Jayjay's POV
The rain poured harder now, mixing with the smell of dust, metal, and fear. My clothes clung to my skin, my hands shaking as I tried to breathe through the chaos. Keifer's voice broke through the storm.
"Hand over Jayjay and Keagan," he shouted, his tone sharp enough to silence the men in front of him.
Victor laughed, stepping forward with his soaked jacket dripping.
"Do you think we're fools?" he sneered. "We need her to bring you down. To bring all of you down—since she's your how do you call it... oh yes, Mutya. The Mutya of Section E."
Before Keifer could reply, Ci-N stepped up, smirking coldly.
"Victor, you talk too much for someone who can't even win a fair fight. You've been losing to your own reflection since birth."
The crowd murmured; even Victor's men shifted uncomfortably. Then came that slow, dark laugh—
"So this is the legendary Mark Keifer Watson," the masked man said, his voice low and mocking. "And the chaotic Section E."
Before I could react, the man holding me shoved me roughly to the ground. My knees scraped the wet cement. Pain shot up my leg.
"Are you crazy?!" I snapped. "Haven't you guys pushed me enough? You're not even feeding us—how are we supposed to survive your beatings?"
"Even now, you're thinking about food?" Ci-N cut in with a grin. "Unbelievable."
"Oh, shut up!" I shot back.
"Oh no, you shut up, stomach girl!" he teased again. We went back and forth, voices rising above the rain until—
"Enough!" the masked man barked. "Do you realize what's happening here?"
I glared up at him and then turned toward the man holding Keagan. "Sorry!" I yelled—right into his ear. He screamed, clutching it, and loosened his grip. I grabbed Keagan's hand and ran—my feet splashing through puddles—straight into Keifer's open arms. He hugged us tightly, the rain running down his face like tears he refused to show.
He kissed both our heads.
"Ciel, take Keagan and Keiren back home. Get them cleaned and checked. Go now."
"But, Keifer—" I started.
"Go," he said, his voice steady but soft. "I'll be right behind you."
Ciel nodded and led them away.
Ci-N turned to the bad guys and yelled, "Are you guys that stupid? You can't even hold two people properly!"
Keifer's father roared, "You can't even do one thing right! What kind of men are you?!"
Then he spun on the masked man. "What kind of people do you have? They're either weak or useless!"
The masked man pointed his knife at him, his voice sharp. "If you think you can do better, why come to me in the first place?"
Victor snapped, "Enough! Focus on why we're here!"
Ci-N smirked. "No wonder the people are stupid—their leaders are worse."
That was the last thing anyone said before the scream of Charge! filled the air.
The place exploded into chaos. Blades clashed, bodies crashed into walls, rain mixing with blood. Keifer was fighting his father, every movement heavy with anger and pain. Victor and Adrian were locked in combat. Bodyguards, Section E boys, and enemies tangled everywhere. I could barely stand, my body weak—but I couldn't take my eyes off them.
Then I saw him—the masked man—slipping away, heading upstairs.
Everyone was busy. No one noticed.
So I followed him.
Up the slippery stairs, my heartbeat echoing louder than the thunder. I reached what looked like a half-built room, no door, no windows—just shadows and rain leaking through cracks.
"Stop right there!" I shouted.
He turned, knife glinting under the lightning.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked. "What are you gaining?"
"For benefits," he replied coldly. "What else?"
"Don't you have a family? Would you be happy seeing them in this situation?"
He froze for a second. Then his voice cracked slightly.
"My family is gone. Killed. Only my daughter is left—my wife and son died in a car accident. I begged for help, but no one came. I only saved her."
"How old is she?" I asked softly.
"Eighteen. Like you."
"And do you think your wife would be happy... seeing you do this to kids our age?"
He didn't answer.
Before I could say more, police sirens wailed in the distance. He turned sharply.
"You tricked me!" he shouted and lunged toward me.
But before his knife could reach me—a flying kick sent him crashing to the floor.
"Keifer!" I gasped.
He ran to me, rain dripping from his hair, his breath heavy. He pulled me into a hug so tight I could feel his heartbeat pounding against mine.
"What were you thinking, coming after him alone?" he whispered.
"I—where's Victor? Where's Kaizer?" I asked.
"With the police downstairs," he said.
Then a low laugh echoed. The masked man pulled open his jacket—and my blood froze.
Wires. A bomb.
"Do you think you can all get out alive?" he taunted.
David, Yuri, and Ci-N rushed upstairs. Keifer turned instantly.
"Take Jayjay outside—now!"
"What?!" I yelled.
"Go!" he said, grabbing my shoulders. His eyes were trembling, but his voice was strong. "Take care of yourself."
He looked at Ci-N, David, and Yuri.
"Take care of her."
"Keifer, what do you mean—" Yuri started.
"Just go!" Keifer snapped.
David and Yuri each grabbed my arms, dragging me down the stairs as I screamed, kicking and crying. "No! Keifer! KEIFER!"
We were barely outside when the explosion shook the ground.
BOOM.
The top floor burst into flames. Everyone froze—the rain couldn't even wash away the fire that lit up the dark sky. My heart shattered.
"KEIFER!" I screamed, trying to run back in, but Yuri held me tight.
"Let me go! He's still in there!" I sobbed, struggling, falling to my knees as the sound of crackling fire echoed around us.
My tears mixed with the rain. My body trembled. "He's still there... please... I have to help him…"
Then David shouted, "Someone's coming from behind the building!"
I turned—heart pounding—and saw a shadow moving through the smoke.
It was him.
"Keifer!" I cried, running to him through the rain. I threw my arms around him so tightly I could barely breathe.
"I thought you were leaving me," I sobbed. My tears soaked his shoulder. I didn't even know if I was crying from fear or relief.
He smiled faintly. "I jumped... before it blew. I couldn't stop him, Jayjay."
Then his strength gave way—he collapsed into my arms.
"Keifer! Keifer, stay with me!" I screamed, holding him close. My hand pressed against his back—warm blood mixed with the rain.
I turned and screamed, "CALL AN AMBULANCE! NOW!"
Everything blurred—voices, rain, sirens. All I saw was Keifer's pale face in my arms, his breathing slow, but still there.
I held him tighter, whispering through tears,
"You promised… you won't leave me… you promised."