My legs are aching and burning but this isn't time for complaints. The 12th floor is getting closer now.
Gunfire are still frequent, getting more and more intense the higher we go up. The mercenaries are clearing the whole hospital floor, one by one. The question is why? Doing it would just alert the whole building. If it's the Romanovs or Natalia they're after, then why go through each floor, wreaking havoc?
The dead body of the janitor and Harley's words come to mind.
'I'll let you guys leave this place alive... You're not part of the targets.'
We're not part of the targets, but the Romanovs are. And the staff too?
I couldn't put my head around it. What are their objectives? and most of all, who hired them?
The Woodwose family is the prime suspect, but if so, why are they targeting the staff too?
Something feels off.
"We're almost there," Kai spoke.
We're on the 11th floor now.
I shook my unease and nodded to Kai.
While Ascending the stairs, I spot the emergency exit door that leads to the 12th floor.
As I prepared to push the door handle, echoes of footsteps reached my ears. The sound of multiple people in a rush, heading closer.
I took a few steps back. Me and Kai braced ourselves for what was about to unfold.
The door swung open and three people rushed inside. two of them had a gun in their hand.
"Don't move!" I yelled.
One of the men was startled but the other one reacted quickly. He fired a shot but missed me and hit the railing. He didn't saw Kai yet, and so, before he could fire another shot, Kai drove a hook into his chin from the side. The impact of the punch had knocked him down. But he still gripped his gun. He wasn't fully knocked out. He tries to aim at Kai but she begins to struggle with the man as he tries to push her away. The other younger man, now having recovered his bearings, aims at me. A look of hesitation flashed across his face but he firmly held his gun. I had more than enough time to shoot.
"Stop!" The person behind them screamed.
"Miss! Stay behind me!" the man who aimed at me screamed without taking his eyes off me.
After hearing the person's voice, Kai hurriedly spoke.
"Wait, Coco, it's the victim!"
Based on their clothes, they are from the Romanovs and not the bloodhound. And the girl behind them...
Natalia Romanovs herself.
-----
A few moments ago
Inside a room in the hospital. A far better room compared to what Coco had. The room wasn’t cramped and various medical equipment was all around. Put there for emergency situations. Decorated with white walls.
Natalia was there, Still lying on the bed but awake. She wasn’t the only one in that room. There are numerous men in black suits and sunglasses. Bodyguards of the Romanovs. Her family.
One of the men, the only one without a suit was beside her. Telling her about the situation after the events of the explosion at the party:
In a fit of rage, Nikolai, Her father fired a round into Silvanus Woodwose, The head of the Woodwose Family. The bullet missed his vitals but it was enough for a gunfight to begin between the two families inside the hotel. Nikolai safely escaped but so does Silvanus Woodwose. Right now, the Romanovs are preparing for an all-out war with the Woodwose family. In other words, the peace treaty was rendered null and the flame of hatred between the two-family sparks once again.
The situation was grim. After hearing the news, she had many questions but there was something above all that she wanted to ask… A question that she was afraid of.
“…”
“Kaz.”
The men stood silent. Their head hangs low.
“Tell me, Lev. Is Kaz… Where is he now?” She hesitantly asked the man.
The man just stayed silent. He won’t even tell her.
“…I see.”
She leaned back slowly on the bed. Her head turned to the window, away from the sight of the man beside her bed. gazing at the scenery of the city that was foreign to her.
It was kind of obvious. He was always near her. Just the fact that he wasn’t here now, means…
The man slowly takes off his glasses.
“He died protecting you, Miss Natalia. The explosion occurs outside. He intercepted them and got caught in the blast. Had the bomber come inside, you would’ve…” The man stops, figuring that his explanation is more than enough to convey what he wants to say.
She recalled her last moment with him. They got into a fight frequently, so it wasn’t such a big deal but it was only because either he or she would eventually apologize. That night, she had said something harsh to him. For that to be her last time seeing him... She felt bitter. She felt a stabbing in her heart and tears slowly began to roll down her eyes.
Noticing it. The man turned and nodded to the men behind him.
“We’ll stand guard outside, Miss. If there’s anything…” He put a small item with a button beside her. A simple communication device that would let her notify the guards in front.
The men quietly head outside, leaving her alone in that room.
-----
Lev came out of the room with the other men. There are two extra bodyguards outside the room. One of them, A particularly young man compared to the rest, asks him.
“How was she?”
“Physically, better. emotionally… Worse.” Lev bluntly spoke.
“Is that so? Hate to be the one to bear the news.”
“She had to know eventually, it’s better to just tell her now than later.”
“Right… So, when do you reckon, we get to leave this place?”
