Page 178 of His Hell Girl

He's advancing.

So if we're not going to him, he's slowly coming toward us.

A smile pulls at my lips and I continue to listen to his small steps as he marches forward. There's a slight hesitation to the way he's moving, as if his very life depends on this assignment.

And in a way, it does.

Because the moment when I'm sure of his position comes, the gun in my hand ready and angled up, my finger gently squeezing the trigger.

And then I listen.

There's a short pause before two breaths come out in short spurts, the sound of knees crashing to the ground letting me know I'd hit him. His body falls further, the metal of his gun hitting the cement. I document each sound, making sure he's out.

Yet even as I know him to be dead, I still listen, just in case there are more people.

"Clear," I say when I'm sure the danger's past.

We all get up, moving forward until we encounter the fallen body of a teenage boy.

"Damn, your aim was sweet," Bianca notes when she sees the bullet ripping through the boy's neck, a clean exit mark on the other side.

"He's testing me," I add tensely. "This is all a test."

"So heiswatching," Sisi comments, looking around the tunnel for any cameras.

"Yes, and I bet he's enjoying himself immensely."

Exiting the main tunnel, the road bifurcates—one toward the right and the other to the left.

"We should split up," Adrian suggests.

"We'll go this way," I nod to the right, taking Sisi's hand in mine, "we'll call if anything."

"I'm coming with," Marcello is quick to interject, the same grumpy expression on his face.

"Fine." I wave my hand dismissively, since I am not in the mood for another argument.

As soon as we establish some ground rules, we split up.

Holding on to Sisi, I can't help but be amused at Marcello trailing closely behind, his attention wholly on us.

"Relax, 'Cello, I'm not going to ravish your sister in a dirty hallway." I give him a bored look, although the idea has merit—at a future time.

Marcello presses his lips together, not answering my taunt. Instead, he continues walking, almost grumbling something under his breath.

"I'm not as helpless as you imagine," Sisi addresses him. "I'm really not, Marcello."

"I just worry about you, okay?" He reluctantly admits. "I know I haven't been present in your life and that my behavior can seem a little… overwhelming. But I have your best intentions at heart, Sisi."

Sisi is quiet for a minute, her teeth nibbling on her lower lip.

"Thank you. It means a lot that you care," she starts as she gives him a tremulous smile, "but I've got this. Please trust that I know what I'm doing."

"Alright," he relents, even though he doesn't seem any happier about it.

"Good, I'm glad that we've ended this familyunhappiness chapter. Now we can focus on the more important stuff…" I trail off as we come to a standstill.

The entire atmosphere is different here, and as we stop before the glass door, I realize that we've just leveled up.

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