Continuation...
The alarm clock buzzes beside me, a familiar sound grounding me in reality. I sit up, my heart still racing.
"It was just a dream," I whisper, though the vividness of it lingers.
I roll out of bed, forcing myself into a routine. Sit-ups. Punches on the bag. Breakfast. But the vision of that destroyed future stays with me.
As I drive to work, my mind churns with questions. "Why was the future so terrible? And how can I stop myself from becoming... him?"
Cabinet Office – 7:30 a.m.
I park my car and step into the towering government building. Inside, the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, stands in conversation with opposition leader Peter Dutton and deputy leader Sussan Ley. My instinct is to pause and eavesdrop, but I stop myself—what kind of man lurks in the shadows, spying on private conversations?
"Ah, Mr. Lucky!" Mr. Dutton notices me and approaches with a firm handshake.
"I thought you wouldn't make it to today's meeting," he says.
"And why's that?" I reply, raising an eyebrow.
"Just a hunch. Is Joshua coming?"
"Of course. He never misses a meeting."
Miss Ley joins us, her smile warm but professional. "Good morning," she says.
"Morning, Miss Ley. I hope you slept well?"
"Better than most nights. And you?"
Before I can answer, my attention falters. The sun's soft rays illuminate her graceful features—the curve of her cheekbones, the glint in her emerald eyes. For a moment, I'm entranced. Her sharp brows arch as she notices me staring, and I snap back to reality.
"Hello? Mr. Lucky?" she says, tilting her head.
"Sorry—what did you say?"
"I asked if you slept well."
"Yes. I did. Thank you."
She studies me briefly, then excuses herself to her office.
"Wow," Mr. Dutton mutters. "The way you were staring… don't tell me you've got a crush on her."
"Crush? Don't be ridiculous." I shake my head, trying to hide my flushed cheeks.
"Come on. You like her, but you don't have the guts to admit it."
"Enough, Dutton. Let's just wait for Joshua."
---
Meeting – 9:30 a.m.
We gather in the conference room. Joshua Hurley joins us late, offering a sheepish apology before taking his seat.
"Let's begin," Peter Dutton announces. "Today, we address human trafficking, modern slavery, and the controversial role of Menace."
The Prime Minister speaks first. "Human trafficking and modern slavery are a blight on our society. Menace, though extreme, symbolizes the fight against these atrocities."
"With respect," Dutton counters, "violence isn't the answer. We need policies, not vigilantes."
"Menace's methods reflect the urgency of the issue," I interject. "He's extreme because the problem demands extreme measures."
Miss Ley shakes her head. "Violence should never be glorified. We need to empower communities and strengthen law enforcement without endorsing vigilantism."
Joshua leans forward, his voice firm. "Menace represents the harsh truth that sometimes, the system isn't enough. We can't afford to dismiss his impact."
Taryn Brumfilt sighs. "That's a dangerous precedent. We must focus on education and awareness rather than promoting violence."
The debate rages on, voices rising and falling as each participant defends their stance. The room buzzes with tension, but beneath the surface, a question lingers: Can justice truly be achieved without sacrifice?
After the Meeting
The conference room empties, but I notice Miss Sussan Ley seated in a corner, her brow furrowed as she reads a newspaper. Her expression strikes me—a mix of sorrow and anger. I pause mid-conversation with Joshua Hurley and approach her.
"Hey," I say softly. "You okay?"
She looks up, her face clouded with frustration. "Not even close."
"What's wrong?"
Wordlessly, she hands me the newspaper. My stomach churns as I read the headline:
"Gunmen Kidnap More Than 40 Students at Sydney Harbour."
My breath catches. A vivid memory of my younger sister, excitedly packing for her school excursion to Sydney Harbour, flashes through my mind. My heart pounds in my chest.
"Oh my God," I whisper, my voice barely audible.
"That's exactly what I said," Sussan replies bitterly. "This madness has to stop before it gets worse."
"Who brought this in?"
"Joshua. He said it just came in from a private source."
I nod, my throat dry. "Thanks for showing me this."
"What are you going to do about it?"
I hesitate. "I don't know yet. But I'll figure it out."
I turn and stride over to Joshua, holding the newspaper up like an accusation. "You saw this?"
Joshua glances at me, his face grim. "Yeah. It's bad."
"It's more than bad. My little sister is one of the hostages."
His eyes widen. "Wait—what? Are you serious?"
"She was on a school trip to the Harbour yesterday. We have to do something."
Joshua's jaw tightens. "Don't worry, deputy. I've got an idea."
---
Later That Day
Joshua works quickly. He alerts the media and hires a private investigator. The hours tick by like an eternity, but by late afternoon, we've located the missing students. The situation, however, is worse than I could have imagined.
The human traffickers have been working with none other than Mr. Williams—a prominent Australian politician. Williams, a bald, muscular man with a polished image, has been secretly kidnapping teenagers and selling them to traffickers. The traffickers then trade them to Russian buyers, who subject them to unspeakable horrors.
I feel a surge of anger, my hands balling into fists. This man, a public servant, has been profiting off the destruction of innocent lives. My blood boils at the thought of my sister in their hands.
"This isn't just human trafficking," I say to Joshua, my voice low but trembling with rage. "This is treason."
Joshua nods grimly. "He's been living in luxury while destroying our country from the inside. What's the plan?"
