Bloody Blood

The last time I saw my blood, it was darker. Was it supposed to be this… light?

Lets rewind time a little:

*****

I am Cole Kolsen. Living in this bustling city, in a two room apartment, next to a slum, with three other roommates.

Failures like me have excuses for every instance that went wrong that accumulated to our failures, despite having perfect opportunities, where our parents provided unconditionally for us: tuition fees of a good university, a good residence, money to spare for any need to conveniently study. And we stayed awake night after night scrolling the screen, as if we became addicts of unreasonability.

A store manager's job, a job mainly feasible for part-timers, and when my greed compelled me to ask for a little raise, I got a very long vacation instead, non-paid obviously.

If I don't pay the rent by the 20th of this month, then even this little safe house is gone, food’s not a problem though, I am used to surviving off of scraps.

Thus, this all brings me to standing in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie and being confident for my latest job interview.

*****

“I am Cole Kolsen. 23 years old.”

“What is your educational background, Mr. Kolsen?”

“I completed my O levels and A Levels from ZZZ School and College and continued in my studies later in KIO University. I dropped off after my 9th trimester.”

“Okay, Mr. Kolsen. As you already know about the job market nowadays, we already have more qualified people applying here with you. They are more experienced in this job too.”

I had to let him know my desperation for a job, yet I couldn’t show vulnerability:

“Sir, I may not have as much experience, but instead I have that much more caution. In this field, caution is more valuable than confidence that stems from over-experience. I will be utterly cautious, follow all rules and regulations, and be as polite as possible to the customers.”

My palms were sweaty as I looked at the man in front of me in formal attire. He continued, “Fine. You look promising Mr. Kolsen." He is getting up, his hands on the table, “ Lets go for a test then.”

*****

I am over 6 feet tall, not too dark, fit (not too fat at least), with a baby face and a soft voice, not feminine but friendly, like the voice suitable for singing? Obviously I would look promising! I can already tell this man is imagining good reviews from customers already! My eyes are straight ahead, Mr. John, the interviewer, on my side, and hands strongly on the wheel as I show him my driving skills.

*****

“Hmm, we will send you an email with the result. You may go now Mr. Kolsen, thank you for your work.”

“Sir, I really… intend to work my best for this firm. I just need one chance to prove it.”, my voice pleading.

“Don't worry, Mr. Kolsen.”, he smiled, “Go home and take some rest.”

*****

“YES!!”, screamed I at my phone that very night while looking at the email, my tightly fisted left hand shaking in the shower of built-up adrenaline.

*****

Junior driver of Mist Rentals. A uniform, a cap, and a name tag.

I was waiting outside Hotel Stars’ Gaze. A five star hotel that boasts its view of ‘stars’ at night, i.e. the city lights at night actually.

I was sitting free just an hour ago, but my senior, who was supposed to receive this customer, visited the toilet three times in 20 minutes instead and asked me to take his place. He requested very cordially, even holding my hands.

*Knock* *Knock*

I cranked my neck at the right window and saw a pair of dark black sunglasses stare back at me. She was covered in luxurious clothes, as soon as I looked at her, she leisurely locked her arms upon her chest and started saying something. Being the noob I am, I quickly lowered the glass, “Ma'am you were saying something?”, asked I hurriedly.

“This is the one.”, a male voice chimed in.

She pulled the handle, I hurriedly unlocked the door, “Ma'am, may I please know the PIN?”

“798923”, another male voice answered.

“Thank you.”, I said, and one man boarded in the front seat, she and the other man sat back. “Okay, we are good to go… Denelly Hills… Is that correct Ma'am?”, I asked.

“Yes.”, for the first time I heard her voice.

The car revved, we were on the highway, and again I glanced at the app, Marie… Andrei… !!?

And right then I realised who was sitting on the car. A daughter of the most powerful family in this country. The Andrei family, always in news, especially its celebrity-like new generation. Marie is one of them. She was studying abroad till recently as I remember seeing on social media. However… I knew her even before she was popular, because we… were school mates.

Did she recognize me? No… that's a hard stretch. She shifted school when we were in 6th class, and more importantly why would she remember an introverted nobody like me?

