Kai stared at the growing pool of blood beneath him, his breaths shallow and rapid. The distant wail of sirens mixed with the fading sound of footsteps, yet all he could focus on was the question pounding in his mind: "Why me?" His vision blurred, but the image of his Nana's kind face lingered, offering him a bittersweet comfort as darkness closed in.
Kai did not remember his life very fondly There wasn't much to remember anyway. Orphaned at birth, he stayed with his grandmother for 12 years of his life till she passed away in her sleep. Ever since then, he took care of himself. Made his own meals, washed his own clothes and lived a pretty mediocre life.
His grandmother had little savings, so Kai learned to stretch every penny. While his peers went out with friends and had fun, he worked long shifts at a diner, scrubbing dishes. As they moved into adulthood, partying and socializing, Kai remained at a 24/7 convenience store, working tirelessly to make ends meet.
Despite the hardships, Kai never complained or lamented his fate. He persevered through it all, working tirelessly with the belief that things would improve in time.
At 19, Kai possessed a quiet charm—jet-black hair, mystic amethyst eyes that often attracted attention, even with his unkempt appearance and worn-out clothes. Some girls found him attractive, but his reserved demeanor and awkward social skills held him back. Working long hours at part-time jobs and keeping his peers at a distance due to his financial struggles, Kai never managed to form meaningful bonds or lasting relationships during his school years.
Kai graduated high school at the top of his class, earning offers from several reputable mid-tier colleges in the state. Yet, without scholarships to cover the costs, attending a good college was out of reach. He had poured his heart and soul into academics, hoping his hard work and stellar scores would secure him a full scholarship to the college of his dreams. When those hopes were dashed, he decided to take a year off, earn money, and reapply the following year.
It was during this time that Kai learned a bitter truth—his school's financial aid, which should have been awarded to him as the top scorer, had gone instead to the headmaster's daughter, whose grades were far below his own. Outraged, Kai sought answers, requesting meetings with the headmaster and even attempting to escalate the issue publicly, only to be stonewalled and eventually banned from campus.
The betrayal left him dejected, and with no other options, he threw himself into full-time and part-time jobs, working tirelessly to save for his education.
Despite the hardships, one thing remained constant—Kai's love for acting. Ever since his grandmother took him to his first movie, he had been captivated by the art. At the age of 8, he had mapped out his entire path to becoming an actor. Yet, after her passing and the financial struggles that followed, his dream seemed unattainable.
Still, Kai refused to give up entirely. He resolved to be part of the industry, even if it meant starting at the bottom. He vowed to contribute to some of the best films of the next decade—nothing and no one could stop him.
Or so he thought.
8th July 2022 - A2Z Convenience store - 11:29PM
Kai was assigned the graveyard shift tonight, covering for a colleague who called in sick. Happy to make some extra cash, he accepted without a second thought. Normally, there would be two people manning the store during this shift, but with no one else available, Kai was alone. He didn't mind. Downtown LA was quiet at this hour, and he figured it would be an easy night.
It was nearing 2 AM, and the hum of the fluorescent lights filled the store as Kai leaned against the counter, doom-scrolling through his phone to pass the time. The occasional car headlights passed by outside, but the streets were mostly dead. Just another uneventful night—or so he thought.
The soft whir of the automatic doors caught his attention. He glanced up to see a man in his sixties stepping in, wearing dark glasses and holding a white cane tapping softly against the floor. Figuring out the old man's condition made Kai straighten up immediately.
"Good evening, sir," Kai greeted warmly, slipping his phone onto the counter in his haste to assist the man. "Do you need any help?"
The man smiled, his face kind and wrinkled with age. "Ah, such a polite young man," he said, his voice deep and grandfatherly. "My grandson's staying over, and the boy has a sweet tooth. I thought I'd grab him some ice cream before he throws a fit."
Kai chuckled. "Let me help you find something he'll love."
Taking the man's arm, Kai guided him toward the freezer aisle at the back of the store. They moved slowly, the man tapping his cane as they went. The warmth in his voice reminded Kai of his own Nana, and it brought a small smile to his face.
"What flavor does your grandson like?" Kai asked, crouching to open the freezer door.
"Oh, anything with chocolate," the man replied with a chuckle. "It's his favorite. If I come back with vanilla, I'll never hear the end of it."
Kai smiled as he reached in to grab a few options. Just as he turned to suggest a brand, the faint sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the entrance.
He craned his neck toward the front and froze. Two men, large in build in ski masks had entered, one holding a gun, the other scanning the store.
Kai's pulse spiked, and he instinctively ducked behind the freezer door, pulling the elderly man slightly back. His phone was still sitting on the counter, and the weight of that mistake hit him like a brick.
"Sir," he whispered urgently, his voice trembling. "Please stay calm, but there are armed men here. Do you have a phone with you?"
The man tensed, his fingers gripping his cane tightly. "N-no," he stammered, his confidence shaken.
Kai bit his lip. "Alright, don't move. Stay here and keep quiet. I'll try to get to the counter and press the alarm."
He didn't wait for a reply. Keeping low, Kai slipped into the adjacent aisle, his heart pounding in his chest. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, and the faint shuffle of boots grew louder as the robbers moved deeper into the store.
"Someone must be here," one of them muttered, his voice sharp and low, eyes darting all over the store.
"Then find them," the other snapped. A moment later, a loud crash sounded—a shelf knocked over.
Kai's breathing grew shallow as he crept toward the counter. Just as his fingers reached for the edge, a panicked scream shattered the silence. His head whipped around.
The old man had given himself away.
Kai's heart sank as the scream echoed through the store. His blood turned cold when he saw one of the robbers gripping the old man by the arm, shoving him hard against a shelf.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing back here, old man?" the robber snarled, the gun in his hand glinting under the fluorescent light.
