The Hunt for Jack the Ripper (The Phantomhive Diaries #1)

38. Mey-Rin Dai

Run!

And that's what Mey did. With every ounce of strength, she charged forward, her feet pounding against the ground as if pursued by the very hounds of hell. The urgency in her heart matched the rhythm of her footsteps, for she knew that time was not on her side.

Though her heart ached with the desire to help the boy, Mey understood that her presence had become unwelcoming in the wake of the butler's arrival. There was a deep-seated mistrust towards the butler and the boy as she sensed a lingering malevolence with the child. Mey dared not take any chances, for she knew all too well the consequences that awaited her for her involvement in the heinous act of kidnapping.

When the butler extended an offer for her to depart, Mey seized the opportunity without hesitation. However, she remained acutely aware that her escape would be fraught with peril. The front door, a gateway to freedom, seemed an insurmountable obstacle. Thus, she made a fateful decision, choosing to defy fate itself by leaping out of the window. Thus, she made a fateful decision, choosing to leap out of the window.

Though the height was not great, Mey's heart raced with trepidation as she plummeted towards the earth. The shrubs below softened her fall, but the pain was inevitable. And so, with fear and determination, Mey endured the excruciating agony upon impact.

Emerging from the dense shrubbery, Mey let out a pained groan. The sharp branches and twigs pierced her side, threatening to slice her skin, while her foot throbbed mercilessly from what seemed like a misstep after landing. The ache in her shoulder, a reminder of the gunshot wound she sustained, only added to her agony. Gratefully, the bullet remained embedded within her flesh, preventing a fatal hemorrhage. Despite her limping gait, she quickened her pace towards the gates, determined to flee from this infernal place.

As she passed through the gate, the sound of shouts reached her ears.

Mey's heart raced as she cast a venomous glare over her shoulder, only to discover that a handful of Vanel's henchmen had survived the chaos. Like headless hens, they too were desperately fleeing, mirroring her own desperate escape.

First, they kidnap a child, now they're running away like hens? Bastards.

She then noticed that the keys were still attached to the gate's lock. What kind of idiots leave the keys on the lock? It didn't matter to Mey, of course. She twisted the key and opened the gates.

"Wait! Wait for us!"

Upon rushing through the gates, Mey swiftly secured them shut. Gripping the keys tightly in her hand, she felt a sense of unease creeping over her as she prepared to face whatever dangers lay ahead.

As one of the men approached the towering gates, his arm extended towards Mey, his fingers yearning to seize her. Yet, with a swift and nimble movement, she leaped backwards, evading his clutches in a heartbeat.

"Open the gates, boy!" the man yelled. Mey only stared at him, motionless, however. "Open the fucking gate!"

Mey lifted the keys in her hand.

The man smiled in relief. "Yes, the keys. Please, unlock the gates."

They tried to kill the boy. Remember that.

At the end, she flung the keys away, ensuring they were beyond anyone's grasp. Then, with a pounding heart, she fled.

"You bastard!" The man yelled after her.

She ran. Finally, away from that slaughterhouse.

Mey's heart raced and her breath came in short, ragged gasps as she sprinted through the street. Before she could make much progress, a strong hand seized her arm and forcefully pulled her into an alley. A piercing scream escaped her lips as she was forcefully pushed against the cold, unforgiving brick wall, a gleaming blade dangerously close to her throat. Her eyes widened in terror as she gazed into the furious countenance of Haku's most trusted confidant.

"Dove," she said, her voice trembling and her breathing shallow.

"What happened back there?" Dove barked out the question. Mey gulped, her heart racing as she struggled to form a coherent sentence. The adrenaline from the run left her weak, but Dove's menacing presence only fueled her fear. With a forceful push, he pinned her against the cold, unforgiving wall once again. "Answer me, boy!"

Mey spoke between breaths. "A man attacked us...He's killing...everyone, just to save a boy...Vanel failed."

"Where's Vanel now?" he asked.

She swallowed a lump in her throat and let out a deep breath. "Dead."

Dove sighed in disappointment. "Let's go. We need to inform Haku... What the fuck happened to you?"

He noticed the bloody bullet hole in her shoulder. Mey cursed herself. Fuck, I forgot I got shot by Vanel. But I can't let them know it was him. Otherwise, they'll know I pissed him off. They'll know I tried to help that boy escape.

"One of Vanel's idiot men shot me while we were being attacked," she lied. It was the best thing she could do right now. "And I hurt my leg jumping out the window."

Dove raised his eyebrow. "You jumped out of a window?"

"We were overrun."

"So, you ran away and left Vanel and the others to die?"

"...They weren't brothers of mine, anyway."

Dove stared at her, his eyes narrowed. "...Let's go, Owl." He grabbed her good arm and dragged her down the alley. "We need to inform Haku of this mess."

As they departed, Mey cast a longing glance back at the looming house. Regret gnawed at her heart as she pondered the missed opportunity. Perhaps she should have accepted the boy's proposal. Hopefully, the butler would reach him in time.