No Way Out

10 years later after their first meet in high school, a lot of things have changed.

 ────────────

2027

“Someone has put a bounty on your head.”

“For how much?”

“Equals to one million dollars.”

Leo huffed a chuckle. Being one of the elite burgoises in the decaying country made him aware that someone out there could pay a guild party to hunt him. Something out there was trying to be a predator. “That is so little. I am worth more than that!” complained him.  

Jeffrey looked around. “We must escape this collapsed building before they find you.” Half an hour ago, they came to this official building to attend a meeting between the government and the conglomerate’s owners in the country. Until a C4 bomb was exploded in the building. The meeting right away became a full chaos. The bodyguards emerged to secure the executive to escape the shattering building safely. While the conglomerates were evacuated to the emergency exit, their guards immediately came to rescue their bosses. During these times, security guards were not only hired to protect the executive government, but they were also hired to protect those business owners.

The massive building was shattering in a second. The fifth to the second floor were in shambles. Only the first floor survived even though the debris fell down everywhere. Blackout occurred and the stairs were crumbling. Some of the conglomerates did not survive while going down the stairs from the fifth floor to the ground floor. The executives escaped through particular emergency exit that could be accessed only with their body part authentification.

Slowly, the building stopped crumbling and everything became eerily quiet. The only things  could be heard were their panting breath from running down and avoiding the debris. Some of the special guests already escaped before the access to get out was blocked by the ruins of the buildings.

Things became pure chaos when they walked to the glass windows. Armed civilians were marching outside the lobby.

“Get down!!!” Jeffrey pushed his one and only boss to bow down to dodge a bullet when they were walking in the first floor. The emergency exit was already filled by ruins. The main gate to the building were guarded by civil people who want to bring down everyone inside the building.

People were difficult to be trusted right now. Humans betrayed each other anytime and anywhere. They were driven by money and lust. 

That was the reason Leo only brought his right-hand man to protect him in case something like this happened. A lot of things have changed this past ten years.

Leo looked back to the windowpane while they ran to an alley. They needed a safe area to retreat from the possibility of crumbling debris and people shooting out there. Jeffrey was right. The chaotic people outside aimed rifle to his head. His eyes widened when the weapon was aimed to Jeffrey. He pushed Jeffrey to the wall, while a bullet was shot to his lower back. He held still his expression to hide the pain while the bullet was lodged around his waist. Another bullet appeared and both of them dodged that safely while keep running.

“Those bullets didn’t hit you, right?” Jeffrey asked in panic after they turned right to a dark room that was probably used for an office. Desks with a computer, printer machine, stacks of papers, documents, and stationery. However, those things would be gone tonight.

Leo shook his head.

Jeffrey let out a relief sigh. “We must search another exit gate before they get inside.” They crouched down behind the office desk—hidden from the sight of threshold. He checked his phone to call help from anyone from the mansion. “Shit. The signal is off.”

“They must use a jammer to shut down the internet network.”

“I get to look for a flashlight. Do you have a weapon with you? I only bring my revolver and my bullet is limited.”

Leo pulled out a folding knife from a hidden pocket in his suit.

“Good.”

────────────

The other guests had found another safe place or escaped. Both of them decided not to be bothered by the other conglomerate’s safety. They had their own bodyguards and probably knew something like this could happen anytime. Moreover, they might know something about a bounty on his head. Was the other conglomerates were afraid to become the next bounty target?

Jeffrey walked in front of his superior that used to be his juvenile fight companion. It was ten years ago when they were just screw up high schoolers. It was also ten years ago when a boy had gone somewhere and came back only to strike the national exam with the highest score. Months after Leo had gone, he came back with different aura. His eyes were darken and his smile was not as honest as before. It seemed like something heavy fell on his shoulders.

He fulfilled his promise to him to brawl in the gymnasium of their small town high school. It was a fun fight. They laughed even though their limbs were bruised. Perhaps, it was the last time Jeffrey saw Leo acted like someone his age. His honey eyes were radiating exuberant shine like a burden escaped from his soul. But after that moment, Leo asked him a particular and formal thing.

To follow him.

To protect him no matter what happened.

To swear on his life to be on his side.

