"STAY AWAY FROM ME! STAY AWAY!" she screamed, her voice breaking as she pressed a coat against the wound in her stomach. She stumbled backward like a cornered little mouse.
I wondered if she really believed shouting would help. On New Year's Eve, with the whole city roaring outside, nobody would hear. It was just the two of us in that empty parking garage — and that thought made my blood fizz.
"Such a noisy one…" I murmured, idly poking my ear, almost smiling. "If I end up with a migraine, you'll pay my medical bills, Yuri."
"W–w–why are you doing this, Y–Yano…?" She choked on the end of the sentence as her back hit the wall. "I… ah…"
Her eyes dropped to the smear of blood she'd dragged across the floor. The trail ended at me — the black-haired girl holding a kitchen knife like a toy, smiling gently.
"You really are so cynical, little Yuri!~"
Her unfocused, tear-filled gaze hit me like a punch to the stomach… a good punch. A warm rush crawled through me.
I honestly couldn't hold it in. Watching that bitch twist her face in pure terror was the best kind of adrenaline — the pure kind.
And since I was already here… why not play a little?
"You know what? Let's go down memory lane." My grin widened as I tossed the knife at her feet. The metallic clink echoed. "I'll give you five minutes to run. If you get out of here, I'll never touch you again. What do you say? Or…"
I wiped the blood from my face with my forearm, glancing between the knife and Yuri.
"…you can kill me and run afterward." I planted my hands on my hips. "You tried before. How about a rematch?"
"I… I-I didn't… ah…" She tripped over her own words. But the way her eyes locked on the knife gave everything away. She was thinking about grabbing it.
I just needed to prod her.
"Huh? Use your words, little Yuri!" I stepped forward, feeling my expression twist into something even I couldn't name. "You always used to shout so loud!"
It was almost a pounce — Yuri dropped the coat and lunged for the knife.
Too bad my foot was faster.
In a split second, my boot crushed her fingers.
"Ahhh… so that's your choice…" I laughed, tilting my head. "Hahaha…"
Her eyes shot up, wide and frantic, fixed on my face. For a moment even I wondered what the hell I looked like.
"I SHOULD'VE PUSHED YOU OFF THE ROOFTOP WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE!" she spat, between sobs and raw fury. "YOU FREAK! DISGUSTING! FILTH!"
My hands moved almost on instinct, curling around her fragile throat. Strangling wasn't my favorite method — it's slow and not very graceful — but the adrenaline was high, and those thin screams were giving me a headache.
"Hey, hey… quieter," I murmured, tightening my grip a notch. "Even if you're talking to a pig or a maggot, you should still keep your composure, Yuri."
My nails dug into her skin. It was almost beautiful watching her gasp for air, eyes rolling, legs trembling.
"You know… out of your little group, you were the hardest to kill." I sighed, easing the pressure slightly. "I thought it'd be like facing a final boss, haha… But in the end, you're just human, aren't you?"
The color drained from her face at an alarming speed. Slowly, her eyes stopped moving.
"Huh, already passed out?" I murmured.
I looked for the knife. Had I kicked it when I stepped on her hand?
There — near the car. A little far, but Yuri was out cold.
"Even when you could've survived and left me alone…" My hands slipped from her neck, letting her body drop with a dull thud. "…you still chose to try and kill me."
I picked up the knife. Up close, the blade had a few scratches and the bloodied handle had no charm. New Year's Eve was losing its glamour tonight.
"Poor grandma of yours…" I turned, smiling the same half-childish smile I'd had as a kid. "Before I bury you, she's going to have to look for your piec—"
BOOM.
A thunderous blast ripped through the garage, and a searing sting bloomed in my ribs. When I looked down, my slightly torn top showed a wound spurting blood and soaking everything.
I… took a grazing shot?
"Good thing I got here in time," said a firm male voice. A cop — too handsome to really be a cop — ran toward Yuri, gun still trained on me. "Good thing…"
"You… ugh…" Hot blood started dripping onto the floor, and before I could react, another shot hit.
