"Wait!"
Florida stopped in his tracks, holding one end of the blanket of their makeshift stretcher for the patients. Everyone halted at his voice, eyes turning toward him in confusion.
"Florida," Ransom breathed out, already sensing what Florida was about to do. But before he could finish, Florida turned to the other man and transferred the end of the blanket to him.
"Hold this for ," Florida said, catching the man off guard. Still, the latter took it. "I can’t just leave the granny behind."
He couldn’t bring himself to owe her more than they already did.
Without waiting for anyone’s response, Florida turned and ran back down the path they had taken from the brothel.
"Florida, wait—" Ransom’s words died in his throat as he watched his colleague sprint back at full speed. He clenched his teeth, realizing Florida was about to risk his life playing the hero.
With that thought in mind, he turned to the others who were helping.
"I’ll get him," Ransom said hurriedly, letting another man take his place. "Please take these guys to the vehicle. I’ll bring him back — fast."
With that, Ransom followed after Florida.
In his mind, if Florida managed to rescue the granny, then he would help her too. Even if they had to carry her out, so be it. After all, that was Lola’s order: to take the granny with them.
But if the situation had already deteriorated beyond saving, then Ransom’s priority would be stopping Florida from throwing his life away.
*****
When Florida reached the street leading back to the brothel, he slowed to a stop as movent caught his eye. His breath hitched. His steps skidded as he leaned against the concrete wall at the corner of the street.
Slowly, he peeked out.
From his position, he could see the brothel’s entrance from a distance.
Multiple vehicles were parked outside, n spilling into the streets. The previously quiet Gigante — once resembling a ghost town — was now alive with noise. But instead of screams, what filled the air were crashing objects and the harsh voices of n ransacking the town.
"Damn it," Florida hissed through clenched teeth. "How could they be this fast?!"
If they didn’t hurry, there was no doubt these people would catch up to them.
The thought sent a cold knot tightening in his chest.
Just as he was assessing the situation, he noticed movent from the side streets.
Townsfolk were erging from their hos.
Families gathered together, standing outside their residences in silence. A few children clung to adults, though most were grown n and won, with a handful of elderly among them. Yet what struck Florida the most was not fear — it was the lack of it.
The people weren’t panicking. They weren’t confused.
Their blank expressions and lowered gazes told him everything.
These people were numb.
It was almost as if this were a drill they had practiced for years. They didn’t beg. They didn’t resist. They simply stood and watched as strangers tore their hos apart.
"The hell...?" Florida muttered.
At that mont, a hand grabbed his shoulder.
Florida reacted on instinct, his hand shooting toward the knife at his waist until a quiet voice stopped him.
"It’s ."
Ransom grabbed Florida’s wrist just in ti to prevent a fatal mistake.
It took a second for recognition to sink in. Florida exhaled sharply, his shoulders dropping.
"What are you doing?" Ransom asked, leaning beside him and peeking around the wall.
When he saw the scene unfolding, his expression hardened, caught between anger and disbelief.
"I thought when we were warned they were heading this way, we still had ti."
But they had barely left the brothel before the enemies arrived. What had once been eerily quiet was now crawling with rcenaries and silent civilians.
"What are they doing?" Ransom asked grimly. "Why are they destroying the houses?"
"Just because."
Both n turned at the voice.
A younger man — one of those ant to help transport the patients — had followed them.
Neither Florida nor Ransom asked why he was there. The answer was obvious.
He had co to bring them back.
The young man moved closer, peering at the chaos. Bitterness twisted his expression as his jaw tightened.
"This happens all the ti," he muttered. "If they’re bored, or angry, or just not in the mood, they tear apart a few houses and leave when they’ve had enough."
He swallowed hard.
"On collection days, if it’s a bad one, they kill a few people too — just because they can. If not for the money we send to the main city, this town would’ve been wiped out already."
Despite having witnessed this countless tis, the anger never faded.
Ransom glanced at him, then at Florida. "Florida... let’s go. We can co back later."
Florida didn’t answer imdiately. His eyes remained fixed on the street.
Then his expression changed.
"Wait," he whispered, raising a hand. "Soone’s coming out of the granny’s place."
The rest of his words caught in his throat.
A large man — bigger than either of them — dragged an elderly woman by her hair out into the street.
Despite her frail fra and thin white hair, he showed no hesitation. He yanked her forward and threw her onto the pavent.
"That—"
Florida took a step forward, his vision going red the mont he recognized her.
Ransom grabbed his shoulder, holding him back.
"Don’t," Ransom breathed, his grip tightening as he saw blood dripping from the granny as she struggled to rise. His own blood boiled. "Don’t be stupid."
The words sounded like a warning — not just to Florida, but to himself.
Their mission was to rescue the Bellemonte captives.
Avoiding confrontation was paramount.
They had already bought those n precious ti. Their objective here was complete.
Saving the town — saving her — was not part of the mission.
"But—" Florida hissed, his fists trembling.
Neither man blinked. Rage burned in their eyes.
The young man beside them clenched his jaw and forcibly looked away.
"Let’s go," he said quietly. "Trust . If there’s anyone angrier than you right now... it’s all of Gigante."
He inhaled sharply.
"But the granny told us to get you out. And we will get you out — no matter what."
He looked at them, eyes fierce.
"It’s the least we can do for the stubborn woman who protected Gigante all these years."
His voice cracked.
"Please. Don’t take this away from us."
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