Chapter 4: How to Trust the Devil

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"I'm in charge now," Hanabi repeated, tightly gripping the hilt and pointing the dagger directly at the unknown passenger.

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The passenger’s face twisted in sheer frustration. He blinked at the blade, then at her.

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"Why are you doing this? I just helped free you. Is this how modern women behave nowadays?"

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"Cut the bullshit. I have seen and I know men like you," she said, her voice dripping with venom.

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"Men like me?" The unknown passenger looked genuinely confused.

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"You just murdered someone. You also killed those other two before doing this. Then you come over to help free me, hoping I’ll become your next victim? I won't allow that," Hanabi said. She thrust the dagger a fraction closer to his throat, her face dead serious.

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The unknown passenger remained perfectly still for a moment. Then, a heavy, exhausted sigh of frustration escaped his lips.

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"Why on earth would I want to make you my victim? And besides, we were both going to die anyway," he said.

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Before he could even catch his breath to finish his thought, Hanabi cut him off.

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"Both?" she demanded, her face completely locked in. She pointed the dagger aggressively at his neck again. The passenger instinctively tilted his head back a fraction, keeping his skin just out of reach of the incoming silver tip.

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"Yes, both," the unknown passenger said, his

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voice regaining its steady confidence. "If I hadn't done anything, you would have been the next one to die. And let's be honest, I'm still going to end up surviving anyway."

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Hanabi stared at him in silence. As much as she hated to admit it, what he was saying was entirely true.

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"And by the way, they are still alive" he continued, tilting his head to glance at the two guards passed out against the wall to his right before looking back down at the unconscious leader on the floor "Well Barely"

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Hanabi’s expression hardened in disdain. "You are lying."

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"Haaah..."

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The unknown passenger sighed deeply. Without warning, he completely turned his back on the dagger pointed at his throat and casually walked over to the lead guard's prone body.

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Hanabi’s mouth fell open, her eyes widening in absolute shock. She tried to yell a command at him as he walked away, but the sheer audacity of him ignoring her weapon left her temporarily speechless. She could only stammer over her words.

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"Hey!" she finally shouted, quickly dropping her foot from the seat of the chair and hurrying after him. "How dare you just walk away from me?!"

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Ignoring her angry glare, the unknown passenger knelt beside the lead guard. With a precise, practiced motion, he drove his fingers straight into a nerve point on the criminal's chest.

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GASP!

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The lead guard’s eyes flew open as he drew in a massive, ragged breath, suddenly jolted back into consciousness.

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Hanabi's eyes widened in disbelief. Then, her face fell, a wave of awkward disappointment washing over her as she stood over the body. She realized she had completely misjudged the situation.

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"See? He’s alive," the unknown passenger said, waving both hands toward the groaning criminal with a I-told-you-so look on his face. He paused, looking up at Hanabi, who was still staring blankly at the guard. "Well... barely alive. But they'll make it to a hospital before they actually die."

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Hanabi shifted her gaze to the unknown passenger. The hostility left her body, replaced by a calm, quiet embarrassment. She walked over slowly and stood beside him.

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"I... I want to apologize. I misjudged you," she murmured softly.

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What was I thinking? she scolded herself in her subconscious mind. He literally saved my life, and I pointed a knife at his face. I still don't fully trust him, but... he really doesn't seem like someone who wants to harm me.

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"I know. No need to mention it," the passenger said lightly.

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He was currently preoccupied, repeatedly tapping a specific nerve point on the lead guard's skull to force him back under, while the barely conscious criminal weakly continuously flaied his hands in a tired attempt to push the passenger away.

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With a final tap, the leader went limp and passed out cold again. The passenger stood up to his full height, facing Hanabi. He was significantly taller than her.

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"But why would you save me?" Hanabi questioned, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Why aren't you trying to take advantage of me?"

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"I believe anyone in my situation would do the same thing," he replied smoothly. "Only a few useless men would ever want to take advantage of a helpless woman. Besides, I saw how you were acting while you were tied to that chair moments ago. I saw how you reacted when the two passengers beside you were shot, and when these criminals were harassing you. You looked completely lost, but you desperately wanted to survive. You reacted just now based entirely on your survival instincts."

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He knew... Hanabi thought to herself, stunned by his perception.

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"There's no need to fret. I can help you get out of here," the passenger said. He walked away from her, coming to a stop near the wooden chair.

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Hanabi remained where she was, staring down at the unconscious lead guard.

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"But you see," the passenger's voice echoed from across the room, "sometimes if you want to survive, you must be willing to take any chances available—or create those chances yourself. And above all, you must not be scared."

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Hanabi turned her head to look at him.

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"And... always have hope," he said, gesturing toward her by flipping a dagger up and down in his hand. "It's very important. You're always going to need it."

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He turned and began walking toward the exit.

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Hanabi’s eyes widened at his words, but then they stretched even wider as she looked down at her own hand.

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It was completely empty.

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He had taken the dagger right out of her grip without her even realizing it. Hurriedly, she scrambled over toward the heavy steel door, where the unknown passenger was already peering through a small viewing hatch to inspect the outside environment.

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She pressed her ear flat against the cold metal, desperately hoping to pick up any sounds from the corridor.

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The passenger turned his gaze down to her. She’s short, he noted silently to himself.

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He reversed his grip on the weapon and extended the hilt toward her. "Here. Take it."

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Hanabi looked at his face, then down to the blade. She accepted it slowly. "Thank you," she said, her voice a mix of calm and lingering nervousness as she looked at the steel in her hands.

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The passenger turned back to the hatch. The hallway outside was completely deserted. He closed the hatch with a soft click and faced her, stretching out his left hand.

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"So, what's your name?"

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"Hanabi. And you...?"

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"It's P. Call me P," he said.

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P? What a strange name, Hanabi thought.

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"Okay, P," she said aloud, extending her hand to meet his. They shook on it.

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"Alright. In order for both of us to survive and escape this place, I need you to cooperate," P said.

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A confident look returned to Hanabi's face. "Cooperate... Yes, I'm good at that."

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"Very well then. Let's go," P said.

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Before Hanabi could even process his words, P gripped the handle and threw the steel door wide open.

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An incredibly bright, blinding white light flooded the dingy room. A sudden rush of wind swept past them, making P’s hair wave dramatically as he stood framed against the piercing glare of the outside world.

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Hanabi’s mouth slowly dropped open in absolute shock. As she stared at his back, only one frantic thought crossed her mind:

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