The police sirens grew louder.
This time, they weren't distant.
They were coming straight toward the building.
The remaining thugs panicked.
"Cops?! Again?!"
The smallest one clutched his face. "We need to go, man—we can't get arrested!"
"We can't leave him," the pipe man hissed, nodding at the unconscious brute.
But another siren blared outside the apartment window.
Too late.
The conscious thugs scrambled to drag their leader out of the apartment, stumbling into the hallway.
"Remember this!" the smallest thug yelled back. "This isn't over!"
Their footsteps disappeared down the stairwell.
Ethan leaned against the wall, breathing hard. His entire body trembled.
The girl rushed to close the broken door, though it barely hung on one hinge.
"Ethan, sit down—your wound—"
The system interrupted.
DING.
[MID-MISSION STATUS:]
[Threat: Retreating but not eliminated.]
[Time remaining: 01:44:20]
[Health condition: Warning — Risk of blood loss.]
Her eyes filled with panic. "Warning? Ethan—you're losing too much blood!"
He slid onto the couch, dizziness washing over him.
The room blurred.
She grabbed towels, pressing them against his wound.
Ethan hissed in pain.
"Sorry—sorry—hold still—"
"It's fine," he breathed.
But it wasn't.
His vision darkened around the edges.
She struggled to tie the towels tighter. Her hands trembled. "I'm not good at this—I don't know what to do—"
"You're doing enough," he said softly.
Her eyes widened with guilt. "If you didn't save me… none of this would've happened. You're hurt because of me."
Ethan reached out weakly, tapping her wrist.
"Not your fault. The system… put me here."
She swallowed.
"Then I hate the system."
Ethan laughed softly, even though it hurt. "Me too."
The sirens stopped directly outside the building. Footsteps echoed up the stairs.
The girl stiffened. "The police are coming. What do we say?"
Ethan forced himself upright.
"You won't say anything. Let me talk."
"You can barely stand!"
"And you can't explain why three armed men broke into my apartment without sounding suspicious."
She bit her lip.
Another system message appeared.
[Mission Hint:]
[Do not involve law enforcement unnecessarily.]
[Risk: Mission extension or modification.]
Ethan frowned.
Modification?
He didn't like the sound of that.
Knocking came at the destroyed door.
"Police! Is anyone inside?"
Ethan and the girl exchanged looks.
She whispered, "Should we answer?"
Ethan forced himself up, leaning heavily against the couch.
"We have to. Just… stay calm."
He opened what was left of the door.
Two officers stood outside, staring at the smashed hinges, splintered frame, and blood on Ethan's shirt.
"What happened here?" one officer asked sharply.
Ethan took a slow breath.
"Home invasion."
The officer scanned his injuries. "You need medical attention."
Ethan shook his head quickly. "They're gone. They took off when they heard sirens."
"Did you see their faces?"
"Not clearly," Ethan lied.
The girl stood behind him silently, understanding his choice.
The officer's radio crackled.
"Unit 4, suspects matching description spotted two blocks away. Pursuit ongoing."
The officers exchanged glances.
"We'll continue the sweep. Stay inside and lock your door—uh…" The officer looked at the ruined door. "Stay safe."
After they left, Ethan closed the broken door as best he could.
He slumped back onto the couch, exhausted.
The girl knelt beside him again.
"You should've told them the truth."
"The system didn't want that."
"You're listening to it?" she whispered.
"I don't have a choice."
The system chimed.
[Good decision.]
[Hostile forces temporarily retreating.]
[Continue protecting the target.]
[Time remaining: 01:39:12]
Ethan looked at her.
"I'll get through this," he promised. "Just stay close."
She nodded, eyes softening.
"I'm not leaving."
Outside, distant shouts echoed—
The men were still somewhere in the night.
And the mission was far from over.