Keeping my calm, I drive from the highway to the road to the hill. I stole some glances through the rearview mirror at her. She looks different, mature I'd say. Her eyes looking outside, and then on my final attempt, her head slowly moved and her dark black sunglasses stopped right at me letting me know she has irritatedly noticed my glances: AUGH! Denelly Hills! Denelly Hills!

I have never been here before, but from what I heard from my roommates, these hills are quite unruly: many sightings of wild animals and not much done to make it more… venturing friendly?

“Take right.”, the man next to me said.

Following his instructions we came to a small settlement whose identity I couldn't quite make out. If I were to guess, a storehouse or factory? It is nicely covered by trees and cannot be seen from away.

“Wait here, driver.”, she said as all three got out.

*Knock*

I opened the glass, her back to me, “Don't leave the car for any reason.”

“Y-yes Ma'am.”, I said nervously.

They went in.

Almost 15 minutes passed. Even though it is daytime, even though it is so calm, their attitude wouldn't let me be at peace. What's so serious happening here? I could outline a few: a rich spoiled lady getting her drugs, or it is least likely but maybe she's worried about wild animals that might attack me, and surely she's not doing anything much shadier—

*BOOM*

The first thing I perceived was the glass on the right back seat broke!

I jumped in there, both arms covering my head, I am trying to take cover.

I quickly, with one hand, head still lowered, shakily tried to start the car—

*FSSS!*

The tyre punctured.

No one was throwing bricks or stones around, there was no doubt what was happening:

I was in the middle of a gun showdown.

All shots were coming from the right—from the warehouse.

I ducked from the right seat and slid low across the car toward the left door.

Can they see me?! Why are they shooting me!

The door opened, I fell on my knees.

“Haah… haah…” , quickly looking around I crawled forward.

Who Marie Andrei and what job! I need to get out of here fast!

*Boom*

The front left glass broke, the bullet passed from my right.

In front?!

I turned my head to the right quickly, no one came into view. A cold fear rose up my spine from the unseen, I lunged left before I knew it. Bent I ran towards the back of the car.

*Boom*

Another bullet shattered the back glass, its shards sharply scraping my left cheek.

“Haah…! Haah…!”, I ran towards right now—towards the warehouse, the only place where the bullets weren't raining from then.

I was in front of its big open gates yet not a single bullet was shot from behind.

Quickly I got in and hid behind a metal rack on the left.

“Haah… Haah…”, huffing I tried understanding the situation—

*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*

Just what is going on!

Gunshots again, and hard to tell what they were shooting at as none were directed at me.

As my eyes drifted back on the gate quickly, I instantly froze — a man standing there, his gun pointed at me.

*Boom*

Shakily, I rushed to my right and yet again froze in motion as my eyes witnessed that very man fall to the ground with a hole on his forehead.

Footsteps were nearing the gate. Frantically I moved forward.

A door. Behind it noises. *Boom*

“Cover them!”, an unknown voice shouted inside, “Don't let a single one escape!”

My entire body's shaking. I am feverish. Eyes wide in no knowledge of what to do next. I stay still right at the side of the door.

The sounds inside slowly die. Taking the que, I quickly move inside. I wait a while by the door, eyes desperately scanning the dusty area for any human figures.

No one was there.

A desk at the right side. I near it and my leg hits something on the floor—a man pooled in blood.

I gasp in surprise and look at it again. The man has a gun near his right hand. I picked his bloody gun. I have to. I wanted to live.

*Boom*

Again gunfires from ahead. I see a door and at the same side a window. By then I had learnt, if I keep running, eventually I will be hunted. So I had to see what lay ahead of me.

I took careful steps to the window. Hoiding my body by the wall, I peeked.

*Boom*

“Give up! Your toys are nothing compared to our guns!”Marie screamed. It appeared to come from the left side—behind big metal shelves.

*Boom* *Boom*

Bullets are shot from the right side—from behind other smaller shelves.

“Quickly!”, a man's hissed irritation could be heard and in the next moments a yellow light could be seen at the right side.

