Chapter 264: Too tight!!
Its raining again in Paris
Chloe’s fear shattered the moment she recognized him.
For a brief second, her mind stopped thinking, stopped calculating danger, and stopped fearing the men with guns. All she knew was that he was there.
Safe.
Familiar.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward and buried herself into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso. Her fingers clutched his jacket as if letting go would mean falling back into darkness. A single tear slipped down her cheek, warm against the cold air of the room.
Ghost froze.
He had faced death countless times. He had walked through gunfire, stood against enemies without blinking, and made decisions where hesitation meant failure.
But this...
This caught him off guard.
Slowly, carefully, he raised his hand and placed it on her shoulder, giving a gentle tap, grounding her.
"It is alright."
His voice was low, steady.
"We are getting out of here."
Chloe pulled back slightly, her cheeks faintly flushed, her breathing uneven. Her eyes searched his face beneath the hood.
"Why are you here?"
Ghost answered simply.
"I saw you at the graveyard... and followed you all the way here."
Her eyes widened.
"They are dangerous people."
Her voice trembled.
"They have guns. We have to run."
Ghost nodded once.
"Alright. Let’s go."
He stood up and helped her to her feet, steadying her as she regained balance.
But just as they moved...
Footsteps.
A voice echoed from outside.
"These two are useless... they left the door open."
Ghost’s expression hardened instantly.
"Shh. Don’t move."
The armed man stepped inside.
His eyes fell on Chloe.
Untied.
Free.
He stopped.
Surprised.
"Well... well."
A crooked smile appeared on his face.
"Excuse me, little girl. You are quite clever, aren’t you?"
Chloe’s body stiffened.
Fear returned to her eyes.
The man stepped closer, raising his gun slightly.
"Come on. Sit back down."
His voice turned cold.
"You want to live, don’t you?"
But Chloe wasn’t looking at him.
Her gaze had shifted.
Behind him.
To Ghost.
The man noticed.
His instincts kicked in.
He began to turn.
Too late.
A sudden movement.
A heavy, rusted metal cylinder swung through the air.
It crashed against his head with a dull, brutal impact.
The man collapsed instantly.
But the sound echoed.
Louder than expected.
Ghost dropped the cylinder.
"Come on."
His voice sharpened.
"Let’s move."
Chloe glanced at the fallen man, her heart racing.
Ghost stepped forward urgently.
"They are coming. Move."
Chloe grabbed his arm without thinking.
"Let’s go."
From the corridor, a voice shouted.
"What was that sound?"
Footsteps rushed toward them.
Fast.
Heavy.
Two men.
Ghost and Chloe ran.
They turned into another corridor, their footsteps echoing against broken tiles and hollow walls.
Behind them..
"Shit... she ran away!"
"Find her!"
The chase had begun.
They reached a window at the end of the corridor.
Ghost tried to push it open.
It didn’t move.
Jammed.
He applied more force.
Still nothing.
Footsteps approached.
Closer.
Closer.
Ghost’s voice dropped.
"Stay quiet."
Chloe grabbed his sleeve instinctively.
"Don’t go there..."
He looked at her briefly.
"It is safer here."
The footsteps slowed.
A shadow appeared along the wall.
A gun barrel emerged first, cautiously pointing into the corridor.
Ghost’s body tensed.
The moment the weapon entered his range...
He moved.
Explosive.
Precise.
He lunged forward, grabbing the gun with one hand, twisting it sharply. At the same time, his leg struck out, kicking the man’s knee with brutal force.
The joint buckled.
Before the man could scream, Ghost’s elbow slammed into his neck.
A sharp crack echoed.
The man collapsed backward, gasping.
Chloe covered her mouth, her eyes wide in shock.
Ghost didn’t stop.
He grabbed the gun and struck the man’s head with the butt, knocking him out completely.
But there was no time.
Another set of footsteps.
Closer.
Ghost rushed back to the window.
He raised the gun and smashed it against the glass.
Once.
Twice.
The glass shattered.
Rain and cold air rushed in.
"Jump out."
Chloe looked down.
It was higher than she expected.
"I... I can’t reach."
Ghost didn’t hesitate.
"Excuse me."
He lifted her effortlessly, his grip firm yet careful.
He placed one foot on the window frame and lowered her slowly outside, making sure she landed safely.
Suddenly,
Gunfire.
A bullet struck the wall beside him, sending debris flying.
Ghost’s voice turned sharp.
"Run."
"I am right behind you."
Chloe hesitated.
"But.."
"Run, Chloe."
His tone left no room for argument.
"There is a car outside."
"He will take you home."
The footsteps were almost upon him now.
"Run."
Chloe swallowed her fear and turned.
She ran.
Fast.
Through the wet ground, through the broken boundary, until she spotted a small opening near the edge of the wall.
She crawled through it and stumbled out.
Outside.
Marcel stood waiting.
"Come with me, miss."
"There is a car nearby."
Chloe ran toward him, her heart pounding.
They reached the car and got inside quickly.
But Chloe turned back immediately, panic in her eyes.
"Wait."
"You have to wait for him."
