When a Hitman Gets Haunted by a Ghost
Chapter 60: Breaking Point

Chapter 60: Breaking Point

"Please, come down," the woman said, her voice softening, "W-Why are you doing this? Let’s just talk."

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. Talk? While he’s locked in like a hamster? He glanced down. It was just the second floor. Not that high. Definitely not deadly.

Sensing the brief moment of hesitation, she took a small step. "Don’t do this..."

He jumped. She screamed.

The crack of his ankle hitting the ground reverberated through his body, but the adrenaline pushed him into a wild sprint. The garden blurred past him like a nonsensical dream.

Gabriel pushed through the gates and bolted down the street without direction. He was out of breath, his body trembling from the strain, but his legs carried him like the wind.

With no direction, no aim, he didn’t stop until he crossed a corner and crashed into someone.

Gabriel landed hard on the sidewalk, wide-eyed.

The stranger he had ran into was a head taller than him, with dark brown hair and a frustrated gaze, scowling at him as if his day was freshly ruined.

"I-I’m so sorry," Gabriel panted, trying to push himself up, but a sharp pain shot through his ankle. Looking down, he realized he didn’t even have any shoes on, nor his jacket. It was November, the air cold and biting.

The man eyed Gabriel with suspicion. "The hell? Did someone rob you?"

Gabriel swallowed a laugh. He wished he had been robbed, instead of whatever this was. He wasn’t going to say he just leapt from a second-story window, dashed through a whole damn neighborhood, and ended up in a sketchy corner where even the lightbulbs in the street lamps had given up, all because he couldn’t handle being around a woman.

He was robbed of his dignity, that’s for sure.

"You could say that," he mumbled evasively and clutched his throbbing ankle. "Ugh, I think I broke something."

The man stepped closer and leaned down to get a better look at Gabriel’s ankle in the dim street light. It was swollen and seemed to be turning purple.

"Yeah, that’s definitely broken. You shouldn’t walk on that," he said flatly.

Gabriel stared at him awkwardly. "What do I do, then?"

The man looked at him as if he were an idiot. "What do you think? Hop to the hospital."

Gabriel looked around, but his surroundings were unfamiliar. He had never been in this neighborhood. It looked run-down and dark, alleys stretching in every direction.

How was he supposed to know the way to the hospital? Why was everything so complicated?

Gabriel’s face tightened, then he broke into chuckles and snorts. He didn’t know why he was laughing. It was either that or crying.

The stranger frowned, bewildered. "You sick in the head or something?"

Gabriel shook his head, offense bubbling up. This guy was such an... "Asshole," the whisper slipped out. He slapped a hand over his mouth and shook his head. "I didn’t mean to—sorry."

The man scoffed and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Not the first time I hear this."

Despite the cold, the air was heavy and suffocating.

Gabriel awkwardly hauled himself up and tried to leave, but as soon as he put his weight on the injured ankle, he stumbled. He huffed, glaring at the man through his fringe. Why was he still standing there, watching? It was annoying and embarrassing.

"Why’re you looking at me like I broke your ankle?" the gruff voice sounded amused.

"Well, why are you staring at me?" Gabriel countered, not amused in the slightest.

The man rolled his eyes. "I’m waiting until you hop away so nobody rapes or kills you. This isn’t a safe neighborhood."

Gabriel laughed bitterly. "Please. I’m sure there’s a higher chance of me being raped in my own room than here."

In the dim light, the man’s eyes widened a fraction with surprise, his hardened look wavering for a moment. Gabriel immediately regretted his loose tongue and looked away. Why did it feel like he was fishing for pity? He hated it.

The man sighed quietly, then walked in front of Gabriel and crouched down, offering his back. "Get on."

"What?" Gabriel croaked, a bit too incredulous. "Like... a piggyback?"

"What else does it look like? Get on before I change my mind."

Taking a shaky breath, Gabriel climbed onto his back, wrapping his arms around his neck, while simultaneously praying he wouldn’t throw up. It was a strange fear that had been pestering him lately, even though he never actually got sick.

As soon as Gabriel was settled on his back, the man stood up, hands wrapped securely around his legs.

"Fuckin’ hell, you’re all skin and bones. Do you even eat?"

Gabriel didn’t reply, breathing quietly and trying not to touch him too much.

The man grunted as Gabriel’s grip slackened. "You want to fall off? Hold on properly."

Gabriel’s skin flushed with embarrassment as he tightened his grip, feeling the man’s shoulders shift under his arms with every movement.

"This is so weird," Gabriel mumbled, watching the street from the new, higher perspective.

"Don’t make it weird."

"Sorry."

The man sent him an irritated look but continued walking along the eerily quiet street, his back and shoulders steady as a rock.

As the silence between them stretched, Gabriel observed him from the side. Strong chin, roman nose, cutting eyes. Tough and intimidating.

After a minute, the gruff voice questioned, "How old are you?"

Gabriel cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound a bit deeper too. "Seventeen."

"Ah," the man said with zero inflection. "High school, then?"

"Yes, I’m graduating next year," Gabriel murmured. "And what’s... your age?"

"Twenty-five."

Gabriel wanted to ask more questions but wasn’t sure it was allowed. He twisted his neck in curiosity like a pigeon, but before he could get too curious, he was lowered to the ground in front of a brightly-lit building with a deep blue medical cross on the doors.

A medical point.

The man turned to leave, and Gabriel panicked a little. "Wait, you’re not coming in?"

The sharp eyes cast a sidelong glance at him, unreadable beneath the street lamp. "Why would I?"

Gabriel’s breath caught in his throat, and a wave of shame washed over him, hot and uncomfortable. Yeah, why would he? They were complete strangers.

"I—uh..."