The light was thrown towards the left side, its light a fire ignited on top of a glass bottle. Before even the bottle touched the ground on other side— *Boom* *Boom* *Boom* — bullets burst from the right side as one of Marie's men jumped out while shooting ahead. The other man and Marie followed and jumped with Marie covered by his body.

““Ah!””

The two men were shot as bullets came from ahead of them.

However I saw one more enemy slowly getting close, from their left blindspot—in front of my vision from the window.

“STOP!”, my voice uncontrollably unrestrained.

I pointed the gun at him while only letting my head and hands out of the door. Hands trembling.

He smirked in a split second and fired as if saying, “You can't shoot!”

I hid myself behind the wall again.

“Haah!”, a man roared.

*Clank!* *Clank!* *Boom*

Shooting continued.

I quickly shakily tried hiding somewhere and everything fell silent again. I peeked from the window.

“Are you alright, Ma'am?”, as the dust was clearing, one man asked Marie.

“I am fine, Robert. How are you doing, James?”, she said turning to the man sitting against the metal shelves, behind the shelves fire burning since the bottles crashed there.

“I am alright, Ma'am. Just minor injuries.”

All three of them were huffing as they remained in the opening.

Marie turned towards my room's door.

No hurry in her steps.

I tried standing and stood by the door—half-bent, the doorframe my support.

“Thank you, Cole.”, She smiled. Extending her hand to me, she continued, “Let's go.”

I saw mysticism, I saw magic; the hand she extended, in it and in her I could see a mystical white covering everything around her, around us.

I looked at her face, her eyes. They looked at me. She's smiling. I extended my hand to grab hers—*Boom*

Everything is vanishing. She is screaming.

*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*

My left hand touched my back—the source of the pain.

“...stay with me!...”, Marie is desperate.

Before my world became black, the last thing I saw was my own blood in my hand and the last thing I heard was gunshots.

*****

My eyes dimly opened to a foreign place. Breathing is easier than ever.

“How are you doing?”, a woman’s voice from my left. I start turning a bit and she continues, “Doctor said you were awake.”

Marie Andrei was sitting by bed on a chair.

“...I am fine.”

A nurse inclined my bed. “Is there any breathing problem?”, she asked.

“No.”, I paused, “Can you take the mask off please?” I wished to talk freely.

“But sir you may have problems breathing.”

“I am… ok. Please.”, my chest felt pressured as I was talking.

The nurse removed my oxygen mask, “Immediately call me if you have breathing problems.”

“Ok.”

“You may leave us now.”, Marie said. The nurse left.

“I apologise for everything I put you through, Cole Kolsen. Any of these wasn't my intention.”, her high self sounded slightly apologetic.

I was at a loss for words. She continued, “Please never speak of what happened to anyone.” I saw it coming. “If the police or media inquires, just tell them it was a maniac who shot you in a cafe below the Denelly Hills.”

“...Ok.”, I said. My face devoid of any expression.

She puts an envelope on the table to my left, “This is a small compensation for everything that happened. And lay low for this year. If you have any relatives in the countryside, stay there.” Right after finishing her sentence, her eyes darted to the corner. I couldn't tell what hit her, but she continued, “Or if you do not have a place to stay, you can stay at one of my mansions on Jancar Island.”

She stood up, placed a card on the table, looked at me again and smiled before leaving, “Get well soon, Cole Kolsen.”

“Haah… haah…”, Am I having breathing issues or was conversation with her a bit nerve-wracking.

I slowly picked my phone from the table and:

A headline reads, “Marie Andrei of Andrei family spotted with her alleged good friend when a maniac shot him.”

A video I found, “Marie, who was this man? As many said, was he your boyfriend?” Marie answered very sadly, “Cole is my school friend. We were just catching up after my return from abroad and that's when the shootout happened.”

Another video, “Marie Andrei who just returned yesterday, directly went to meet her very good friend at the Denelly Hills when a man attacked them.”

Another title, “Marie Andrei and her boy friend attacked.”

Titles and videos: “...bf…”, “...boy friend…”, “...their relationship…”...

JUST WHAT IS GOING ON?!