The Devilish Assassin Meets The Angelic Detective

In just a short period of time, Elle arrived at the hospital.

She was about to enter the hospital when someone grabbed her arms to stop her. 

She was ready to strike that person when she noticed that it was Phantom.

"Master, what are you doing here? Why are you following me?" Elle said with annoyance.

"Are you trying to get yourself arrested? Look at yourself. You are going to a public place with so many people while wearing your assassin clothes?"

Phantom was scolding her now. Elle was rendered speechless. She looked at herself and she realized that Phantom was right.

She did not think about that. Her mind was very occupied right now. Her concern about Erick was greatly affecting her action.

When Phantom noticed that Elle calmed down a little bit. He asked her to follow him in the car.

Charles came running into them with a paper bag in his hand. He was panting and sweating a lot when he reached them.

"Master, this is what you asked me for," Charles said in between his breathe as he gave the paper bag to Phantom.

After receiving it from Charles, he handed it over to Elle.

"Change into this first," Phantom said to Elle.

Elle accepted it and nodded at him as she said "Thanks, Master."

"Master, who do you think is the person Elle is visiting here at this hospital?" Charles asked Phantom curiously.

Phantom did not need to ask Elle in order to know who was that person. Elle's action tonight already told him the answer.

The person who made Elle act like this and the reason that forced her to kill a member assassin of Assassin's Guild was Detective Erick Lee.

He already concluded that something bad happened to Erick.

Phantom did not answer Charles, instead, he just shrugged and pulled Charles into their car, as they left the hospital.

After Elle changed into her new clothes, she immediately proceeded to the area where Bryan was waiting for her.

She saw the entire task force members who gathered around the area. Everyone had a worried and anxious expression with their faces.

The area was engulfed in deafening silence. Elle was trying to hold her emotion. Reminding herself to be strong.

She caught everyone's attention when she arrived.

She was just about to speak up and ask them about Erick's condition when a woman who was crying ran into her and suddenly hugged her.

Elle was startled in a moment, then she realized that the person was Erick's mother, Sarah.

When they received the news from Bryan about what happened to Erick, Raymond and Sarah immediately left home to travel going to the hospital.

"Mom." Elle blurted out as she hugged her back.

"Elle... my son... I am afraid. I can't lose him, Elle... I can't..." Sarah told her in between her sobs.

Hearing her, Elle felt a tinge of pain in her heart.

'Me too Mom... I am really afraid right now.' She thought to herself.

"Mom, don't worry. Erick will be alright. He does not want to see you sad. He will surely survive this."

Elle tried her best to console Sarah even though deep inside she was also uncertain.

"Erick went into shock a while ago during his surgery... I was so afraid! I thought... I am gonna lose him." Sarah's grip to Elle tightened. 

"Fortunately... the doctor was able to revive him." Elle could feel Sarah was trembling in fear right now.

Raymond was also standing there feeling restless and helpless. He knew that something like this might happen while doing your duty in this kind of work.

He knew his son was willing to sacrifice his life in the name of duty and justice.

But still... it was hard to accept if it already happened and knowing your son's life was in danger.

Minutes later, Sarah finally calmed down as she released Elle from her tight hug.

"How is Erick now Mom?" Elle asked her.

"His surgery went well but the doctor said that we still need to wait and monitor his condition for 48 hours. He should wake up within that time." Sarah replied to her.

"They transferred him to the ICU. All we need to do is to pray and wait for him to wake up." She said with her hoarse voice.

Elle smiled at her faintly. "Don't worry Mom. Erick will survive this. We will survive this hurdle together."

At the same time, Captain Jason and the rest talked with Raymond regarding what happened during their failed mission.

Raymond understood everything and he was not blaming anyone.

After their conversation, they bade their goodbye. Even if they all stayed there, they could not do something.

Aside from Erick's parents and Elle, Bryan and April stayed in the hospital.

April approached Bryan who was obviously emotionally and physically exhausted.

"Hey... Are you okay?" April asked him with her concerned voice.

Bryan just shook his head. He was still blaming himself that he was not able to do something. Erick was shot in front of him and he failed to protect him.

