Anya was stunned by the sudden turn of events, and I shouted, "Anya!" Arton reacted quickly too. He dropped what he was holding and grabbed Anya, running toward us.
The lobby erupted into chaos. People scattered in all directions, screaming and ducking for cover. Seven fell to the ground.
I dared not look back, but I could vaguely sense gunfire behind us, aimed at us.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtArnold pulled both of us with him and ran toward the bar, where the back entrance would lead to a safe passage.
But just then, Arnold stumbled, his body jerked, and he suddenly let go of my arm. I was flung away by the momentum and fell to the ground. I heard Hana exclaim, "Arnold!” I quickly looked at Arnold and saw that he had been shot in the upper arm. He ignored his injury and pressed Hana against the wall behind the bar. Then, he reached back to grab my ankle and pulledtoward him, hiding us behind the bar.
"Arnold, you're injured!" I shouted. He shielded me, extending his injured arm to protect us. The sight of blood flowing from his arm was disturbing, and his face had turned pale.
"Shh." Arnold gestured for us to keep quiet. We listened intently to the sounds outside.
The gunfire continued outside the entrance, and many people crowded around us. After all, there were not many places in the lobby to take cover.
The lobby had descended into chaos, with screams and cries filling the air. Speople who had been shot lay on the ground, screaming in despair.
I looked around at the people hiding here but couldn't see Arton or Anya. I felt worried. This place didn't seem safe. If the assailants broke in, they would probably chere first, and that would bring dire consequences.
Someone who had been wounded in the leg fell right in front of us. People screamed and recoiled, pushing us back.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe gunfire continued relentlessly, indicating that there were also people shooting from inside. Otherwise, the assailants would have stormed in already.
I realized now that the person who had rushed in earlier, the man Atlas had sent to guard us, must be holding off these attackers. Arnold craned his neck to look at the people hiding here, then said, "We need to find a way into the safe passage." When the people around us heard Arnold's words, they looked toward the safe passage. They all understood that it might be the only safe place. But no one dared run there first, fearing they would bectargets. Content belongs to en.kikistoriesBut just then, the crowd panicked again as someone shouted, "They're coming in!" Arnold looked visibly agitated now. He grabbedtightly and said to Hana, "Stay behindand stick close." "Okay." Hana nodded vigorously.
I understood that Arnold wanted to lead us to the safe passage.
As he was about to pulltoward the crowd, I saw a man with a gun rushing toward us. It was too late. instinctively pulled Arnold down, eyes wide with fear, my vermy trembling as I whispered, "Obno..." Content belongs to en.kikistoriesswr As the man with the gun ccloser, there was a 'bang,' and he fell to the ground, lifeless. His eyes were still fixed on us. Several women screamed, and more gunfire erupted from the entrance, even more intense than before. Someone shouted loudly, but I couldn't make out what was happening.
In an instant, the lobby fell silent. I heard an urgent voice calling my name. "Chlo! Chloe!" I recognized Atlas's voice.
"Atlas..." Trembling, I sat down on the ground and answered, "I'm here." The people hiding here all looked at me. I heard footsteps hurrying toward us and someone coordinating the evacuation of the crowd.
At that moment, a figure appeared before us, and Arnold collapsed to the ground.
Atlas quickly pulledout of the crowd and into his arms. His familiar embrace madefeel incredibly safe, as though I had survived a disaster. I hugged him tightly and was moved to tears. Content belongs to en.kikistoriesAtlas looked at the trembling crowd still hiding here and ordered, "Leave, quickly!"