"—ugh."
Pain exploded through my hand, and the knife flew from my grip.
"Yuri, are you okay? Yuri!" The officer dropped to his knees beside her, checking for signs. "Next shot, I won't miss."
The officer cupped her face gently, too focused on her. Too concerned.
That was the opening I needed.
I hated running. But alive, I could still finish the job. Dead… well, the dead don't finish anything, right?
My feet shot across the parking garage. The place was huge, endless rows of cars stretching in every direction. I ran in a zigzag, hoping the drops of blood splattering behind me would throw him off. But, you know, two bullet wounds weren't a joke — running like that was way harder than I'd pictured.
And, of course, soon I heard the man's footsteps closing in.
Where had he even come from this close to midnight? I lured Yuri here precisely because police patrols stay on the main streets tonight. Did he follow us? Did she warn him and use herself as bait? And that affectionate little scene? They looked like a pair of lovebirds.
I searched my pockets with my uninjured hand when a gunshot cracked through the air.
"You're under arrest for attempted murder!" His voice was close. Too close. "Don't take another step!"
Like hell I was going to obey.
I ran. Adrenaline clouding everything — just like when I cornered Yuri. No, even better. My heart felt like it wanted to burst through my mouth and run ahead of me.
"Ah… there."
I threw myself behind a cluster of cars, panting hard. Fireworks boomed in the distance, testing the New Year's show. The exit was only a few meters away.
"No use hiding," his voice came calmer now, footsteps controlled. "Even if you escape here, backup is on the way."
He was searching carefully. The type of officer who plays everything by the book… but not trained for someone like me.
"Where did she crawl off to…?" he growled, lowering his gun for a second.
A small noise — a light dragging sound — made him turn his head. He saw the trail of blood leading to a specific car. He smiled. A victory smile.
Getting closer.
Closer.
Closer—
"What the…"
There was a puddle of blood near the tire. But where was the source?
"What the he—"
BANG!
He didn't even have time to turn. My hand — even injured — grabbed his collar and yanked him straight into the crackling shock of the taser. The electric arc caught his eye, and the buzzing mixed with his choking screams.
"AAAAAARRRGH!" he howled, doubling over.
"Ah… ah… fuck…" I dropped the taser and bolted toward the exit. My body decided before I did.
A quick glance over my shoulder.
He was still standing.
Anyone else would've dropped. But not him. Maybe that's why someone that pretty was in special forces.
But if I stayed… my head would definitely become a bullet magnet.
"Ah… there."
I burst through the exit and into the chaos of New Year's Eve. Crowds, music, lights, shouting… the perfect place to vanish.
All I had to do was blend in.
If I make it home, I'm taking a long bath.
I slipped into a group of drunk college students, and the noise grew louder as we approached 12th Street, where a giant screen played the countdown show.
"Hey, miss!" A guy grabbed my shoulder. I almost tore his arm off. "Are you okay?"
The crowd noticed the blood.
Shit.
"Her hand!"
"Someone call for help!"
"Miss, you need a hospital!"
"Isn't she that streamer?"
"I'm fine, excuse me—"
"HEY, YOU THERE!"
No. No. No.
I turned — the officer was there. And behind him, that idiot Yuri, wobbling but alive.
Fast bastard.
I ran. Shoved whoever I had to and pushed through the moving crowd. The street was right there — the other side safe, the perfect place to disappear.
I just needed to cross.
"STOP!" Yuri shouted, her voice breaking.
People stepped aside, others tried to grab me. I didn't care. I wouldn't be caught. Not before finishing off that idiot.
Ah — a crosswalk.
The first fireworks burst overhead.
I would survive into the new year, and I would kill you, Yuri.
I ran into the street. One step. Two. Three.
I looked back, pure instinct—
And instead of fireworks reflected in the faces of the crowd, I saw only a growing white glare to my left, lighting up Yuri, the officer, and a few stunned bystanders.
What a way to start the year, huh?
A truck plowed right into me.