Chapter 43 - Unfortunate encounter

Booooom~

"Huh- What was that?" worried Romeo, and succeedingly, our gazes crossed at each other's in wonder before we slightly turned to look at the back.

"What the hell was that?" then followed Kevin with a stretching neck likely to get a good look for himself of the likely commotion.

"Earthquake?" Kenneth tried guessing.

"No, I don't think so." I said, my guts telling me it was bad news from hearing the familiar noise that I had heard enough from before.

In the midst of our on-going event, suddenly there was a faint yet rough roaring sound coming from the outside that has interrupted and halted the program, rumbling the walls and floors of the mall and shaking a bit of our presence while everyone was at their seats, including to us.

"Hey, who the hell disturbed me in my sleep?" Slowly lifting his head up, and being the only one who was still seated most likely, Francis complained out of confusion as he was deliberately woken up from his small nap.

Swiftly studying the surroundings around me, it caused the mass inside as well to shift their heads and gazes towards the exit, seemingly trying to check things up despite their very distance away from it and while they were letting out their worried reactions as they quickly enveloped the spacious atrium with their sharp and edgy voices when they started gossiping, and meanwhile the staff people from above the second floor were just clueless as much as us as well of the somehow commotion outside.

Noticing some movements from the side, securities have started to take action of it. They were making their way out as they were probably trying to contact the outside by using their walky-talkies as we speak, and on the other hand, the guests and speakers on stage have gone idle, and not for long, the atmosphere has completely been turned upside down into a moderate panic.

But what was more that I noticed is that… there are too many freaking security guards that were popping out. About 20? Or about 30? Or are there still more outside? I didn't get to notice it since we got here.

Good grief. Just what has happened out there?

After a while of waiting, some of the securities made their way back inside this atrium.

"Attention! We need everyone's cooperation! We need everybody not to be in panic and carefully go outside of the mall, slowly but surely. There is no need to rush." A likely security personnel has said on stage using a microphone, trying to make the crowd heed to his call.

Despite the instructions given, the people's worries remained, anyhow, we moved ourselves in no time.

"I do not like the looks of this."

"Me too." Romeo and Kevin respectively conversed.

Heading towards the back, I was carefully taking small steps at a time while I was behind my four buddies due to the close physical contact of the people to each other as we head to the exit, and while Alisha was along with me at my right side, walking closely together with the rest of our classmates.

Looking at Alisha, her worried face was the same as any other people around here.

"Are you alright Alisha?" I asked.

"Oh Hanzaki. Yes, I'm just fine." Alisha said, her lips slightly parted before replying to me.

"Don't worry. We will get out of here safe." I assured, trying to comfort her, and Alisha nodded in response with a stiff look on her eyes.

"Hey hey hey! What is this? Taking chances on this situation in making a move?" Romeo suddenly blurted out from the front.

"What are you talking about?" I shot back at Romeo, and Alisha on the other hand slightly faced away. "Stop it Rom, now is not probably a good time to---"

BOOOOOOM! BOOOOOOM! BOOOOOOM!

BAAANG!

In the middle of my talk with Romeo while exiting, explosions have occurred above the second floors and accordingly a bit of smokes were running through inside the atrium, and together with the resulted smoke were gunshots coming from above us as well. As the likely firing started, the mass went into a stampede in hurriedly wanting to go out of the exit as they completely submerged themselves into panic. Fortunately all of the people from the high floors have already made their way at the ground floor, but our situation has only gone to worst on the other hand.

"Hiyaaaaaa!" Noticing the familiar voice, Alisha shouted as she has vanished from my side and was being pushed farther away by the breakthrough of the crowd.

"Alisha!" I yelled, turning my way back to get Alisha while getting a number of bumps along my way. "Alisha! Are you okay?" I questioned as I successfully got to grab and pulled her into my arms, and immediately I started heading to the side carefully together with Alisha to avoid the stampede despite the combat that was happening right above us.

"Where is Weng?" Alisha worried, her body slightly bending while putting her right hand onto my shoulder as she was searching for our classmate.

"We need to get cover first!" I suggested.

After a quick second, we made ourselves a little safe as we were hiding at the side most part underneath the second floors, safe away from the incoming trajectory bullets.

Looking back of what was happening, it seems that the securities are currently fighting with the guys from above, and there were already a number of people on the ground that were dropped dead, whether it were a civilian or a security guard.

Come to think of it in the first place, the second floors were originally an extension of the restaurants' dining area and these extensions would be asked to close solely whenever there are programs for the sake of its convenience, and that is probably why the armed people above have got inside with ease I think.

