Jay-Jay's POV
I hold back my tears and try to steady my breathing. I feel like I just made a wrong move—like I've dug my own grave. Even though I'm not looking, I can feel the cold barrel of a gun pressed against my neck.
I've pointed a gun at others many times, but as time passes, the weight of it feels heavier and heavier. My death feels closer than ever.
"Aaaarrrggghhh!!" Sato screams after firing the gun.
I let out a terrified cry, thinking this is it—but I don't feel any pain. Maybe I'm already dead? Maybe I just haven't realized it yet? But when I open my eyes, I can still see my surroundings, though everything is blurry from the tears welling up in my eyes.
This isn't a joke anymore. I really think I'm going to die.
But… can I not die just yet? There are still people who owe me money. Things with the Ulupongs are still unsettled. I haven't even met their King yet. And I still haven't seen my father… Maybe I can die later.
One of them grabs me roughly and forces me to stand. Since I can't walk properly, he has to drag me along like a lifeless doll. My body feels unbearably heavy, and I nearly collapse under my own weight.
We step through a door, and I'm greeted by a vast, empty lot. Not far away, I see piles of cement and broken tree branches.
"WHERE IS MY CAR?!" Sato shouts at his men, his rage boiling over.
I can't think straight. It's getting harder to breathe with Sato's grip tightening on me. My hair is a mess, strands sticking to my face. I probably look like a witch right now—not that it matters. That's the least of my worries.
I have to escape.
Sato, still fuming, suddenly lashes out, kicking his men in frustration.
Even the guy holding me isn't spared. Sato stomps around like a child throwing a tantrum, furious that he didn't get what he wanted. Then, as if realizing he has no one left to take his anger out on, he turns to me once again—pressing the gun against my head.
"I want you dead! You're going to die! Your friends won't save you!" he yells, his voice shaking with madness.
"T-that's not true!" I shout back, but he continues screaming, the gun never wavering from its target.
"No one is coming for you! You'll die here! I will kill you!"
"NO!" I scream at the top of my lungs. "They're coming! They'll save me!"
They will. I know they will.
"They won't make it! My men will defeat them!"
Sato keeps shouting, his breath reeking. And to make things worse, his spit lands right on my face. Disgusting.
I know what he's trying to do—make me lose hope. He thinks I'll just break down and beg for mercy. What does he take me for? A child?
"SHUT UP! THEY WILL SAVE ME! I KNOW IT! BECAUSE THEY'RE MY FRIENDS! I TRUST THEM!" I scream, leaning closer to him. If I have to feel his spit, then he should feel mine too.
Just then, I hear slow clapping. Followed by… sniffles? I turn towards the sound.
"Jay-jay trusts us! That's making me emotional!" Rory cries dramatically.
"Nice! She's got confidence!" Mayo smirks, raising her eyebrows.
"Trust, trust, baby!" Drew sings while doing a little dance.
"Wow… Confidence." Josh scoffs sarcastically.
I smile, but the moment is short-lived. I feel cold metal against my temple again. Sato's grip on my arm tightens, making sure I can't escape. The others tense up. Some try to step closer, but Sato presses the gun harder against my head.
"Easy…" Felix warns.
"Where are Yuri and Keifer?" Sato demands, looking at the Serpents.
The crooks exchange uneasy glances. No one answers. I want to cry. If I die here, will Keifer even show up? What else has to happen for him to come? Maybe he's already buried somewhere, rotting away in a coffin without me knowing.
Keifer, you bastard! You're really something!
If I survive this, I'm going to make you eat my mismatched socks. Traitor! Backstabber! You better be enjoying yourself because I swear, I'll snap your gums off! I'll rip out your esophagus!
"Damn it! Let me go! That damn Blown One isn't coming!" I yell, thrashing in frustration.
As much as I hate Sato, I'm even more pissed off at that backstabbing Plague Demon King of Snakes.
