The plan was set in motion. They gathered intel on Whitlock’s whereabouts, tracking him to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. The night was dark and silent as they approached, their footsteps barely making a sound. The air was thick with tension, every rustle of leaves and distant howl of wind amplifying their anxiety.
Inside, the warehouse was a labyrinth of crates and machinery, casting long, eerie shadows in the dim light. The smell of rust and decay hung heavy in the air. Kei, Azul, Lawson and a few other members of the hearts, moved cautiously, their senses on high alert, every creak of the floorboards sending a jolt of adrenaline through their veins.
Suddenly, a noise echoed through the warehouse—a metallic clang that reverberated through the cavernous space. Kei froze, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon. He signaled to Azul and Lawson, who nodded and moved to flank the source of the sound, their movements silent and precise.
As they approached, they saw a figure moving in the darkness, the faint light casting an ominous silhouette. Kei’s grip tightened on his weapon, his heart pounding in his chest. The figure stepped into the light, revealing a man with a sinister smile, his eyes glinting with malice.
“Looking for me?” Whitlock’s voice was cold and mocking, sending a chill down Kei’s spine. The sound echoed through the warehouse, amplifying the sinister tone.
Kei’s eyes narrowed, his anger boiling over. “This ends now, Whitlock,” he growled, his voice filled with fury and determination.
Whitlock laughed, a chilling sound that reverberated off the metal walls. “You think you can stop me? You’re just a couple of kids playing hero,” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt and arrogance.
Azul stepped forward, his expression deadly serious, his eyes burning with intensity. “We’re more than that. And you’re going to pay for what you’ve done,” he said, his voice low and menacing, each word a promise of retribution.
Whitlock’s eyes flicked to Kei, recognition dawning. “Hold on, are you... you're that Thompson bitches kid?” he sneered, his voice filled with venom. “I remember you. Your parents were traitors to the family. They got what they deserved. Let me guess, you came for revenge?”
Kei’s heart pounded in his chest, rage coursing through his veins like wildfire. “Shut up,” he growled, his voice trembling with fury. “Where’s Clark?”
“Clark? Oh, you mean that other traitorous piece of shit. Last I saw him, he was bleeding out by a lake somewhere,” Whitlock chuckled, the sound devoid of any humanity.
Kei’s eyes widened, his composure slipping. “You killed him?”
“So what if I did? He had it coming, the little bastard,” Whitlock said, his voice cold and final, each word a dagger to Kei’s heart.
“Your killing ends here, Whitlock,” Azul spat, venom in his voice, his fists clenched at his sides.
“No, I don’t think it does. I think there’s two more pests I need to take out,” Whitlock’s smile widened as he pulled a gun from his coat, aiming it at Kei, his eyes gleaming with malice.
Time seemed to slow as Kei and Whitlock faced off. Kei’s mind raced, searching for a way to disarm him. In a split second, he lunged forward, grabbing Whitlock’s wrist and twisting it. The gun went off, the sound deafening in the confined space, the flash of the muzzle lighting up their faces.
Kei wrestled the gun from Whitlock’s grasp, his movements fueled by adrenaline and desperation. He turned the weapon on Whitlock, his hands shaking, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Whitlock’s eyes widened in shock, his bravado crumbling. “You don’t have the guts,” he spat, his voice trembling with fear, his eyes darting around for an escape.
Kei’s finger tightened on the trigger, his mind filled with memories of his parents—their laughter, their love, their brutal end. He thought of Clark’s warm smile, and Rena’s beautiful eyes. “This is for them, and for her. You took him away from her!” he said, his voice steady and resolute, each word a final judgment.
The gunshot echoed through the warehouse, a final, resounding note. Whitlock fell to the ground, lifeless, his eyes wide with shock. Kei stood over him, his breath coming in ragged gasps, the weight of what he had done settling over him like a heavy shroud.
Azul and Lawson approached, their expressions a mix of relief and concern. “It’s over,” Azul said softly, placing a hand on Kei’s shoulder, his voice filled with empathy and support.
Kei nodded, his eyes still fixed on Whitlock’s body. “Yeah,” he said, his voice hollow, the reality of the situation sinking in.
Lawson stepped forward, his gaze shifting between Kei and Whitlock. “You did what you had to do,” he said, his voice firm and reassuring. “Now, let’s get out of here. I'll have my guys take care of the rest.”
Later that night, Kei and Azul stood outside the hospital, the cool night air a stark contrast to the tension that still lingered from their confrontation with Whitlock. The streetlights cast a dim glow, creating long shadows on the pavement. Azul leaned against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips, the tip glowing red in the darkness.
Azul took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke before speaking. “There’s something you need to know. About Clark.”
Kei looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of exhaustion and curiosity. “What about him?”
Azul flicked the ash from his cigarette, his expression unreadable. “Clark is alive. He’s in a coma.”
Kei’s eyes widened in shock. “What? How do you know this?”
Azul took another drag, the smoke curling around his face. “I found out when I followed that lead. It led me to Dr. Vasquez, and she had Clark. He’s been in a coma since she found him about a year and a half back.”
Kei’s emotions surged, a whirlwind of anger, relief, and worry. “Why didn’t you tell me before?!” he demanded, his voice trembling with a mix of frustration and hurt.
Azul’s gaze was steady, but there was a hint of regret in his eyes. “I didn’t tell you because the threat of Whitlock still lingered. I needed to make sure he was dealt with before bringing this up.”
Kei clenched his fists, struggling to process the information. “You should have told me. I had a right to know,” he said, his voice rising with anger.
Azul’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. “I did what I thought was best. You were already dealing with enough. Adding this to your plate wouldn’t have helped.”
Kei’s anger flared, his eyes blazing. “What about Rena!? She deserves to know, probably more so than me!”
Azul took a final drag from his cigarette before flicking it to the ground and crushing it under his boot. “Should she know, Kei? What good would it do? There’s always a chance he won’t wake up. She’s already been through so much. Why give her false hope? And think about it—if she knows, you might lose your chance to be with her.”
Kei’s eyes widened in shock and anger. “What are you talking about? This isn’t about me or my chances with Rena. It’s about the truth. She deserves to know that Clark is alive, even if he’s in a coma.”
Azul’s gaze softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. “I get it, I really do. But sometimes, protecting someone means keeping them from the harshest truths. You need to think about what’s best for her, not just what you think she deserves to know. You think she wouldn't drop everything to waste her life away by his side even in the chance he won't wake up?”
Kei took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “I understand what you’re saying, but I can’t lie to her.”
Azul nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “Alright, if you want to break it to her then I won't stop you,”
Kei curved his eyebrows in thought, he needed to confirm it himself. “I need to see him. I need to know for sure. Then I'll tell her.”
Azul nodded, lighting another cigarette. “Alright. I’ll make the arrangements. I’ll let you know when we can go. But for now, I think a certain little dove might be missing you.”
Kei rolled his eyes but couldn’t help a small smile. “Yeah, yeah. I’m going.” He turned and headed back inside to Rena’s side, his mind racing with the new information and the challenges ahead.
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