Take a chance | mikey

10

As we were sprinting, the chaos and tension of the moment finally caught up with Takemichi. His face turned pale, and his steps grew unsteady. Before anyone could react, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed onto the ground.

"Takemichi!" I shouted, panic lacing my voice as I rushed to his side. But before I could reach him, Mikey was already there.

Without a word, Mikey knelt down and scooped Takemichi up into his arms, his expression surprisingly calm given the circumstances. He hoisted Takemichi onto his back with ease, as if the weight was nothing.

"We're taking him to the hospital," Mikey said, his voice firm but controlled. He turned to Draken, who gave a quick nod of agreement.

"You both should go home," Draken said, turning to face Emma and me, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Emma looked like she wanted to protest, but the exhaustion in her eyes and the tension from the night's events made her nod in agreement. I felt the same—a mix of reluctance and relief washing over me. With one last glance at Mikey, who was already focused on carrying Takemichi, we turned and started making our way back.

The walk home was quiet, the weight of everything that had happened settling in. Emma and I barely spoke, each lost in our own thoughts. The events of the night replayed in my mind—the fight, Pah-chin's sudden act of violence, and the panic that followed. 

Emma gave me a tired smile, and after making sure she was safely inside, I headed to the station.

-Timeskip-

I walked through the front door of the house, the familiar creak of the hinges breaking the eerie silence. It felt like a different world from the chaos of the warehouse.

As I kicked off my shoes and made my way to my room, my mind replayed the night's events like a broken record.

I collapsed onto my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. My room was dimly lit by the streetlights seeping through the curtains, casting long shadows on the walls. The silence was overwhelming, amplifying the chaotic thoughts swirling in my head.

Everything about today felt like a twisted echo of my past, a past I tried so hard to bury. It was impossible not to think about how everything spiraled out of control, how Pah-chin's desperate act and Takemichi's collapse had shaken me to the core.

I shook my head, trying to clear away the haunting memories. I didn't want to dwell on what I couldn't change. My focus needed to be on the here and now, on what I had to do next. Yet, the past had a relentless way of creeping back in, no matter how much I wished it would stay buried.

I turned off the light, seeking solace in the familiar comfort of my bed. The events of the night had left me emotionally and physically drained. I pulled the covers up, trying to find some small measure of peace. As I closed my eyes, I could only hope that tomorrow would bring clarity and a return to some semblance of normalcy.

For now, all I could do was try to rest and wish for things to start making sense again.