"Weng! Where are you?" Alisha continued to make her shouts despite the deafening noise of gunshots, her head was poking a little in trying to get the whereabouts of our classmate, her friend.

"A-Alisha!? I'm here!" Not far from our spot towards the further point of the same side, Weng was covering herself down along with some people.

"ALL OF YOU! GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" I heard a security's shout coming from the stage that was certainly directed to us civilians.

"ZAKI! WHERE ARE YOU!?" Looking to the exit's direction, unexpectedly Romeo came back in front of the entrance.

"What in the hell!? Why have you come back!? Have you lost your mind!?" I yelled.

"I know, but there is no use arguing about it now! Get out of there quick!" Romeo shot back.

"Alisha! You need to go first. Wait for my signal." I immediately instructed Alisha while we were being in the scene of the continuous firing.

"I-I…" Alisha stuttered, her face truly was showing how scared she is now.

"Don't worry. Romeo will fetch you in the way. I will go get Weng." I exclaimed, and Alisha forcedly nodded his head with fear striking in her chest.

As soon as there was at least a second of pause of the firing, I instantly gave my call.

"NOW! RUN ALISHA! HEY ROMEO!"

"GOT IT ZAKI!"

Upon my signal, Alisha then went running for her life towards the exit.

"The rest of you as well!" I then shouted out to the people who were left stuck behind along with Weng, and they as well began to make their move on their way out, and eventually… "Weng!" I managed to get a hold of Weng, quickly grabbing her trembling hand and shoulders as we began our escape together with the others.

BAAAAANG!

But on our way close to the exit, we instinctively laid our heads down on the ground after hearing a closer gunshot. Taking a glance to the side, the people from up above the second floor have started to go down through the escalator. Having the thought that they would definitely kill us on the spot, I lifted up Weng to make our run for it, but when one of the armed people spotted us and has pointed his weapon to our direction, I immediately pushed Weng away towards Romeo.

RA-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!

Without the armed people having to think twice, rain of bullets was being poured down at us destroying whatever it has landed and pierce through. From pushing Weng away to keep her out of the probable death, I lost my balance and was brought down on the ground along with the other people because of the terrifying force displayed.

Most of the guys that were with me were shot dead while only a few have managed to evade and got out, yet on my side, I was not dead, but was trying to play dead as they instantly brought their attentions back at front on stage after giving as a quick blood bath. Noticing once more, the sound of gunshots have lessened when the bad guys started going down, and I think it was probably because they manage to outdo the great number of security guards present here.

Oh no, then this is bad news then~

Taking my chance, I began to prepare myself to rush towards the entrance by slowly pushing steady myself up using my hands as if I was planking.

One, two, three, and g---

"WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE!?" Suddenly, a woman's voice echoed inside the emptied atrium.

Supposedly I was about to head start my way to escape, but the curiosity was definitely trying to put me in further danger as I questionably halted my act.

At the back, I could not clearly hear what the guys were talking about while I carefully and stealthily put myself back in laying on the ground. Shortly after, I heard footsteps coming in my way.

"You are Miss Wendy Lin, right? Just follow our instructions and we promise we won't hurt you."

"You promise to me that when you have already killed these much people?"

"I couldn't deny that, but they were none of my concerns."

"You devil!"

Damn it. It seems that this is a kidnapping, and Miss Wendy was their target all along?

Knowing that I could survive by just letting them pass through, I was having second thoughts. By the moment a certain armed guy was close to me, I quickly and secretly grabbed and pulled back his legs, slipping him down. Next, I quickly moved up and tried hitting the other guys that were close, but unfortunately before I could even throw a punch, I received a quick and hard blow from behind my neck, taking me down swiftly as I quickly start to lose away my consciousness.

"Damn it! This one cheeky brat is still alive!"

"What do we do with this kid?"

"Let me kill this one! How dare he h—"

"No! Greg, in the first place, didn't I tell you to focus on our target? We could have eliminated the guards quickly if you had just been properly obedient to the mission. You took the chance to have some fun on the civilians… *sighs* but anyways, it doesn't make a difference. Bring that boy along, he could prove useful to be our hostage. The more hostages we have, the more we can---"

After hearing a few talks, all went blank.

ROMEO'S POV:

As soon as the stampede of the people occurred, Kenneth, Francis, Kevin and I were forcedly pushed away towards the entrance, leaving Hanzaki and some of our classmates behind, including Alisha.

"HURRY UP! HURRY UP!"

