Continued from last chapter...

Donghae took a quick look around him, the whole place was filled with screams and sounds of running feet. All he could notice was the gang who kept steadily approaching them. Suddenly he heard Apollo whimper behind him which snapped him back to attention.

The leader of the gang was clearly taking no chances as he was carrying a fully loaded AK-103 riffle gun. Donghae glanced behind him at the Falcons and gave a quick sign to stand infront of Hyykjae.

Jake might think he's an invincible daredevil, but he'll still be human if one of those bullets ever finds his body...

Two of Falcons quickly started to move towards Jake in order to protect him, but before they could take their hold off Apollo and Hisui, Jake glanced back and glared at them,

"Hold you positions" growled Jake, running his fingers lightly on his silver gun.

"Jake!" hissed Donghae, "can't you see we are fucking out numbered?! We need them!"

"I know that" said Jake smugly, taking the drink that was laid on the table infront of Hisui, "just believe me"

Donghae rolled his eyes, there was only one way out of here with minimum resistance, and that was the way they came in... The main entrance. Half of the hall was plunged into darkness now, with day-glow green exit lights slowly coming in life all around them. Broken lights still flickered on the ceiling, providing enough light for him to see what's going on...

The gang had finally come to a stop at a good 15 feet away from them, and Donghae could make out that the leader was a strong built individual who was wearing a black face mask with a black leather jacket. Whatever the reason for him to appear infront of them, it was not a good one.

Donghae loaded his gun in a swift move and trained it at the dead center of the leader's chest. Not taking his eyes off the men who were standing infront of them. Simultaneously, the Falcon guards raised their weapons and trained them on the rest of the gang members.

He almost felt like giving up, they were sure to be dead meat if the whole gang decides to start shooting them at once, and with Jake not letting him use all the Falcons was so irritating that Donghae growled in frustration, his fingers turning white by gripping his gun so tight. All that remained was to trust his raw instincts.

Finally Jake stopped waiting for them to speak first, he sighed and dropped his pistol on the floor while donghae gave him his most murderous look,

Why the fuck did he drop his gun for!?

"so who do I have the pleasure of meeting before I die?" asked Jake, casually holding up his hands in a defeated way, "Yakuza? Tirades?, I thought you guys had enough of me for the past few years!"

The leader was eerily silent, he stood on his ground while the rest of the pack murmured and held their guns trained at them, determined to shoot at command. The Hall was silent now, as most of the people had gone out...

'out' thought Donghae, sweat pouring off from his hairline, 'we need to get out fast!'

Finally the man in the front started talking, his voice had a commanding cold blooded tone to it,

"he comes with us" he growled through his black mask, clutching the pistol more tightly in his arms. He nodded pointedly at Hisui at the back which sent chills down his spine.

Hisui stared at the man infront of them, and his breathing picked up, this unmistakable voice, his eyes! the way he walks!.. This can't be happening!

Donghae heard Hisui suck in a shocked deep breath, making him quickly look at back at him. The moment their eyes connected, Donghae gave him a quick nod. They need to play for time till Jake finds a way to get them out of here. At this point, the best thing was to keep him talking.

Hisui looked too shaken up to atleast utter a single word, he sat stock still behind Jake and Donghae; breathing hard as if he'd seen a ghost,

"Gray!?" called out Hisui suddenly, as if he had woken up from a disturbing dream, "but you're... You're"

Jake whisked around and stared at him, "you fucking know this asshole?!"

"no- yeah! I- but he's dead!"

"aw great! He's hallucinating now!" moaned Apollo dramatically throwing up his hands.

"can you both please shut the fuck up?!" yelled Donghae while Jake presented him a wounded look, pretending to zip his mouth and throw away the key.

Jake felt adrenaline rising inside his body, he slowly took out his lighter and clutched it in his left hand while gripping the school glass from the other. So far, no one had noticed him doing it. Not even Donghae.

"get them" muttered the black masked man, looking at one of his hunchmen at the back. The yellow toothed man behind gave an evil smile and charged towards them, his long Naginata held high in a vicious arc, ready to slice their necks into two

Donghae had only seconds to compose himself before he saw a tramp like man charge towards them. He was stuck between two decisions: either save Jake or die trying to save everyone, but he knew deep down, he'll always choose Hyukjae... Jade pendant or not.

