When a Hitman Gets Haunted by a Ghost
Chapter 91: Exerted

Chapter 91: Exerted

Kant’s head was still buzzing from the exertion, the water, and the explosion of energy. His fingers shook as he wiped the last of the water from his face. The staff stood frozen, eyes flicking nervously between him and the direction Gabriel had bolted.

One of the nurses, her face pale, approached Kant cautiously, her hands wringing the hem of her uniform. "Sir, are you—are you alright?"

"Yeah. Fine," Kant muttered. His voice was strained, hoarse.

The nurse hesitated. "We need to clear the area. The pipes burst, and... and you’re all soaked. We’ll help you get somewhere dry, but you have to come with us."

Kant wasn’t in the mood for hospital formalities. He shot her a look that said as much.

"No need." He turned on his heel, walking after the possessed guy on the loose.

"But sir, you need to..." The nurse’s voice faded in the background.

Kant fell into a run, the heavy thud of his boots echoing in the wet hallway. His mind raced. The evil spirit’s power was too volatile. How was he even supposed to drag him out of Gabriel? The situation was past bargaining chances.

He rounded the corner, cursing under his breath as he searched the hallway. The air smelled of burnt wires and chlorine, mixing with the overpowering stench of waterlogged carpet. The sound of Gabriel’s shoes slapping against wet tiles echoed down the corridor, and Kant’s heartbeat quickened. He wasn’t far.

He turned another corner and saw the drenched guy standing a few meters away, his chest heaving with exertion.

"Gabriel!" Kant called, taking a step forward. "Look at me!"

Gabriel’s eyes flicked to him, but there was no recognition in them—only blank, cold terror. His mouth opened as if to speak, but nothing came out, only a low, guttural groan, like a man trying to wake from a nightmare that wouldn’t end.

Kant’s stomach churned as he saw it—the faint, ghostly outline of Hale in Gabriel’s eyes, like a shadow trying to regain control. A faint smoke of something sinister swirled around him.

"Gab, listen to me," Kant said, his voice low but firm. "You need to kick him out. You can do it. I know you can."

Gabriel swayed slightly, his hand coming up to touch his own head. His fingers trembled as they brushed his temple.

"He’s... in my head. It’s too painful," Gabriel whispered, his voice weak, almost a whisper.

"I know," Kant replied quickly. "Focus on something—anything. Don’t let him control you. He’s just a spirit. A shitty one."

The desperation in Gabriel’s eyes flared for a moment—like a flame struggling to stay alight in the wind. "I can’t..."

"You can." Kant stepped closer, keeping his movements slow and steady. "You’re not alone. I’m here. Focus on me."

Gabriel’s breath came faster, his body tensing. Hale’s presence flared up again, and for a second, Kant feared he’d lost him entirely. Gabriel’s eyes flickered, becoming darker, colder.

"Just hold on," Kant said softly, taking another step forward. "We can get you out of this."

Frankly, Kant wasn’t sure. Get him out of this how? He was at his wit’s end. The only thing running through his mind was that he should’ve sacrificed his own life instead of Hale’s. Then none of this would’ve happened.

Gabriel’s body jerked suddenly, and his expression twisted. Hale had sensed the shift in power.

"Enough!" Hale’s voice, a chorus of howling spirits, echoed from Gabriel’s throat. "You think you can break me? You think I’ll just let you take back what’s mine?"

Before Kant could react, Gabriel lunged. He latched onto Ein. The evil spirit’s grip was like iron, and Kant’s breath caught.

"I do not understand why you insist on standing in my way," Hale sneered.

Kant gasped for air, struggling against Hale’s crushing grip. The force of the spirit’s fingers digging into his chest was suffocating, and for a split second he thought his ribs might snap.

He gritted his teeth as Hale’s energy pulsed through Gabriel’s body. He shoved his palms against Hale’s unseen presence, trying to push it out, but it was like trying to move a mountain with bare hands.

Hale laughed, the chilling sound reverberating through the walls. "You think you could ignore me and hope for the best? I’ve learned to take so much more than this mere vessel." His grip tightened, and Kant’s vision blurred at the edges. "You are nothing to me."

Kant’s breath came in shallow gasps, each one more painful than the last. But something inside him snapped. Gabriel was still in there.

"You’re wrong," Kant growled, his voice barely audible but laced with fury. "He’s stronger than you think."

Hale paused, sensing something in Kant’s tone. His grip faltered for a moment, just long enough for Kant to force a deep breath and rally himself. With one last push, he broke free, stumbling back against the slick tiles.

The evil spirit’s voice echoed again, furious and mocking. "Do you really think you can save him? You are wasting your time."

Kant didn’t respond. Instead, he moved closer, his hand outstretched. "Gabriel, focus. Fight back."

Hale’s grip wavered, and the bastard made a run for it again, head over heels.

Kant surged forward, shoving through the wet hallway, his boots skidding over the slick tile, but the empty hospital beds stored by the walls were shoved at him one after the other. By the time he freed the way, a sharp sound echoed from the hallway ahead.

Click of a door. The rooftop.

It was as if the building had conspired against him. The rooftop door, unlocked, wide open. It was absurd. The hospital wasn’t exactly known for its lax security. But here it was—open for Hale, like the path to heaven.

The evil spirit was sprinting toward it with desperate, animal-like speed, with no signs of stopping.

"Damn it!" Kant sprinted, tearing through the corridor toward the door.

He could hear the sharp, echoing footsteps of Hale up ahead, each sound more urgent than the last. He was getting closer.

Kant rushed through the door after him, ignoring the cold wind that slapped his face. He lifted his elbow to not choke on the wind, his gaze searching wildly for any sign of Hale.

And then he saw the hunched figure standing at the edge of the building, his back to Kant, arms spread wide like some twisted martyr about to make his final leap.

Gabriel’s figure was silhouetted against the sky, the wind whipping around him, Hale’s cloak of darkness billowing like an ominous flag.

"If I can’t have him, no one else can! I’ll take what I sacrificed and end this!" the evil spirit hollered.

"Stop," Kant shouted, his voice raw with exertion and frustration. "Think about it! Don’t do it."