Beyond the Divorce

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. Some even fell to the ground.

I dared not look back, but I could vaguely sense gunfire behind us, aimed at us.

Arnold 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 pulled me toward 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.

crowded around us. After all,

filling the air. Some people who had been shot lay on

couldn't see Arton or Anya. I felt worried. This place didn't seem safe. If the assailants broke in, they would

fell right in front of us. People screamed and

that there were also people shooting from inside.

now that the person who had rushed in earlier, the man Atlas had sent to guard us, must be holding off these

hiding here, then said, "We need to find a way into the

the people around us

it might be the only safe

then, the crowd panicked again as someone shouted,

now. He grabbed me tightly and said to Hana, "Stay behind

understood that Arnold wanted to lead us to the

gun rushing toward us. It was too late. instinctively pulled Arnold down, my eyes wide with

was a 'bang,' and he fell to the ground, lifeless.