His eyes widened in horror when he saw Sally's Petite figure being thrown in the street. She was unconscious and her school uniform was dishevelled and covered in dirt and her face was bruised.

Mark didn't think. He stood up, which caused his leg to send a sharp pang of pain up his leg, but he paid it no heed.

'You scum, what did you do to her?!'

The boss faced Mark and a smug grin spread wide on his face. 'Oh, you know her?' He walked towards the battered Sally on knelt down beside her. 'What a little fragile thing,' he said softly and held her by her hair, pulling her head upwards. 'I wonder what will happen if I did this?' he asked and slammed her head on the road.

Dennis's eyes opened wide. Mark gritted his teeth and walked forward. 'Get your hands away from her,' he said in a soft tone.

'Mark, wait,' said Dennis. 'He's trying to provoke you. They'll stop if we calm down.' Dennis wasn't cool himself, though and the words were just choked out.

Mark didn't listen. Everything was tuned out. It was only him and his prey. He forgot about his tied back hands and walked forward with a wild look on his face.

The boss looked satisfied. 'Looks like we got a wild cat here,' he said.

Cigar snuck behind Mark and pointed his gun, only to be kicked swiftly by Mark. He struck him in the stomach, causing him to bend down, and landed on that foot, then kicked him with the heel of his shoe on the chin, ignoring all the searing pain in his foot as it conquered his nerves.

Dennis thought of doing something despite the rushing adrenaline, but he stopped all thinking as he heard the clicking sound of gun barrels behind him and a gun was pushed into the back of his head.

'I'm sure you noticed boss got a toy,' said a dumb voice right beside his ear. 'He'll get quite upset if fun's ruined.

Dennis kept quiet. He knew if he didn't, the results will be nasty, but he had no idea for how long could he keep it in.

Mark was the calm one, but when someone he knew got hurt, he would lose it all.

'Get your hand off her,' he said, breathing heavy. The pain was that harsh.

The boss stood up. 'Honestly, if she was a cookie I would keep her as my woman, but she's practically a child.'

The man who threw Sally outside stepped out of the car. He let out a laugh, but left soon after and joined the minion threatening Dennis. The boss placed his foot over Sally's head and Mark's blood boiled.

'What will you do if I don't stop playing around like I want to?'

Mark didn't reply. Something snapped inside and the only thing he wanted to do was to go as beastly as possible with him. The boss took out a gun from his pocket and pointed it at Mark

Dennis yelped. The minion behind him cleared his throat and Dennis kept quiet again.

'You're an interesting one, but I don't have time for you. If circumstances were different, I would've stayed and played.'

There was a clicking sound, a clanking one, and the next thing they knew, a gun flew upwards. Mark closed the gap between them far too quickly for anyone to notice the difference, but the boss held Mark's arm tight before his fist reached his jaws.

His gaze was fixed on Mark's wide wild eyes, a furry not normally seen in an urban teenager's eyes. He sighed and landed a kick on his stomach and Mark was pushed backwards. He couldn't keep his balance as his foot betrayed him and fell on the ground.

'How did he untie his hands?' he asked.

They noticed he was free and they were baffled. The ropes were on the ground beside the boss, cut loose. He couldn't figure out how Mark did it. The only thing he saw was the ropes slide off Mark's arm and fall down in the instant before he attempted hurting him.

Mark stood again. The pain coursing through his veins more than before, but he paid it no heed.

'Bug, shoot,' said the boss and turned away.

'Mark, behind you!' Dennis yelled out.

Mark didn't avoid it. The other man who just joined was readying his gun before the order was taken, and so, he was ready. Mark turned backwards at Dennis. His shoulder got shot and Mark yelled in pain, but that didn't matter in that second.

The other minion behind Dennis was going to press the trigger.

'Oh God, please, no...'

Time stopped in his vision. His chest tightened and his stomach fell, deep, deep. There wasn't a way to save him.

Dennis was going to die.

He was going to die.

He was going to get killed.

The roar came out loud. Mark snapped. He couldn't do anything else but yell out Dennis's name as he tried to reach him as fast as possible, but there was this set realisation inside. He won't do it.

Once the minion pressed on the trigger, his hand slipped and the gun flipped and fell as a boom sounded throughout the air.

Mark's foot couldn't support him any longer and he tripped on the road, bruising his face even more in the process.

'What was that?' Bug asked. The minion behind Dennis reached for his gun. Dennis was frozen from fear. He couldn't react even though his life was just saved. His heart raced probably faster than any other occasion in his life.

The minion furrowed his brows. He reached out for the gun, but it slipped on the ground. He knelt down and grasped the gun in his hand, then brushed the road with his other hand. It was wet.

'Did it rain any time near, bug?'

Bug scoffed as he approached Mark and pressed the gun to his forehead. He couldn't stand at all. His foot completely gave up on him, and only one of his shoulders could support him as he tried to raise himself upwards. 'If near means a month ago, then yes.'

'The road's wet.'

Bug looked back. 'Kid must've wet himself.'

He pressed on the trigger.

Mark closed his eyes and his heart raced, but before he could say or do anything, the ground under him glowed a bright golden light.

The bullet stuck mid-air.