The Wish You Left Behind

Chapter 25: The Rivals

FAYE

All Faye can do is ignore the throbbing pain on her side as she guides Yoko out.

Sakda is leading their way, pausing at every corner to check if the coast is clear.

When they reached the landing of one staircase and she sways, Yoko hold on to her.

"Faye, are you alright?"

She can't even feel Yoko's hand on her cheek.

She smiles, or at least tries to.

"I'm fine."

In front of them, Sakda mutters, "This can't be right."

Faye adjusts Yoko's arm around her shoulder before taking a glimpse of where they're headed.

"What's wrong?"

"There should be another way out."

Despite the dimming light, she can see the dead end ahead.

Piles of rubble and wood blocks what she suspects is the way out.

Sakda kicks the door loudly, but it won't budge.

So this is why no one followed them? Because where they came is the only way in and out of the building.

When Sakda kicks it open for the fifth time and it didn't budge still, her shoulder stooped.

"We have to turn back," she said, almost in a whisper.

She didn't miss how Yoko's hold tightens on her arm.

Faye squeezes the woman's hip reassuringly.

"I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

"I know."

Hearing Yoko's usual stern voice cracks, makes her heart ache.

How can her cousin use Yoko to take his petty revenge?

She wouldn't let him get away with this.

"Let's go."

Their steps were painfully slow and dragging. Faye can hear everyone's heavy breathing as they descend another stair leading to where they came from.

She's not that good with direction, but the way Sakda stops and stiffens. This must be it.

Not wasting anymore time, she turns to the corner and there he is — her coward of a cousin.

"Going somewhere?"

Third's voice made Faye's blood curdle even more.

She stood her ground.

There are seven of them. The four men she and Sakda brawl with earlier and two more men standing close to her cousin.

She and Sakda shield Yoko from the kidnappers, all the while not letting go of the woman's hand.

When she feels Yoko's hand tighten around hers, Faye rubs her on her knuckles before regarding the group of degenerates.

"If you don't want to get hurt, move!"

Not only the men from earlier recovered, they all looked pissed, too.

From the brawl earlier, she thought it would take some time.

"I wouldn't warn you again," she said, trying to steady her voice.

Third's unscathed face distorts to a playful grin.

"You're outnumbered, yet you're the one to talk."

Faye clenches her other fist.