*Call Ended*

Kael stared at the phone in disbelief, his mind numb. Anger surged through him, mixing with the sharp sting of betrayal. He felt sick. How could Jay, someone he’d trusted so much, turn on him?

Unable to stay still, he grabbed his jacket and left the house, his thoughts swirling with a mix of rage and confusion. The street was buzzing with life, people walking, cars passing by, but Kael barely noticed any of it. His mind was too full, his heart too heavy.

As he wandered aimlessly, a shadowy figure caught his attention, standing against a nearby building. The figure was cloaked in black, blending with the shadows, face hidden beneath a hood. Kael felt a chill run down his spine but brushed it off as paranoia. He continued walking, hoping the fresh air might clear his mind.

But after a few steps, he felt an uneasy presence behind him. Turning his head slightly, he saw the same hooded figure following him. Panic jolted through him, his heart beating faster. He thought about running, about finding somewhere to hide, or maybe even calling the police. 

But just as he was about to make a move, the figure vanished, dissolving into the shadows as if he had never been there at all.

Kael blinked, feeling a surge of unease. “What… was that?” he whispered, looking around the now-empty street. It felt surreal, like a scene from a comic. Had he imagined it? Or was there really someone out to get him?

The question lingered, his mind spinning with suspicion and fear as he walked back, the memory of the hooded figure haunting his thoughts.

Suddenly, a cold hand grabbed his shirt from behind, with a surprising strength, yanked him backward. His back slammed against the rough, unforgiving brick wall of a building, the impact jolting him to the ground. He collapsed, coughing out blood as pain erupted across his body.

'So much strength!' he thought, his mind racing with shock.

A dark figure loomed over him, walking toward him with a slow, almost methodical stride. The sunlight shone on the figure casting eerie shadows that clung to the man’s hooded figure. In one swift motion, the man drew a dagger from beneath his cloak, its blade, reflected kael indicating how sharp it is.

“Do not worry,” he said, his voice chillingly calm and devoid of any emotion. “This will be over soon.”

Kael felt a shiver run down his spine, his instincts screaming danger. His eyes widened, fixed on the figure that was closing in on him, every muscle in his body tensing up in fear. He tried to move, but his legs felt as heavy as lead.

'Think, Kael, think!' he urged himself, his mind scrambling for a way out.

His eyes darted around the dim alley, scanning for anything he could use as a weapon. Then, he spotted it, a short iron rod lying near the base of a building, just a few feet away. It wasn’t close, but it was his only chance. Kael glanced at the man, who hadn’t yet noticed his plan. His gaze flicked back to the rod, calculating his chances.

With a sudden burst of energy, Kael forced himself up and lunged for the iron rod, his movements frantic. He heard the hooded man mutter something behind him, but he didn’t care. His focus was solely on reaching the rod. Just as his fingers grazed its cold surface, a shadow appeared beside him in a blink, faster than he could register.

'Am I facing a superhuman or what?' he thought, his heart pounding wildly.

Desperation surged through him. Kael twisted his body, launching himself off the wall and executing a spinning kick toward the man’s face. The hooded man had the chance to dodge, but his expression revealed that he hadn’t expected Kael to fight back.

‘Does he think a true martial arts comic reader will back down so easily?’ Kael thought, feeling a brief surge of satisfaction.

His foot connected with the man’s face, the force making the hooded man stagger. He dropped to one knee, his head bowed, and his dagger slipped from his grip. Seizing the opportunity, Kael dashed forward and kicked the dagger further away. Without wasting a second, he snatched the iron rod from the ground, feeling its weight in his hands. He raised it, aiming a decisive blow to the hooded figure’s head.

But before he could bring the rod down, the hooded man moved with uncanny speed, dodging the attack in one fluid motion. Kael’s mind barely had time to process the movement before he felt a sharp, burning pain across his stomach. He looked down to see the man’s dagger slashing through him with deadly precision. Before he could react, the blade struck his back twice more.

The world spun as Kael crumpled to the ground, his breaths shallow and labored. Blood pooled beneath him, his life slipping away with every beat of his heart.

The hooded man stepped over Kael’s body, pulling out a phone. He pressed a button and spoke into it, his voice a quiet murmur. “The job is done.”

Though his hearing was fading, Kael’s ears picked up something familiar in the voice on the other end. It sounded distant, distorted but somehow, he recognized it.

‘Jay? Was that... Jay?’ he thought, his mind drifting, yet somehow clinging to this strange connection.

The hooded man paused, his gaze shifting to Kael’s crumpled form. “Are you some kind of martial artist, or just an idiot?” he muttered, a hint of curiosity breaking through his indifferent tone. “You’re actually the first person I’ve ever targeted who’s lasted this long. This was... interesting. Thanks for the entertainment.”

The man turned his back to Kael, his voice softer. “I’ll remember you… Be proud... You were strong.”

With that, he walked away.

Kael lay there, his vision blurring, a bitter smile forming on his lips. ‘So, this is how it ends,’ he thought. ‘At least… I managed to land a hit.’

He knew it was foolish, yet a small part of him felt satisfied. He had fought until the end, and in that, he found a strange, fleeting pride. But the satisfaction faded, replaced by a deep sorrow. A wave of regret washed over him. He was dying......alone. what bordered him the most is... he will die without returning the good his cousin did for him, for taking good care of him, always accepting him not caring what he did whether good or bad, he won't be able to see her smile again, he won't be able to hear her jokes again. 

Tears welled up in his eyes, rolling down his cheeks as he struggled to breathe. 'Marie... I'm sorry,’ he thought, feeling the crushing weight of leaving her behind.

'I wish I could have lived a better life… found a job, been a little less foolish,' he mused, feeling the darkness creeping in. 'I can’t die… not yet. Not without repaying Marie for all she did for me.’

He choked out a mouthful of blood, his chest heaving as he tried to cling to consciousness. 'I don't want to die... I can't leave Marie alone, it will hurt her, NO I CAN'T, I CAN'T!!.'

'...I’m sorry I couldn’t stay by your side. Please… forgive me.'

His vision faded, the world slipping away. The last thing he saw was the faint outline of a streetlight above him, blurred and distant.

“Thank You... Marie. Goodbye!” he whispered, his voice barely a breath.

‘I… I wish I had a second chance’.

His heart stop, his body became paralyzed, cold and his view went blank.