Zayn and I stood no less than five feet apart, both of us smiling like fools. However, our smiles held different emotions. While I was smiling out of fear, he was smiling due to the power he held in this situation – how much control he had over me.
My eyes were drawn to the open bathroom door. Was that Kathy? Almost as if she heard me call her name, Kathy emerged from behind the door and fired at Zayn. He was caught off-guard but he still managed to dodge the first bullet. Kathy fired again, but Zayn swiftly sliced the second bullet with his knife, stopping it completely. As Kathy took one more shot, Zayn capitalized on the pause between the shots allowing him to close in on Kathy slamming his foot into her stomach. This sent her hurtling across the bathroom and she crashing right through the glass shower door.
"Kathy!"
I yelled after her and dashed toward Zayn. At the same time, Trevor and Leo had left the rooms they were searching, and emerged into the hallway, creating a three-to-one situation. However, given Zayn's strength, we were still at a disadvantage.
As I closed the distance, I fired a bullet at Zayn from point-blank range. As expected, he evaded the bullet and attempted to thrust his knife into my chest. I used my gun to block his attack, creating sparks as our weapons collided. Zayn appeared briefly surprised, but his smile quickly returned as he struck my face with his left fist, knocking me back. The impact was so intense that I couldn't process the pain. Everything blurred, and I felt incredibly dizzy, as if I had been spinning for hours.
After the punch, Zayn lunged at Trevor. Just before Trevor could fire, Zayn stabbed through Trevor's shoulder. Trevor screamed, but his voice was silenced when Zayn punched his throat. Another gunshot echoed through the hallway; Leo had taken a shot at Zayn, who once again managed to avoid it. However, the bullet ended up hitting Trevor in the hip instead. knocking him to the ground.
Leo immediately realized what he had done. "Trevor, no— oh God, I'm sorry!"
My vision was still hazy from the punch, but I saw Zayn charging toward Leo, his next target. Leo was still in shock from shooting Trevor and didn't notice the knife poised above him. Zayn would have struck him down if I hadn't intervened just in time. I used my gun to block Zayn's attack, generating more sparks from the clash. Then with all my strength, I swiftly turned my gun until the muzzle faced Zayn. I quickly fired a shot, and to evade, Zayn had to jump back, creating distance between us.
This gave me a chance to catch my breath. I turned to see Leo, who hadn't moved since shooting Trevor, and at the far end of the hallway, Bob stood, his gaze fixed on me. "Bob, take Leo out of here and get Iain!" That was all I needed to say. Bob nodded, swiftly lifting Leo over his shoulder, and ran down the stairs. Once they were out of sight, I turned my attention back to Zayn. I was the last one left. Zayn's devilish smile remained and he spoke. "Why are you trembling? If you don't grip your weapon tightly, you'll die."
I glanced down at my shaking hands. I needed to calm down, I took deep breaths, steadying myself until my hands finally became still. I looked up at Zayn, and he nodded approvingly. He's was about to attack! Then just as I had predicted Zayn used his incredible speed in order to close the distance between us in a half a second, slashing his knife at my neck. I watched as the blade sliced through the air, I wasn't going to be able to react on time! Just before he could cut the knife deep into my neck, I heard a gunshot from the other end of the hallway, where the stairs leading to the third floor were. In response, Using the sound alone to react Zayn was able to twist his body to the left, narrowly avoiding the bullet that would've hit.
As the bullet whizzed past me My heart was still beating quickly but I was able glanced over to the stairs and see Jack aiming his gun forward. Blood and cuts covered his entire face which was still badly bruised but despite his injuries he still managed to aim and fire at Zayn. And while he didn't hit him, Jack provided me with an opening – an opportunity I couldn't waste.
Quickly I aimed my gun towards Zayn's head and fired off a shot. Before the bullet could leave the barrel however, Zayn was able to slice through the muzzle of the gun with his knife, stopping the bullet in its tracks. I wasn't finished though because following that I clenched my left fist and threw a punch at Zayn. by using his left hand he was able to swat my punch to the side, but immediately after he did so I tried one last attack by lifting my right leg and channeling every ounce of my strength into it slamming it into Zayn's stomach, the same way he did to Jack and Kathy. Zayn went stumbling backwards. A wide smile came across my face; I had finally landed a hit!
Zayn didn't fall to the ground but he now stood about seven feet away from me holding his hand to his stomach, then he slowly looked up at me, still smiling. "Haha, Y'know; getting hit isn't something I particularly enjoy." As he said this my heart skipped a beat, I slowly turned my eyes toward the knife he continued to grip in his right hand. Jack was completely knocked at this point, he wouldn't be able to save me like last time.
Then just like last time Zayn took a lunge forward at incredible speeds, I tried to predict his attack but I couldn't, he was just way too fast. I couldn't die though I had a date tomorrow! Even though I couldn't read his movements I emptied the rest of the bullets from my gun in a frenzied manner "RAHHHH!" Zayn's was easily able to chop every single one of my bullets, and just like that he was within two steps of me, his knife ready to stab me through the throat. However before he is able to land his attack I felt a gust of wind tear through the air besides me. Following that I heard a loud clash of metal and Zayn went flying across the hallway.
When I looked up I saw the familiar back of Iain Auct, holding his draw sword to the side. He didn't speak or even acknowledge me. he just glared at Zayn, his eyes full of hatred and malice, it wasn't like anything I had ever seen before. I ripped my gaze away from Iain and looked over at Zayn who know stood at the end of the hallway. His knife was now shattered into pieces and a thin bruise ran across his neck, Iain almost beheaded him. Zayn's smile widened upon seeing Iain. Then he began to chuckle. "Oi It's Auct, long time no see, how's it been being #1!" There was a short pause however Iain did not reply to him— instead he took another strike at Zayn, even faster than before.
Zayn narrowly managed to avoid this attack too. "In no mood to talk eh, well in that I'm gonna head out now, there's no way I could win a fight again Iain Auct while unarmed." After saying this Zayn used what I can assume all his remaining strength to blitz up the stairs to the third floor as fast as possible. Iain at a similar speed dashed after them. All I could do was stand there and watch Iain chase after Zayn. Shortly after they left my sight I heard a loud crash from upstairs, it sounded like a window breaking.
I waited in anticipation and fear, wondering if Iain was safe; but not too long after, I saw Iain slowly descend the stairs. We exchanged glances and and in his eyes I saw a profound sadness. Then as if he had read my mind Iain spoke. "He got away…"