The sounds of battle echoed under the streetlights. Shouts of pain mixed with the clash of weapons could be heard. Five figures were locked in a deadly struggle, and blood splattered across the ground.
The fight raged for nearly half an hour until the noise gradually subsided. The five figures lay motionless in pools of blood.
Under the dim glow of the streetlights, three of the black-clad assassins were confirmed dead. One’s neck was snapped, another’s chest pierced, and the last had bled out from a fatal wound.
Jovian and Boston were in no better condition.
Boston was soaked in blood. His body was riddled with deep cuts, some so severe they exposed the bone beneath.
Jovian wasn’t much better. His abdomen and shoulder were slashed. His right arm had been severed, and he was left in a pitiful state.
Boston coughed. After taking down the last assassin, he collapsed to the ground. He gasped for air as blood poured from his mouth.
His chest and abdomen were torn open, and his organs spilled out. He was pale, and his breathing was shallow and erratic. His life was slipping away.
“Boston… Boston!” Jovian cried out. He staggered to his fallen comrade’s side while clutching his own wounds.
He hurriedly pulled out a tablet and tried to feed it to Boston. He then tore strips of cloth from his shirt to try and stop the bleeding. But Boston’s injuries were too severe. The tablet had no effect, and the makeshift bandages did little to stop blood flow.
“Boston, hang in there! I’ll get you to the hospital,” Jovian shouted frantically as he tried to lift Boston. But with only one arm, he struggled to maintain balance and failed repeatedly.
“Jovian… Listen to me…” Boston’s bloodied hand gripped Jovian’s arm and said weakly, “I’m done for… You need to go while you still can. Take care of my wife and kids… for me…”
“No! You’re going to make it. We’ve been through hell together-Red Tombsea, remember? You’re not dying here! I’ll get you out of here.”
Jovian gritted his teeth as he struggled to lift Boston onto his back. Blood stained the ground as he limped toward the truck.
But despite Jovian’s efforts, Boston’s head lolled to the side. His body turned limp, and he was gone.
“Boston! Boston! Wake up!” Jovian shouted, but there was no response.
Boston lay still as if he had simply fallen asleep. Jovian stopped in his tracks, and his heart was heavy with grief.
Boston deserved a peaceful life, but because of his involvement, he had been dragged into this hellish situation and paid with his life.
Guilt washed over him. He regretted asking Boston for help. If only he hadn’t crossed paths with those wolves in human clothing. Maybe none of this would have happened.
Just as Jovian was consumed by despair, the roar of engines cut through the night. Several black SUVs screeched to a halt and blocked the road.
Doors flew open, and a dozen masked assassins in black poured out. They quickly surrounded Jovian.
The leader of the group, Ronan Barley, glanced at the bodies of his fallen comrades and frowned. “You took out three of my men. Impressive. But it won’t save you.”
“Did Sir Prescott send you?” Jovian growled through clenched teeth.
“A dead man doesn’t need answers,” Ronan replied coldly. He gestured to his men. “Take him down.”
At his command, the assassins lunged forward.
“I’ll take you all down with me!” Jovian charged at them with what little strength he had left. His remaining arm swung wildly as he dove into the fray.
Despite his injuries, his fighting spirit burned brighter than ever. Fueled by rage and desperation, he fought like a wild beast, using every part of his body as a weapon. He bit, headbutted, and striked with everything he had left.
“Capture him alive!” Ronan barked.
The assassins hesitated and were wary of getting too close. Instead, they circled Jovian to wear him down with hit-and-run tactics.
It didn’t take long for Jovian’s strength to wane. He was gasping for breath, drenched in sweat, his wounds worsening with every move. If this kept up, he’d collapse from exhaustion before they even landed the final blow.
Seeing no way out, his eyes hardened with determination.
“Think you’ll catch me alive? Dream on! I’d rather die than let you win!”
With a defiant roar, Jovian raised his remaining arm and slammed his palm into his own head. He chose to end his life rather than fall into their hands.