The place was full of yelling and shouting, running away for their lives from the firing while forcedly pushing the people in front of them to make a quick escape.

"What about Zaki!? Where is he?" worried Kevin as we were continued to be gush out along with the crowd to the outside.

"He's still behind!" I shouted, noticing that Zaki went back to get Alisha about a few seconds ago. "I'll go get him guys! You guys go make a run for it!"

After hearing my yelling, the three of them hesitated for a moment while they were staring to each other, but then they nodded and have decided to make their move in no time.

"You two better get back!"

"Make it careful and quick Rom!" The three of them exclaimed while I was getting a lot of bumps in going back.

As soon as I got back, I took a peek and saw that a lot of people were already lying on the ground dead while I was hiding and covering myself behind the entrance door.

"ZAKI! WHERE ARE YOU!?" I shouted in the midst of the loud gunshots.

"What in the hell!? Why have you come back! Have you lost your mind!?" Not knowing where he was, Hanzaki yelled.

"There is no use arguing about it now! Get out of there quick!" I shot back.

After my reply, I got restless as Hanzaki didn't reply any further.

"HEY ROMEO!" A couple of seconds after, Hanzaki shouted again as I saw Alisha who was running towards me.

"GOT IT ZAKI!" Immediately knowing on what to do, I tried getting close to Alisha.

"The rest of you as well!" I heard Hanzaki shouted once more.

With Alisha hiding at my back, we were waiting for Weng and Hanzaki to go back along with the people that he has heeded.

BAAAAAAANG!

But as another series of gunshots occurred, Hanzaki suddenly pushed Weng towards our direction and I quickly went in to pull away and bring Weng behind the entrance door.

Having to successfully rescue Weng and Alisha while not getting much of the scenario when I got them, especially Hanzaki on the other hand, I decided to go back for him.

"You two should probably go ahead. I will get Hanzaki back."

Probably because of fear, the two didn't hesitate much and have quickly left while leaving their trust to me in rescuing my friend.

Carefully taking a peek, my whole body froze and shivered from the scene that I sighted. Hanzaki was lying on the ground after that burst of fire, seeming not to have life anymore.

No—No- No way. This can't be. I don't believe this!

"You idiot. How could you just---" I whispered to myself, but then I noticed a good news, making my eyes to have widen as a result.

Not knowing that I am here behind the door taking a peek, Hanzaki was slowly and carefully moving himself up, likely preparing to make a run for it.

Yes, that's it. Good thinking man, just go for the timing.

"WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE!?"

As I heard a woman's voice, I became a little frustrated since Hanzaki hasn't made his move yet.

Goodness, what are you waiting for Zaki?

"You are Miss Wendy Lin, right? Just follow our instructions and we promise we won't hurt you."

Damn it. Not for long, the bad guys together with the somewhat captured people were heading towards in this entrance.

"You promise me that when you have already killed these much people?"

"I couldn't deny that, but they were none of my concerns."

"You devil!"

What then happened next was truly unbelievable. By the moment a certain person stepped close to Hanzaki, Hanzaki did an out of the world decision as he managed to bring down a man by tripping him on his feet. Succeedingly, he quickly moved up and tried hitting the next one, but unfortunately, a man behind him quickly gave Hanzaki a hit on his back neck using his firearm.

Knowing how reckless he was, I have gone in panic as I realized my own safety afterwards. Before finding a place to hide, I caught a glimpse of Hanzaki being carried by them.

"Yow boss. We got the target. We are heading back there right now."

As I was hiding inside a certain stall, I heard someone that was likely talking through a phone when they probably have stepped out the atrium.

-----*-----

"Hey, are you okay kid? Come on. Let's get you out of here." After a while of hiding in the same spot, an officer unexpectedly appeared and has reached his hand to me.

Without ado, I was being brought to safety outside by them as the others were investigating the area, but in the end, it seems that they were too late as the killers had already made their escape.

"Thank goodness you're fine boss!" Kenneth sighed out of relief as he went rushing to me. "Oh wait. Where is Hanzaki?" He added while Alisha, Kevin and some our classmates were following behind him.

Knowing what had happened to our very friend, I put on a bad look as I slightly looked down, the guilt showing out of me.

"No-No. Wait. Don't tell me…"

"It's not like that Kenneth. Hanzaki is alive." I exclaimed, and everyone's downed reaction faded out.

"Oh thank you—but where is he?"

"That….." Pausing a bit, I then continued. "Listen."

After telling them what I saw, there was nothing else but a complete silence and their faces were obviously showing their worsened worries and terrified reactions.