Part 3:

*BANG!*

A sound that would remind the elders of trauma from a bitter yet unforgettable era. 

A gunshot…? It echoed from the city… Why was that so loud? Not even five seconds later another shot leaves the barrel, this time it is followed up with screams of terror. 

I force myself upright from the sand, disturbing my melancholic sleep and almost causing whiplash. Something’s happening but I don’t know what… yet I am eager to find out. I get back on my feet and brush off the sand from my rear as I look onwards towards the city. Once again, I take another deep inhale before letting it out sharply. Without second thought, I pick up the holstered sword from the sand and rush into the glimmering lights. 

Acting on impulse… is that a good trait or a bad one? Am I stupid for running into a situation I may not be aware of? nor have the answers to? Maybe… but a gunshot cannot be ignored. Not in my eyes. Seeing or hearing a person in pain when I could’ve done something to stop it in the first place hurts me the most. 

Even if the situation can lead to my demise… I’ll die trying…

The more I advance into the city, the more dense the snow gets. Hell, I forgot it was snowing in the first place. The beach wasn’t touched for some reason yet the snow kept beating down onto the city and it still is now. This feels like an avalanche. I think I can feel a little hail here and there also. It’s only November yet- it hasn’t snowed like this in years! Was this on the forecast? It couldn’t have. Still, a bunch of snow is not enough to stop me from finding the source of that gunshot. If it was a gunshot… 

My constant sprint slowly transitions into a light jog and then into a high-knee march as the snow builds up from the ground. It’s up to my knees now and slowly building towards my thighs. This has become a hassle. 

However my little journey has not come to waste.

Just as I reach a road crossing, I see a flock of people coming from the other side retreating from where they once were, they all look panicked. 

“MY EARS! T-THEY’RE BLEEDING!” 

“Easy now, Frank! There are cars passing!”

“I DON’T CARE! WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!”

“Wait- FRANK!”

Two men emerge from the flock with one of them visibly bleeding from the ear. The man with the bloody ear is clearly trying to mindlessly cross the road without ensuring his safety. Goddamnit… didn’t they teach you this in school, Frank? 

“FRANK!”

The headlights of an oncoming car begin to emit onto bloody-eared Frank as he makes it onto the halfway mark on the street. Goddamnit Frank! The car is showing no sign of hitting their brakes and yet you decide the cross? I guess I’m going to have to step in then.

Fighting and kicking away the snow, I proceed to dash onto the street and onto the oncoming lights to commence a spear tackle onto bloody-eared Frank to get him and I off the road. We managed to land in the snow which softened our fall. Sorry Frank but your progress was in vain… Idiot. 

“GAH! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT, KID?!” Frank threatens as he lies on the snow.

“Relax, I just saved you from being a hit-and-run victim as well as a one way trip to the hospital.” I say wittily.

The man calling Frank from before runs up to us.

“Oh thank you, young one! Sorry my brother can be a bit ignorant at times.” he clarifies.

“Grr… I knew what I was doing!” Frank’s voice falters.

“It’s whatever… Why’s his ear bleeding anyway?” I ask.

“That loud gunshot from before… we were right beside it. Frank’s ear began to flood red as soon as the ringing hit.” He explains.

“It was more of a cannon than a gunshot…” Frank mutters.

“Uh-huh… and where was it fired?” I ask once more.

“In the alleys but I don’t see why you’d want to go there-”

Before he can finish, I initiate my sprint and mark my new destination… the alleys. I knew it was a gunshot.

“He-Hey! What are you doing?! They might still be there! You might die!”

“Did you even tell him that they’re there?” Frank asks.

“Oh… Oh no…”