That distance was not kept for long. Soon, they were almost entangled with the enemies.
"Run!" Lalaine shouted as she slightly pushed Nathanya a bit faster.
"Taylor! I have trusted you like no other. I even treated you as my daughter. How could you do this to me?! How could you kill my son?!" Mr. Demethry yelled.
"Go ahead and ask your own son why he deserved his death. His death is nothing compared to the sacrifices and sufferings Lace and Drake experienced. I even showed mercy by going too easy on him!" Taylor answered. More of Demethry's men were now chasing them. Bullets were flying everywhere. Taylor's katanas were waving left and right and as they did so, different parts of the body fell on the ground.
"Callix! You traitor!" Briana shouted.
"You chose that weakling over us. Don't expect me to stay still as I watch how she'll get you all killed." Callix answered her.
"If I ever betray my friends, please kill me on the spot." Jade suddenly whispered from behind her that made her turn her head.
"What?" She asked her but before she could answer, a dagger was already stabbed in her abdomen.
"I'm sorry." Jade said as she embraced the body of Callix. No one noticed what she did. She then retreated a few steps from them and laid the body of Callix on the side. Then she rushed to Taylor's side, tears and blood all over her face.
"Jade!" Briana exclaimed. She then looked over the opponent's side to look for Callix.
"Where's Callix?" She asked. Jade shook her head.
"She's dead. I just fulfilled her wish." She said, pain and regret evident on her beautiful jade eyes.
"Wish?" Lalaine asked.
"She once said, if I ever betray my friends, please just kill me on the spot. I just made that promise to her come true. I… I killed her." She said and her body started trembling. She almost stumbled down so Briana supported her.
"I… I can't stand seeing her betray you. I'm sorry." She added before deciding to collect herself and fight again.
Nathanya was about to lose her mind. Never have she ever thought that one day, she'll run away from bullets and will bathe in blood. She was so terrified but she had no other choice but to run.
They reached the parking lot of the academy and immediately rode in their car. Bullets were still following them.
"Lower your heads!" Taylor ordered and they all complied. She set aside her katanas and asked Briana to pull the machine gun under the back seat. When it was all set up, she exchanged places with Briana. Briana was now the one driving the car. She loaded the machine gun and started firing.
"I am starting to feel annoyed! Now, time to feed you with bullets!" Taylor exclaimed as she fired.
The bullets that were coming from Taylor's machine gun hit one of the opponent's car and it exploded, becoming a hindrance for the vehicles following them. Briana took the momentum to set the car to its highest speed and escape.
"Ate Venice! Ate Lalaine is bleeding!" Nathanya suddenly said. Taylor immediately left the machine gun to Jade in case the vehicles following them reappear.
"Lalaine?! Can you hear me?!" Taylor asks while positioning Lalaine in a more comfortable way. A bullet hit Lalaine's left shoulder and another hit her back, reaching and hitting her heart.
"Just… let me." Lalaine said in a difficult way. Blood keeps on coming out of her mouth. She's gurgling the blood that was stuck on her throat.
"I'll… I'll meet my… brothers…finally." She said. She's having a difficult time speaking. Taylor nodded since she knew there was no way to save her.
"I'm… I'm so… sorry" she added. Taylor caressed her hair.
"You are forgiven. Rest now." Taylor said and Lalaine finally gave up life. Her hands slowly fell down and in an instant, the body of Lalaine became lifeless. Taylor's anger just worsened.
"I have lost too many people in just one day. Don't wait for me to have those lives be paid for with yours!" Taylor said. Briana just continued driving without knowing where they were heading to.
“Where are we going?” Briana finally asked after driving for quite some time. Jade finally let go of the machine gun after being sure that they will never be tailed again.
“I don’t know. Just drive anywhere far for now.” Taylor responded.
“How… How about we go to our province? I think it’s much safer there.” Nathanya suggested. Briana agreed with her but didn’t dare to decide ahead of Talor. Instead, she turned her head to see her reaction and decision.
“Is that far from here?” Taylor aska Nathanya.
“We’re actually on our way there. Just a few kilometers more and we’re there.” Nathanya answered. Taylor nodded her head before deciding.
“Then, drive up to there. I have my cards with me. That must be enough to sustain us.” she said.
“No need. My family still has some properties there. The house was named after me and my relatives there were farmers so food will never be our problem.” Nathanya told them. Taylor nodded and Briana knew the matter was now decided. With Nathanya’s guidance, she drove to the province she mentioned.
“Are we just going to let them escape like that?” Ashton asked Demethry.
“Let them get away for now while we plan our next move. For now, I want you to retrieve the body of my son. I want to give him a proper burial.” Demethry answered him.
“But… the warehouse where he died was burned, how will I know that it was Claude?” Ashton asked. Demethry pulled something out of his pocket.
“You see this necklace? He was wearing the same one. And if you’re still not able to find him with this necklace, he’s also wearing a ring like this.” Demethry answered while showing him the necklace and the ring. Ashton nodded and immediately gathered some of the unhurt people they had on the spot and proceeded to look for the body of Claude. Demethry was left alone, anger and grief mixing in his heart sourly.
“Taylor! I will let you escape for now. But be sure you are able to stand the surge coming towards you soon.” he threatened and punched the table, breaking the glass that’s supposed to protect it.