Hawk had no idea who this so-called Blood Red Apocalypse was.
But it was definitely not a Vampire that had escaped.
Given that, instead of exhausting himself, why not make things harder for others? Whoever it may be, catching a Vampire to kill is the right move. If he catches the right one, it's a celebration for all. If he catches the wrong one, it's no problem since these so-called innocent Vampires want to find the Blood Red Apocalypse even more than he does.
So…
Why go to the trouble of having Helen fake her death? Is there a need for that?
Hawk didn't understand, but he could sympathize. If Gwen didn't ask him to act, he definitely wouldn't.
However, he wasn't too keen on acting anyway.
After all, the only person who knew his public weakness and the one he cared about was just Gwen.
Who knew that once he acted, the cunning ones lurking behind the scenes might think they could exploit him, starting with Helen and George, or Howard and Simon?
He did not want to foster such misconceptions among the hidden ambitionists.
So…
If Gwen didn't demand, he wouldn't make a move.
Once again, if they died, so be it. After all, when they died, they would go to the Netherworld Pure Land, which felt like going home.
Just like he told Gwen earlier, if Helen and George went to the Netherworld, he wouldn't just throw them into the Nether Prison.
That was impossible.
At this moment…
Detective Hale also emerged from the elevator.
Hawk greeted him.
"Detective Mahoney..."
"The rescue was timely. The doctor said it's not too critical; the bullet didn't pierce the heart."
"That's good."
"The Chief awake?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll go in first."
"Alright."
Fresh from Mahoney's hospital room, Detective Hale gave Hawk a nod and then entered the room, witnessing a shocking scene.
The Chief, who was hit by three bullets and nearly lifeless when brought to the hospital this morning, now stood with vigor, albeit pale-faced.
Especially that arm, which the doctor had diagnosed with a comminuted fracture, was exceptionally nimble at this moment.
Hale was stunned.
"Wow, Chief, this..."
"Hale, come in, close the door."
"..."
Hale was slightly stunned, barely had time to react before Gwen pulled him inside.
An hour later…
Hale and a female officer with her head down briskly exited the hospital, got into the police car, and drove off with sirens wailing.
Hawk and Gwen returned to Stacy's Apartment.
Plopping straight onto the bed, Gwen stretched lazily, "God, I'm so tired."
Hearing this, Hawk smiled slightly, "Don't mention God. God is our enemy now. Wait until I storm Heaven, then you can call out to God."
Gwen blinked, hearing this and seeming to think of something, suddenly sat up from the bed, and looked toward Hawk.
"When Mom followed Hale to the safe house, there were no Vampires, right?"
"No."
"That's good."
Gwen breathed a sigh of relief.
Hawk looked helpless; he didn't plan to ask, but couldn't help shaking his head, "Why complicate things? Just a word from you, and I can rid New York City of Vampires."
Gwen immediately shook her head.
"No way!"
"Why not?"
"It's Dad's war, and also..."
Gwen said and then looked at Hawk, "You not acting is also protecting Dad and Mom, as well as Howard and Simon."
After all, the idea that no matter what happens to the Stacys, they shouldn't help was something she and Hawk came up with voluntarily.
Because having one soft spot for Hawk was enough.
Having more wouldn't be called a soft spot.
It would be called a weakness.
The most important point.
Gwen smiled at Hawk, "If I call on you, you would help, right?"
Hawk smiled back.
"Of course."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"By the way."
With a brilliant smile, Gwen shifted the topic while looking at Hawk, who sat over and embraced her, his hands starting to wander. "What you said about not marrying me if Dad died, is it true?"
Hawk shuddered, meeting Gwen's half-teasing gaze.
"That was a motivational tactic; didn't you notice?"
"Really?"
Gwen and Hawk locked eyes, her small hand slowly sliding down, her smile growing even more splendid, and then squeezed hard, "Is this motivating?"
Hawk gasped, his mouth twitching.
"Careful, if it breaks, the one who will be upset won't be me."
"Who then?"
"Whoever uses it will be upset."
Feeling Gwen's hand tighten, Hawk grinned at her.
Gwen looked at Hawk's increasingly smug grin, and at the little Hawk becoming stronger in her palm, took a deep breath, and decisively let go.
"Sleep, there's a performance tomorrow."
"..."
Indeed.
A performance.
A performance for the Vampires.
After all, Helen 'died'.
Though Helen didn't really die, she was dead, at least in the eyes of the Vampires. George wanted to catch these hidden Vampires, and without Hawk overturning the table, he had to cooperate in this performance.
George and Gwen knew it was an act.
But Howard and Simon did not.
So...
The two little ones cried for real.
Heart-wrenchingly, inconsolably so.
Standing in the morgue, Hawk watched Howard and Simon being pulled away by George and Gwen, preventing them from seeing their mother's body, crying even more heartbreakingly, lowering his eyes to stifle his laughter.
Especially at the funeral a week later.