Chapter 457 SOS

• Outside the parking lot was a road. And usually, it was busy. Edward remembered it clearly. But now the street ahead was empty—no cars at all. Streetlights on both sides glowed a dull yellow. A light drizzle fell from the sky. The wet ground made the weak light look even dimmer. “They blocked the road ahead of time?” Edward caught on fast, and a chill ran down his spine. He let out a harsh laugh. “To kill me, you even locked down the street. Guess my life matters a hell of a lot to you.” Vrrrm! A roar sounded behind him, followed by a rush of footsteps. Edward’s smile vanished. Bloodlust flashed cold in his eyes. He spun around. A long blade came down at his head. He didn’t dodge. He didn’t flinch. He threw a straight punch at the shadow charging him. Vrrrm! Almost at the same time, the shadow seemed ready for it. A short knife whipped up, covering his chest—no, angling to slice Edward’s wrist. But as the short blade was about to bite, Edward’s right fist suddenly shifted upward. Crack! His punch slammed into the shadow’s chin with bone-shaking force. The man snapped backward and crashed to the ground. “No road? Then I’ll cut one out of you!” Edward’s whole body radiated killing intent. His presence surged, like a mountain ripping up from flat earth. His twisted, savage stare locked on its prey like a bloodthirsty beast. He stepped in to finish it—then his right foot buckled mid-air and thudded back down. A wave of vertigo hit him like a tide. The world spun. His head pounded. Even the figure on the ground split into doubles and triples. “The poison’s kicking in this fast?” He shook his head hard, but the weakness flooding his body stole his strength. He didn’t have the juice to keep fighting. He gritted his teeth, turned, and sprinted for the empty road. The shadow jolted, then slowly pushed himself up. His long and short blades sang as he flicked them, a low hum in the drizzle. He let out a cold chuckle that sounded like a death chant. “Poison’s hit. Time to be hunted.” He broke into a run after Edward, fast and smooth. But he didn’t rush. He kept his distance, never letting Edward slip from sight. Before, he wouldn’t have minded finishing it early. But that burst at the parking lot entrance had rocked him. This wasn’t some regular prey. The man’s fighting instinct was terrifying. The shadow was rattled. Unless Edward was cornered with no way out, he couldn’t be sure the guy wouldn’t pull off a miracle reversal. Night closed in. Edward’s steps went wobbly as he ran for his life. The poison spread. Weakness chewed through his strength and clarity. He didn’t dare stop. Stop, and the blades would fall. Against this guy at full strength, he didn’t even have half a chance right now. Run. Run like hell. Don’t stop. Stop and you die. His limbs felt heavier by the second. His breath turned ragged. Something wet tickled the tip of his nose. He wiped it. Bright red blood. The poison… was acting way too fast. His heart sank. A cold, hopeless fear crept in. The poison was surging. The road ahead was sealed. How the hell was he supposed to get out? Even with his mind blurring, one thing stayed clear: the man who wanted him dead wasn’t just the shadow behind him. Shutting down a whole road? That wasn’t a solo job. Desperate, he yanked out his phone, instinct screaming to call for help. But as the line clicked and the first tone sounded, he froze like lightning struck him and hung up fast. He snapped awake. He’d called Sylvia Graham. In a life-or-death setup like this, calling her was impossible. He wouldn’t drag this danger toward Sylvia—and the baby she carried. But out here across the ocean… who else could he call besides the Graham family? His thoughts slipped. His steps stumbled. His eyes went glassy. Blood that had trickled from his nose now sprayed with each breath. It soaked his shirt, making him look wrecked. He clenched his phone. What was left of his reason made him veer off, aiming for the nearby housing blocks. With the road locked down, sprinting along it was useless. They could shut a street. They couldn’t shut a whole maze of buildings. His pace slowed again. He wove through tight alleys, swaying, ready to topple at any moment. Behind him, the shadow’s footsteps slowed to match his. Edward let out a thin laugh. “Aren’t you supposed to rush up and finish me?” “I’m scared of you,” the shadow said, voice calm, not hiding a thing. What happened at the parking lot exit had burned into him. In his eyes, Edward was a cornered beast. A beast only loses its bite when it’s truly dead. As long as there’s one breath left, one careless step, and the beast will still rip you apart. “Heh.” Edward’s lip curled, but inside he was thrilled. There was still a sliver of a chance. He knew his state. If this hitman wasn’t so cautious, he could’ve ended it with one quick cut. Light flickered ahead. Wind funneled through the alley, growing stronger. The air carried a salty tang. The sea? Edward’s mind was almost gone. He could faceplant any second. As he got closer, the hush of waves reached him. “Hey, dead end up ahead,” the shadow drawled, amused. “Komodo dragon’s dinner is walking itself to my mouth.” Edward’s body lurched. A bitter taste filled his throat. Pfft! Blood splattered the wall beside him. He braced with his left hand against the bricks and staggered forward, still clutching his phone in his right. Don’t stop. If he stopped, it was over. A spark lit through the fog in his head. He had someone to call. Maybe. His blurred gaze locked on the screen. His thumb shook as he scrolled the logs. Found it. He dialed. The call connected on the first ring. “Help me. I’m—” “Help? You idiot!” the shadow snapped, rage flaring as he saw the phone. Thwip! A throwing dart shot out. Thud! It buried in Edward’s back. Edward gritted through it and kept running. “Where are you?” an old voice barked through the phone, startled and urgent. Edward stumbled out of the alley at last—and froze. The sea stretched ahead. But a cliff dropped off right in front of him. No way forward. “Die!” The word cracked behind him like thunder. Edward spun. Through the blur he saw the shadow right there. A cold gleam flashed in the air. “Heh.” A shard of clarity cut through Edward’s hazy eyes. Just as the long blade came down, he turned his back to it and jumped without hesitation.