Somehow, the younger him agreed. Leo’s existence made him want to protect the latter with his soul. He was provided everything to become a qualified right-hand man. He also saw Leo’s true form. Later, he found out Leo was not only the new kid in a small town who was always resented by life. Leo was a solitary wolf who fought alone. Jeffrey thought he was already being on the top during high school. He was the strongest fighter in high school. He had the most powerful affect toward people around him. Until he saw Leo.

It had been ten years. Thinking about that made him feel so naïve back then.

Now, they came back again to this country after years roaming around the other country. DMR Corp needed to resolve a conglomerate problem in this country.

Jeffrey turned back to make sure Leo was okay. They walked along the alley and tried to listen any debris found or people’s steps. Leo’s sensitive hearing was useful to detect any suspicious sounds around them. While walking, they had no idea why this official building had so many alleys and rooms. 

They found another exit to the basement but it was blocked by ruins of the wall. Leo heard a hint of another debris falling before it crumpled to Jeffrey’s head. The building slowly became slanted. So they walked to look for another exit.

It felt like they were the only humans left on earth. Hours passed by and the night came. They looked outside through the window carefully—afraid a snipper was aiming their rifle to them. 

Smoke and ashes decorated the city landscape. Burned scent filled the air. A faint sound from ambulance sirine was the only audible sound. 

“Get down!” Jeffrey pushed Leo to the ground. Sequence of bullets penetrated the windows. The shard of glass was shattering. “We have to crawl! Avoid the window!”

The ground floor was messed up. At night, people were looting for expensive things like the flower vase, television, computer, printer, and sometimes the expensive office chairs. 

Leo and Jeffrey crawled under the row of windowpane, then they sprinted to find a room for hiding. They locked the door quitely and rested on the floor to hide from window on the door. Jeffrey turned off the flashlight. Suddenly, a light from the door window emerged. They held their breath and waited until they stopped trying to invade their hiding room.

“FUCK! This one is locked!” said a looter outside.

“Are you fucking idiot? This room doesn’t have any precious thing. It's just an empty meeting room.”

“We can take the desk and chairs though.”

“Bah!!! The chairs look cheap. We ONLY take valuable stuffs.”

The light to their room were vanished. They exhaled a breath. Leo was exhausted and his back was bleeding. His sight became a bit blurry and he could feel the symptomps of blood lost. 

Jeffrey found a cardboard box of bottled water but only one bottle water left. He gave it to Leo first. Jeffrey refused the water bottled when Leo shared it. His priority was Leo, but the latter still insisted to share the water. 

“Are you okay?” asked Jeffrey while looking beside him under the dim light. The room was dark. Only the moonlight from the door's window became their source of light.

“Thanks for the water. Are there more?”

“Only one left.”

Silence. They heard human steps outside the room. Shouts and rough conversations filled the atmosphere. The taught feeling on their guts haunted them. The night was austere.

“You must rest.” Jeffrey whispered to his superior.

“We take turns to be on guard,” stated Leo.

“Alright.” But Jeffrey planned not to wake Leo when his turns came. Leo looked so pale. Sweats covered his face because the air was hot. His slicked back hair was already losing its form. Strands of hairs fell over his forehead.

“I’ll sleep for a while,” whispered Leo while being slowly drowsy in sleep. He tried to keep his posture straight.

It was annoying to see Leo sleeping while trying to keep his neck straight. He must be trying to stay alert. Then, Jeffrey pulled Leo’s head to lean on his shoulder. He could feel Leo’s warm body rested on his body side. It assured him that his superior was still alive. He forgot since when he became obsessed to protect the man beside him. 

He heard Leo’s steady breath. Leo was taller and leaner than him, but who knew which one stronger? They never brawled again since they were seventeen, so they had no idea about their fight comparison.

The night was dreadful. At least he could be safe with him. 

Right now Leo was just like his younger self. The usual frowned expression on his face disappeared. He looked so peaceful right now and Jeffrey just wanted to protect that peaceful face.

────────────

Around the midnight, the ambush and the looting had stopped. It was completely tranquil.

“Juan must have known something is wrong with the meeting if we haven't came home this late,” said Leo—breaking the silence between them. He woke up and straightened his back again. Juan was his personal assistant who managed his schedule.

“Yeah, he should be waiting somewhere.”

“Riots emerged because this country doesn’t care anymore about their people right? The ruler thought the people were just number, statistic data, and part of percentage, even though they have soul, family, and future,” said Leo out of nowhere.  

Jeffrey sensed something. “You must put your safety and stop thinking about doing harmful things.”

