Chapter 383: Gunshots In The Neighborhood

Malo got a text from Sensei at the gym about some odd noises nearby. He informed Faye, and the two of them headed over to check on him.

During the drive, especially Malo, he talked nonstop about how Faye had forgotten about him and hadn’t asked Princess to excuse his community service attendance. He gripped the steering wheel so tight, his voice rising in pitch while his lungs pulled in fast, agitated drafts, his pulse thumping hard at his throat while he gestured with one hand.

Faye kept mocking him, calling him jealous of the relationship she had with her darling girlfriend.

From arguing, the two friends somehow drifted into talking about superheroes after they found a Deadpool action figure in the van.

The toy belonged to one of Malo’s younger siblings. He had driven them to a Children’s cosplay show earlier that morning before reporting to the hotel.

Faye picked up the red plastic figure from the dashboard, her fingers sliding over the tiny suit while her heart rate settled down into an easy, light cadence.

The argument changed.

Instead of teasing each other, they started comparing Deadpool to Wolverine. Their voices echoed inside the space of the vehicle, their breaths coming in quick, competitive waves while the engine hummed beneath their feet.

"I’m telling you, Deadpool is the better version of Wolverine. He can regenerate body parts, which is super cool and awesome," Faye said.

"He’s just a carbon copy, made in a lab. Wolverine was born like that, and he has cool claws," Malo replied.

"But can he regrow a leg or a hand? Deadpool is the new generation of coolness. He can even regenerate if his head gets cut off... or his heart. Just like my girlfriend’s heart can regrow when it’s ripped out." Faye pointed out, her posture straightening as she nodded her head with complete confidence.

And just like that, Faye changed the topic. Her mind slid effortlessly back to Princess, her eyes softening while her pulse beat a sweet, warm rhythm against her ribs.

"What is your girlfriend doing in our conversation? She isn’t Logan or Wade. I get it, she’s all you think about, but leave a little space for me too." Malo grumbled, letting out a dramatic, heavy sigh through his lips while his shoulders slumped forward against the seat.

Finally they got to the gym and they were still talking about it..

Just as they were talking, they spotted Sensei. His tall frame stood near the side entrance of the building, his chest expanding in slow, steady waves while his eyes watched their vehicle pull up to the curb.

"Hi, Sensei. We got your message. What happened?" Faye asked.

Sensei took out his phone and typed. His fingers moved across the smooth screen with fast, silent precision, his pulse staying completely calm while he held the device up for them to read.

His text said he had heard multiple gunshots in the neighborhood and was worried. The white text shone bright in the dark, making Faye’s breath catch slightly in her throat as her heart beat a cautious rhythm.

"You should’ve called the GPF. It’s their duty to protect the neighborhood," Malo said. He stepped up beside Faye, his chest heaving with a short, frustrated huff as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I can’t believe I left my girlfriend alone at the party for a job that’s meant for them. Don’t worry, Sensei. Just stay indoors. We’ll call them and have them check the neighborhood. We have to get back to the party. Princess will be worried, and I don’t want to keep her waiting." Faye spoke quickly, her hands moving through the air while her breathing came fast through her nose, her heart racing at the thought of Princess alone in that gathering.

She wanted to make it on time for the dinner..

Malo simply shook his head. No words came out of his mouth. He let out a quiet exhale, his posture slumping slightly as he accepted her decision without trying to argue.

They left Sensei at the gym. He was more than capable of defending himself if any threat appeared, so they knew he would be safe. His broad shoulders remained relaxed as he stepped back inside, his breathing calm and steady while the doors clicked shut behind him.

The two got back into the van and headed toward the Kings Hotel.

On the way there, a dark shadow darted out from the side bushes, moving directly into the bright path of their headlights.

They hit the person. A loud, terrible thud echoed through the frame of the van, the sudden impact jerking their bodies forward against their seatbelts while Malo slammed on the brakes, their breaths catching tight in their chests as the vehicle skidded to a violent halt.

"Holy shit... that’s not good," Faye muttered. Her eyes widened in pure terror, her lungs pumping out short, frantic gasps of air while her heart hammered wildly against her ribcage.

"I hope it’s a deer and not a person. I’m too young to go to jail," Malo muttered. His hands trembled violently against the steering wheel, his throat working hard as he swallowed, his skin turning completely pale under the dashboard lights.

Both friends jumped out of the van to check on whoever they had hit. They hit the dark asphalt in a fast sprint, their lungs greedily sucking in heavy drafts of night air while their knees shook with pure panic.

As they approached the body lying on the road, they turned the person over...

Faye reached down with trembling fingers, her breath locking straight up in her throat as she rolled the limp frame onto its back.

It was a familiar face. The dim light revealed messy hair and pale skin, their pulses exploding into a wild, terrifying sprint.

The person they had hit was Bambi.

Her body lay completely motionless on the cold street, her chest barely moving as the dark shadows wrapped around her figure.

She lay unconscious on the ground. Faye dropped to her knees beside her, her hands hovering above the girl’s shoulders while her chest heaved in rapid, terrified cycles.

"What was she doing in the middle of the fucking road? Can’t she look both ways before crossing?" Faye said, staring at the girl. Her voice cracked slightly, her eyes wide with shock while her lungs blew out hot, breathless bursts through her teeth.

"Oh my God... Faye look," Malo said. His voice dropped into a horrified whisper, his finger pointing down at the girl’s torn shirt while his heart beat a frantic, sickly rhythm.

Both friends looked closer. Their eyes moved down the front of her clothes, their breathing freezing completely in their throats as the terrible reality hit them.

Bambi had already been shot multiple times. Dark, thick red stains covered her jacket, the heavy scent of copper filling the air while her skin grew colder by the second.

She was bleeding heavily, and one of the bullets had pierced her chest...

The fabric over her left side was shredded and soaked through with dark blood, her breathing completely stopped.

Right where her heart should have been.