Would it be selfish for her to say... Ashley was a bit — a tiny bit — just a little too happy right now?

Staring at Lucian’s back, at his hand tightly holding hers as they ran across the tops of the containers, her lips curled upward. She shook her head and raised the borrowed pistol, aiming at someone trying to cut them off.

Lucian was the same.

Despite already having cover, he still took down as many enemies as he could, especially those hidden in the aisles — the ones stuck in the blind spots.

CLANG! CLANG!

Neither of them stopped for even a second.

Sparks exploded at the edges of the containers behind them as bullets struck the metal, chasing after them while more men tried to prevent their escape from the cargo hold.

But for every person trying to stop them, there were just as many making sure Lucian and Ashley got out first. After all, once the two of them were off the ship, the mission would already be considered a success.

Everything else could be cleaned up afterward.

"Black Dragon is already with her."

"Cover them."

"Eyes on Black Dragon."

"Ten minutes for Dominion. We’ve got no more time."

"Prepare to retreat."

Voices crackled through the intercoms in everyone’s earpieces, exchanging orders and updates. The helicopters continued providing cover while those on the ship fought to keep Lucian and Ashley’s path clear.

As they neared the edge of the ship, Ashley perked up slightly and turned her head.

Her eyes swept toward the direction where Carrotman was supposed to be.

Oddly enough, the moment Lucian arrived, Carrotman had suddenly stopped feeling like an eyesore.

He’s gone, she thought, scanning the area. Did he escape the moment he realized Lucian and Dominion were already here?

Ashley shook her head and focused forward again.

Right now, she knew she had to leave with Lucian. Only once they were safely out would Dominion fully retreat.

This ship was no longer safe.

When they finally reached the helicopter, Lucian stopped and turned toward her.

"Get in."

Without another word, he stepped behind her and immediately opened fire at the remaining enemies, even though most of them had already stopped targeting the two of them directly.

Ashley, meanwhile, stared at him, her eyes twinkling. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Am I... am I becoming Carrotman?" she mumbled, shivering at the thought as she looked upward.

The helicopter lowered slightly, just enough for her to grab the rope ladder hanging from it.

The moment it got close enough, she jumped and caught it.

Lucian glanced up, watching her climb high enough to make space for him before he jumped on as well after giving her a quick warning.

The rope ladder swayed violently the moment Lucian grabbed hold, and the helicopter immediately began ascending.

As soon as they lifted away from the ship, Dominion’s voices erupted below.

"Retreat!"

The intercoms became even busier as the order spread across the battlefield. Meanwhile, the enemies dug in harder, trying to prevent Dominion from pulling away. Some even aimed at Lucian and Ashley as they rose into the air, but the bullets missed as the helicopter climbed higher.

"Heh," Ashley grinned while climbing, glancing down at Lucian.

Lucian could only give her a helpless smile in return.

Her gaze drifted toward the ship below, which was beginning to shrink beneath them.

But just as she was about to continue climbing, something orange flashed in the chaos.

Despite the fire, the smoke, and the shower of sparks below, that orange stood out like a sore thumb.

Ashley lifted her eyes higher.

A figure stood atop the ship’s mast.

"What the—"

Her eyes widened the moment she recognized the sniper rifle in Carrotman’s hands.

Panic instantly seized her.

"Lucian!"

Lucian looked up at her and froze. His grip on the rope ladder tightened.

But the second his eyes met hers, a splatter of blood stained his cheek.

His breath stopped.

His heartbeat seemed to halt entirely as he watched Ashley’s face twist in pain before her grip loosened from the ladder.

"No," he breathed.

The ladder swayed violently from her movements.

As Ashley’s body started to fall, Lucian immediately reached out to catch her.

But her gun struck the side of his head first, nearly throwing him off balance. One hand clung desperately to the ladder while the other stretched toward her.

His fingertips barely brushed hers.

Lucian’s eyes widened as he watched her falling body.

Ashley was still staring at him, her expression twisted in pain, her hand reaching toward him.

"No," he whispered again, his entire world stopping for a single second.

They were already far too high above the ocean.

Even if she hit the water, the fall alone could kill her.

Again, foolish. Of course, he knew it was foolish.

But watching her fall... he couldn’t just stay there and wait.

"Master!" one of the men inside the helicopter shouted. "I will—"

Before the man could finish saying he would go after her, Lucian had already let go of the rope ladder.

It was dangerous and reckless as they couldn’t both afford to get hurt. But it was already too late.

Lucian had released his grip completely, diving straight after her and plunging into the dark ocean below.

*

*

*

SPLASH!

The moment Ashley’s back slammed against the ocean’s surface, pain exploded throughout her body, especially around the gunshot wound on her back.

Shit...

She winced as bubbles flooded her ears, muffling the chaos above her. The gunfire, the flames, the shouting... everything faded away.

Soon, all she could hear was silence; the pure and deafening kind.

Ashley slowly opened her eyes as her body sank deeper from the force of the impact.

The water was freezing cold.

Above her, through the rippling surface, she could still see the reflection of the burning ship. Blood drifted from her wound, swirling into the dark sea around her.

Damn it, she cursed inwardly, holding her breath.

Ashley reached upward with one arm while the other remained too painful to move. Bubbles escaped her lips as the pressure of the ocean dragged her deeper and deeper.

She tried to swim upward, but the impact kept pulling her down.

Her vision blurred as the light above gradually dimmed. The silence swallowed her whole.

And in the end, Ashley found herself surrendering to it instead of fighting back.

I can’t... breathe, she thought weakly.

Lucian...

Her vision flickered as her eyes slowly opened and closed. Oddly enough, the silence deep beneath the ocean felt comforting.

And somehow, in the absence of air and sound, her lips curled upward as one final thought crossed her mind.

Possibly the last thought she would ever have.

Ah... she realized. That’s what it is.

The strange emotion she had felt earlier when she saw Lucian.

It wasn’t relief.

It wasn’t disbelief.

It wasn’t fear or surprise.

It was simply the realization of something she had already known all along.

Primo is right, she thought. I can’t always win by fighting recklessly.

As Ashley’s consciousness slowly drifted away, she caught sight of a figure swimming toward her through the darkness. She narrowed her eyes weakly, trying to make out who it was, until he finally came close enough to reach for her hand.

Lucian.

Especially now... knowing someone will always come to my rescue... even if it’s hell he has to walk through.