"Let go of me! Aaaggghhh!" I struggle violently.
"So noisy."
I freeze. Sato does too.
Son of a—
I glance around, scanning my surroundings. My eyes dart over every face in front of me. I check the Gunggong staff behind us. I even look down at the ground.
"He's here," I murmur, my eyes widening.
I whip my head toward the Snakes. "Is he here?! Is he here?!"
"W-who? Who's here?!" Dumbledore stammers in a panic.
Your mother!
He seemed afraid. Gradually, he pulled me away from my classmates. But that didn't make sense—our surroundings were wide open. Even if we ran, we'd still be visible.
"Let her go now!" someone screamed.
If I'm not mistaken, that's Yuri's voice.
"Let her go... let her go..." Another voice sang, mimicking Elsa's song.
I can't be wrong—that was Percy.
"Let go of my sister!" A familiar voice spoke firmly. It was Aries.
From the side of the building we had come from, the source of that voice emerged, walking slowly. My brother led the way, followed by my other brother and Yuri.
I thought it was just them. But then time seemed to slow as I noticed another figure following. A black shoe stepped onto the dusty ground. My gaze traveled upward—black pants, a white long-sleeved shirt, and his signature tie, which he now removed as he approached. In one hand, he held a black coat.
I couldn't hold back my tears.
The King of Snakes.
Gago's hair was brushed up perfectly. The four of them stopped a short distance from where we stood. He smirked—arrogant and full of confidence.
"Tss... profanity."
Wow. Really, wow!
You know that moment when you realize how cheap your words sound? That's exactly it! And of course, he just had to say his famous line first. I'm so annoyed with him, yet... why does my heart feel like it's jumping for joy?
"You bastard! You really understood that! Animal!" I screamed at him.
I wanted to punch his face, but I was too far away. And this Sato was still holding me. I couldn't hug him, so at least let me land a punch!
He smirked again, annoyingly. His teeth were annoyingly perfect, even without any whitening. He ruffled his hair briefly before pulling off his necktie and tossing it along with his coat. Why does he look even more handsome—sush! Stop! Focus!
"I came straight back from London, and this is how you greet me? Calling me a beast?" He frowned. "...Not even an 'I missed you, Keifer'?"
You're really something.
"Gago! We met yesterday!" I shouted.
He nodded. "Yeah. And you insulted me, didn't you?" he reminded me.
Ugh! Why is that even relevant?!
There were so many people in the lobby, and they all turned to look at me after I yelled.
"I-I don't remember anything! It wasn't me!"
Deny, deny, deny!
Yes! Just deny it! Even if the person I'm denying it to happens to be an expert at catching liars!
He raised an eyebrow, and I immediately looked away. I focused on the cloudless sky instead.
"The sky is beautiful," I muttered.
Sato suddenly tightened his grip on me.
"Aahhh... Ouch!"
I had almost forgotten that this idiot was still here—because all my attention had been stolen by the Kings.
"Let's go, Jay-Jay," Yuri said, glaring at Sato.
Sato pressed the gun to my head again.
I was scared, but at the same time, I felt something different—something I couldn't quite put into words. A lightness in my chest. This situation should have been terrifying, yet seeing them all there...
All four of them...
It made me feel like everything would be okay. Like I was safe—even though I wasn't in their hands yet.
"Let go of Baby Sister. Aren't we handsome enough to stun you?" Percy smirked.
I saw Felix slap his forehead. Even I wanted to do the same, but my hands were still tied.
"Don't call her 'Baby Sister.' She's my sister, not yours," Aries snapped.
Percy scoffed. "You're ugly. Fine, then. You're my Baby," he teased, flashing a grin.
Aries' fist shot up immediately, cutting Percy's antics short. He really never knew when to stop. Even in a situation like this, he could still joke around.
But it's okay. I wouldn't admit it, but his jokes reassured me—reminding me that he was here, ready to help.
