Ella was sweating heavily, her hands trembling as she worked the forceps into the bloodied wound. A strangled groan escaped the lips of the man sprawled across the sofa, his body twisting weakly against the cushions.
"Rei come here and help me!" Ella snapped, wiping her sweat with the back of her wrist. Her voice carried both urgency and panic.
Rei had just stepped into the living room, his bag still slung over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed at the sight before him: his older sister, drenched in sweat and blood, crouched over a stranger who looked half-dead.
Slowly, Rei put his bag down. His voice was sharp, cold, demanding. "Can you please explain what is going on here, big sis? And why did you bring a bleeding man into my house?"
"Please, Rei I'll explain later," she said breathlessly, refusing to look away from the wound. "But right now, if you don't help me, he'll die. Just help me here, please."
Rei frowned deeply, his jaw tightening as frustration burned in his chest. He wanted answers, but the urgency in her tone left him no choice. With a heavy sigh, he walked toward her, kneeling down beside the sofa. "Fine. But you'd better explain this later."
The man groaned again as Ella pressed deeper with the forceps. With Rei steadying him, she finally managed to pull the bullet free, dropping the bloodstained metal into a tray with a sharp clink. Blood welled from the wound, but Rei held the man down firmly as Ella worked quickly, cleaning and stitching.
"Hold him still," she muttered, her brow furrowed.
"I am holding him," Rei hissed, his eyes flicking between the stranger's pale face and his sister's frantic hands.
Minutes felt like hours, but at last Ella finished closing the wound. Together, they wrapped his chest tightly in bandages. Then she prepared a syringe, her hands still trembling, and injected it into his arm. Slowly, the man's restless breathing eased. His muscles relaxed, his eyelids fluttering shut until he drifted into a deep, drugged sleep.
Ella exhaled shakily, her shoulders slumping as she finally pulled back. She stared at the unconscious figure for a moment before rising to her feet. "Thank God…" she whispered under her breath.
She began packing away the tools she had used, carefully sealing the bloodied gauze and instruments into a disposal bag. She tied it tightly, carried it to the trash, then went to the bathroom. The sound of running water echoed faintly through the apartment as she scrubbed her hands and splashed her pale face.
When she came back, her eyes fell first on the man lying peacefully on the sofa. His features, though pale, seemed strangely calm now almost boyish in sleep. She lingered on him for a moment, then turned only to meet Rei's unrelenting glare.
She sighed, her voice quiet. "This is Cyrus. My new boyfriend. We met online… and we were going out on a date tonight. But then... " her throat tightened, "there were gunshots everywhere. He was hit twice in the chest. Thank goodness he didn't die."
Rei's eyes widened. His voice cut like a blade. "Thank goodness? Are you kidding me?" His chest heaved with restrained anger. "What if you had been killed in that moment, Ella? Our parents would be grieving the loss of their daughter because she was dating a gangster. Or do you really think this is some kind of coincidence?"
"Rei, I know how it looks," Ella said quickly, shaking her head. "But I don't think he's a gangster."
Rei let out a bitter laugh, his tone rising. "You don't think? That's all you have? You don't know him, Ella! And yet you dragged him into my house, put both of us at risk, and expect me to believe this is nothing?" He raked a trembling hand through his hair, breathing heavily. "I don't know what's going on in your mind right now, but I'm moving out."
Her eyes widened. "What do you mean, moving out? This is your house!"
"I don't care!" Rei snapped, grabbing his bag. His voice was sharp, almost trembling with emotion. "I don't want to be part of this. Do you actually think they won't track him here? Do you think they won't find us? I don't want any part of this."
"Rei, wait!" she said, stepping toward him, her voice suddenly breaking. "At least stay the night. Please. I don't want you going out there now, in the middle of the night. Just stay, for tonight."
Rei stopped, his back to her. Slowly, he turned to meet her eyes. They were wide, pleading, desperate. He exhaled heavily, closing his eyes before lowering his bag back to the floor. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll stay. But only tonight."
With that, Rei turned away, retreating down the hall toward his room. Ella remained standing in the living room, her gaze torn between her brother's retreating figure and the stranger whose presence had already shaken everything in their lives.
On the sofa, Cyrus lay asleep, his breathing even, his face peaceful despite the blood that had nearly claimed him. And though Rei shut his door with force, the image of that calm, mysterious face burned strangely in his mind, refusing to leave.
The next morning, sunlight streamed faintly through the curtains of Rei's room, stirring him awake. He lay still for a moment, listening. The apartment was quiet too quiet yet there was a faint clatter of dishes coming from the kitchen.
