Rage consumed Turai as he launched himself at the attackers. His small frame belied the devastating force he was about to unleash. The first man barely had time to register the boy's approach before Turai was upon him.
With precision born of years of training, Turai struck at every joint in the man's body. Elbows, knees, shoulders, and ankles – each met with a sickening crack as Turai's blows connected. In mere seconds, the attacker crumpled to the ground, his body rendered useless by the systematic destruction of his joints.
Without pausing, Turai turned his attention to the next opponent. This man suffered an even more gruesome fate. In a display of strength that seemed impossible for a child, Turai gripped the man's arms and, with a savage yank, tore them from their sockets. Before the man's scream could fully form, Turai's foot connected with his chest, sending him hurtling through the air. The attacker crashed into a nearby building with such force that the wall crumbled, burying him under a pile of debris.
The third victim found himself in Turai's sights before he could even think to flee. A ferocious blow to the chest caved in the man's ribcage, leaving him gasping for air that wouldn't come. But Turai wasn't finished. In a blur of motion, he appeared behind the struggling man and delivered a devastating strike to his spine. The sickening crunch that followed ensured the attacker would never walk again.
Seeing the fate of their comrades, the remaining three men attacked in unison, hoping to overwhelm the young boy. Their hope was short-lived. Turai vanished from their midst, reappearing wrapped around the neck of one attacker. The other two froze, terror evident on their faces. Before they could react, a sharp crack echoed through the air as Turai snapped the man's neck – his first intentional kill of the night. True to his word, this was the man that had dealt the attack to Mrs. Benson.
Panic set in, and the last two men turned to flee. Their attempts were futile. Turai swept one off his feet using the severed arm of a fallen attacker, while the other found himself crushed beneath the weight of his airborne colleague.
Still seething with rage, Turai pounced on the man he'd swept to the ground. Straddling his chest, Turai rained down a barrage of punches on the man's face. Each impact sent blood and teeth flying, leaving the attacker's features a mangled, unrecognizable mess. The scariest part was that the man was still alive. Amidst the pounding, the man remained breathing, his chest rising and falling unevenly.
The last man standing scrambled to his feet, desperate to escape. But Turai was faster. He caught the fleeing attacker, his fist cocked back for another devastating blow. But then, a voice cut through the haze of his fury.
"Turai!"
The boy froze, his fist suspended in mid-air. He turned to see Mrs. Benson staggering towards him, her steps unsteady but her voice clear. The sight of her alive sent a wave of relief washing over him, momentarily dousing the flames of his anger.
Turning back to the terrified man before him, Turai's voice came out in a low, menacing growl. "If you or anyone else ever threatens this orphanage again, there will be no mercy. Spread the word. Let it get to the ears of those bastards who sent you or there'll be even more bloodshed." He released his grip, allowing the man to scramble away into the night.
Turai rushed to Mrs. Benson's side just as her legs gave out. He caught her gently, his earlier ferocity replaced by tender concern.
"No! Not here. Not yet!" As she slipped into unconsciousness once more, Turai's mind raced. Without a moment's hesitation, he scooped her up in his arms and began to run.
His destination was clear – the town's dilapidated hospital. Despite its worn-down appearance, Turai knew the nurse there was skilled. If anyone could help Mrs. Benson, it would be her.
As he sprinted through the darkened streets, Turai's earlier rage gave way to a gnawing worry. The weight of Mrs. Benson in his arms felt like the weight of the entire orphanage – the only home he'd ever known. He pushed himself harder, his small legs eating up the distance at an impossible pace. To any who saw him, he was nothing short of a passing wind. His speed was blurry as he raced through the streets.
The hospital was at the other end of the town after all. It would take over fifteen minutes to get there but Turai wanted to get there in seconds.
The hospital loomed ahead, its weathered facade a beacon of hope in the night. Turai burst through the doors, his voice ringing out in the quiet building. "Help! We need help!"
As the startled nurse rushed towards them, Turai gently laid Mrs. Benson on a nearby cot. He stepped back, allowing the medical professional to take over, but his eyes never left Mrs. Benson's pale face.
"What happened to her?" The nurse asked immediately she saw Mrs. Benson's condition. The woman was out cold.
"Uhm… She was pushed and had her head smashed against the wall." Turai didn't even think twice before blurting out the first thing that came to his mind.
"She's priority so stay back and let me begin treatment immediately. We'll talk about what happened later." The nurse gently pushed Turai aside and moved closer to Mrs. Benson.
In that moment, as he watched the nurse begin her examination, Turai made a silent vow. He would protect this place – this home – and everyone in it, no matter the cost. The events of the night had shown him the true extent of the threats they faced, and he was more determined than ever to stand as their guardian.
With a deep breath, Turai steeled himself for whatever challenges lay ahead. The battle for the orphanage's survival was far from over, but he would be ready. For now, all he could do was wait and hope that Mrs. Benson would pull through – and that the message he'd sent tonight would keep their enemies at bay, at least for a while.