Joshua held the book and started walking towards Alex, who stood alone under a dim streetlight. Just as he was about to call out, a shadowy figure appeared from the other side.
Joshua froze for a second. The man, judging by his stance, looked like a gangster. He put his arm around Alex's shoulder and pulled him closer. Joshua hid behind a parked car, his breath quiet, peeking out to see what was happening
The gangster blew a puff of smoke right into Alex's face. "Who do you think cheated?" he growled, pulling Alex toward a group of men standing in the shadows.
Alex's heart was beating fast, his mind spinning with countless thoughts. "I didn't see anything," he shuttered, unsure of what to say.
"What?" The gangster's irritated face was visible. Another thug stepped forward, sneering, "He knows you cheated, but he is just too scared to admit it."
The gangster's eyes narrowed, his frustration building. He raised his hand and slapped Alex across the face. "I'm asking you one last time, who cheated?" He pulls Alex by his hair, forcing Alex to look him in the eye.
Just then, Joshua stepped forward. "Stop it. Ganging up on a kid? Aren't you ashamed? Leave him alone, right now" Joshua looked straight at them in the eye.
For a brief moment, the gangsters looked into each other and then suddenly burst into laughter. "I won't. What are you gonna do about it?"
Without thinking, Joshua charged forward raising his fist. The gangster caught his arm mid-swing, stopping him easily. The others looked at Joshua with a mockery. "Even kids aren't scared of you," one of them taunted. Enraged as it got into his head, the gangster kicked Joshua in the stomach, knocking him to the ground. He didn't stop there, he stomped on Joshua down hard with his foot.
"Why did Joshua suddenly call us?" Remo muttered, recalling the text they just received "Alex is in trouble, might need help, also call the cops, I'm going." Both Remo and Kenny arrived just in time when Joshua was being beaten. Without a second thought, they just ran toward the gangsters.
The tall gangster noticed them charging and stepped forward, trying to intimidate them, but Remo and Kenny didn't hesitate. They bypassed him with a full sprint, only for the gangster to grab Remo from behind by his clothes and throw him to the opposite side. "I'm fine, you go ahead!" Remo shouted, urging Kenny to keep going.
Kenny charged toward the gangster who was busy focusing on beating Joshua, he tackled the gangster, while shouting at Joshua to get up. But being shorter, Kenny was easily thrown aside like a rag doll. As Kenny fell to the ground, Joshua quickly got up to his feet and delivered a powerful kick to the gangster's face.
Kenny and Joshua charged forward, their movements were sharp and fast, complimenting each other. And as they continued the assault, a wave of memories surfaced, a flashback to their younger days.
Back in middle school, Kenny, Joshua, and Remo were notorious. They weren't just troublemakers, they were the kind of delinquents who caused havoc through the entire school with their fists and fearless attitudes.
Fights in the schoolyard, standing up to older bullies, and even taking on groups twice their size, those were the days they earned their reputation as the monster trio. They were inseparable, always watching each other's backs and ready to throw down at a moment's notice.
But that was a long time ago. Life has changed since then. They'd grown up, moved on, and thought they'd left that life behind. Or so they believed.
Now, facing real gangsters, the old instincts kicked in. Kenny clenched his fist, Remo's eyes narrowed, it felt like no time had passed since. The gangsters might have been bigger, stronger, meaner, and more dangerous, but the trio had something they didn't, years of chemistry fighting side by side.
Meanwhile Alex stood frozen, his hands shaking and his heart racing so hard it felt like it might burst open. He wanted to do something to help, but no words came out. A flood of emotions built up inside him and he couldn't move. His breath felt heavy, his legs feeling imprisoned as if something was holding him down. He could only watch helplessly, as everything happened around him, his mind was shouting to act, but his body wasn't responding.
Soon enough, Remo gets overwhelmed by the sheer strength and size of the gangster, he drags Remo by his hair, pulling his head back with a tight grip.
"You don't know how to respect your elders, huh?" he sneered, his voice full of malice. Before Remo could respond, the gangster slapped him hard.
Remo's head turned to the side from the impact, but he clenched his jaw and spit on him, refusing to show any weakness. Remo showed great resistance, annoyed, the tall gangster lifts him up and kicks him on his chest.
