Chapter 7: The Gunshot

Mama Sarah had no choice but to drag her tired body along “Alright, alright, let me get my purse, so, I can go with you” she said before leaving with the boy.

Mora hesitated before she finally went after her mother, after some minutes of deliberation within herself, arriving at the crime scene, the forensic team have already gone in.

Mayor Lycan stood with the police commissioner, while the peasants in their numbers stood in a corner, a little boy tugged on Mora's gown, she looked down and saw her student.

“Gabriel, what are you doing here, all by yourself?” she asked, looking around for the child's parents, the little kid took a deep breath before speaking “Mistress, I came on my own, I admire Mayor Lycan so much, I heard he scored the highest in the national exam, and he also performed beautifully as a mayor, I want to be like him when I grow up” he vowed with determination.

Mora raised her head and looked at the man the kid was babbling about, a vague image flashed in her mind, making her feel a bit unsettling.

She caught a glimpse of someone pulling a gun, she looked closely and saw placards raised, they were about ten hands doing so.

“Justice for Philip!”

“Mayor Lycan is incompetent” they started chanting, and Mora felt uncomfortable, she looked closely at the people, and saw that they didn't belong to the peasants, at all.

Some peasants in the gathering started discussing, “who are those people? I can't recognize any of them”.

“It must be those rented by the so-called Don Simon, or whatever he calls himself” one of them snorted, and made an angry face.

Mora squeezed herself into the crowd, she saw that Mayor Lycan was about to expose himself and addressed those who are protesting, he won't realize when he will be shot.

Mayor Lycan seeing the people registering their displeasure stepped forward from the bodies of his security men.

“I know you all are displeased about the situation, I am here with the commissioner of police to address the issue, I wi…”

Someone made a mocking remark from the protesting group, “Mayor Lycan thinks being handsome means being a good leader”

Another added “he must be standing in the front of the mirror all day, instead of doing his job” their remarks were insulting and provoking, making the peasants all displeased, and they started registering their displeasure with rebuttals.

There was a commotion, and some security teams were on high alert, the situation was tense, and Mayor Lycan sensed that the opposition will create a big issue out of this “everyone listens to me, I am for peace, I know, it is due to my negl…”

“Watch out!” Mora screamed and pushed him away.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out, followed by an eerie silence, everyone caught their breaths, even afraid of swallowing the lump of saliva in their throats.

A moment of panic followed and a scream rang, and people started jostling out of the scene immediately, those who were protesting earlier, dumped their placards and started running away to escape.

Mama Sarah heard her daughter's voice, she gripped her purse tightly and peered in her direction “Mama Sarah, let's go home, everything is chaotic here” a lady proposed.

But Mama Sarah was completely numb, staring blankly ahead, with shaking hands and trembling body, she surged forward and discovered that six people were already on the ground.

Some of Mayor Lycan's bodyguards have already dashed after the protesters, and some of his security details reached out to him and helped him up to his feet “are you okay, Mayor, should we call the ambulance?” one of them inquired.

He looked in a daze for some time before regaining his sense, and stared at the ground to see bloodstains on the floor, he crouched on his feet and pulled the lady up.

Mora feeling a bit faint opened her eyes, drew in a long breath, and saw a guilt-ridden face “are you okay? Should I call the ambulance?” he bombarded her with many questions at once, his face creased with worry.

Mora shook her head “I am fine, but…” she turned around and pointed to the only person lying on the ground, the chaotic situation has made his groans go unnoticed “I don't know if he is”

When Mora screamed she alerted the security guards around Mayor Lycan, one of them took the bullet for him, she watched with shock registered on her face.

Mayor Lycan helped in carrying the dying bodyguard with his other colleagues, even when his underlining tried to take his place, he refused and helped them take the shot guard away.

Mora understood while his mother had decided not to protest at all, he is truly a compassionate leader, she sighed “Mora, thank God you are alright” Mama Sarah said with a big relief on her face.

The both of them went home, the place has already been deserted after the shooting, and the police teams increased their presence around the area.

Butler Bass stood before Madam Vanessa after reporting the issue, she slammed her fist at the table, “this is a red line, how dare they to try to hurt my son? Release the dragon” she told Butler Bass.

“Right away, Ma” he responded, and a sunny smile appeared on his face, as he swaggered out of the room.

The door to Madam Vanessa's room opened and Pretty came in “Mom, I heard what happened to Lycan, I am scared” she said looking helpless.

Madam Vanessa thinking she is a feeble lady sat her down, and cross a comforting arm over her shoulder “you shouldn't be troubled about such a little matter, it won't repeat” she spoke with a note of finality.

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Mora was restless when she reached home, she paced the room dialing Philip's number continually, like the more she called the annoying robotic voice will eventually stop responding to her calls.

Mama Sarah was worried about her mood, “Mora, are you not going to touch your food at all? You will get sick if you continue like this” she told her daughter, a knock came at the door, preventing Mora from responding.