I turned my gaze to the person beside him. Aries' grumpy face. My destiny.
He always looked like he was mad at the world, but that was my Labs. Even though we always argued, he was important to me. And that grumpy face of his? It made me certain I'd be getting a lecture later—because they were going to save me.
I looked at the other end.
Yuri's face was serious, his red hair making his anger seem even more intense. Despite everything that had happened between us, he was still here—strong and unwavering. That fiery red hair of his made me worry, knowing that later, I might just hug him, causing him concern instead.
And then, the last one appeared. Come on!
The pest himself—Dimunyung, the rattlesnake, the King of Vipers. Just seeing him made me want to punch him, to make him pay for all the nonsense he had put me through. He needed to explain what he was doing.
"KINGINA! LET ME GO!" I screamed at Sato, struggling to free my arm.
But before I could fully understand what was happening, he suddenly froze, then shoved me away with all his strength. I stumbled onto the dusty ground, and at that moment, his gun was aimed directly at me. I didn't close my eyes. I was ready to face the bullet. But before the shot could be fired, a man tackled Sato to the ground, knocking him down.
"TAKE JAY-JAY AWAY FROM HERE!" Keifer ordered, and before I knew it, someone had picked me up.
I never saw what happened next. Like a sack of rice, I was slung over what I assumed was David's shoulder. They carried me back into the building I had come from.
"Put me down! Something might happen to them!" I pleaded, but they ignored me.
Moments later, they finally stopped and set me down. My body felt unbearably heavy, and it was as if I couldn't breathe.
"Relax," Kit's voice reassured me as someone untied the rope from my hands.
My throat was parched, and my entire body felt weak. As I sat up, I ran my fingers through my messy hair and wiped my face with my palms.
I caught my breath as I looked around. We were still inside, but close to the exit. Some of the others stood in front of me, while a few supported Mica.
"Jay-Jay," Ella called out, concern evident in her voice. "Where's Aries?"
"Outside… They're fighting Sato and his crew," I answered weakly.
"Did he hurt you?" Eren asked.
My entire body ached—physically and emotionally.
But I couldn't answer. I wanted to cry. They shouldn't have taken me away. How would I know if they were okay?
Sato was insane—crazier than anyone we had ever faced before. I had a sinking feeling that his madness was stronger than my will.
A soft touch startled me. A handkerchief brushed against my face. I flinched, but when I saw that it was David, I let him be.
"Let go!" Rakki suddenly shouted.
I turned to see her struggling against Ci-N, who clung to her waist like a tarsier.
"No! I was worried about you! I won't let go!" Ci-N insisted.
I glanced at Mica and Calix. They were embracing each other, and Calix gently kissed his girlfriend's forehead.
Seriously? Even now, they're still flirting?
"Did he hurt you?" David asked again, making me look at him. "Your cheek is starting to turn red."
I didn't care about the bruises. I wanted to go back outside. I needed to know if they were okay. I had to be sure that Sato was defeated.
I didn't know how long we would have to wait, but my fear escalated when gunshots suddenly rang out, one after another. Without thinking, I sprinted toward the sound—only for David to block my way. Ella tried to run as well, but Edrix stopped her.
"Move!" I yelled at David.
"You stay here!" Denzel ordered firmly.
"Something might have happened to Aries!" Ella cried out.
"I'm sorry… but they're handling it," Rory said solemnly.
"Why am I being left out? We're all involved in this fight!" My voice cracked with frustration.
I dropped to my knees. That terrible feeling surged inside me again—that helpless, infuriating feeling.
Damn it!
"Please, let me go! I just need to make sure Aries is okay!" Ella begged, her voice filled with desperation.
But those who blocked us didn't leave. Even Ella didn't last long and just sat on the floor. It had been almost half an hour ago, yet we never heard any noise from them. A few thoughts crossed my mind, but none of them were good. I felt someone sit next to me. I didn't even bother to look at who it was.
