location… again. 』
『Owen: Okay, I'm on my way. Elena is safe; she was taken to an ambulance. 』
『Owen: Just hold on a few more minutes. 』
Owen's voice was a lifeline in the midst of his torment. Though his consciousness was slipping and his eyelids grew heavier, the hope of seeing his friend one last time kept him clinging to life.
『Neizan: «I... I think I'm not miserable anymore. From the moment I saw her, I knew I had to help. Something told me that if I didn't, I'd never get that chance again.» 』
『Neizan: «I was lucky to meet you. Without you, I wouldn't have accomplished anything; I'm truly grateful.» 』
Those were the last words he spoke as he lowered the arm holding his phone, and the light in his eyes faded.