CRUEL

CRUEL|THIRTY-THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CRUEL

[SEASON THREE]

Loud barking abruptly shattered Arezou's slumber. She groggily opened her eyes, rubbing them in exhaustion. "What is it, Pocky...?" she mumbled sleepily. She turned her head back into her pillow, seeking a few more precious moments of rest. However, her cozy cocoon was suddenly ripped away, leaving her exposed to the chilly morning air. A shiver shot down her spine. "In Gods name, what now?" she hissed, squinting at her dog, who was barking frantically. "I told you to bark when someone's coming...?"

As the words left her lips, she jolted awake, fully alert. "Oh, damn it!" she cursed under her breath, her eyes snapping to her couch, where a peacefully sleeping Jay lay. Panic coursed through her veins. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!" she muttered, leaping out of her bed, ready to rouse the slumbering boy and hide him.

"Sweety? Are you awake?" her father's voice called from outside. Panic gripped her even tighter. "Uh-uh, yes, Appa! I'm awake!" she practically screamed, shaking Jay, who seemed to be in a deep, blissful slumber. "Wake up! Jay, wake up!" she hissed urgently, but the boy slept on, unmoved. "Oh, great! I'm coming in!" her father declared.

"No!"

"No?" her father's voice came through the door, tinged with confusion. He glanced over at his men, who exchanged perplexed looks. He strained to hear her hushed whispers, furrowing his brows even deeper. "Sweety, is there someone with you?" he asked in a low, suspicious voice. His daughter's response was punctuated by a crash and a hiss. "W-What? No! Of course not! Just me and Pocky!" she replied, and the dog barked loudly for emphasis. But her father wasn't buying it. He gave his henchmen a subtle nod, signaling them to move in.

On the other side of the bathroom door, Arezou and Pocky were struggling to drag a half-awake Jay away from the couch. "W-What's wrong?" he whispered groggily, his voice husky. Arezou didn't have time to savor the sound of it. She pushed Jay into the bathroom and began to explain, but before she could finish, the door behind them was violently splintered open. Wooden shards littered the floor, and a menacing plume of smoke seeped through the shattered doorway.

Both teenagers, along with Pocky, turned their heads slowly to face the demolished door. Their faces drained of color, replaced by a look of sheer terror as they beheld a group of imposing men standing in the doorway, led by her father.

As the gangster boss and his entourage stared at the bizarre scene in front of them, his eyes widened in sheer horror. Arezou had her hands on Jay's chest, and their disheveled sleepwear made it look like they'd had a wild night. Her father's expression vacillated between sheer horror and murderous intent.

"H...Hey, A-Appa?" Arezou stammered, trying to break the awkward silence. But her father remained frozen, his face locked in a horrified grimace. Suddenly realizing the compromising position she was in, Arezou released her grip on Jay's shoulder and practically leaped away from him. Jay, who had been half-asleep just moments ago, now jolted into full wakefulness as he realized who was standing in front of him.

"A-Appa! It's not what it looks like!" Arezou desperately tried to explain, but her father didn't seem interested in listening. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out...

A gun.

A freaking gun.

"I will murder him!" her father screamed, waving the gun in Jay's direction. Jay, trembling in terror, stared at the menacing firearm pointed at him, while Pocky let out a pitiful whine, clearly sensing the danger. The poor dog seemed to be praying for a miracle to save Jay from this predicament.