Chapter 305 - 305: A Middle-Aged Man

Elle and Erick had just finished buying all the ingredients of the menu for tonight's dinner. Of course, Erick chose Elle's favorites- Beefsteak and Curry. Elle didn't protest. She just let him buy everything he wanted.

As an agreement, Elle was the one who paid for everything. There were only two of them but Erick bought a lot. Elle wondered if they could finish all of those tonight. It was already 5:30 pm when they left the supermarket.

After putting the things at the back passenger seat, Erick guided Elle in the front seat and opened the car door for her. She thanked him before she got in. Erick just nodded with a grin. Then he went around to the driver's side. He put the car key, turning his car on.

They began to head out the exit of the parking lot. After a few minutes, they reached a crossing. Erick was waiting for their turn when he saw something from the corner of his eyes.

In an alley which was just a few meters away from them, Erick saw a group of five men beating someone. Erick frowned immediately witnessing the scene.

Elle noticed the changes in Erick's expression so she peered into the car window, following his line of sight. Then she also saw the same scene.

Erick quickly turned the car on the side of the road and stopped.

"Stay in the car. Don't leave here, okay? Dial the police emergency hotline and make a call." Erick softly instructed her as he gave her his phone.

"Hey, what are you going to do?" Elle asked him worriedly.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. Just stay here." Erick mumbled as he gave her a reassuring smile.

Erick didn't wait for Elle to reply. He stepped out of the car and ran towards the alley where they saw someone being brutally beaten by five men. Elle knew what Erick was trying to do. He wanted to rescue the poor man.

"[email protected]! Is he stupid? What if those men are carrying guns?! What does he think of himself, a hero? ARGH!" Elle mumbled in annoyance.

She searched Erick's bag and she saw his gun in there.

Elle cursed inwardly. "He didn't even bring his gun!"

She called the police and reported what was happening in the area. Elle followed his instruction except for one. She wouldn't sit still and wait for him inside the car. Elle immediately followed Erick.

***********

"You stupid old man! If you don't have the ability to pay your debts then don't borrow money!" The man screamed angrily as he continued to kick the middle-aged man lying on the ground in his stomach.

"And how dare you come to our gambling house without enough money?!" 

"This serves you right!" The other man said as he chuckled sarcastically.

The other man also threw two punches, hitting the man on his jaw and cheekbones. They continued to assault the poor man who almost losing his consciousness.

But the man kept enduring the pain. He didn't even cry nor shout in pain. He was just silent as he received those punches and kicks.

"Hey, stop that!"

The five men stopped their beatings as they turned around to face the newcomer.

The five men snorted as they looked at Erick mockingly.

"Leave now! If you don't want to get involved here. Or do you want some beatings too?" One man warned Erick.

From their appearance alone, Erick knew that these men were members of a gang around this area. Their skins were covered by black-inked tattoos, had piercing in the nose and ears, and their smells were mixed with cigarette smoke and liquors.

Erick brought his hand on his waist. That's when he noticed that he didn't bring his gun. He remembered that he put it inside his bag when he and Elle went inside the supermarket.

'[email protected]! Stupid Me! It skips my mind.' Erick cursed himself.

The five men were now flashing their sinister smile as they eyed Erick.

"Well, since we are in a bad mood because of a certain someone. We could use you to vent our anger right now. Just a few beatings will do."

The five men circled him. They sensed that Erick could fight by just looking at his body build. So to be cautious enough, the five men picked up their hidden weapons.

Fortunately, they didn't bring a gun with them. Two men were armed with a curved-bladed carpet knife, while the other three had switchblade and stiletto knives.

Erick could feel the air filled with danger and killing intent. This was clearly a five on one. He stood there with no fear, waiting for them to attack first.

They attacked Erick one after another, charging in from different directions. One man swung his fist which was holding a stiletto knife. Erick took a side step as he backed up. The first attacker had missed.

Another one plunged his switchblade knife to his stomach. Erick had caught his arm, twisting it to loosen his grasp to his knife, thus dropping it on the ground. Erick gave him a hard kick to his stomach. The second attacker fell back.

The other two attacked him all at once. Erick knew that the thrust would be to his chest and the other one was aimed at his back. Erick dodged to the side in one swift move.

Erick turned around, giving the man a flying kick. He hit the man on his face, causing him to stumble and falling flat on his face. Erick threw another punch to one of his attackers. His balled fist collided with his opponent's cheekbones, flaying his neck backward. Another man was down.

"Hey get up! Let's attack him at the same time." The remaining standing man shouted to others.

Everyone stood up and was about to attack Erick once again when they heard a feminine voice from behind.

"Freeze! This is the police. Drop your weapons or else I will shoot!" 

Erick's eyes widened when he saw Elle standing behind the back of those five men. She was holding a gun.

'Why is she here?! She didn't listen to me. I told her to stay in the car. And that gun! Where did she get that?" 

Then after a few seconds, Erick realized that it was his gun.

The five men turned around to face Elle. They somehow felt threatened when they saw the gun as well as the badge in her other hand.

The five men didn't waste time as they quickly ran away from the place. They didn't want to get caught by a police officer.

Elle heaved a sigh of relief when the five men disappeared from her sight. She took her steps towards Erick whose expression was as dark as charcoal.

Erick: "What are you doing here?!"

Elle: "Detective Lee, you're so stupid!"

Both of them complained to each other.

"It's dangerous here. I told you to stay in the car!" Erick ranted at her.

"If you really know that it's dangerous here then why are you so stupid running here without bringing your gun?" Elle spat back at him.

Erick couldn't refute that. He was at a loss for words. They were still having their arguments when they heard someone chuckle on the sides.

It was the middle-aged man who was attacked by those gangsters. Erick and Elle immediately approached the man who was now sitting on the ground.

Erick dropped on his knee as he checked the man. "Mister, are you okay?" Erick asked him worriedly.

"Sir, don't worry. You are safe now. I also called the police." Elle also said to him.

The man felt alarmed when he heard that.

"So you lied? You are not a police?" The middle-aged man asked her.

Elle just nodded with a grin. "But he's a detective." She pointed Erick.

"And I called them, the real one," she added. She's referring to the police.

"No, don't call the police. Please!" The middle-aged man said with his panicked voice.

Elle and Erick exchanged glances with each other.

Seeing the suspicions in their eyes, the man spoke up again.

"I am not a bad person… I am not a criminal nor a wanted person… I have my personal reason that's why I don't want to meet police officers." the man explained to them. He sounded sincere.

"Ok sir, please calm down. We will just bring you to the hospital." Erick muttered as he helped him to stand up.

"No…, please... no hospital." The man begged once again.

Then the man felt a sudden gush of pain jolted throughout his body. His stomach ached, his head was pounding, and his legs began to weaken.

He spouted blood and fell in slow motion. The middle-aged man fainted on Erick's arms.

Elle: "Mister!"

Erick: "Mister!"