With a sigh, Rei pushed himself out of bed. He moved to the bathroom, showered, and changed into fresh clothes, the lingering exhaustion from the night before still weighing on him. As he adjusted his collar in the mirror, the memory of blood on his hands and the stranger's pale face flashed through his mind. He shook his head quickly, as if trying to banish it.
When he stepped out into the living room, the sight that greeted him made him pause. Ella was seated at the dining table, her posture unusually gentle, a soft smile playing on her lips. Beside her sat the man from last night Cyrus alive, upright, and calmly eating breakfast like he belonged there.
The surrealness of it made Rei's chest tighten.
He walked over stiffly and muttered, "Good morning." His tone was clipped, cautious.
Ella turned to him with a smile, her voice warm. "Good morning, Rei. Did you sleep well?"
He gave her a quick glance, then sat down without answering her question. Picking up his chopsticks, Rei began eating, his gaze fixed firmly on his plate, deliberately avoiding looking at the stranger beside him.
Ella noticed his coldness but didn't comment. Instead, she turned to Cyrus. "Sorry about that. This is my little brother, the one I told you about. His name is Rei."
Cyrus looked up from his plate, his expression softening. His lips curved into an easy smile. "Hello there, Rei. Your sister told me about last night. Thank you… for helping me."
At that, Rei finally raised his eyes to study him if only briefly. The man's voice was calm, his smile strangely disarming. But Rei only gave a quiet, noncommittal, "Hmm," before lowering his gaze again. His heart beat faster than he wanted to admit.
The table fell into silence after that. As soon as Rei finished his meal, he rose abruptly, muttered something under his breath, and disappeared back into his room.
Ella sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "He's really stubborn."
Cyrus only smiled faintly, watching Rei's retreating back. "I can see that," he murmured, before resuming his meal.
For a while, the clink of cutlery was the only sound in the room. Then Ella's hands fidgeted on her lap. She glanced at Cyrus nervously before speaking in a low voice. "Hm… Cyrus, I don't think I can be your girlfriend."
The words made Cyrus freeze mid-bite. His smile slowly faded, and for the first time, his confident, playful air seemed to waver. Though he had always been a self-proclaimed playboy, never taking relationships too seriously, there was something about Ella's kindness her polite concern for him that had unsettled him in ways he didn't expect.
"…Is it because of what happened on our date?" His tone was quiet, almost careful.
Ella lowered her gaze. "Yeah. My little brother is really worried, you know. I'm sorry, Cyrus." She stood up, bowing politely as her voice softened. "I don't want to cause him more pain."
Cyrus leaned back in his chair, a faint chuckle escaping him though his eyes didn't quite match the sound. "I see…" He glanced at his bandaged chest, then back at her. "In that case, could you buy me some clothes later? I can't exactly leave dressed like this. I'll go once I've finished eating."
Ella nodded quickly. "Oh–okay. I'll step out and get some for you."
She rose, smoothing her clothes, and walked toward Rei's room. Knocking softly, she opened the door. "Rei," she said gently, "I'm going out for a bit. Stay here, alright?"
Rei came out behind her, looking tense, his eyes darting toward the stranger still seated at the table. "You're leaving me alone with him?"
Ella laughed lightly, reaching up to poke his soft cheek. "He won't do anything, don't worry. You're safe here."
Rei swatted her hand away, frowning. "Please… be quick, okay?"
"Okay, okay." She smiled. "I'll be back soon." With that, she grabbed her bag and slipped out the door, leaving an odd stillness behind her.
Rei lingered in the middle of the room for a moment before sinking onto the sofa. He sat stiffly, his posture guarded, his eyes fixed firmly on the floor. He could feel the stranger's presence across the room like a heavy weight pressing against him.
From the table, Cyrus chuckled under his breath. "You're nervous, aren't you?"
Rei's head shot up, glaring at him. But Cyrus didn't look threatening. Instead, he was smiling teasing, even as his eyes lingered on Rei with open amusement.
Rei quickly looked away, lips pressed into a thin line.
Cyrus continued eating at an unhurried pace. When he finished, he picked up his plate and carried it into the kitchen himself. His movements were surprisingly graceful, deliberate, not at all like the wounded man his sister save last night.
Rei watched him out of the corner of his eye, his stomach twisting with unease. He didn't understand why he couldn't stop noticing the little things the way Cyrus's smile seemed too calm, the way his gaze lingered too long, or the quiet hum of danger that seemed to surround him.
And though Rei tried to tell himself he was only being cautious… a part of him knew it wasn't fear alone that made his pulse quicken.
Cyrus appeared silently behind Rei, close enough that his breath ghosted over Rei's ear. The sudden whisper sent a shiver straight down Rei's spine.
"Can I borrow your phone real quick?" Cyrus murmured, his voice low, almost secretive.
