358 357: Bait

As Corey staggered backward, a searing pain ripped through his left shoulder, accompanied by a deafening roar that drowned out the chaos around him. He stumbled, his vision swimming as he struggled to maintain his balance, his hands instinctively clutching at the source of agony.

The bullet had torn through his flesh with brutal force, leaving behind a ragged, crimson-edged wound that oozed blood in pulsating rivulets. The skin around the entry point was mottled with dark bruises, a stark contrast to the pallor that had washed over Corey's features.

His breath came in ragged gasps, each inhalation a laborious effort as he fought to quell the rising tide of panic and pain. Every movement sent a jolt of agony lancing through his injured shoulder, a constant reminder of the violence that had shattered his world in an instant.