In a quicksilver second, he felt Jake react a heartbeat before him, Donghae only saw him twirl and click on the lighter once, and before his brain registered what really happened, he saw a glass of flamming fire swoop past him towards the charging man, hitting him squarely on the chest, the flame immediately leaping and licking for his clothes and eventually scorching the man's bare skin. His screams filled the air, horrific and blood curling. Donghae turned to look at Jake in disbelief, only to see him grinning manically at the direction of the burning man.

"Too bad asshole!!" yelled Jake, despite Donghae's slightly concerned look, "is that the best shit you can do to a Maranzano!?"

The leader growled loudly, and before everyone knew what was happening, the whole gang started charging at them, weapons held aloft, the atmosphere around them was charged with electricity,

Donghae locked his targets and started shooting, regretting every time a man fell down with lethal shots. Suddenly all the Falcons were shooting besides him, making more people fall dead on the floor, but sadly, the rebel leader wasn't one of the fallen men, he kept coming, his eyes showed that he was snarling behind his mask.

Suddenly Donghae felt Jake seize his arm just as he fired. The shot changed its course and directly hit the central steam pipe which was directly above the men.

"Good job" panted Donghae as white cotton like steam began to fill the area, blotting out lights and rising angry shouts from the leader and his remaining troopers.

Jake quickly picked up his gun and turned towards the Falcons,

"don't let them come after us" he said. Jake looked at Donghae; who was ready to do anything he commanded, and Hisui who looked equally determined, finally looking at Apollo who was trying not to have a mental breakdown in front of them. They all looked back at him expectantly, clearly they were all counting on him on this.

"NOW!" shouted Jake Maranzano, pointing at the main exit. The other three looked at him with a set of blank expressions and Jake sighed,

"run" he translated,

Apollo was the first to react as he grabbed hold of Hisui's hand and started running towards the exit, both Donghae and Jake right after their heels. Donghae turned back and fired at four different places on the steam pipe and the main electricity line which started cackling as it began mixing with the steam.

"get it Donghae!" whooped Jake with a smug grin while Donghae glared back, panting wildly as he ran

"shut up!"

"ermmmm... We have a problem" said Hisui once they all crashed in front of the golden double doors,

"open them!" spluttered Jake breathing heavily,

"sure" said Hisui, sarcasm dripping in his voice, "maybe if you can give me a spare key" He pushed hard with all his might, but the door stubbornly held shut.

"MOVE!" said Donghae really annoyed, he took a deep breath, the whole room was falling apart around him, broken lights blurred and flicked through the thick fog, the air had a strange metallic tang to it. Suddenly the memory of Luca teaching him filled his vision... How he wished Luca was here with them.

Straight and strong

With a loud swear, Donghae kicked straight at the lock, aiming for the lock panel. The doors screamed in protest, giving away a fraction.

Jake looked at him, his storm blue eyes were locked on his body, gazing at the glorious way Donghae's body flexed with sweat.

"If anyone's interested" said Apollo from behind them, sheepishly tapping a finger on Hisui's shoulder, "we've got a bigger problem than the door" he said pointing a shivering hand at the smoke where the leader materialised with few other of his remaining men at the far end.

"fuck" swore Jake, just as Donghae kicked again, this time the lock fell on the ground. Both him and Hisui pushed the door open in to the cool night air,

"Donghae" said Jake looking directly into his eyes, but Donghae knew what he was about to say,

"no NEVER!" yelled Donghae, "fuck it Jake I'm not leaving you, get out with these two! I'll hold them off somehow"

"I'm not leaving either" called out Hisui suddenly, he sounded furious, "I've got to confirm that it's Gray"

Jake looked at both of them, their time was running quickly; in a haze it seemed to him. Every second they were losing made the gang come closer towards them. Finally he looked at the whimpering figure of Apollo, and a sudden idea stuck home. Jake whipped out his phone and thrust it on to Apollo's hand.