"Jay-Jay," Ci-N called. "...I have something to tell you." He spoke, but I didn't respond. "...Keifer and I only talk once in a while, but whenever we do, he always asks about you first. Sometimes, you're our main topic." ❤️
I didn't react, even though I had just found out about this.
"He was always worried about you. He even thought that you might have given up on him," he added.
If only you knew, Ci... There were so many times I wanted to give up. I tried over and over, but I always failed.
"He also said you have big breasts."
I immediately shot Ci-N a glare. He smiled at me like an idiot. I wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or just making things up.
"Seriously?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Just kidding... I just wanted to check if you're still conscious or if you passed out without us knowing."
I was so fed up with him. That scared me! I thought he was serious. And to top it off, it still stung.
"But what he said before was true. During your first weeks in Section E," Ci-N explained, making my blood boil.
That man is such an idiot!
"That jerk, right?"
Ci-N burst out laughing. "Well, he's always looking at you, so he notices a lot about your body and actions."
Looking at me? I wasn't sure why, but I felt strange hearing that. Anyway, he used to sit behind me, so I never really knew what he was doing.
"I'll deal with him when he gets back," I threatened, but the person next to me just laughed.
"It's been so long!" Honey suddenly shouted.
"You can go home if you're bored," Felix said, earning a hard glare from her.
"I'm waiting for Percy," she replied.
"I'm not waiting for anyone. Can I go home now?" Freya asked, clearly annoyed.
"L-let's go together... j-just to make sure nothing happens to you," Edrix stammered.
For a while, those troublemakers kept arguing about whether to go home. Felix was determined to get Honey home—dead or alive—while Edrix and Freya were at odds.
I wanted to yell at them to shut up, but my eyes were drawn to a part of the building. Not far away, I saw someone walking.
I stood up and focused on the figure. The first person I saw was Percy. His clothes were stained with blood, so I immediately rushed to him.
"Percy!" I called out.
He greeted me with a smile, and I hugged him. My fear eased slightly.
"What happened? Whose blood is that?" I asked as I pulled away.
I knew it wasn't his—the stains weren't concentrated in one place.
"Brother, are you okay?" Felix asked, suddenly appearing beside me.
Percy looked down at his clothes and simply smiled. He was about to answer when Felix suddenly backed away, clearly wanting no part in the conversation.
Son of a—
"Percy!" Honey shouted, running up to hug him.
Percy's reflexes were lightning-fast. He immediately pushed Honey away as if he were shoving a statue.
"Hm! Impact!" he said, followed by Felix's loud laughter.
"Ow... Did you really have to push me that hard?" Honey complained.
But my stepbrother was no longer paying attention to her. His focus had shifted to Freya, who was obviously irritated.
"Freyaaaaa!" he yelled, running toward her with both hands raised.
Freya and Percy had something in common—they both had quick reflexes. With all her strength, she shoved him away. Like a ragdoll, he toppled over, flipping upside down.
"Don't touch me!" She said sharply.
My crazy brother immediately stood up as if nothing had happened to him.
"Look! I have blood..." he said childishly, showing his stained clothes.
"So? We all have blood, Percy," Freya replied sarcastically.
He just scratched his neck and snorted. Freya's eyes were filled with tears, barely open.
"Whatever," she added before turning around to face Edrix, who was standing nearby.
"You!" She called out. "You're so annoying. Take me outside—I'm bored here!"
Edrix simply nodded before following Freya out of the building. Percy's shoulders slumped as he turned to face us, but he quickly forced a smile.
"I fall even more in love with her when she scolds me," he said cheerfully.
But that wasn't what I wanted to know.
"Where are the others? Why are you the only one here?" I asked.
"Is Aries... is he okay? Where is he?" Ella asked worriedly.
Percy's smile slowly faded. It felt like someone had kicked my heart, making it ache. He often joked with us, but this time, I wasn't laughing.