Chapter 198

Ryan’s POV

"Dad, there will be a picnic next Friday afternoon. Can you come back then?"

In a daze, I suddenly opened my eyes wide. The intense pain in my neck made me realize that I couldn't give up at this moment.

Although the seat reclined very slowly, I was already completely lying down at this point.

Coleman couldn't use any force at this angle and could only keep dodging backward.

After I fully reclined the seat, I continued to grope with my left hand and soon found another button.

Once this button was pressed, the entire seat would slowly move backward.

"Damn it..." Coleman was constantly pushed back by my seat and it seemed there was no room left for him to move around.

I finally broke free from the wire around my neck. I felt a dull pain all over my throat, but now it was a matter of life and death.

I immediately raised the pistol and turned around, but everything was pitch black before my eyes and my brain still hadn't recovered from the lack of oxygen.

Based on the sound and experience, I aimed the gun straight ahead, ready to deal with Coleman.

But at this moment, the entire car suddenly began to shake.

It was a few seconds later that I came to my senses. This was actually an earthquake.

I'd lived for over thirty years and had never experienced an earthquake.

But this time the earthquake was so clear that it made it even more difficult for me, who was already feeling a bit dizzy, to keep my balance.

After missing two consecutive shots, Coleman suddenly rose to his feet and grabbed my hand tightly.

I'd fought him before. This con man wasn't very strong, but every move he made was very dirty.

He held down my pistol with one hand and reached for the little finger of my left hand with the other. After grasping it, he gave it a hard pull.

I didn't expect this move to instantly jerk my left hand back. The next second, I finally regained my eyesight, only to see Coleman pull out a hammer from somewhere.

Before I could react, the hammer flew right onto my head.

In an instant, I felt the world spinning around me.

At this moment, the car also began to skid randomly due to the violent earthquake. Through the car window, I could faintly see that the houses on both sides of the alley were collapsing, the walls were cracking, and even the distant sky was cracked...

Before I could react, Coleman's hammer fell again, but I narrowly dodged it.

I came to my senses and realized that if I couldn't take Coleman's life here, he would take my daughter's life. Even if I had to die here, I would definitely drag Coleman into hell.

I stretched out a finger and thrust it hard into Coleman's eye. I felt a warm and wet sensation on my finger, which directly pierced through his eyeball.

He let out a wail and let go of the hand holding the pistol. I immediately aimed at his chest and fired a shot.

The bullet clearly pierced his lung, but at the same moment, his hammer swung back and landed on my temple.

The next few shots, I don't know if it was because the earthquake was too violent or because my temple was hit, completely lost control of the direction. Although I really wanted to add a few more shots, my entire balance had been completely disrupted.

All I could see before my eyes was pitch black. I didn't even know where I'd passed out.

The hammer still seemed to be falling on my head.

But I didn't feel anything anymore.

The cool liquid soaked my eyes, and I could only hear the "bang bang" sound coming from my skull.

Everything was shaking, everything was cracking.

A huge sound came from far away like waves, with screams, shouts, the sounds of vehicles colliding and the collapse of buildings all bursting out in an instant.

No, I still couldn't die.

I had to deal with Coleman quickly and then get off the car to rescue people.

I needed to call headquarters and ask for backup.

But would I still be alive?

Was I alive now?

When I opened my eyes, there were nine strangers sitting in front of me.

This place was somewhat like a room for interrogations, but we never prepared round tables.

The circle didn't give people a sense of pressure; instead, it gave people a feeling of reunion and comfort. Therefore, the tables in interrogation rooms were usually square.

At first, I thought this was some little trick played by Coleman... but on second thought, both he and I should be dead.

I reached out and touched my head. The skull was slightly dented, but I didn't see any bleeding.

I touched my neck again and felt a sharp pain.

It seemed the injuries I got at that time were still there, but I wasn't dead. What was going on here?

My neck and skull were both fatal wounds, yet I was sitting here intact. Not only could I see and hear them, but I could also feel my own wounds.

A senior colleague at the station once told me that when a person dies, they will recall all the things they'd done in their life like a movie reel.

But I didn't remember ever having seen these nine people in front of me. Each of them had a strange face and, like me, was looking around.

So this wasn't a life review, but a strange dream?

A minute later, the man wearing a goat head mask killed someone without hesitation, and I finally knew my mission.

Even if this was a strange dream, even if this was hell.

My mission wasn't over yet.

This was where I could continue to pay off my debts.

This time, I would definitely not hesitate again, nor would I let myself regret.

I was a policeman.

I never expected that the identity I drew would be "Liar." Now it was a dilemma.

After all, I had to first save the lives of the innocent... or did I have to survive and personally kill that pervert wearing a mask?

After a few seconds of mental struggle, I understood.

Never follow the suspect's train of thought. He wanted us to kill each other, but I insisted on saving everyone.

As long as everyone survived, there was still hope for everything.

It was a pity that even if I won this game, I could never go back.

I'd killed someone.

I couldn't face my daughter anymore. All that awaited me were the sanctions of federal law.

So my destination could only be here.

There was no chance to start over in life. I had no way to change my past.

It was a pity that I didn't even have a single cigarette in my pocket. I didn't bring the lighter my daughter bought for me with her pocket money either. I didn't know how hard the days ahead would be.

If possible, I really hoped to have another Marlboro cigarette.

So just let me finish what I should do and then die quietly.

My name was Ryan Murphy.

I was going to start lying.