Chapter 29: Unexpected Death
Ezra’s Point Of View.
I WAS stunned by the gun shot. It’s the second time I seemed to be stunned again and the only noise coming from there was all I could hear.
I slowly looked around at where the bang had come from. Even the seven were halted. Tears began to leak from my eyes as everything shrank together abruptly. I couldn’t move for several minutes from where I was standing due to shock.
When my brain processed what I saw, I immediately stood up and ran towards her. I almost stumbled in a hurry. I put my arm around her neck to lift her head. She’s covered with blood and is lying on the ground.
“P-Please, hold on! I’m begging you!” I pleaded. She gently stroked my cheek and smiled. I closed my eyes and sobbed even more. I felt her cold hands.
No, please!
“T-Take care of yourself, Ezra. I-I’m sorry for everything. Y-You’re the best daughter I’ve ever had. A-Always remember that I-I love you so much,” she uttered, having difficulty speaking in throe. I burst into tears.
“No! Please, hold on! Don’t leave me, Mom! Please, Mommy… Don’t close your eyes!” I begged and held her hand tightly.
My world collapsed when she finally closed her eyes. I screamed in resentment and cried out loud while hugging the cold body of my mother.
I never thought this was how everything would end up…
I didn’t even realize that Kiana and Dad had been untied and they ran to me. Daddy, who was also crying, approached me immediately. I clung to his arm and cried.
If it hurts for me, I know it hurts twice as much for Dad.
My mind is a mess. I’m mourning but I can only feel wrath and eagerness to kill a person because of how grievous this was to me.
Then, the police officers came. I don’t know who called the police but it doesn’t matter to me. They arrested and handcuffed the rest of Raiko’s men and even himself.
I glared at him and if only I could end his life, he’s probably lying in his own grave right now.
I balled my fists and rushed at him, halting him from getting into the police’s car because I haven’t released the anger inside me. I faced him and slapped him hard.
“Fuck you!” I slapped him again. ”How could you do this?! How could you kill my Mom?!”
Kiana pulled me back while the police officers blocked themselves between Raiko and I.
I got on my knees in exhaustion and couldn’t stop crying. They kept Raiko away from me, which is for the better because I’m not in the right mind at the moment.
I desperately approached the police and begged. I held his sleeves and kneeled down. Kiana and Dad tried to stand me up but I didn’t budge.
“Sir, let’s take my Mommy to the hospital! Please, sir! I’m begging you! She needs to live, please! She can’t die!”
He nodded in agreement so Hyde and I immediately helped him get Mommy in the car. I can’t afford to waste time even just a second.
I cried especially because of the extent of the traffic. As we progressed, Xavier pulled the car over so we quickly got to the hospital.
“Please, stay there, miss,” said the nurse to me and took care of Mommy.
I tugged at my hair in frustration and then gasped again. I’m tired of crying. I can’t take it anymore. But if crying would wake Mommy up, I won’t mind sobbing every day and night.
I didn’t notice Kiana standing next to me. She hugged me as if to indicate her condolences.
“Kiana, Mommy won’t die,” I insisted, crying again. Kiana shook her head and caressed my back but the pain didn’t subside.
I still can’t absorb what happened. Mommy had nothing to do with it but why did Raiko involve her? Why didn’t he shoot me instead? Isn’t his intention to execute me? Why did he kill Mom?
Anger and the urge to revenge filled my heart and mind. If ever something bad happens to Mommy, I will make sure that Raiko rots in jail and dies there as well.
“Who’s the family of the patient?”
I immediately stood up when the doctor came out of the Operating Room, so did Dad. He supported me and we approached the doctor together.
“We are the family, sir,” Dad replied. I stared at the doctor and observed his reaction.
I feel like I already have an idea of ​​what he’s going to say. Tears welled up in my eyes again. I don’t want to hear it.
“The patient lost a lot of blood. It was too late when she got here so the consumed blood couldn’t be revived—”
“Just be straightforward and tell us her condition, Doc!” I couldn’t help but shout in annoyance.
I want to know my Mom’s condition. I want to talk to her again. I want to hug her tight.
“We did our best but we’re very sorry to say this,” he paused and looked down. “The patient is dead.”
On countless occasions, my world has been destroyed. It was as if I heard nothing but the repetition in my ear that the doctor had said.
“The patient is dead…”
Suddenly, my body sank and I sat flat on the floor. I wrapped my arms around my knees and silently mourned. The words of the doctor echoed in both sides of my ears. I want to scream but I just can’t. I don’t have the energy to do it. I consumed every strength I have.
I can feel the tiredness from the fight we were in a while ago but I didn’t bother to care about it because grieving occupied me.
Hyde kneeled in front of me and without a word, he embraced me. He stroked my hair and I buried my face in his chest.
“I’m here,” he whispered.
I continued crying and glanced at Mommy in the Operating Room who’s being transferred to another hospital bed. Maybe her body will be put straight in the mortuary now.