"go out with Donghae" said Jake hurriedly before Donghae could open his mouth to protest; half shoving them out of the door, "count to twenty, go to emergency dial and press one got it?

"but why-"

"just do as I fucking say!" shouted Jake, and finally looked at Donghae, "don't let him get away"

"you heard that" growled Donghae to Apollo, "if you wanna live, stick close to me, fuck with me and I'll kill you! Got that? "

The boy nodded vigorously and Donghae pushed him out, both of them darting down the stairs which were still filled with a remaining residue of people who were all over the road. Donghae pulled the protesting Apollo towards the road, and released him.

"this is madness!! Please tell me you agree with me! " spluttered Apollo; swiping Jake's phone with violently shaking hands,

"just do what you're told to do" sighed Donghae, and Apollo obediently closed his eyes and started counting...

Back at the entrance, Jake glanced at Hisui who looked determined; clutching Donghae's silver pistol tightly. Jake felt weirdly alone, he was used to feeling Donghae's reassuring presence next to him.

Finally the man emerged from the remaining fog of steam; coughing violently as he snatched his mask and threw it away. He was neither Korean or Japanese; his features betraying his North American looks....

Jake aimed squarely at his chest and heard Hisui click the bullet in to place next to him. He raised his gun and pointed it at the advancing man's ribs.

"Gray!" he yelled, "why the fuck are you doing this?!"

"me?" growled the man, his face piercing into a growling smile, "how about you huh? Had fun with my girlfriend while I was gone?"

"ohh" said Jake, eventually looking at Hisui, who was fuming, "is that why he's after you?"

Hisui didn't answer but held his gun more tightly, and Jake turned back to Gray, his lips twitching with a suppressed smile.

"last chance dumbass" chirped Jake in an annoying sing-song voice, "who sent you!?"

"it's not your fucking business Maranzano!" yelled Gray, "so stay the fuck-"

Before he could say the last word, Gray clutched his arm and doubled over; blood gushing out through his fingers.

"oh but it is" smirked Jake, putting down his steaming pistol. He raised it again to aim at Gray's forehead when Hisui stopped him.

"don't kill him" he whispered.

"You are so gonna regret Maranzano!" yelled the hefty man breathing hard and fast, and with an amazing speed for someone who has been shot seconds ago; he picked himself up and charged straight at them

******

"twenty!" gushed Apollo, looking as if he'd been physically holding his breath until he counted twenty seconds, his face looked baloon-ish and red from concentration. If the circumstances had been any different, Donghae might have laughed out loud..

Apollo switched on Jake phone and pressed hard on the symbol, the screen automatically lit up, showing connecting symbols with message after message popping up:

•

•

7 levels underground, the blinking red light located beside the speedometer of the Land Rover stopped into a constantly lit mode, with a low growl, the engine started up, giving life to the brilliantly powerful headlights which cut two sheens of light arcs across the dimly lit parking area. On the main screen appeared the words 'destination confirmed' and the wheels screeched as the vehicle lurched forward on to the cut-cement floor.

"By the way why didn't he just tell us to go and get his car?" wondered Apollo, while Donghae was busy examining the entrance of the car park,

"Jake timed it, there's no way we could go down and come back up quickly, it's 7 levels down"

"oh"

"and no elevators either"

"but seriously, how do you trust a car?" asked Apollo, stubbornly kicking the pavement, "What if it won't cooooooommmeee!!"

The Land Rover had burst through the entrance; scaring some of the people while it raged towards them, only to stop inches away from Apollo who screamed in mid sentence and hid behind Donghae.

"get in at the back" said Donghae, leaving him and going around to the driver's seat. He strapped himself in while Apollo clambered in at the back. Donghae locked his eyes on the staircase and pressed the horn twice loudly as a signal

'c'mon Jake' prayed Donghae silently, his hands gripping the steering wheel, 'come out now!'

"where are they?" asked Apollo from behind, echoing Donghae's own worries.

