Chereads / ECHOES OF FRACTURED HEART / Chapter 4 - chapter 4: Shadows of strength

Chapter 4 - chapter 4: Shadows of strength

yami seeing through the village on a quiet, chilly evening, lost in his thoughts about his past. As he passes by a narrow alley, he hears the sounds of someone being harassed. He walks closer and sees a group of boys bullying a smaller kid. Yami pauses, contemplating whether to get involved.

Something inside him stirs, reminding him of his own lonely and painful past. He steps forward and calmly approaches the group. The bullies turn to face him, surprised by his sudden presence. Without saying much, Yami's intense gaze and his confident stride toward them unsettle the group. They start to feel threatened by his quiet strength and quickly decide to run away, leaving the kid behind.

Yami kneels down and helps the boy up, gently placing his jacket over the boy's shoulders. The boy looks up at Yami with wide eyes, clearly shaken but grateful.

"You need to be strong enough to protect yourself," Yami says softly, his voice carrying a weight of personal experience. "The world isn't always kind."

The boy nods, still processing what just happened, while Yami watches him for a moment before walking away. As he heads back toward the main street, Yami can't help but feel a connection to the boy's vulnerability. It reminds him of his younger self.

Suddenly, a voice calls out from behind, harsher and more menacing. Yami turns around to see an older boy, taller and more muscular, approaching him aggressively. It's one of the bullies' older brother or friend, looking for revenge.