Remo's body flew through the air as the gangster's kick pushed him far, hitting straight to the wall, his head cracking against it, and then falling to the ground, lifeless. Blood started to drip from the wound on his head. Kenny's raw scream tore through the air. The sound echoed like a shockwave, breaking through Alex's ears.
Upon hearing the sound, Alex's vision felt a little clearer. His eyes turned towards Kenny, whose tears were streaming down his face, Alex then turned towards Remo, whose body lay lifeless. Something inside of Alex snapped. His hands, once numb, now clenched into fists. He grabbed a stick lying around, his movements full of rage, without thinking, he swung it at the gangster's head.
The impact went straight towards his head, making the man drop straight to the ground, but Alex didn't stop there. He kept hitting him again and again on his back, even after the gangster lay unconscious, taking out all his anger.
Alex's bloodshot eyes shifted to the other gangster kicking Joshua. The man's smirk was gone, replaced by a cold look. Without a care, Alex charges straight, dodges the incoming hit and simultaneously slammed the stick into the gangster's head. As the man fell, Alex swung the stick across his back and hit him until the stick broke apart. Standing over him, Alex breathed heavily, his rage still burning in his eyes.
Alex wasn't finished. His head turned slowly towards the two gangsters who were watching from the sidelines. Without a break, he charged at them. One of the gangsters lashed out with a kick, sending Alex rolling backwards, but Alex got up like it was nothing.
In one sharp motion, he flipped backward, his foot hitting the gangster's face brutally, then drove his fist into the man's groin, dropping him to the ground in immeasurable pain.
The last remaining gangster was shaking in fear, and hesitantly pulled out a knife. Kenny yelled, "Watch out!" But Alex, who was full of rage, couldn't hear a single word.
He charged straight at the gangster, who swung the knife wildly with fear written all over his face. Alex kicks the knife out of his hand, as Alex pulls his fist, the gangster tries to run but trips. Alex was on him in seconds, pinning him down and hitting him with punches with no signs of stopping.
Joshua rushes in, grabbing Alex from behind and trying to pull him away. He threw Joshua aside, and continues delivering heavy blows until he sees the main person, the gangster responsible for all of this lying on the ground.
Alex wasn't gonna let him go, not until he paid the price. Every fiber of Alex's being screamed for revenge, his fists swinging with a desperate, fierce intent.
Kenny and Joshua both lunged at Alex, using all their strength to hold him back. Kenny wrapped his arms around Alex's torso, while Joshua grabbed his shoulders, both of them shouting, "Alex, stop! Look at Remo!" But Alex still had energy like that of a wild animal. It took every bit of strength from Kenny and Joshua just to slow him down. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alex's movements slowed, his rage slowly started to exhausts. He collapsed on his knees, breathing heavily, as Kenny and Joshua kept their grip on him.
The police arrived soon after, followed by an ambulance. The paramedics rushed Remo onto a stretcher. And as the nurse mentioned Remo was in a critical condition, Alex refuses to go to the hospital, staying behind as the others leave.
The rain began to fall, growing heavier as the sky got darker. Alex sat alone, his mind consumed by guilt. He replayed the events in his head, blaming himself for not acting sooner, for being so weak, for letting it all spiral out of control. The weight of his failure pressed down on him as the rain soaked through his clothes, mixing with the blood on his hands.
Alex lies on the ground, staring at the bright moon with tired eyes, unable to tell if the wetness on his face was rain or tears. The world around him felt distant and blurry. Suddenly, the rain stopped falling on him.
Someone stood above, holding an umbrella. Alex didn't move, his gaze still fixed on the moon, as if the umbrella didn't exist.
The person stepped closer, facing Alex's gaze. It was a girl. She smiled softly when she saw him, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and sadness. Without a word, she knelt down and gently wiped his wet face with a white handkerchief.
"Alex..." she called softly, with deep concern over her voice. Alex didn't respond for a few seconds and slowly rolled his eyes toward her. Seeing him like this in such a state overwhelmed her with teary eyes all over.
Alex hugs her tight, his arms trembling as he didn't let go. He buried his face in her shoulder. The weight of everything crashing down on him at once. She pats him in his head as tears start to fall from his eyes.