The elderly man raised his trembling hands. "I—I was just getting ice cream for my grandson," he stammered, his cane slipping from his grasp and clattering to the floor.
"Shut up!" the second robber snapped, kicking the cane aside. He turned his masked face toward his partner. "This geezer probably saw us. What if he calls the cops?"
"I don't even have a phone!" the old man protested, his voice cracking.
From his crouched position in the aisle, Kai felt a surge of anger and panic. He had to do something.
The emergency alarm was just a few feet away under the counter. But if he moved now, the robbers would spot him.
He gritted his teeth. You don't have time to think, Kai. Move!
Kai lunged for the counter, slamming his hand under it and hitting the hidden button. A soft beep sounded, barely audible, but enough to signal the silent alarm had been triggered. Relief flooded him for a split second—before one of the robbers spotted him.
"There's someone else here!" the man barked, pointing his gun at Kai.
Kai froze, his heart pounding in his ears. The second robber left the old man and stormed toward him, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the counter.
"You think you're a hero, huh?" the man growled, his breath hot and rancid through the mask. "What did you do just now?"
"Nothing!" Kai lied, his voice shaking. "I—I was just trying to help the old man!"
The robber sneered, shoving him harder. "Don't play dumb with me!"
Before the man could say more, a sharp voice interrupted.
"Leave him alone!"
Both robbers turned. The elderly man had picked up his cane and was glaring at them, his frail body
trembling but his voice steady. "You've already scared him enough. Just take what you want and leave!"
The robber holding Kai chuckled darkly. "Oh, look at that. Grandpa wants to play the hero too."
"You've already messed up enough!" the other robber hissed. "This is taking too long. Just grab the cash, and let's go!"
Kai's mind raced. He could see the growing panic in their movements. If he stalled long enough, the cops might show up in time.
"Hey," Kai said, his voice louder and steadier than he expected. "You don't need to hurt anyone. The cash register is right there. Just take it and leave us alone."
The robbers hesitated, glancing at each other. For a moment, it seemed like they might actually listen.
But then the first robber's temper flared. "You think you can tell us what to do?" he snarled, raising the gun.
Kai's instincts took over. He ducked just as the man swung at him, and his fist collided with the counter instead. Taking advantage of the moment, Kai rammed into him with all his strength, sending the robber staggering backward.
The second robber cursed and aimed the gun, but Kai was faster. He grabbed a nearby metal rack and hurled it in the man's direction. It wasn't much, but it gave him enough time to grab the old man's arm and pull him toward the back of the store.
"Stay down!" Kai shouted, shoving the man behind a row of shelves.
"Are you crazy, boy?" the old man whispered, his voice trembling. "They have guns!"
"So do the cops," Kai said through gritted teeth. "We just have to hold out until they get here."
A loud crash came from the front of the store as the robbers knocked over displays in their search.
"Find them!" one of them yelled. "We're not leaving until we deal with that punk!"
Kai's breath came in short gasps as he scanned the area for something—anything—that could help. His eyes landed on a stack of cleaning supplies in the corner. Grabbing a bottle of bleach and a mop handle, he gestured for the old man to stay put.
The footsteps grew louder. One of the robbers rounded the corner, his gun raised.
"Found you!"
Without thinking, Kai flung the bottle of bleach at the man's face. The liquid splattered across his mask, and the robber screamed, clutching at his eyes. Kai didn't waste a second. He lunged forward, swinging the mop handle like a bat and knocking the gun out of the man's hand.
The second robber appeared just as his partner hit the ground, and before Kai could react, he was tackled to the floor. Pain shot through his ribs as the man landed a punch, but Kai fought back, kicking wildly until he managed to throw the robber off.
The man scrambled for his gun just as the sound of sirens began to wail faintly in the distance. Kai felt a flicker of hope. The cops are close.
But that flicker was extinguished in an instant when the robber raised his weapon—not at Kai, but at the elderly man still crouched near the shelves.
"Old man," the robber hissed, his voice laced with fury. "You're dead."
Kai's eyes widened. Time seemed to slow as he saw the robber's finger tightening on the trigger.
Without thinking, he lunged forward, his body moving on pure instinct.
"NO!" Kai shouted, throwing himself between the gun and the old man.
The deafening crack of a gunshot echoed through the store.
For a moment, Kai didn't feel anything. He thought he'd missed it—that somehow, the bullet hadn't found him. But then the pain hit, sharp and searing, like fire ripping through his back.
He stumbled, his legs giving out beneath him as he fell to his knees. His breath came in short, ragged gasps, and his chest felt impossibly heavy.
"No!" the old man cried out, rushing to his side and trying to steady him.
Kai tried to speak, to tell the man he was okay, but the words wouldn't come. He tasted copper, sharp and metallic, as blood pooled in his mouth. His hands shook as he pressed them to his side, but they came away slick and red.
The robber froze, his eyes darting between Kai and the old man. The faint sound of sirens was growing louder, and panic overtook him. "We gotta go!" he shouted to his partner, grabbing him by the arm.
Without another word, the two men bolted from the store, leaving chaos in their wake.
Kai slumped forward, his vision beginning to blur. The floor beneath him felt cold, and he could feel the warmth of his own blood spreading out in a dark pool.
The old man knelt beside him, his hands trembling as he tried to apply pressure to the wound. "Stay with me, son," he said, his voice breaking. "Help is coming. Just hold on a little longer."
Kai's lips twitched, trying to form a smile, but it was weak and fleeting. His body felt heavier with every passing second, the pain dulling as a strange numbness crept in.
As his vision dimmed, one final thought flitted through his mind, sharp and bitter.
Why me?
And then, everything went black.