Jane's POV
•-•-•-•-•

I examine the newcomer, being sure to keep my distance as I say softly, "We need to help him."

I don't know what it is, but I see the good in this guy—in Leon.

Immediately, Aaren protests, "Jane, no. He's got trouble written all over him. Why on Earth should we help him?"

I look toward my brother, expression blank as I quietly argue, "Just because humanity is dying, doesn't mean that ours has to as well."

This shuts him up, leaving him to process my words and think things through. He's not a bad person, just protective of those close to him. I can understand where he's coming from with all this, but it's about time we give someone else a chance.

Éloïse just gives me a slight nod, unsure of this but agreeing with me anyway.

Aaren pulls his mouth into a thin line and sighs, reluctantly stating, "Fine, but if anything happens to either of you, I will kill him for it."

I was about to retort when a voice from outside shouted, "Just break it down already!"

Going into sister mode, I face Aaren and Éloïse, "Hide. Now."

They went to bicker with me about this, but one look from me and they did as they were instructed to—run and hide.

Just as the door swung open, four males in all black attire with a variety of weapons storm in.

I twist around to face them head-on, keeping my posture straight and features unreadable. My grip tightens on my wrench.

"Well, well, well. It looks like good 'ole Kennedy found himself a lady friend. Care to share, boy?" a man, who has a beard and is more buff than the others, asks pervertedly with a smirk, stepping closer.

I grimace at this before gathering myself back up, saying in a condescending tone with my chin held high, "I suggest you leave."

This results in them all looking my way, bursting out laughing. Glancing to Leon, I see he's beginning to move towards the back door near where my family's hiding.

Arching an eyebrow, I brush it off and briefly lock eyes with him, giving him a nod.

I go back to the men in front of me, taking advantage of their laughter being a distraction and slam my leg into a guy's crotch. Then I move to the one on his left and whack him in the face with my wrench. Hard.

I proceed to hit the third with my bare fist on his stomach, and kicked the last in the shin.

Bolting, I exclaim, "Run!"

The back door is flung open right as we're all a few feet away from it, causing us to skid to an abrupt halt.

That's when I feel hands harshly grab my ponytail and yank me backwards into a chest, to which I hiss in pain at and nearly drop my weapon.

"So, the little girl has balls," the man behind me sneers, leaning down right next to my ear and continues, "let's see how much."

His breath fans my cheek as he says this, and I have to hold myself back from gagging in disgust. Especially at how gross his breath smells.

"Jaz!" my brother proclaims, his path blocked instantly as he went to grab me.

The same thing happened with Éloïse while Leon just stood there, motionless and tense as his gaze snaps all over the place.

"You better do something girly, unless you want us to use one of them?" he questions, motioning to the others.

I react quickly and bent my head, drawing it back and hitting him square in the face. A satisfying cracking sound can be heard, and he groans as he shoves me into the fighting zone.

I dodge a blow aimed at my face, only to receive one to my midsection instead. I retaliate and smack his head with my wrench.

A bat is slammed into my working arm and I gasp in shock and pain. Stumbling back a little as I hold my arm, I regain my composure and spin around to kick the guy in the stomach.

I turn to see Éloïse and Aaren taking some men down, as well as seeing Leon get thrown to the floor and be kicked a few times repeatedly.

Taking my wrench, I fling it straight at the guy's head who's attacking Leon with such precision that there's no chance of me missing the shot.

He collapses, grunting in agony.

I rush to Leon and help him up. Once he's back on his feet, he jerks away and groans shortly afterwards.

I head to my family, swiftly checking them over. Taking note that they only have cuts and bruises, I take their hands, ignoring the pulsing in my right hand and run. Leon follows right at our heels.

•-•-•-•-•

We found another store a couple of miles away and chose to stay there to get patched up.

Currently, Aaren is fuming while El tends to my wounds. I had done theirs first along with Leon's, despite him fighting back for a few minutes. He settled down after he realized what I was doing, as well as me having to explain it to him.

"I told you he was trouble from the start, but no you wanted to help him!" Aaren angrily mutters, wincing from both the bruise on his left eye and the gnash directly beneath it as he paces the floor.

He runs his hand through his hair as El and I watch him, her wrapping my hand as I flinch slightly in between. Leon stood by a window farther away from us, not really paying too much attention.

"Aar-" I start, but before I could continue I already knew that Leon was in for it.

My brother strolled over to his unsuspecting victim, grabbed Leon by the collar of his shirt and glowered, "They wouldn't have gotten hurt if it weren't for your dumbass."

He then socked Leon in the face.

"Aaren!" Éloïse and I cry out, unable to decide on what to do or handle what has just occurred.

My bro just glares at Leon as he began to stand up, wiping the blood away from the corner of his mouth.

Aaren spoke as Leon does this, growling out, "You better leave her the hell alone if you're stickin' around, both of them for that matter, or so help me you'll get more than just a punch to the face."

And with that, he briskly walked off with a dark aura surrounding him.

After a few moments of silence, I speak up.

"At least he didn't kill him like he said he would," I murmur, trying to see the bright side of this and awkwardly, as well as uselessly, try to lighten the mood a little.

•-•-•-•-•

-CastrarWolf & Taegikook224