I don’t think I can bear to see her. From a distance, Dad’s sobs were dominant. It pained me even more to witness his torment and watch him being in the same situation as mine. Tears streamed down my cheeks one after another.
***
Hyde’s Point Of View.
My girl is crying and I can’t help myself seeing her miserable. We did nothing to stop Raiko from firing his gun at her mother because we were all stunned. I was scared for Ezra’s life for a second, but her mother ran to her and Raiko noticed it so he shot Auntie.
I want to hug Ezra tight. I want to tell her everything will be alright, but I don’t know how to comfort her in this kind of situation. I know what happened is very painful for her, especially since she lost a loved one and not only a person important to her but her dearest mother.
If I could only get the pain that you feel…
We first gave Uncle and Ezra time to see their family member at the last moment. We all went out of the hospital and ventilated.
I was surprised to see Mom, Dad, and Hime coming. I immediately picked Hime up and hugged her. I can’t deny I’m hurting. I was hurting for Ezra and I was angry with myself that I could do nothing to alleviate the pain she was feeling.
“Are you okay, son?” Mom asked worriedly.
I nodded. “I’m fine, Mom. But Ezra isn’t.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Her mother is dead…”
Dad was stiffened while Mom covered her mouth and stared at me in shock.
“Oh my God!” she exclaimed in disbelief. “Where is Jin?!”
I sighed heavily before answering her question. “She’s inside, Mom. The Doctor has allowed them to see her mother for the last time.”
I turned to the hospital again and looked up at the floor where they are. Even far away, I could hear someone crying and I was sure Ezra’s voice was there. I clenched my fist and immediately put down Hime.
“I need to go somewhere, Mom.” I said goodbye to them.
“Wait a minute, son! Where are you going?”
“Hyde!”
I could hear them calling me and asking where I will go but I didn’t look back or even answer their questions.
I wasted no more time and I went to the precinct. I headed to where Raiko was being talked to by the police.
“Oh, Mr. Faulkerson–”
I didn’t let the police speak anymore because I immediately kicked Raiko in the chest, which caused him to fall from his seat. He was shocked and he couldn’t escape nor move because his hands were handcuffed. The police stopped me and calmed me down.
“Sir, please, calm down.”
“Shut up!”
I stared straight at Raiko who was silently crying. I hit the table and it caused a bang. He’s quivering now and I don’t know if it’s part of his acting or it’s because of his illness. I want to beat him until he spits blood.
He has lost his mind.
“You killed Ezra’s mother,” I said with gritted teeth.
His eyes widened and it seemed as if he didn’t believe me or it’s impossible for him to do such a thing.
“N-No! No!” He shook his head. “I can’t do that!”
I smirked. “You cannot? You already did it!” I couldn’t control anger issues and yelled in rage.
He is the reason why the woman I love is mourning and suffering.
“I didn’t kill her! I didn’t kill her!” He pulled his hair and cried in nowhere. “I didn’t mean to kill her.”
“You, stupid motherfucker! I’ll make sure you rot there in jail and you won’t run away.” I turned serious. “Any mental hospital can’t treat you anymore because you’re getting even worse and I don’t think your craziness can be stopped. You’re good for nothing.”
He has been imprisoned. He struggled because he didn’t want to be with the other big prisoners. I made sure he couldn’t do anything but get inside the bar.
There you will die…
To think that his imprisonment was not enough for everything he did to us and to Ezra. If the law revolves only in my hand, he will surely break his bones and crawl to dig his own grave.
I rested loosely and walked out of the station. Raiko and his men are already incarcerated.
The war is over.
***
Kiana’s Point Of View.
We are currently watching Uncle and Ezra from a distance. Even for me it was painful. Not because my marriage didn’t go through — well, that also hurts — but losing a family member is even more excruciating, and that was definitely more harrowing on Ezra’s part.
All her life, Ezra and her mother did nothing but misunderstand each other. They always argue and don’t talk properly. No one wanted to listen to her nor hear her out, so it’s normal for Ezra to have resentment towards her Mom.
Auntie often scolds Ezra but I felt that she loved her. Of course, she is her daughter. She may have been blinded by money and power before, but at least she took the chance to change for the better. Ezra, on the other hand, didn’t hesitate to forgive her Mom after everything she experienced because of her parents.
But it’s tragic when they are starting to get along, then Auntie would be gone.
Why is the world so unfair?
Earlier, I’ve been laughing with Ezra. The speed of the time, how the mood and the atmosphere changed because we can only hear silent cries and groans at the moment.
I can’t approach Ezra. I knew she needed someone to comfort her and I knew it wasn’t me. I’m her best friend and I said I’ll be there for her but in these times, I’m also weak and she needed someone who’s stronger for her to rely on. Only Hyde can do it. Only Hyde can handle her.
I roamed my eyes to look for Hyde but he was nowhere. Whatever the reason is, I no longer bothered to ask questions and think. I looked at Auntie’s body in the distance and I burst into tears.
Rest in peace, Auntie.