April knew what was going on in his mind right now. Even she could feel the guilt for not able to help, how much more Bryan?

April held Bryan's hand to make him feel that he was not alone. She was also there to support him.

Bryan was startled by her action. He looked up to see April's reassuring smile as if telling him that everything will be alright so don't worry too much.

He smiled back at her. He was grateful that April was with him at this moment.

"I think you should go home first and rest. You haven't changed your clothes. You are still covered by Chief Lee's blood. You should wash up." April suggested.

Bryan wanted to oppose that idea, thinking that he could not rest knowing that Erick's condition was not yet stable. But Elle spoke up to support April's suggestion.

"Bryan, I think you should listen to April. You have done your best. Rest for now. Besides I and Erick's parents are already here."

"You can come back tomorrow. Don't worry, we will update you regarding Erick's condition." Elle added as she convinced him to rest.

When April noticed that Bryan was still hesitating, she made another suggestion.

"Do you want to stay over at my place for now or do you want me to accompany you in your place?"

Bryan was speechless. He did not expect her to offer that suggestion.

Elle gave him a meaningful smile, urging him to agree already. In the end, Bryan agreed since he could not win against the two girls who were pressuring him.

But before he left, Bryan noticed Elle's clothes. He frowned when he noticed that there was a bloodstain in Elle's sleeve.

"Elle, what happened to your arm? I think it is bleeding." Bryan said as he pointed out her right arm.

April also looked at her arm. Indeed, Elle's arm is bleeding but not that much.

'Sh**t, I forgot to tend my wound as I am rushing a while ago.' she silently cursed herself.

"I think I accidentally grazed myself with a sharp object as I rushed here a while ago." She gave them an awkward smile.

"I was not in myself that I didn't even notice that I was already wounded. Adrenaline rush maybe. I am worried about Erick." 

"You should take care of it, Elle. You might get an infection if it is not treated early." April suggested.

Elle just nodded at her. April and Bryan did not dwell on this as they believed her alibi.

They bade their goodbye at Erick's parents before they left the hospital together.

Sarah asked Elle to accompany her to offer some prayer for Erick's safety and recovery.

'I stopped believing in you after what happened to my family.'

'But now... here I am, a sinner like me, asking you to save Erick's life.'

'He is a good man. He deserves to live a long life. Please... don't take him away from us.'

'I am willing to exchange my life for his life. You can take mine... but please... save him.'

-------------

On the next morning, the dead body of the assassin who shot Erick was found in his apartment.

It was Black Shadow who first discovered the lifeless body of his pal. He could not believe what he was seeing right now.

They were just talking happily yesterday. Reaper also helped him escape from the authorities.

He had no idea that there was a fight that happened last night and to think that he was just living one floor above him.

In just one night, this already happened. He was really shocked beyond belief. 

"F*ck! Who did this to you bro?!" Black Shadow mumbled as he gritted his teeth from anger.

"Bro...I have not returned the favor yet of saving me." Black Shadow was mourning for his fallen brother.

"Don't worry bro... I will make that person pay for this. I promise." He swore in front of the lifeless body of his friend.

After making a solemn promise for his friend, Black Shadow noticed a small sparkling object on the floor near the body of Reaper.

It was a necklace with a small blue pendant. Black Shadow was puzzled as he picked it up.

That was the first time he saw that thing. It did not look like it belongs to Reaper.

Reaper was not fond of jewelry. He was sure that the necklace was owned by a girl and Reaper did not usually give jewelry to his women.

A light flashed into his eyes as he concluded something. The necklace belonged to the culprit who killed Reaper.

Black Shadow called the Assassin's Guild to report what happened to Reaper. They would be the ones who would take care of his body and funeral.

After informing the guild, Black Shadow left to check the recording of the CCTV installed in the building entrance.

Upon checking the footage, Black Shadow confirmed who was the culprit. The attacker was Catseye.

He was familiar with Catseye. He could not be wrong. He was certain, that person was Catseye.

'But why... why attack Reaper? Why him not me? What is her motive?'

"CATSEYE, you killed a member of Assassin's Guild! You are really looking for your death."