Light in the Dark

Chapter 35: Man Down

BANG...

The unannounced shot distracted everyone momentarily. But it also signaled the start of cross-fire.

"Trish!" Jayden took the chance to release Tricia from Diablo's grip. Diablo was too late to react.

"Stay with me." Jayden held Tricia's hand tight behind him.

Another bullet was fired and immediately, chaos descended inside the warehouse.

"Jayden, protect Doc Tricia!" Det Torres ordered. Cross-fires were a norm to the triads and police, but not to a doctor.

"Take cover!" Cairos yelled as the team threw a smoke grenade into the centre.

"Let's take cover." Jayden quickly led Tricia behind a stack of metal cylinders.

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you anywhere?" Jayden's eyes were filled with concern as he looked at Tricia.

"I'm fine. What about you?" Tricia's eyes were glossy with tears. Those eyes, the ones that disarmed Jayden every single time.

"I'm fine if you are. I'll explain everything later. Let's get you out first." Jayden gave Tricia a small smile.

"But how?" Tricia and Jayden peeked through the holes among the cylinders.

"I have an idea." Jayden unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a bulletproof vest inside.

"What are you doing!" Tricia whispered as Jayden removed his vest.

"Put this one, quick." Jayden helped Tricia into his vest. The oversized vest hung awkwardly on Tricia's body but it did its job somehow.

"What about you?" Tricia argued.

"I'll be fine." Jayden assured.

"I'll go out there to distract them and when I scream run, you run as fast as you can to the exit." Jayden pointed to the ajar warehouse door.

"But..." Tricia hesitated.

"The police will be waiting outside. They'll keep you safe." Jayden knew it sounded like a risky move.

"Will you be okay without this?" Tricia looked at the vest.

"I'll be out before you know it. Just promise me you won't turn back or stop until you're safe?" Jayden cupped Tricia's cheeks.

"Promise you'll come out?" Tricia was on the verge of tears again.

"Promise." Jayden pressed a short but painful kiss to Tricia's lips before running into the crossfire.

Tricia watched as bullets flew across the warehouse and men falling to the ground after being hit. She could feel her heart drop everytime someone hit the ground, praying desperately that it wasn't Jayden.

"Run! Now!" Jayden yelled the moment he felt it was safe. From the side of his eyes, he could see Tricia dashing towards the exit.

"The girl! Get her!" Dagger spotted Tricia and cried to no one in particular.

"Trish..." Jayden immediately headed in Tricia's direction.

"Ahhhhh!" Tricia's eyes shook as she saw someone reach out for her, only for the man to fall lifelessly centimeters before her.

"Trish, it's okay. I'm here." Jayden had shot him in order to protect Tricia.

Before Tricia could say anything, another bullet came flying their way, missing them by a hair only because Jayden was quick to react.

"Jayden!" Tricia warned as a huge wooden pole crashed down hard on Jayden's back. Tricia could feel the impact even through Jayden's embrace. Once...and then twice.

Jayden unconsciously loosened his grip on Tricia due to the pain. No matter how hard he tried, Diablo had yanked Tricia away from him forcefully.

"Jayden! Jayden!" Tricia saw Jayden's eyes lose focus.

"Let her go!" Jayden's eyes regained focus as he ran towards the man and Tricia.

"No!" Tricia cried as Diablo aimed his gun at Jayden and promptly shot him in the arm. Jayden collapsed to the ground again.

"You really love this girl a lot, don't you Rivera?" Diablo watched as Jayden struggled.

"Imagine how sad your parents would be to see that you chose her over them." Diablo taunted unreasonably.

"I couldn't protect my parents but I'll make sure I'll protect Trish from a bastard like you!" Jayden wasn't going to let Diablo get to him.

"You killed your parents and now, you'll be the reason she dies." Diablo pointed the gun at Tricia's head.

"Diablo!" Jayden charged towards Diablo and Tricia. Knocking Diablo over, Jayden wrapped himself over Tricia, forming a human shield.

"Run as fast as you can. Go!" Jayden ordered.

"Jayden, watch out!" Det Torres warned as Diablo got up and aimed his gun at the running couple.

Bang.

"Don't...stop...keep....moving..." As the bullet entered Jayden's shoulder, an excruciating pain spread through his body. Seconds later, Diablo was lying on the floor with a bullet through his head, courtesy of Det Torres.

"Jayden, Dagger!" Luke spotted Dagger at the exit, prepared to shoot.

Bang.

"Trish!" Jayden pivoted with his weakening body and managed to protect Tricia from the oncoming bullet again. This time, Luke got to Dagger and the latter was now in the same state as Diablo.

"Jayden!" Tricia caught Jayden as he fell to the ground. The impact of two bullets lodged in him was getting too much to bear.

"Are you...hurt?" Jayden's breaths were short and shallow.

"I'm fine..." Tricia shook her head as tears rolled down her face. She held Jayden tightly in her arms, cradling him.

"I missed you...a lot...I'm sorry for taking...so long..." Jayden reached out to wipe Tricia's tears, only to leave streaks of blood on her face.

"Shh...it's okay..." Tricia leaned in towards Jayden.

"There wasn't...a day where I...didn't think...of you...You...were my reason...If I ever leave..." Jayden confessed softly and with whatever remaining energy he had.

"Your girlfriend's a doctor remember? I'm not letting you go just like this." Tricia didn't want to hear such words.

"I love you so, so much..." Jayden eyes were slowly closing.

"I'll make sure you come home with me, Jayden." Tricia gently pressed a kiss to Jayden's lips. Instead of the sweet and comforting feeling Tricia used to get, his lips were now cold and rough.

"Trish..." Jayden whispered one last time before blacking out.

"Jayden! Jayden! Someone help please! Anyone!" Tricia cried out. No matter how much Tricia called for Jayden, he lay in her arms lifelessly. Tricia had never felt so helpless as a doctor. 

A/N:

Short chapter:)