Rei flinched at the unexpected closeness, his shoulders stiffening. He turned around quickly, finding Cyrus standing there with an unreadable expression in his eyes. For a moment, Rei hesitated, but something in the way Cyrus looked at him desperate yet calm made him give in.
"O–okay," Rei muttered softly.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. The childish kitty pouch dangling from the case made the moment strangely awkward, but he still handed it over. Cyrus took it carefully, his gaze lingering briefly on Rei before nodding.
"Thanks," Cyrus said in a quiet tone, though his grip on the phone was firm, almost urgent.
He quickly dialed a number, his fingers moving with precision. The call connected almost immediately.
On the other end, a sharp voice answered, filled with tension.
Cyrus's lips curved into a smirk as he spoke, his tone calm but edged with defiance.
"I'm still alive. Come get me. I'll give you the address."
There was silence for only a beat before Dimitri's deep voice came through, steady and commanding like a man used to being obeyed. "Address."
Mira's voice followed right after, softer but equally sharp. "Hurry, Cyrus."
Cyrus tilted his head, looking over at Rei. His eyes held a glint of mischief mixed with something heavier, something that weighed in his chest.
"What's your address?" he asked Rei casually, though the seriousness in his tone made it sound like an order.
Rei blinked, caught off guard. His lips parted, stammering for a second before he finally managed, "Uh… 14 Crescent Lane… second floor, apartment 3B."
On the other end, Dimitri repeated the address with calm authority, his voice like steel. "14 Crescent Lane, Apartment 3B."
Mira's tone came next, firmer this time. "We'll be there in thirty minutes. Don't go anywhere, Cyrus. Do you hear me? Stay put."
Cyrus's lips quirked into a slow smirk, his eyes narrowing slightly as if amused by Mira's protective sharpness. "I understand," he replied, his voice smooth, carrying that hint of rebellion.
He ended the call with a click and, without hesitation, returned the phone to Rei. The kitty pouch brushed against Rei's fingers as Cyrus placed it back into his hand, making Rei flush slightly from the accidental touch.
"Thank you," Cyrus said quietly, his smirk still lingering. There was something unreadable in his eyes a mix of exhaustion, danger, and an unspoken connection that left Rei unsettled yet strangely drawn in.
Thirty minutes later, the quiet street outside shuddered as a sleek, black-tinted car rolled to a stop in front of Rei's small house. The engine hummed low, dangerous, like a predator breathing.
Cyrus, who had been lounging against the wall with a half-smile, straightened up and let out a low chuckle.
"They're here," he murmured, voice laced with amusement.
Rei stiffened. His throat tightened, but no words came out. His palms were damp as his eyes flicked from Cyrus to the car outside.
The back doors swung open in unison. Dimitri stepped out first, tall and composed, his dark coat falling perfectly against his frame. His gaze scanned the area, sharp and unreadable, before Mira followed her heels clicking against the pavement, every step deliberate, her expression cold enough to freeze the air around her.
They exchanged a silent glance, then moved toward the house. No rush, no hesitation. Like predators who already knew the prey couldn't escape.
The front door creaked open. Rei's knees weakened instantly, his body betraying him under the weight of their presence. Dimitri's cold, distant gaze locked onto him like a blade pressed against his throat, and Mira's eyes sharp, merciless cut through him as though peeling back layers of his soul.
Rei's breath caught. His legs trembled so badly he almost collapsed.
Mira stepped forward, her movements eerily calm. From nowhere, the Glock 19-Night Reaper materialized in her hand, its silver etchings glinting faintly in the dim light. In one fluid motion, she raised it and pressed the cold barrel against Rei's forehead, the metallic weight a silent promise of danger.
"Should I kill him?" she asked, her voice calm, almost playful, but dripping with killing intent.
Rei whimpered, his body shaking violently, tears already welling at the corners of his eyes.
But before she could even press the trigger, Cyrus's hand shot out and caught her wrist. His ever-present smile had vanished, replaced by a sharp, cold edge.
"You wouldn't go around shooting my savior… would you?" His tone was low, almost dangerous.
Mira froze, her eyes meeting his. For a moment, silence stretched heavy in the air, tension wound like a coil.
Then Dimitri's voice cut through, steady and commanding.
"Enough. Let's go."
Mira hesitated, then slowly lowered the gun, slipping it back into the shadows of her coat as if it had never existed.
Cyrus's smirk returned, faint but deliberate. He turned to Rei who was already sobbing openly, shoulders shaking uncontrollably and tilted his head.
"See you later, Cat."
With that, he followed Dimitri and Mira out, leaving behind the chilling weight of their presence and Rei, sobbing and trembling, clutching at the air as though to convince himself he was still alive.