Betrayal II

BANG.

The shot cracked the air.

Haruto's eyes widened. His lips parted—no words came.

Blood bloomed across his chest.

His knees buckled.

He crumpled.

Dead.

The room froze.

Jin inhaled sharply. "You—"

Arata turned, calm. Cold. Like nothing had happened.

And then—

BANG.

Another shot. Straight into Shouma's gut.

The brute staggered. Groaned. Dropped to a knee.

His mouth opened—but only blood spilled out.

Arata exhaled like he had just swatted a fly.

"Tch." He holstered his gun and looked at Jin and Celeste.

"Well… that's unfortunate."

Jin's knuckles went white. "You… you bastard."

Arata smiled. "What? You gonna cry, half-breed?"

Celeste moved first.

She lunged—blade flashing.

But—Arata was faster.

A gun raised. A smirk.

BANG.

The bullet whizzed past her ear. Just a warning.

Celeste froze.

Arata tilted his head. "Try that again. I dare you."

Jin snarled. "Why the hell would you shoot your own guy?!"

Arata chuckled, stepping over Haruto's lifeless body. "Oh? You mean the rookie? Weak, soft-hearted fool. He was never going to last in this city."

His gaze flicked to Shouma, still coughing blood on the floor.

"And this one? Nothing but a blunt instrument. Had his use. Now he doesn't."

Celeste's breath shook with rage. "You're a monster."

Arata shrugged. "I'm practical."

He slowly stepped forward—eyes gleaming like a predator.

"And now? Well… now I have two criminals who just murdered an officer in cold blood."

Jin's chest tightened. "You're framing us."

Arata smirked. "I don't frame. I rewrite."

The words sank like lead.

Celeste and Jin—they could already hear the sirens. The headlines.

Two fugitives. Hunted.

Their lives stolen in a single gunshot.

Arata spun his gun on his finger, casual. Unbothered.

"Run, rats." His voice was almost mocking. "I'll even give you a head start."

Jin and Celeste exchanged a look.

One thought.

One choice.

Run. Or die.

Arata's grin widened. A slow, vicious thing.

He brought the radio to his lips.

"All units—except the captain and her pets—move in. Time to put these mutts down."

The response crackled back instantly.

"Copy that."

Boots pounded against the floor.

Jin's hands curled into fists. Celeste's grip tightened around her blade.

They weren't just trapped.

They were cornered by wolves.

The officers moved with ease. With familiarity.

Some cracked their knuckles. Some smirked.

One sneered, "Look at 'em. Dirty strays think they belong in this city."

Another chuckled. "I say we break 'em real slow."

Arata? He just watched.

Jin's breath came sharp. "You enjoy this, don't you?"

Arata tilted his head. "More than you know."

Celeste's knuckles whitened. "You disgust me."

Arata smirked. "Oh? And here I thought you people were used to being looked down on."

Jin lunged.

But—BANG.

A bullet grazed his foot.

He stopped mid-step.

The officers laughed.

Arata twirled the gun. "Tsk, tsk. We're not done talking yet."

Celeste's jaw clenched. "We're not your playthings."

Arata grinned. "Aren't you?"

He nodded once.

And the officers rushed in.

Jin smiled.

It wasn't wide. It wasn't cocky.

It was soft. Knowing.

Celeste's breath hitched. She knew that look.

"Jin—"

He stepped forward.

His voice was calm. Resolute.

"Go."

Celeste shook her head. "No. No, I won't—"

Jin turned slightly, eyes warm, yet firm.

"Tell Kairi and the others goodbye."

She froze.

"Jin, please—"

But he was already moving.

Straight for Arata.

The officers raised their guns, but Jin didn't stop.

He rushed. Leaped.

BANG.

A bullet tore into his shoulder.

BANG. BANG.

Another to his gut. One to his thigh.

He still kept going.

Arata's smirk finally faltered.

"What the—"

BOOM.

Jin collided into him, gripping his vest tight.

And in that moment—

Flashbacks hit like a flood.

—Laughter. Jin, Kairi, Kasumi, Celeste, and Rin sitting together, sharing a meal.

—Warmth. Late nights, old jokes, dumb pranks.

—Family.

Jin, sitting back, smiling at them all.

"Man, I'm lucky."

Then—click.

His hand slipped into his jacket.

Pulled the pin.

Arata's eyes went wide.

"You—"

BOOOOOOM.

The world erupted in fire.

Celeste ran.

She didn't look back.

Didn't let herself hear the screams.

Didn't let herself see the carnage.

Only Jin's last smile burned into her mind.