Una noche aterradora: La Cruz

Chapter 5

Ryota ran with all the air his lungs could hold. His body was at its limit: the blow from the hammer and the impact against the building had left his ribs aching, and every step felt like a stab in his injured leg. But stopping was not an option. The two men on the motorcycle were still after him, armed with bullets capable of piercing even a vampire. He knew that a single mistake would mean his end.

"It's happening again... This is the second time today. And this time, they have stronger weapons. Could this be the end for me?" Ryota tried to keep his mind clear, but desperation crept into his thoughts like poison.

So lost was he in his thoughts that he didn't see the elderly woman walking slowly on the sidewalk. He crashed into her, knocking her to the ground.

—Excuse me, ma'am! I'm so sorry! Are you alright? —Ryota asked, his voice filled with anguish as he extended his hand to help her up.

The elderly woman looked at him intently. There were no screams of terror or insults, the kind he was used to hearing. Instead, her eyes filled with a mix of awe and recognition.

—It's you... It really is you... —she said, almost in a whisper.

Ryota felt his blood freeze. Had she recognized him? Would she start screaming like everyone else? Before he could react, the men on the motorcycle appeared at the corner.

—There you are! —roared the one holding the gun.

Without caring that the elderly woman was present, the man opened fire. Ryota barely had time to react. He grabbed the woman in his arms and jumped to the side, avoiding the bullets. However, one struck his leg, tearing a scream of pain from him.

The pain was indescribable, as if his very soul had been pierced. Even so, he managed to land without letting go of the woman and placed her safely behind a nearby trash bin.

—WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! —Ryota shouted, his voice filled with fury as he faced the men—. There's a lady here! Don't you care if you kill her? Do you not realize how lethal those bullets are?

The men laughed with disdain.

—Hahahahaha! She's just an old hag. She's probably got two years left anyway. Do you think we care as long as we finish you? —one replied as the other kept firing.

The words ignited something in Ryota. A fiery rage consumed him, making his body ignore the pain. He stood up with near-supernatural speed and launched himself at them.

The first man didn't even have time to react before Ryota kicked him in the face, sending him flying against a nearby wall. The impact was brutal; the wall cracked from the force of the blow.

The second man tried to draw his weapon, but Ryota was already on him. With a swift movement, Ryota tore the gun from his hands and hurled it far away, where it couldn't be reached. He grabbed the man by the neck, lifting him off the ground with ease.

—How could you say that about the elderly woman?! Life deserves respect! —Ryota roared, his grip tightening as his voice trembled with fury.

Without mercy, he hurled the man in the same direction as the first, leaving them both piled among the rubble. His breathing was heavy, his legs trembled from the effort, but his anger still sustained him.

Before he could calm down, a familiar sound filled the air: the roar of a chainsaw. Ryota turned just in time to see the third man, the leader, charging at him. The chainsaw glinted under the sunlight, and Ryota barely managed to dodge it by rolling on the ground.

The man wasted no time and delivered a kick to Ryota's chest, slamming him to the ground. Before Ryota could get up, he felt the weight of the man pressing down on his chest, pinning him.

—Now I've got you. You won't escape this time, monster —the man growled, raising the chainsaw above his head.

Ryota closed his eyes, accepting that this might be the end. But then, a scream interrupted the moment.

—Leave him alone! —The elderly woman threw herself onto the man, grabbing him from behind with all her strength.

The man growled, shaking her off violently.

—Get off me, you useless hag!

With a sharp motion, he managed to knock her down. The chainsaw tore through the air, leaving a bloody gash across the woman's abdomen before she collapsed to the ground.

—Ahhhhhhh! —the woman's scream ripped through Ryota's heart.

The pain and rage fused inside him, giving him one final spark of strength. With titanic effort, he rose from the ground, ignoring the weight of the pain in his body.

When the man charged at him again, Ryota met him with agility he didn't even know he had left. He dodged the chainsaw with a backward roll and used the momentum to punch the man in the stomach. The blow was so strong that it forced the man to drop the chainsaw, which clattered to the ground with a metallic clang.

Without giving him time to recover, Ryota charged his fist with all the energy he had left and slammed it into the man's face. The force of the impact knocked him unconscious instantly, while the ground beneath them cracked.

Ryota fell to his knees, gasping for air. His body screamed in protest, but the groan of the elderly woman snapped him out of his daze.

—Ma'am! —he exclaimed, rushing to her. Blood stained her dress, and her eyes were starting to close.

Without thinking twice, he lifted her in his arms and began running. Every step was torment, but he didn't stop.

—Please, hold on! I'll get you to a hospital! —he cried, desperate.

The woman, in a faint voice, stroked his cheek.

—You... You're the one who will change everything... —she said, tears filling her eyes.

Ryota blinked, confused. What did she mean? But there was no time for questions.

He reached the hospital, jumping over cars and crossing streets without stopping. As soon as he entered, his voice echoed through the building.

—Help! Please, someone help this lady!

The doctors quickly attended to her, taking her to the emergency room. Ryota collapsed onto the floor, exhausted. His body trembled, and tears began to fall down his face.

A hospital guard eyed him with narrowed eyes.

—You're Vlad II's son, aren't you? Stay where you are.

Ryota looked up, his eyes burning with pain and anger.

—Please, this isn't the time! I just want to help her!

The guard took a step back, drawing his weapon.

—Were you the one who hurt her?

Ryota's shout resonated through the hospital.

—NO! Stop blaming me for everything! If it were me, I wouldn't have brought her here!

The guard was silent for a moment, then pointed to the exit.

—Get out now, before I'm forced to make you.

Ryota struggled to his feet. He looked at the guard one last time before turning and leaving. His wounded body carried him to a nearby alley, where he collapsed in a corner.

"You're the one who will change everything... What does that mean?" he thought, recalling the woman's words as the rain began to fall.

He reached into his backpack, searching for some orange juice to regain his energy. He found nothing. Then he remembered: he had given his last box to the child at the park.

—At least he needed it more... —he murmured, resting his head against the wall.

The raindrops mingled with his tears as he closed his eyes, letting the droplets slide down his face.