Suddenly he saw Jake and Hisui running down the stairs at full speed, once they came close, Donghae leaned across and pushed open the door. Both Jake and Hisui dived in at the same time, out of breath and panting violently,

"go go!!" yelled Jake, and Donghae didn't need to hear more, he floored down the accelerator so hard that the wheels screeched again. Donghae took a viscous cut to the left which sent both Hisui and Apollo flying to the opposite window.

"ouch!!"

"sorry"

They crashed through Marine drive at 90 miles per hour, bright multicoloured lights whizzing past them as they entered the main road. It was already past midnight and there were only a few number of cars besides on the road.

Both Apollo and Hisui let out a relived sigh and slumped down on the back seat. Jake toyed with his lighter thoughtfully, while Donghae didn't take his eyes away from the road; his fingers still white and tensed on the steering wheel with his lips pulled into a tight white line.

"wheew" breathed Apollo from the back, his breathing slowing down, "I think we're safe...well, at least for the moment"

"don't be so fast" said Jake in a serious voice, snapping shut the gold cigarette lighter with a soft metallic cling, "we are not out of the woods yet"

Apollo pouted, "why?" he asked,

Donghae floored down the accelerator again.

"look behind you"

Hisui turned to look at the back window, and saw to his horror almost 6 motorbikes following them at top speed. Apparently Gray had set this whole thing up, but the question was how? How did he know all this?

Apollo started breathing fast again, while Donghae crashed through the streets while light pole after light pole blurred backwards like a disturbing dream. They all could hear the growling of the motorbike engines getting closer.

The first real shock came when 3 snipper bullets shot through the back glass, making small spider web like lines grow at three different places. The wheels jerked from the impact. Donghae silently willed himself not to give up whatever happens

"they're shooting us!" sobbed Apollo, his tone sounding like he was slowly closing towards hysteria, "this is NOT the way I imagined I would die! I didn't even get to go for a date yet! What the HELL am I gonna do!!?"

"shut UP will you?!" shouted Hisui, "please!"

"Hisui" called Jake, "can you reach out at the back?"

Jade raised himself up, carefully balancing himself on the seat, "yeah what should I do?"

"reach down" said Jake, "at the left side there's hook like thing, pull it down"

Hisui slowly groped around until he found the little object Jake mentioned and quickly he pulled it down. He heard the softest click and a hiss as they all wobbled forward when Donghae took a sharp turn to a complete different direction, barely missing a torrent of revolver shots.

"those buffoons never give up!" spat Apollo, angrily shaking his fists at the motorbikes

But Hisui was silent, he was staring at the secret compartment which had slid open under him. Sniper guns, bullet strings, Revolvers.. And even an AK-300!

Apollo finally stopped muttering and joined Hisui's inspection. His breath hitched as he saw different weapons arranged neatly before him. For a moment Apollo looked at the metal beauties speechlessly.

"is he always like this?" he finally asked Donghae who gave a single, deliberate nod which earned a smile from Jake.

Wordlessly, Hisui handed Jake the AK-300, feeling that he was indeed entitled to hold a deadly weapon like that. He himself picked up a sniper gun and closed his eyes as he assembled it. He was going to shoot Gray, he was going to shoot him, he was-

His thoughts were interrupted by Jake who took off his seat belt and pressed the button on the gear panel, making the sunroof above start sliding open.

"Hey" said Jake looking at Apollo who was cowering in the corner, "I've got something for you to do"

He opened the dashboard panel and took out two short cylindrical obejects and handed them to Apollo who took it with obvious awe.

"I want you to throw it at them when I tell you to" said Jake.

"ay-aye captain" said Apollo with a crooked smile.

'captain' thought Jake guiltily, 'perfect'

"ready?" he asked both of them and they nodded, Hisui looking determined once again. At last he looked at Donghae who didn't even notice he was looking,

"NOW!" said Jake and Hisui raised himself up, standing on top the seat while Jake pulled down the window and leaned out, holding the Ak-300 tightly from both hands.

Hisui got a good view from where he was, but as soon as he got on top; a sniper shot hissed passed him, grazing his arm by inches. His eyes searched for it's source and spotted the first rider who was sure to be Gray. Hisui aimed the gun at him but suddenly his whole body seemed to be blocking him in place.