One Hundred and Four

CHAPTER 104

The masked man laughed with satisfaction. He waved the gun in his hand and pointed the butt of the gun at Alicia.

"You will see everything you have disappear forever, Alicia," said the masked man.

Nicholas had just been shot. He was shot in the leg, but the wound was enough to keep Nicholas from chasing the masked man who was now waving as he walked away from the two of them.

The man's laughter was still haunting, as Alicia tried to untie the ropes that bound her.

"Nicholas! Nic, please!"

A moaning voice was heard from Nicholas. The man was still lying on the ground with both hands clutching his shot right thigh. Blood filled his pants. He felt his thigh throbbing. It was very painful and Nicholas couldn't help it.

"Nicholas..."

But Alicia's voice, which sounded worried, brought Nicholas to his senses. He tried to move his body, while turning slowly, he tried to see Alicia. "I'm... fine, Alicia. Noel will be here soon, he checked... arg! he checked the location of my cell phone."

The sentence was long enough to make Alicia feel a little relieved. Her face was already filled with fear and she was already crying because she thought Nicholas was dead in front of her.

Nicholas extended his hand towards Alicia, in the midst of her pain, he tried to give Alicia a small knife that he kept in his pants. "Use this."

As Alicia struggled with her bonds, her hands shaking, Nicholas grappled with the searing pain in her legs. Each movement sent a wave of pain crashing through him, but he gritted his teeth, focused on Alicia's frantic attempts to free herself. "I can't get it off, Nic. It's too tight," Alicia gasped, her voice a mixture of desperation

Nicholas clenched his jaw, his mind racing for a solution. He knew time was running out, and they were extremely vulnerable in this deserted hallway. Determined, he pushed through the pain, inching closer to Alicia. "Keep trying, Alicia. You're doing well. Just a little more. Arg!"

Nicholas' moaning made Alicia panic even more. The man had already lost a lot of blood, he had to be helped immediately.

His words sped Alicia on, her fingers working feverishly on the rope. The sound of sirens in the distance gave a glimmer of hope, but it seemed too far away, too far to help.

The masked man's laughter seemed to echo hauntingly in Nicholas' ears. Nicholas lost track of the man, he was lost. Anger welled up inside him, a strong determination to ensure that this villain would not escape his torment then filled his chest.

"Alicia, listen to me," Nicholas struggled, his voice urgent yet measured. "I need you to focus. When Noel gets here, you need to stay safe. Do you understand?"

Tears ran down Alicia's cheeks as she nodded, her heart pounding with fear for them both. "Nicholas, please, you're bleeding heavily. We need help now! Just hang on a little longer."

But Nicholas' attention was focused on something bigger than his pain. His gaze locked with Alicia's, a silent promise shining through the chaos. "I'll be fine. Trust me. Stay strong, Alicia."

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway, and relief filled Alicia's face. Noel appeared, breathless and panicked, rushing to their side. Nicholas' grip on consciousness was shaky, the darkness threatening to take him away.

"Nicholas!"

Noel approached Nicholas first, he looked at Nicholas' injuries with a fearful gaze. Holding Nicholas' hand, Noel said, "I'll take you to the hospital now."

But Nicholas refused. He held Noel's hand and pointed at Alicia who was still trying to untie the rope. "Help Alicia first!"

"Oh my God, Alicia!"

With Noel's help, they managed to lift Nicholas. They both supported the weight of Nicholas who was struggling to walk as they staggered towards the approaching sirens. Noel had already brought an ambulance, Nicholas seemed to have a bad feeling about this and he was quite grateful to Noel for being so sensitive.

Alicia hugged Nicholas, her gratitude mixed with worry as they got into the ambulance.

As the ambulance began to move, Nicholas felt the weight of exhaustion pulling him down. But he fought against it, stealing one last look at Alicia's tear-streaked face, uttering a silent "I love you" before succumbing to the compassionate embrace of unconsciousness.

"Nicholas just hold on a little longer."

****

The paramedics worked quickly, their rush evident as they tended to Nicholas' wounds. Alicia clasped her hands tightly, her heart wavering between fear and hope. Noel stood nearby, a silent pillar of support, his eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation.

The ambulance cut through the city streets, its wailing sirens creating an ominous symphony against the backdrop of the night. Inside, Nicholas drifted in and out of consciousness, flashes of fragmented memories spinning through his mind. He could hear voices, distant yet familiar, echoing in his ears.

Alicia's voice, trembling with emotion, "Stay with us, Nicholas. Please, don't leave."

Nicholas coughed, then said, "I'll be fine, Alicia. Don't worry too much, um?"

"but you lost a lot of blood, dude," Noel interrupted casually. And Nicholas just looked at him lazily.

The scene shifted as Nicholas slipped deeper into unconsciousness. Memories flashed before him like an erratic slideshow. The faces of loved ones, moments of joy and sorrow, and bits of conversation intertwined in a surreal collage.

Suddenly, she found herself in a living dreamscape-a place that seemed both familiar and other-worldly. He stood in an ethereal garden, surrounded by shimmering flora and fauna. A figure emerged from the mist, bright yet mysterious.

"I have been waiting for you," the figure spoke, its voice carrying a soothing resonance. "Who are you?" Nicholas asked, a mixture of curiosity and confusion coloring his words.

But the figure before Nicholas laughed mockingly and said, "You won't be able to have Alicia. So, don't dream too high."

Nicholas stared at the mysterious figure in silence, he did not give any reaction until the masked man in front of him brandished a knife and laughed loudly. A laugh that was mocking and full of contempt, before Nicholas completely lost consciousness in the ambulance car.