Chapter 12

(: If anything in this chapter is not accurate, please for me.

Runo ran, ignoring Dan calling her. "Runo, wait."

Runo looked around, she was on the street. She needed to lose Dan. With what she'd learned, Dan had changed, but she could clearly see he was as stubborn as ever.

She entered the crowd, making Dan lose sight of her. Just as she was about to hail a cab, she spotted a narrow road. It seemed lonely, but she was sure she would lose Dan that way. Without much thinking, she entered the street.

The street was deserted. Now and then Runo looked over her shoulder. Could someone be following her? She cursed herself for coming in here. Damn Dan for kissing her. Damn him for disappearing.

Suddenly, a voice called from behind. "Hey beautiful, wanna get a drink?"

Instantly, Runo panicked. She turned her head slowly, and shrieked. He had a gun. "What do you want?" Runo asked, trying to keep her voice strong.

The man smiled, showing his crooked teeth. "Surrender all your belongings to me, and I might leave you alone."

Runo frowned, the only valuable thing she had was her ring – her engagement ring. Whatever the cost, she wasn't handing it in. She wondered how she was going to get out. Sure, she considered running, but she didn't seem to have much chance in her heels. Plus, there was no way she could overpower him physically.

Getting no reply, the man advanced. Runo backed up, but before she knew it, she hit the wall behind her. The man quickened his pace, and almost immediately was inches away from her. He leaned in, trailing his gun over the left side of Runo's face. "Girls like you don't usually walk on these streets. You seem helpless, maybe I can help you." he said, with a slight grin.

Runo tried to push the man away, but he was way too strong. On sensing her restrain, his grin widened. As if to provoke her, he rested his hand on her thigh, slowly bringing it upward. Runo screamed.

"Scream all you want," he said, "no one's going to hear you."

Just as he was about to bring his mouth on hers, a familiar voice yelled from behind. "Hey, get away from her!"

Dan.

The man turned towards Dan, raising his gun. "What makes you think I'll do that?"

Dan's eyes widened at the sight of the gun, but the anger in them was evident. Without thinking he ran towards the man. "Runo, get out of there!" He yelled as he ran. The man pointed his gun at Dan. But before he could shoot, Dan flung himself at the man, knocking him out on the ground. The two men rolled together. The man pushed Dan aside, making him hit the railing besides them. But Dan, recovering quickly, tackled the man and then almost immediately, the gun went off.

" Dan!" Runo yelled, panicking.

The man got up, his hands covered in Dans blood. He bent, picked up his gun, and ran, but Runo couldn't care less. She kneeled besides Dan. He was shot in his stomach. He was losing blood quickly.

"Dan, stay with me. I love you, please, I can't lose you again." Runo said, tears filing up her eyes. Not wasting time, she picked up her cell phone, and called for an ambulance.

Mrs. Kuso paced up and down the hospital hallway. The others sat outside the operation room, worried. Dan had been taken in there the moment he had arrived. Apparently, a lot of blood had been lost. In the meanwhile, Runo had called the others and explained to them what had happened.

"This is madness; he's been there for almost an hour!" Marucho said. "I hope he's fine."

Shun shook his head, "He has to be."

Runo, on the other hand, was the only one waiting patiently. No tears, not even a word.

"He broke up with me, before leaving." Lara said, taking a seat besides Runo. Runo looked at Lara, her eyes wide.

"He did?"

Lara nodded, "Sure, he was as kind as he could be. He will be okay, won't he?" she asked, worried.

But Runo was too surprised to care. Realization dawned over her. That was the reason he did what he did. Said what he said. If only she would have waited and listened to what he had to say. He wouldn't be battling for his life right now.

Runo opened her mouth, to say something, but was interrupted by a noise in the operation theatre. She raced to the window.

The doctor was yelling at the nurse to get something. The nurse prepared an injection. The doctor continued to give commands. But Runo wasn't even paying attention; she was looking at the machine beside him.

His heartbeat was slowing.

98…68…50…30…

And just like that, the beeping stopped. And the line straightened, indicating only one possible thing. There was no heartbeat left.