For a moment, I'm silent, staring at the photo of Williams in the investigator's report. "We bring him down. No matter what it takes."
9:00 p.m.
We change into our superhero costumes and drive quickly. By the time we arrive, Mr. Williams and his gang of human traffickers haven't shown up yet.
Under the moon's silver glow, I notch an arrow silently, every sense sharp and ready. The traffickers appear moments later, led by the infamous Mr. Williams, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows.
"What's the plan?" Joshua Hurley whispers from beside me.
"Wait and watch me handle this," I whisper back.
"And afterward?"
"I'll give the signal to free the captives," I reply, my tone low but resolute.
I draw the bowstring, the tension building in my muscles as I take aim. The arrow flies, striking the leader with precision. Panic erupts as the traffickers scramble for cover, their shouts filling the air.
"Who the hell is that?!" one of them yells.
"It's him! The Violent Hero! But where is he?!" another shouts, spinning frantically.
"Mr. Williams, get out of here! We'll deal with this!" another trafficker orders.
Mr. Williams wastes no time fleeing into the shadows. I shift position, firing another arrow that downs the closest threat. The remaining traffickers open fire in every direction, desperation evident in their movements.
Their bullets hit nothing but air. I move like a ghost, silent and swift, my arrows cutting through the chaos. Each shot finds its mark, taking them down one by one. The moonlight glints off the silver feathers of my arrows as the traffickers grow increasingly frantic.
"Give up or die. Your choice," I call out from the shadows, my voice cold and commanding.
"Never! You hear me?!" one shouts defiantly.
"Loud and clear," I reply, loosing another arrow that disables him mid-aim.
The remaining traffickers, overwhelmed by fear and confusion, attempt to flee. I give chase, my bow an extension of my will. One by one, they fall until silence finally settles over the scene.
I step forward, surveying the defeated criminals. Joshua emerges from his cover, rushing to the captives. Teenagers huddle together, their fear slowly giving way to relief.
"You're safe now," I say to the group, my tone steady. "Joshua will take you home."
"Who are you?" one of the teens asks, stepping closer.
"I'm Menace, the Violent Hero," I reply simply.
There's a moment of silence before the teen speaks again. "Your costume—it's really cool."
I nod. "Thanks. Now go. Your families are waiting."
As the group follows Joshua, the distant wail of sirens fills the night air. Law enforcement is on its way, but my work here is done. I vanish back into the shadows, bow still in hand, ever vigilant. My mission continues—a guardian in the night, ready to strike against the forces of darkness.
11:00 p.m.
Joshua returns to my lab, back in his regular clothes, grinning like he just won a lottery.
"What's funny? Did you get the kids home safely?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course," he says, his grin widening.
"Then why the smug face?"
"I'm just glad we pulled it off—took down the traffickers and saved those teenagers. You know, everyone calls you a criminal, a violent vigilante, an intransigent warrior, but you're a hero. Whether they admit it or not."
"Don't start with that," I say, shaking my head. "I'm just doing what the cops and the government should be doing. They don't see it that way, though."
"They will. Just keep doing your thing. One day, they'll realize what you're fighting for."
"Speaking of which," I reply, leaning back, "Mr. Williams got away. If we don't stop him soon, more kids will end up in chains."
Joshua sighs. "That's tomorrow's problem. Let's just savor this win for a moment." He grabs the remote and turns on the TV.
The screen flashes with a news anchor's face.
"Good evening. I'm Mike Calvin, and this is ABC News. Tonight, the enigmatic vigilante known as 'Menace' thwarted a human trafficking operation, rescuing over 40 students. The daring mission unfolded earlier today in an undisclosed location. Let's take a closer look at the details."
Joshua turns up the volume, glancing at me. "You hearing this?"
"Yeah, I'm listening," I reply.
"Menace, a shadowy figure known for his aggressive methods, received intel on an active trafficking ring targeting students. In a display of unmatched skill, he dismantled the operation, rescued the captives, and left the authorities to clean up. The rescued students are now receiving care and support," the newscaster continues.
"Told you," Joshua says, flashing that grin again.
I roll my eyes. "Don't let it go to your head."
The anchor adds, "Menace has emerged as a controversial yet undeniable force for justice, proving that sometimes, unconventional heroes make the biggest impact."
Joshua laughs, slapping my shoulder. "See? You're not just a vigilante anymore."
"Yeah, yeah," I mutter.
The broadcast shifts. "In Los Angeles, an unidentified green creature stopped a church attack, saving countless lives. Meanwhile, in Montana, an explosion claimed over 90 lives, with investigators now suspecting extraterrestrial involvement."
Joshua freezes, remote in hand, as the anchor elaborates.
"Eyewitnesses in Los Angeles describe the creature as agile and powerful, thwarting gunmen during a service. Meanwhile, in Montana, the explosion and fire have left investigators baffled. Some speculate that these incidents, along with cryptic messages about a 'king's arrival,' could signal extraterrestrial activity."
Joshua turns off the TV, shaking his head. "Aliens? Green werewolves? What the hell is going on?"
"Crazy, right?" I reply.
"You believe any of that?"
I shrug. "There's more out there than we understand. My master used to tell me stories about gods, humanoids, and all kinds of creatures in the multiverse. I thought they were just fairy tales."
Joshua frowns. "Wait, did you say multiverse?"
"Yeah. Why?"
He shakes his head. "Nothing. Just… processing."