I'll Go Instead

Kira broke away from Vince's hold and tried to catch up. She saw Noah shield Alice in the distance. The first explosive went off, she used her arms to cover herself.

Vince behind her was startled. He jumped to the ground, hiding under a table. Kira also got on one knee as she used another table as cover. The explosions went on as the building shook. After not hearing another she stood up, about to run after Noah and Alice when she was caught by Vince again.

"Where are you going? We should evacuate with everyone here."

Kira ignoring him turned to look for Alice and Noah. She spotted them, then turned back to Vince.

"Let's leave together. It's dangerous to go alone." Vince held tightly, he didn't want Kira to get hurt. He didn't know what the situation was but it was best to follow the crowd and evacuate.

Her hand reached out and squished his wrist taking it off, she was already annoyed by how much he was grabbing her.

"It's none of your business where I go, you should evacuate." Kira then turned to look and couldn't see Noah and Alice anymore. Too many people had gotten in the way. She then quickly moved to the spot she saw them last.

Not seeing them she turned to move out of the food court where it was likely they had gone. She followed out through the being one of the first ones out.

Bang! Bang!

A man wearing all black stood shooting upwards, "All of you go down the stairs."

The first few people didn't move, they didn't know what to do.

Kira judged that she could take him out. She was about to run into a sprint when Vince stopped her.

"You won't be able to take him, we should just listen to him." He said blocking her path.

Seeing the best moment pass, Kira stopped and didn't say anything. Even if she took the man down it was unlikely Alice and Noah had gone that way. She couldn't see anyone around. They were probably still in the food court.

"Fucking move if you don't want to be shot."

The people quickly moved down the stairs. Kira was near the front followed by Vince.

Kira felt her phone vibrate, she saw another man at the bottom of the stairs threatening people as they passed checking them for anything suspicious, she reached in her pocket and put it on silent continuing to walk. Passing them she ended up reaching the centre of the mall with Vince.

"Sit down and don't stand up again."

Sitting near the left end of the fifth row. They were near the front. She saw outside from the entrance and could see the whole barricade the police had set up. Other than that she quickly noted the strength of the people around.

She then looked at Vince beside her. He was nervous yet was trying to hide it to show her he wasn't scared. Seeing him so fidgety was kind of funny for Kira. She lightly smiled then looked back, people were entering the hall fast. Soon the whole area was filled she finally saw Alice and Noah sit near the end. Seeing they were fine she relaxed a bit.

The leader started speaking, the screen turned on. Kira watched.

...

With the timer now on, people sat in wait for the first hostage release. The police set up a trolley with cash outside the mall entrance, they then spoke out with a microphone, "We have prepared $100,000,000, let 100 people go."

The leader of the radicals saw it. He then gave a few commands. The people sitting were excited. They wanting to be the first 100 people to leave.

"First, we will need someone to volunteer to collect the money." One of the men guarding the entrance came closer and spoke on the mic.

"You will need to go out wearing this, any volunteers?" The man pulled up a suicide vest.

Everyone who had thought about it recoiled back.

"No one? Fine, I'll pick someone myself." The man laughed seeing the reaction.

He looked around into the crowd then walked in, he pointed his gun at a pretty lady.

"You, wear this." He said showing the vest.

The lad shivered in fear, "No, please no, I can't leave my 4-year-old daughter, I can't. Please, don't make me." As she hugged her daughter beside her, hiding the young girl in her embrace.

"Shut the fuck up and wear the jacket, before I have to kill your daughter to make you." The yelledd

"I'll wear it! I'll wear it!" The lady said reaching out to take the jacket still shaking.

Just as the lady was going to hold the jacket, a voice resounded through the hall, "I volunteer."

Everyone turned to look, a red-haired girl slowly stood up with her hands raised. She calmly stood as guns pointed at her ready to shoot. The man put his hand up to tell them to stop. He ignored the lady he was giving the vest to and walked towards Kira, his gaze followed down her curves. He then saw her long legs, his eyes went back to her face as he licked his lips,

Kira ignored this as she looked at the vest, "Give it to me, I'll wear it and collect the money."

"Wear it and follow me." The man said.

Kira took it from his hand and followed behind him as she was putting it on.

...

Alice far away watched Kira stand up and was about to stand up herself. She didn't want to let Kira do this alone. Then she stopped herself. She felt a shiver as she looked behind and saw Noah looking at her.

Even with everyone looking towards Kira as she stood up, Noah turned to look at Alice instead.

Alice understood, if she volunteered herself, Noah would stand up beside her and reveal his identity. He would never let her wear that vest.

Noah revealing his identity was dangerous, he was much more valuable as a hostage. As a celebrity and son of trillionaire. He met well with the gold of these people, who wanted publicity and money. With the uncertainty of what they might do, he might even be killed and that thought scared. She watched Kira take the jacket. Not doing anything.

Seeing that Alice understood the consequences of what she was about to do, Noah looked back at Kira. He wanted to help as well. However in the current situation. revealing his identity in a rush would do more harm than help.

...

Vince beside Kira was frozen in shock seeing her stand up. He wasn't expecting her to do this. It only took a moment and she was putting the vest on.

He needed to do something, but he was scared. His body froze seeing the gun so close, as all strength left his terrified body. He had already seen people die by such things today. Watching Kira follow, he grit his teeth and hit his leg then stood with his hands up.

"No! let me wear it!" Vince said to the man with his hands up.

The man looked back at Vince, he then pointed his gun at him, "It's already been decided, sit down."

His legs felt weak seeing the barrel pointed at him, but now that he had already stood up he felt stronger, he took a deep breath and shook his head, "I want to wear it."

Bang!

The man shot down at Vince's leg sending to the ground, "If you want to die so badly, you can die here slowly."

Kira saw the situation and wanted to run to help but stopped herself. She asked, "is there a doctor here? Please help my friend."

The lady who had been chosen before raised her hand and nodded. She moved closer to Vince to give him first aid.

Kira looked back at Vince and saw him holding his leg in pain as blood flowed out. She then put on the jacket and followed. Brought to the front the man stopped her. He then checked if she wore it properly, tightened it on and then locked it so she couldn't take it off. A timer started on the explosive attached.

"I'll reset the timer every time you bring in the money, so make sure to do it quickly." The man said looking at Kira.

"Who controls which people can leave?" The vest tightly hugged her body as she constantly heard it beep as the time decreased. She took a deep breath and didn't let it disturb her. As long as she didn't do anything it was unlikely they would kill her.

"No one, but I probably have the most say." The man said with a smirk, seeing where this was going.

"Have the person you just shot be the first one to leave," Kira spoke calmly. She wanted to Vince to get medical treatment as fast as possible.

"Oh? What is in it for me?"

"What do you want?"

"I always wanted to try doing it with someone like you, have sex with me later." The man whispered in her ear.

"Sure. After I see him leave through the door." Kira reluctantly answered. Internally she didn't care. She could easily take the person in front of her down with one hand. If he brought her to a private place it would be better.