BANG!
I didn't need to be told twice. I had watched enough action films to know that that was a gunshot. And I had to RUN.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Oh help. Had I been shot? Doubt it. Bullet wound victims often screamed out in pain when they got shot.
I can't check for blood now. I've got to keep running... keep running... keep running... I've got to get out of here...
"F***ING HELL YOU COULD'VE GOT YOURSELF KILLED!"
Turns out I'd accidentally run in front of a car with an understandably angry driver.
"Sorry. Thanks for stopping... I can't stop... I've got to get out of here..."
I tried to stick to the pavement this time. But my animalistic brain was only focused on getting to safety. Wherever safety was.
Could the gunman be following me? Oh help.
Come on Rupert. Snap out of it. Keep running...
Lungs... on fire... legs... will drop off... Need... more... oxygen... But I've got... to keep... running... to safety... I don't... want to... die...
"Are you alright?"...
"Can't... HA HUH-HA stop... HA HUH-HA"
FLUMP!
This time my animal brain's objective was to refill on oxygen. I lay down where I tripped, panting and panting...
"Are you alright?" said another voice.
"POOP!" I picked myself up quickly and started running.
"Stop!" said the voice. "You look like you're in really bad shape!"
"Can't stop!" I replied. "I could die if I do!"
"Why?", said the woman.
"Someone... fired a... gun... What if..."
"Where did this happen?"
"At the Royal Road."
"This is Tsuuenishi Street. You've run a long way. Was the gunman firing at you?"
I checked myself. (while keeping my clothes on of course, I just needed to see if there were any patches of blood.)
"Looks like I didn't get hurt. Probably not."
"Here, how about you go into the basement of our shop for a while and calm down? I'll bring you a bit of cake if you like. I'm sure whoever had the gun won't find you there."
"Thanks. Sure..." Then exhaustion made me bring up my lunch by a lamppost. "Perhaps no cake then. Another time perhaps. Thank you."
I could here people on the street giggling and gossiping as the lady led me into a cake shop, through a door and down some stairs.
"Rushiine, no sleeping on the job! As in sleeping together!", said a voice from upstairs.
"It's not like that, Arufa! The guy's probably too traumatized anyway."
A taller woman with black hair appeared at the doorway.
"Rushiine... Are. You. Blind?! Do you know who that is?"
"So I'm called That, am I? I thought it was a parent's job to name someone," I called up.
"Oooooooooooh!"
"I know that he is a rather scared young man who literally ran for his life because he heard someone firing a gun," Rushiine, if that was her name, answered.
"No wonder! That's Prince Rupert flipping Uinzaa! 2nd in line to the throne! Oh, and I must say, nice catch!"
"We're not in that sort of relationship, I said!," Rushiine snapped.
"I think I'd better go. Oh, and if either of you tell the paparazzi about this I will literally have you arrested."
"Arufa, get back to the till. I'll leave you in here to calm down. Don't worry. I'll guard the door. From the OUTSIDE." She turned to Arufa as she said "outside".
"Thank you. I promise I'll find a way to repay you, Rushiine."
"You're welcome." Rushiine closed the door on her and Arufa.
"POOP!"
"Is something wrong?" Rushiine poked the door open.
"Just need to call my bodyguard."
"Ooooooooooooh!" came a voice from outside.
Rushiine closed the door as I dialled Christopher's number.
"Hello, Christopher?... OK. I'm at Les Gateaux Magiques Cake Shop in Tsuuenishi Street. Would you meet me there please?"
"Sure." Christopher hung up. He sounded stressed and worried.
After about ten minutes I met Christopher at the basement entrance, thanked Rushiine the cake shop worker for her kindness and we walked to where a tinted BMW was parked. Christopher had to do a fair bit of reassurance.
"So... who got shot? Did anyone die?"
Christopher's face fell. He took a deep breath.
"Your Highness-"
"Rupert."
"Rupert, I'm afraid..." He took another deep breath.
"What is it? Spit it out."
Christopher took one final breath.
"Your father's been shot."