Kid paced the room in tight circles, phone pressed to his ear.
"Pick up the phone, you bastard… pick it up," he snarled.
No answer.
His jaw clenched. Veins bulged on his temple.
The silence gnawed at him.
He turned sharply toward the door.
Erika stepped in front of him.
"Where are you going?" she asked softly, forcing a smile.
"You can leave that later. Stay… let's do things the way you like. The erotic way."
Kid stopped.
Slowly, he lifted his eyes to hers.
A cold smile crept across his face.
"You're with them," he said quietly.
"This was a setup. You planned to capture me."
Erika's breath hitched.
She realized—she couldn't control him anymore.
And worse—her life was now in danger.
"What plan?" she said quickly, shaking her head.
"I don't know what you're talking about.
You're my customer. I'm just doing my job."
Kid didn't blink.
In one sharp motion—
shrrrk—
A massive blade slid into his hand.
Longer than his palm.
Sharp enough to gleam under the dim light.
Erika froze.
Her hands trembled.
"Please… believe me," she begged. "I didn't do anything."
Kid grabbed her hair and yanked her close.
"Now you're going to get me out of here
safely," he hissed into her ear,
"or I'll kill you."
Erika cried out in pain.
But she wasn't weak.
The moment his grip loosened—
THUD.
She drove her knee straight into his groin.
Kid collapsed to one knee with a scream.
"You bitch—!"
Erika ran.
Barely three steps—
SLASH.
The blade sliced her ankle.
Blood splattered the floor.
She fell hard.
"AAAH!"
Her scream echoed down the hallway.
She crawled—dragging herself across the fourth floor, blood smearing behind her.
scrape… scrape…
Her thoughts shattered.
Why did I go to that bastard Jason?
Where is he…?
Heavy footsteps approached.
Kid loomed over her.
"You think you can run?" he sneered.
SMACK.
SMACK.
He slapped her again and again.
"I'll make you unable to move for the rest of your life."
Her vision blurred.
"You're coming with me," he growled.
"You're my shield now. One wrong move—and I cut you into pieces."
A shadow appeared at the far end of the hallway.
step… step…
A familiar silhouette.
Metal-wrapped fists.
Blood dripping.
KNUCKLE.
Kid turned—
His face drained of color.
"Y-you're dead," he stammered.
"Rourke told me—he saw you dead! This isn't possible!"
Jason froze for a fraction of a second.
Rourke…?
But then he saw her.
Erika.
Bleeding. Broken. Barely conscious.
Something inside him snapped.
"You bastard!" Jason roared.
Kid dragged Erika up, pressing the blade to her throat.
"Don't move," Kid shouted, panic cracking his voice.
"I'll kill her. It won't take a second."
Jason stopped.
His fists trembled.
Erika needed help—now.
"Don't hurt her," Jason said slowly.
"Just… just let her go."
Kid backed away toward the exit.
"Move aside. Lay down. Stay silent."
Erika lifted her head weakly.
"So… you finally came," she whispered.
"You're late. Like always."
Jason swallowed hard.
"Erika—"
"Can you still love me?" she asked softly.
In a sudden burst—
CRUNCH.
She bit down on Kid's hand.
He screamed.
That instant—
Jason lunged.
He reached for her—
Almost—
THUD.
The blade sank into her back.
Erika gasped.
Blood spilled from her mouth.
She collapsed into Jason's arms.
Kid ran.
Jason didn't chase.
Not now.
"Hey—hey—stay with me," Jason whispered, holding her tight.
"I'm taking you to the hospital. You'll be fine. Just breathe."
Her breaths were shallow.
"Jason…" she whispered.
"I'm sorry… I've been a burden to you my whole life."
"No," he said desperately.
"Don't talk. Save your strength."
"If I didn't exist… maybe you could've been happy," she murmured.
"It's all my fault."
He shook his head, tears falling onto her face.
"We'll talk later," he said.
"About everything. Just don't close your eyes."
She smiled weakly.
"You're still a fool… just like before."
She coughed—blood spilling out.
"But if I get another life…"
"I want to stay with you."
Jason froze.
"I don't know when it happened," she whispered.
"But I can't hide it anymore."
"I love you, Jason."
His hands trembled as he slowly pulled off his mask.
Their eyes met.
So many words—
Too late.
"Why didn't we do something earlier…?"
They both thought it.
Her body went limp.
Jason held her.
Tightly.
"No… no… no…" he whispered, voice breaking.
"Why didn't you run when you had the chance?"
Rain began to fall.
drip… drip…
"I love you too," he whispered through sobs.
"I won't let you die in vain."
His tears turned cold.
His grip tightened.
The hunter had crossed the line.
And now—
It was time
to kill the hunter.