Chapter 34

One will learn that he is weak when he starts relying on others.

---

Hearing it through the speakers installed everywhere for announcements, and seeing how excited people were, the group also decided on going, too.

"Does the Mall staff really do this kind of thing? You know, their spontaneous events."

Aralina was wondering because she does not go to Malls that often only when she is bored. As for Wil, he does not have a reason to go, thus staying home or doing parkour. Mary and Neil, on the other hand, would go to the Mall every other day whenever they had classes, to relax and to fight the intense heat of the sun.

"Not that often but they sure hold sudden events like this as a surprise for its shoppers."

Mary's confirmation of the Mall's spontaneity prompted Aralina to hurry, so she could save themselves a spot near the front. However, being late for a minute had the crowd pouring, filling the stage almost half already.

"Do you wanna stand in the middle? Or should we just go back?"

Neil knew that once they decided to stay, they would be standing for a while and that more people would come to watch whatever the Mall had for them, thus making it hard for them to leave.

"Maybe it's better if we stay on the side, don't you think?"

"Nah, we'll be pushed to the walls if more people are coming."

It only took a few minutes for the spacious area to be filled with a crowd, chattering and sharing ideas as to what the Mall had in store for them.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, they are barricading the stage."

"Fret not, people. Only those who arrived before time are allowed to witness a special event the SM Mall of Asia has for you!"

Then a red curtain fell behind everyone, robbing the stage of its luminosity, enveloping them in total darkness until spotlights sparked rays inside, thus once again giving brightness from within.

"Ladies and gentlemen! How are you all doing today? Did you eat already? Perhaps since it's already 2 PM. Allow me to introduce myself."

Amidst the crowd, surrounded by people they did not know, unguarded and completely complacent, Aralina felt a hand touch her bottom which she immediately and impulsively tried grabbing. But the hand slipped and she could not take a hold of the pervert.

"Someone just touched my ass!"

Out of three of them; Mary, Neil, and Wil, the first one had the most physical reaction, immediately looking for whoever was trying to get away behind Aralina. Wil and Neil were also glancing, inspecting every suspicious face.

"We will just stand behind the two of you."

"Are you okay, Ara?

Good thing Mary was there to accompany and comfort Aralina. Had it been a fragile woman, they would have been traumatized by what happened

"Yes. It's just that I'm so angry that I could catch whoever did that!"

Such a strong-willed woman Aralina is. Instead of cowering in fear, she was full of vigor and rage, dissatisfied that she could not catch the pervert. Had she caught whoever that was, who knows what Aralina will do?

"Should we use our phone's flashlight to add more luminess?"

Bang, bang, bang! More groundbreaking and terrorizing screams reverberated inside upon having blood splattered. Gunshots occurred, throwing people in disarray, running to and fro everywhere, breaking into chaos

***

Deafening shots from different types of guns shattered people's lives and solidarity. The once clustered bunch of individuals now run across each other, trampling on those who fall from wounds or those who die from bullets.

Passerbys, thinking that behind the huge red curtain was a play with gunshots and screaming, was mortified when blood trickled and streamed from the barricades set by the people killing the shoppers.

"M-Mommy, what is that?"

"Call the police hotline!"

"Requesting back up here at SM Mall of Asia. I repeat, requesting backup! There is a shoot-out happening here right now!"

Chaos was contagious. It didn't take long before security guards were equipped with batons and handguns to flood the area, unbothered by the pool of blood.

"Lower your head!"

"Ahh!"

Aralina was shot in her legs, instantly rendering her limp. The three of them were in sight of the group of killers who were rampaging, running amok, and shooting everyone.

"Quick, quick, get her up! What the hell is going on?"

Neil went silent, unmovable, and was just standing there. Soon, Mary realized that her boyfriend, whom she loved the most, was shot after blood came out of his mouth. The pain surged throughout his entire body like a leech sucking him of the strength and energy he had, Neil dropped and instantly died.

[Activating Visual Guidance]

[By equipping the Useful Eyeglasses, the user will see basic visual cues or routes. Generating markers in your vision, providing an escape route to ensure your safety.]

"Neil!"

Mary aided and sat beside her dead boyfriend's body with tears overflowing. She knew that Neil was dead but she pushed the thought aside, deluding herself to make it less painful on her side. Giving herself false hope.

"Mary! Let's go! Neil's already dead!" Shouted Aralina, enduring the grim pain in her leg. "You'll die too if you stay there wailing!"

"I'm not going anywhere! Neil, he is... he is still alive! I know, there's one way!"

As soon as Wil knew what was about to come out of Mary's mouth, he did not care if he dropped Aralina. His body moved on its own to cover Mary's mouth, preventing her from mentioning anything about the Room.

"Mmph! Wil, what's wrong with you?! Mmph!"

"Idiot! You'll die if you ever say anything about it!"

Struggling to say the words, Mary resorted to biting Wil's hand.

"Oww! Damn, fuck! They are shooting at us! Mary, forgive me for this!"

Splat! A loud echoing slap was enough to calm Mary but had insufficient loudness to be on par with the screaming and gunfire.

"Get up! Stop being a crybaby and come with us before I carry your fucking sorry ass right now!"

Willingly, Mary stood up with her hand on her cheek, forgetting about her dead boyfriend and helping Wil with walking Aralina to safety.

[Scanning for enemies.]

"Nine of them? Five inside and..."

Bang, bang, bang, bullets were fired, missing and sticking themselves to walls. Wil and Mary had their heads lowered while they had Aralina's arms wrapped around them to help her move away and escape.

~