“The person who put bounty on my head probably someone who holds money and power. Where do you think they found a pile of money just for killing one head?” Leo snorted.

“And you assume someone from this evening’s meeting was behind the bounty?”

Leo shrugged. He still had no clue. “Some of them already died.”

“Do not plan anything right now. Just think about where is the exit and going home. You could even escape this doomed country if you want.”

“Yeah, let’s get out of here first.”

They stood up and walked outside the room carefully. Jeffrey didn’t turn on the flashlight because he worried someone could detect their existence. Jeffrey walked faster because he saw a faint red light that indicated an exit door in the end of the alley. Meanwhile, Leo’s steps were getting slower. Jeffrey looked behind at Leo who walked with slouched shoulders like he was in pain.

Jeffrey turned on the flashlight and saw traces of blood behind Leo’s steps.

“Stop looking behind.” Leo was infuriated. His voice meant no rejection.

“Oh shit … shit … You’re bleeding. You’re fucking bleeding.”

Leo gripped Jeffrey’s shoulder. “Do not panic. Keep walking forward.” His sight was getting more blurry. The sharp pang pain on his back emerged. Sweats streamed down his side of his face. His eyes widened when he heard hurried steps getting closer. “They come here. Run. Run.”

“What? I don’t hear—”

Leo pulled the other’s hand and ran as fast as he could. The emergency exit was closer. Those looter must have detected his blood. Leo cursed at the trace he left behind. When they got to the emergency exit, it was locked. Jeffrey used his revolver to shoot the keyhole.

“SOMEONE OUT THERE!!”

“They must be the people from the government meeting yesterday!”

“Wait … is he the bounty target? His face looks similar to this poster!!!”  

Jeffrey opened the door and cursed because the emergency exit was not connected to the ground. He kicked the ladder and a ladder came out to help them getting down. First floor indeed didn’t mean the ground floor. Leo got down through the ladder first. Then, Jeffrey followed him.

Leo was panting. His injury slowed him. He ever got shot before and still able to walk miles to get home when he was seventeen. But right now, this bullet shot was torturing him. Well, he said he could walk with bullet shot—not run.

He forced his feet to run through the parking area but Jeffrey couldn’t stand him walking slower. He crouched down in front of Leo. “I can still run,” said Leo lying.

“NOO. COME ON!”

“I am totally fine!”

“You have bullet in your body right now. I’ll carry you. It’s faster this way.”

Then, they—Jeffrey—ran away from the hunter who tried to kill them. Jeffrey saw an ugly minibus on the road and he was sure it was Juan’s car. Leo had asked Juan to use ugly vehicle to pick up them if something had been wrong.

Someone was shooting again with a gun. Finally Jeffrey reached the minibus and they got inside. Who knew the ugly minibus had been modified with anti-bullet glass? Juan who drove the car hit the gas and the minibus carried him away from the collapsed building.

“Oh God! What happened inside?!” Juan needed to lash out his anger if he wanted to keep sane. “I waited for six hours!”

“Are you injured?” asked Leo to Jeffrey—ignoring Juan’s question.

“I am not. JUAN, DRIVE FASTER! He got shot by a bullet!!!” Jeffrey shook Juan’s shoulder.

Juan was always irritated by Jeffrey’s exploding remark. But he hit the gas deeper. Sadly, this minibus was not enhanced by a better machine to speed.

“I’ve been through the worse,” said Leo while smirking. “Someone put a bounty on me. They said my price is a million dollar. That’s so fucking cheap—” He was gasping for a breath. The bullet injury was probably got into his internal organ. He took off his suit. His white shirt was soaked in blood.

Juan looked at how bad the injury through the rearview. While, Jeffrey was shocked because he felt he was not worthy to keep his superior safe. “I am sorry. Forgive me, Leo! It was my fault. I am no useful to protect you.”

“I am fine … I can hold it.” His palor face said the opposite.

“Jeffrey, you screw up for failing your boss,” said Juan—glaring at the younger. Jeffrey reciprocated with frightened and regretful face.

“Stop it, Juan.” Leo stared at Juan through the rear view. His gaze was enough to kill. “I am safe at least. For now, I am still breathing.”

His stare softened while staring at Jeffrey. He smiled an honest smile. “Thank you for protecting me.”

I should have been the one who says thank you. You protect me once again.

────────────

FIN