Raiko approached the car with a firm step, carrying the bag with the stolen money he had recovered.
"Here, sir," he said extending the bag to the driver.
The man looked at it with amazement and gratitude. "Thank you very much...uh.... What's your name?"
Raiko paused for a moment, looking him straight in the eye. He thought of the best way to respond without compromising her identity.
"You can call me... NightRed."
The driver nodded, processing the name. "NightRed... Understood. Thanks for the help."
As Raiko drove away, the chauffeur called out to him again.
"Hey, NightRed!"
Raiko turned around, still not stopping walking.
"I'm short of coins!" the chauffeur exclaimed.
With a mischievous grin, Raiko replied, "I took them! It's the commission for helping," he shouted before turning a corner and disappearing.
The chauffeur shook his head, smiling a tired smile. "Well... at least he was honest." He then turned to Tahira, who was still quietly in the backseat, her gaze blank and a small smile on her face.
"Is everything all right, Miss Tahira?"
Tahira blinked, coming back to herself. "He... he's like an antihero. I want to do the same, too," she said with a gleam of excitement in her eyes that she hadn't shown in a long time.
Hours later, police arrived on the scene. Among them, Officer Korben was leaning against his squad car, waiting for a report from his partner, Joe. The ambulance had just departed with the wounded offenders, and the place was quieter.
"Well, what's the situation, Joe?" asked Korben, arms folded.
Joe flipped through his notebook before answering. "The driver and the girl confirmed the same thing: they were attacked by two subjects, one armed and one on a getaway bike. The driver resisted, was shot, barely grazed his leg, but they managed to save themselves thanks to someone named.... NightRed."
"NightRed?" muttered Korben, the name echoing in his head. He remembered the boy he had encountered a few days ago.
Joe continued, "Yeah, he was the one who neutralized the two perps. According to the driver, it seems this NightRed guy has no qualms about using... forceful methods. Both robbers are on their way to the hospital right now."
Korben narrowed his eyes, thoughtfully. "Is this the same guy from the other day? If he is, he's getting into trouble...big trouble."
"Oh, and another thing," Joe added. "The security cameras on the main avenue didn't record anything. They're still deactivated."
"Deactivated? Why?" asked Korben, frowning.
"For months now, the cameras in this area have been out of service. WareNeon was going to install a new surveillance system, but their factory burned down five months ago, and they never finished the job. Crime in this area has increased since then," Joe explained resignedly.
Korben cursed under his breath, frustrated at the incompetence that facilitated criminal activity in Neonvale. "Tell the department to find out when the new cameras will be ready," he said before adding quietly, "The situation here is a mess."
In the weeks that followed, the name NightRed began to resonate on the streets. It was a rumor among citizens, a whisper among criminals and an unknown to the police.
One night, Raiko arrived home exhausted after another long day. "Being a hero is exhausting...", he muttered before plopping down on the couch. Sleep overcame him almost instantly.
The next day, his usual routine led him to breakfast in front of his laptop, browsing through news. Disappointed, he watched as the headlines continued to be filled with misfortune and crime.
"This is going to be harder than I thought," he mused, taking a sip of his coffee. Meanwhile, some headlines highlighted his alias.
"NightRed foils another robbery."
"Antihero in Neonvale: justice or danger?"
A small smile broke out on his face. "Just what I wanted... But... what did he want that for?" he thought thought back, remembering his initial idea to seek support.
"Come to think of it... How was I going to accomplish that?" he mumbled, getting lost in thought as the world continued its chaotic course