From down below, Shane saw --or rather felt-- a powerful gust of wind surge through the alley. He didn't have time to think much about it, as he narrowly avoided a fist to his face. 'Crap!' he let out a yelp as he felt a crushing pain in his chest. Pierce had feinted and then pivoted, plunging his knee into him.
His former friend spat to the side in disgust, grabbing Shane and bringing his knee into his torso once again. "You're pathetic, Fletcher. I've always told you to quit reading books, and instead focus on training".
Shane brought his arms up to feebly block Pierce's blows. "S-shut up!" he managed to push Pierce off him, rearing his fist back to retaliate. "What's so wrong with that!" Shane threw his punch. Pierce easily evaded it, stepping back and returning the missed blow. It hit Shane right in the chest.
"Lesson on combat number twelve: if the enemy has no visible weak spots, create them. Pressure one spot over and over again" he sadistically beat into Shane. "You would have learnt that if you paid attention, instead of always gazing off into the distance!".
Shane fell to his knees, clutching his chest and wheezing. Tears fell down his face as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Looking down on his former friend with contempt, Pierce turned around to refocus on his original goal.
As Shane's vision blinked in and out, darkness slowly taking the place of light, a memory flashed in his mind.
He was back in his old home.
. . .
The fireplace flickered, warmly as he was cradled gently in the lap of his father. Off in the background, he could hear his mother hum a faint lullaby.
The light of the fire caressed the features of his father's face. Though it was covered in terrible scars, he always looked so kind. Shane's father looked down at him, smiling brightly.
"Remember, Shane, the world is a big and wide place. There are many type of people in this big world, good and bad. When the time comes, you must be righteous and help those in need".
. . .
Heat rose in his chest, a bright flame ignited in his heart. 'I've ignored her for too long, I have to do something!' Mustering the little strength he had left, Shane got to his feet. "G-get back here!" he managed, staggering.
Pierce stopped dead in his tracks, turning slowly to face Shane. "You really don't know when to quit".
Shane readied himself for another onslaught of beatings, shaking his head. No! He would not simply get ready for another barrage of hits, he would beat Pierce! He had promised himself, his father and Veronica. He let her be for over ten years, he was done being afraid. Gritting his teeth, Shane walked forward.
Pierce cocked his head back, laughing. "Who do you think you are? The hero of some story? Get real, Fletcher, you're nothing! You'll be nothing, you'll stay nothing!" He took a dangerous step towards Shane. "Take one step forward, and you're dead"
Shane staggered, hesitantly challenging Pierce's promise.
"That's it! You're done-" A sonorous clang resonated through the alley, followed by Pierce falling face first into the pavement.
Standing over the unconscious body was a little girl with light brown, curly hair. Alice huffed haggardly, a metallic object in her hand. Behind her was another unconscious body, the hands protecting his nether regions told the story of how he was defeated.
Alice sat down on the bare ground, immediately regretting it. "Come on, we gotta help Veronica!" she heaved, getting up with the repugnant liquid dripping down her pants.
Shane was wide eyed, his jaw hung agape as he nearly fell on himself. His shoulders sagged as he let out a small sigh. What was all that for? He shook his head. 'No matter, focus!'
* * *
Veronica was still in the midst of combat, balancing on a fine line of tension that was ever slightly leaning towards her. She had already taken down some, but the remaining five were larger than her and just as trained. She scowled, lunging forward to attack the closest one. She cocked her fist back and unloaded it like a canon. Just in time, the boy raised his arm, only for it to be bent at an unnatural angle, but he didn't give in to the pain and instead grabbed her collar. He grinned as the other four rushed in at the opportunity.
Tugging effortlessly, Veronica pulled away and tore her shirt in the process. The gang of attackers jumped to get her, but grabbed air. Veronica grimaced as she slid under them, ripping the skin on her knee. She backed up, hitting something solid. A wall. Veronica was now cornered.
She tensed as the five boys stepped over their fallen comrades, closing in on her. They looked at their defeated friends, a mixture of annoyance and sorrow.
"Damn it!" One spat with vengeance.
"You'll pay for this"
"Nowhere to run to now, rat!"
Veronica grit her teeth. She would have shouted something at them, but that was useless, words and diplomacy never worked, not when HE was around. She glanced up at the rooftops, the absence of her enemy made her frown. Her attention was snapped back by the sounds of rushing footsteps. Veronica tensed, ready to go all out.
…
But just as they were about to be upon her, something strange happened. A boy with black hair and crimson eyes appeared before her. He stood against the five people. Veronica was puzzled by this, as she immediately saw that he was in no shape to be fighting.
'Shane?'
He looked back at her, smiling brightly. "Hey, sorry for being late!"
The five stopped dead in their tracks, all staring dumbstruck at Shane. Had he gone insane?
"Step out of the way, Shane" One of them took a step closer.
Another glared at him. "You bastard! You're defending her?"
"Piece of-"
Veronica had the same thoughts. What on Terraluminos was that idiot doing? How was he supposed to do anything, especially in that state?
"What do you think you're doing?" She sighed, creasing her brows.
Shane smiled stupidly, fisticuffs up. "Not sure, just listening to someone. Oh, Alice said to block your ears"
As the group of five decided they had enough and charged, a deafening blast erupted from just behind them. Instantaneously, the group of boys all fell. Shane and Veronica stood in front of them, hands covering their ears and looking astounded.
From behind the boys, Alice stood with all her hair burnt. Her face was covered in black and looked completely dazed. "I t-told you...it wasn't a compass" she fell backwards, remnants of a small, oval machine in her hands. Just in time, Veronica caught her by her shirt.
Shane fell on his ass, shook by the power of the wayfinder. It was definitely not a compass, that he was sure of now.
. . .
A bit earlier, Shane and Alice had gone over a plan. Alice would self destruct the wayfinder while Shane distracted the five.
"The compass? How is that thing going to self-destruct? How does that even work?" Shane was fuddled.
Alice grabbed Shane his shirt, pulling him close. "Wayfinder! It's a wayfinder, and just trust me!" she let him go, taking the oval shaped machine out of her bag.
"Okay, okay" Shane relented. "Fine, I trust you"
"Good!" Alice started tinkering with the thing. "Oh, and make sure to block your ears".
. . .
Shane let out a relieved, nervous chuckle. "Wow, I can't believe we won".
Alice gave out a disoriented slur of words.
"Not yet" Veronica looked up at the rooftops, still tense.
As if answering her question, a powerful gust of wind pushed down on the three from above like a thousand ton weight. All of them were forced onto their knees. A man with platinum hair and cyan eyes glided down. Shane, Alice and Veronica's eyes widened as a deathly tension filled the alley.
Carried by the scruff of their necks by the man was William and Michael, both equally terrified.
Shane's lips trembled. "G-General!"
Adam's gaze was ice cold, the air around him made it hard to breathe. "Well well, it seems like I need to place an intervention order".