“It’s up to the doctors to decide.” Lev stared at the doctor that is standing near the bodyguard.
There was a hint of nervousness in the doctor. He is clearly afraid of the man.
“U-um, it’s probably going to be three more days based on her recovery state, Mister Lev.”
“…Probably?” A tone of annoyance can be heard from Lev's reply.
“Oh… here we go again.” The bodyguard turned his eyes while Lev began to walk closer to the doctor.
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Narrowing his eyes, Lev began to grab the doctor’s collar slowly as his face grew closer.
“You’re a doctor, are you not? Is it not your job to make sure your patients are recovering from their ailments? Why do you sound so unsure?”
“N-no! Sir I-I just misspoke! Three-No. Four days, she’ll definitely be ready to be discharged in four days!” The doctor panickily corrected his ‘Approximation’.
“Good. Four days it is.” Lev let go of his grip and left the doctor alone.
“Then, I’ll leave the rest to you, Piotr.” he turned to the hallway after saying his words to the young guard.
“Understood.”
Lev began to head to the corridor to the elevator with four of his men behind him. He had to report to Nikolai himself after this. A war is brewing and he’s preparing for it. It wasn’t to avenge Kaz nor to show his loyalty to the Romanovs. It was for a far simpler reason. It was simply his duty. There’s nothing that ever interested him. His stoic commitment to his duty stood as the guiding principle of his life, be it for the future or in the past. The only thing that he had left in his life, and what he will continue to have.
-----
“…”
On his way to the elevator, Lev took a cigar out of his pocket and attempted to light it. A small puff before yet another task to be completed. However, as he tried to ignite the cigarette, to his dismay, the lighter refused to cooperate. He could've sworn that he had refueled his lighter not a week ago but it still wouldn't light up.
image [https://i.imgur.com/vM2dH7s.png]
"Tch, broken again." Lev muttered in frustration as he put his lighter back in his pocket and discarded the cigar into the nearest trash can in the corridor.
Being the person in charge of Natalia’s safety, he had discreetly gained control of several floors in the hospital. None of the higher-ups were aware of the activities transpiring downstairs; Simple threats and manipulations. He made sure to keep a low profile while maximizing control. To the higher-ups, Natalia's hospitalization was the extent of their knowledge and nothing more.
Lev. He was well-known in the Romanovs for his cold and calculating nature. Quick and efficient, he was perfect both as the organizer and person in charge of security. He wanted to head down to the lobby to report about Natalia's condition while also discussing strategic preparations against the upcoming conflict with the rest of the Romanovs but what he saw in front of him stopped him in his tracks.
*Ding*
“…”
Lev, still a few feet away from the elevator, observed the number on the monitor above it steadily increasing. By the time he glanced at it, the elevator had already seemingly reached the 10th floor.
Puzzled, but above all, alerted.
It had been explicitly communicated that access to the 12th floor was restricted, with the exception of Lev and his men. For outsiders, be it patients, staffs and visitor, confirmation from one of the Romanovs on a different floor was required. He planned for at least three guards to be stationed for each floor after the 8th, but bumped it up to five after most of the patients fled from the hospital. Strict permission was now mandatory for anyone planning to go beyond the 8th floor.
The elevator had been observed to work in a way that would prioritize inputs from the floors it would pass while ascending. With the placement he had in mind, if someone were to head up beyond the 8th floor without any news beforehand, the guards on 8th floor would alert the others through comms and the guards on the 9th floor would push the button, putting the elevator to a halt without exception. If by some chance, the guards on the 9th floor fail to stop it. there are still two more floors before the elevator can reach the 12th floor. A makeshift inspection line to ensure Lady Natalia's protection, yet he didn’t hear anything on the radio even though the elevator had passed by two floors. There was no report from the 8th nor the 9th floor, He waited for the guard on the 10th floor to report it.
“…”
Yet, the radio was still silent.
Lev was meticulous. Mistakes are something that he takes very seriously. And it was extremely hammered into his men that mistakes are something that is not tolerated. But he was not reasonable, there are always human errors to factor into. He realizes that much, which is why he only tasked veterans to guard the inside of the hospital and the inexperienced grunts to the outside of the hospital. Human makes mistakes, he knows that. Even if he never does, others will. But despite that, he trusts his guts and above all, he trusts his men.
The persistent lack of communication on the radio led him to a resolute conclusion. That they are under attack.
*Ding*
The elevator now reaches the 11th floor.
Lev grabs his gun.
“We're under attack! Igor, Piotr, get Natalia, now! Head to the emergency stairs!” He screamed into the two men at the edge of the corridor at the door to Natalia’s room.