Her voice trembled.
"You have to save him."
Marcel looked at her calmly as he started the engine.
"Calm down."
"He will be alright."
Inside the hospital
Ghost stood alone.
Rain dripped through the broken window behind him.
Gunfire echoed through the corridor.
His grip tightened around the knife.
His eyes turned cold.
"You are dead."
His voice was barely a whisper.
"Gunman."
The gunshots kept echoing from inside the abandoned hospital, each one tearing through the silence of the rainy afternoon. The sound bounced against the broken walls and empty corridors, sharp and relentless, making the place feel even more lifeless than before.
Chloe sat in the car, her hands trembling, her eyes fixed on the shattered building behind them.
"He is in danger."
Her voice shook as she turned toward Marcel.
"We should call the police. They took my phone... can you give me yours?"
Her breathing was uneven, panic slowly taking over her thoughts.
Then suddenly...
Silence.
The gunshots stopped.
Just like that.
No warning.
No transition.
Only silence remained, heavy and unnatural.
Chloe froze.
Her heart pounded harder in her chest.
"What... what happened..."
Marcel glanced at the building and then smiled faintly, his calmness almost unsettling in contrast to the chaos that had just ended.
"Relax, miss."
He turned the steering wheel and drove the car toward the main entrance of the hospital.
The tires rolled slowly over the wet ground.
And then
She saw him.
A figure walked out from the entrance.
Calm.
Steady.
Unhurried.
The rain fell over his hoodie as he stepped forward, his silhouette cutting through the mist like something untouched by the violence that had just occurred.
Ghost.
Chloe’s breath caught in her throat.
Relief hit her all at once.
She opened the door before the car had fully stopped and rushed toward him.
Without thinking.
Without hesitation.
She threw her arms around him again, holding him tightly.
"You idiot..."
Her voice cracked.
"You scared me."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"If something happened to you... I would feel guilty all my life."
Ghost stood there for a moment, slightly surprised again by her sudden reaction. Then a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Ouch."
Chloe immediately loosened her grip and stepped back.
"Are you hurt?"
Her eyes scanned him quickly, worry written all over her face.
Ghost shook his head lightly.
"No. You just held too tight."
Chloe blinked, then frowned slightly.
"You..."
She punched his chest lightly.
Ghost caught her wrist instinctively, stopping her mid-motion.
Their eyes met.
For a brief second, everything slowed again.
Rain.
Breath.
Silence.
"You will catch cold."
His voice softened.
"Let’s get in."
They both walked back to the car and got into the backseat.
Marcel glanced at them through the mirror.
"You good?"
Ghost leaned back slightly.
"I am alright."
Marcel nodded and started the car.
"Where should we drop you, miss?"
Chloe hesitated.
"Aren’t we going to the police?"
Marcel shook his head gently.
"I am afraid we cannot do that."
He spoke calmly, choosing his words carefully.
"The boy beside you is here as a special student for research."
"If he gets involved with the police in Paris, it could become a breach of contract."
"He might be sent back."
Chloe turned her head slowly toward Ghost, processing what Marcel said.
"Oh..."
She looked down for a moment, then nodded.
"Then it is better we do not go to the police."
Ghost gave a faint smile.
"Thanks."
Chloe looked out the window briefly, then spoke again.
"Drop me at the square near Leo’s cafe."
Ghost raised a brow slightly.
"There? Are you sure? Not home?"
Chloe shook her head.
"I gave my school bag to Leo before going to the graveyard."
Her voice softened.
"I went there... to meet my mom."
Ghost looked at her carefully.
There was something in her tone that didn’t need explanation.
He nodded slightly.
"Oh... wait."
He reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled something out.
"Here."
Chloe looked at it and her eyes widened slightly.
"My phone..."
She took it quickly.
"You got this back for me?"
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you."
The car continued moving through the rain.
Time had passed.
Almost an hour.
...
At Westfield Mall, Chloe’s father stood waiting.
His eyes kept scanning every corner, every person passing by. His grip on the pager tightened with each passing second. His mind raced with fear, anger, and helplessness.
No one came.
No call.
No sign.
Then
His phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Chloe.
His heart skipped.
He answered instantly.
"Chloe... my daughter... where are you?"
His voice trembled.
"Are you alright?"
"They did not do anything to you... right?"
On the other side, Chloe’s voice came through, slightly shaky.
"Dad..."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I escaped."
"I am alright. Don’t worry."
Her father closed his eyes for a moment, relief washing over him.
"Thank God..."
He exhaled deeply.
"Where are you now?"
Chloe glanced at Ghost briefly before answering.
"I am in a cab."
"I am going to Leo’s cafe to get my bag."
"I will be there in thirty minutes."
Her father nodded even though she couldn’t see him.
"Alright."
"Do not go anywhere from there."
"I am coming."
"Stay there."
Chloe nodded softly.
"Okay, dad."
"Come fast."
The call ended.
She lowered the phone slowly.
The car remained quiet for a moment.
Ghost looked at her.
"You good?"
Chloe took a small breath.
"I am fine."
Outside, the rain continued to fall.