---
Lying in the hallway was Lorenzo, completely unconscious. His breathing was shallow, uneven, like a fragile whisper against the cold floor. Above him, Zack hovered, a storm still raging inside him. He should have turned back into the apartment, checked on Lina, made sure she was safe—but his body ignored the orders of his mind.
It moved on its own.
He leaned over Lorenzo, and his fist shot forward like a lightning strike, slamming into his face. The sound echoed sharply off the narrow walls. Another punch followed, then another, each one heavier than the last. The hallway seemed to shrink around them, the air thick and suffocating. Dust rose from the floor, swirling in the dim light as if the universe itself were holding its breath.
"Why? Why am I doing this?"
The question repeated in Zack's mind, but his body wouldn't stop. His fists moved with a force he had never felt before. Every blow reverberated through his arms, chest, and head, a raw, monstrous energy that made him shiver. His muscles burned, yet at the same time, it was intoxicating. There was a terrifying clarity to it, as if a stranger inside him had taken control.
And then a voice spoke—not from the world outside, but deep inside his skull.
—Kill him.
Zack froze mid-punch, sweat stinging his eyes. His heart pounded like a drum in his chest.
—Wha… what? he muttered, his voice hoarse.
—Kill him.
The command repeated, relentless, sharp as broken glass sliding through his thoughts.
—Kill him, kill him, kill him…
It cut through him like fire. Zack struggled, trying to pull back, but his limbs refused to obey. His fists lifted again on their own. Then the voice roared one last time:
—Kill that bastard who dared to raise his hand against you. Destroy him. Reduce him to ashes.
Zack's vision blurred. He could feel the life in Lorenzo fading beneath the relentless barrage. Just as he raised his fist for the final strike—a strike that would cross a line he could never come back from—
A hand slammed into his face from behind, spinning him around. Pain exploded across his cheek.
—What the hell are you doing?! Can't you see he's unconscious?!
The murderous voice vanished instantly, as if Lina's shout had shattered it like glass. Zack blinked rapidly, disoriented, and saw her kneeling beside Lorenzo, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her anger radiated, almost tangible, wrapping around him like a force of nature.
—Lina… I only did it because he attacked us, Zack murmured, his voice small, trembling.
—So what?! Lina shouted, her voice cracking. That doesn't justify nearly killing him! I get that you had to defend yourself, but you completely crossed the line!
Zack swallowed hard, his throat dry.
—And what difference would it make? he whispered. I was just protecting you.
Lina's hands gripped his collar, shaking him slightly, fury and desperation warring in her expression.
—What difference does it make?! Life isn't something to play with, Zack! Do you understand that?!
Zack's mind went blank. He couldn't find the words. He could only see her face—so furious, so fragile at the same time.
—Listen to me, she continued, softer now, her voice trembling. If you ever do something like this again… I won't be able to continue living with you. So promise me. Promise me you'll never do this again!
For a long moment, silence filled the hallway. Zack's chest rose and fell rapidly. Finally, he lowered his gaze, voice barely audible:
—… I promise.
The tension slowly melted from Lina's shoulders. She released him, her fingers brushing lightly against his arm as she took a deep breath. The faint glow of the hallway lights reflected in her eyes, a mix of relief and lingering fear.
---
Zack slept for several days straight, the world beyond his room reduced to a blur of shadows and muffled sounds. His body was exhausted, every muscle aching from the fight, every bruise throbbing from the explosion in the forest. Time seemed to stretch endlessly; the sunlight creeping through the blinds felt alien, the air heavy with the scent of dust and lingering smoke.
He dreamt—or maybe remembered—the echoing punches, Lorenzo's still form on the floor, Lina's frantic voice cutting through the haze. And each time he woke, it was only to sink back into the darkness of sleep, a fragile cocoon against the chaos he had just survived.
Three days later, Lina decided Zack had slept enough. And she had a very "personal" method of waking him up.
—Aaahhhhhh! Zack groaned, curling into himself as a sharp pain hit his stomach. "I still want to sleeeep…"
—"Nope, nap time's over!" Lina said, hands firmly planted on her hips, eyes gleaming with mock sternness. "Get up and wash your face. Now!"
Zack rubbed his eyes, his hair sticking up in every direction, and groaned again.
—"You're really not nice…" he mumbled, voice still thick with sleep.
—"Yeah yeah, sure… hurry up!" Lina replied, a teasing smirk breaking through her stern expression.
Zack rolled onto his back and let out a long, exaggerated sigh, feeling the warmth of the morning sun on his face.
—"If you've got something to say, then say it now," he mumbled, still half-asleep.
Lina plopped down beside him, crossing her legs, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp.
—"Fine, if you want," she said, letting her tone soften slightly. "Starting next week, you're going to school."
Zack shot up, eyes wide, and choked on the word:
—"School?! What's that?!"
Lina rolled her eyes, suppressing a laugh.
—"Basically," she said, "it's like a prison that steals the best years of your life… except they make you think it'll be useful for your future. But don't get me started, I have a lot to tell you!"
—"Huh?! Then why should I go if it's as awful as you say?!"
Lina leaned back slightly, tilting her head, and asked gently:
—"Hey Zack, what do you think is the most important thing in life?"
Zack blinked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, clearly caught off guard.
—"Uh… I don't really know, honestly."
Her smile lit up the small room, a warmth that cut through the lingering tension in his chest.
—"The most important thing is the memories you create," she said softly. "And if I'm sending you to school, it's so you can make friends and live through plenty of moments you'll never forget."
Zack repeated the word, uncertain, almost tasting it:
—"… Friends?"
Her eyes sparkled.
—"Friends are people you can laugh with, share the highs and lows with… and above all, people who will never abandon you."
She held out her pinky.
—"We're going to make a pinky promise. I promise to be a friend who will never abandon you, and you promise to never hurt anyone again. So… do you promise?"
Zack felt a strange warmth in his chest. Slowly, he raised his pinky and linked it with hers.
—"… Yeah. I promise."
For the first time in days, a small, genuine smile tugged at the corner of his lips. The weight pressing on him felt slightly lighter, as if Lina's presence alone could keep the darkness at bay.
---
Several hours later, the streets of the neighborhood were silent under a dim, slanted moon. Shadows stretched between cracked walls and empty alleyways. A man wandered through the night, a low, wicked smile on his face.
—"The boss told me to kill as many strong guys in this city…" Neda murmured, lips curling, tongue flicking over his lower lip.
He paused, eyes gleaming in the darkness, savoring the thought.
—"This is going to be so much fun!"
The air seemed to thicken around him, anticipation hanging like a fog. The first chapter of his hunt had begun, and in the quiet of the night, it felt as though the city itself held its breath, waiting for the inevitable chaos.
---