“What?!” The young man was startled.
“Get to it, Piotr!” Igor grabbed the young man by the shoulder and opened the door in a hurry.
Seeing that, Lev turned to the rest of the guards behind him.
“Take position! Whoever they are. They’re highly skilled!” He orders his men.
Guns in hand and eyes set on the elevator, The five men positioned themselves behind cover. Standing guard, getting ready for the elevator to arrive on the 12th floor.
The corridor was silent. Tension was in the air.
*Ding*
The elevator door slowly opened, and numerous figures in black masks, donning military outfits could be seen inside.
The Hounds had arrived.
-----
Back on the staircase.
Gunshots rang out behind them. The Romanovs are still in a gunfight with the Bloodhound mercenaries. Fending them off. The men on the stairs are wary of us. To outsiders, we are just a girl and a boy. But to the men, we're a threat to the daughter of Nikolai Romanov.
"There's no time to explain. We're not here to harm you! We're from the White Raven." I told them hurriedly and bluntly.
"White Raven?" The girl peeked behind with interest to me and Kai.
There are confusions in their face. They didn't seem to be familiar with that name but before they could ask, another gunshot rang out in the hallway behind them. Now even closer than the previous one. There is no more room for discussion and doubts.
"... Fine! You have our trust." One of the men closed the door shut and relented.
I glance at Kai, she nods silently and moves back from the man she was grappling with.
"The stairs are safe for now, we need to hurry." I responded.
"T-this way, Miss..." The younger man held the girl's hand as we descended the stairs.
We need to get out of this place as soon as possible. The stairway is still empty. I look back at the person who is presumably Natalia. Her height and characteristics match the one in my vision. She seems weak and pale. The wounds haven't fully healed yet. After we manage to escape, the next step is...
"...Wait." Kai stops in her tracks. A sound of footsteps rang out in the air. I peeked down and saw two, No. Three mercenaries ran up the stairs.
They are still a few floors down from us but they have also spotted us. I look at the floor sign. We're on the 7th floor right now.
"They're coming! Get ready." I turned back to the two men behind me. I saw their nods but there was something else that I saw. A moving shadow from above. The bloodhound had also entered from above. Two of them.
Seeing my surprised face, the two men also glance above.
"They've broken through!"
This isn't good. They're going to surround us in no time.
"W-what now?" The young man spoke.
"... The 6th floor." I muttered.
"We're pushing through inside the hospital! Staying here is bad."
There are no objections to my plan. We headed one floor down and braced ourselves for whatever lies beyond the emergency door. I didn't hear any sound. It normally would've been a good sign but with the bloodhounds, it also wouldn't be a surprise if it was a trap from the beginning. But we don't have a choice. I glance to the larger man and he got the memo. Me and Kai stood behind him, taking aim at the door.
*Slam* the man kicked the door open with his foot. Me and Kai burst inside the corridor, guarding each other back. Observing our surroundings.
"..."
"...It's Safe." I yelled out.
The two men and the girl slowly come out. Into the blood filled hallway.
Having witnessed the aftermath, the young man's eyes widen in shock.
"Dear god..." He whispered to himself.
It was a massacre. A chaotic corridor filled with bodies of the hospital staff and patients, even visitors too. All dead. There is no sign of a bloodhound mercenary here. It seems the rest are still fighting the Romanovs upstairs.
I moved back to the side of the emergency door with Kai.
"We'll fend them off for a while. You guys, find a way down!" I told the two men, but they didn't seem to agree to that.
"But you're just a kid and a girl!"
"I agree... Let us handle them."
Hearing their reply, both me and Kai stared at each other. Before long, we made a chuckle. We couldn't help to laugh. The three of them stared at us with confusion and bewilderment.
"Sorry, but you seem to forget we're a White Raven employee. To us, this is just another Tuesday." I assured them.
"Just go." Kai stared beyond the door.
The footsteps inside are getting louder.
The two men are silent. but this is no time to stand around doing nothing.
"A-Alright" One of them, The young man, finally spoke.
hearing him agreeing to it, the other man just silently rubbed the back of his head and spoke to the girl.
"Come on, miss... we have to go."
The two men began to run through the corridors looking for a way out. The girl behind them looked at us for a moment. I couldn't see her face so I don't know what expression she made but I heard a faint voice from her mouth. I couldn't quite hear what she said but regardless, she soon turned back and followed the men in front of her.
"...Right then." Finally with them out of sight, I focus my attention solely onto the stairway.
"So, what's the plan?" kai spoke.
"We hold them off as long as we can."
"Sounds easy enough."
"...bugger off."