Meanwhile, a car sped along the lonely highway, its headlights cutting through the fading evening light. The car had passed this stretch not long ago, but this time, only one person was inside. That person was Alex.
After an unpleasant confrontation with his cousins, Alex wasn't in the best of moods. He had stormed out of the mansion, jumped into his mother's car, and driven off, leaving her stranded without a way to get home. The frustration simmered within him, and he gripped the steering wheel tightly as the car roared down the empty road.
"I can't believe I actually hoped they would change," Alex muttered angrily under his breath. "After all these years, I gave them the benefit of the doubt and visited, and it seems like they've only gotten worse."
His foot pressed harder on the gas pedal, the speedometer creeping up as he drove faster. The mistreatment from his cousins wasn't new to him. It was something that had plagued him since childhood. It all started because his mother had gotten pregnant before marriage, and, from what Alex had gathered over the years, the disdain stemmed from his absent father.
His mother had told him that his father died in a car accident just days before their wedding. That event had left a permanent mark on their lives, and ever since, Alex had been treated like an outsider in the Wyndham family.
As the memories came flooding back, Alex clenched his jaw and pushed the car even faster. The wind whipped against the windows, and the darkening sky mirrored his growing anger. He had always been the outcast, and tonight's confrontation only solidified that feeling.
In all honesty, Alex had stopped being bothered by the way his cousins treated him a long time ago. Those feelings of hurt and frustration had faded over the years. Thankfully, due to the constant mistreatment, his mother had rented an apartment for him in town, a place where he could stay on his own.
Driving the car, Alex headed toward his apartment. As he pulled up, he saw the familiar mini-house with a small parking space, surrounded by wooden fences. It wasn't much, but it was his—a small, quiet house where he could find some peace. He parked the car in the space beside the house and sat there for a moment, staring at the modest home.
Alex didn't always live alone. His mother often visited, sometimes staying for weeks or even months before leaving again for her business trips or fieldwork. But tonight, she wasn't there, and Alex wasn't sure he wanted to go inside at all.
He sat in the car, his hands resting on the steering wheel as he debated with himself.
'It'll be best if I don't go inside,' he thought, glancing at the house. 'What I need right now is a distraction... and I know the perfect place to get that.'
With that decision made, Alex turned off the car, got out, and locked it behind him. Instead of heading toward the house, he walked past it, leaving the small, fenced property behind him. His footsteps were steady but quick as he left the area on foot, the cool night air brushing against his skin.
He knew that if he went inside, he'd just sit there, idle, and his mind would start racing. The events of the day would replay over and over, and that was the last thing he wanted right now. He needed to clear his head, and he knew exactly where to go to do just that.
Soon enough, Alex arrived at his destination. It was a large park, filled with green grass, fountains, and flowers carefully arranged for decoration. The place had a peaceful vibe, exactly what Alex needed.
Taking a deep breath, he made his way over to one of the benches in the park. The particular bench he chose was positioned in front of a small pond, which stretched out like a calm lake. The gentle ripples on the water's surface added to the soothing atmosphere.
Alex sat down, letting the cool breeze wash over him. He closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing, trying to push all the negative thoughts out of his head. After a few moments, he felt his mind beginning to clear. The stress from earlier started to fade, and for the first time that day, he found some peace.
But that peace didn't last long.
Suddenly, a strange sound came from his left side, breaking the tranquility of the moment. Alex opened his eyes and turned his head to see where the noise was coming from.
There, just a short distance away, he noticed that people—a man and a woman, both probably a couple of years older than him. They seemed completely lost in their own world, kissing passionately without a care.
Alex felt a wave of irritation rise inside him. He hadn't come here to be distracted by something like this.
"Hey, you two! Get a room or go home!" Alex shouted, his voice filled with annoyance.
The couple quickly broke apart, turning to look at Alex. They gave him a harsh, irritated glare, clearly not pleased with being interrupted. After a moment of staring him down, they shifted their gaze elsewhere.
"Hey, man, can't you put a gag on your son or something?" the male from the couple suddenly said, his voice sharp as he glanced over at someone else.
Alex, confused, turned around to see who the guy was talking to. At the same time, the person the couple had addressed turned to look at Alex. Sitting right next to him was a man dressed in a sharp red suit, but without a tie. His black hair was slicked back, styled in a way that almost looked feminine, though everything else about him was clearly masculine. The most striking thing about the man was his height.
Even though they were both sitting, Alex could tell that this guy was much taller than him. He also had a perfectly toned body, not overly muscular but far from slim, with a strong build that seemed balanced.
'When did this guy get here?' Alex wondered, completely caught off guard. He hadn't even noticed anyone sitting beside him this whole time. It was almost like the man had appeared out of nowhere, as if he hadn't existed until just now.
Just as Alex was about to correct the couple and tell them this stranger wasn't his father, he noticed that they had already started walking away, as if they'd lost interest in the exchange.
'Well, at least I get to have my peace again,' Alex thought as he tried to relax his mind once more. However, this time he couldn't. He felt a pair of eyes staring at him intensely from the side.
Opening his eyes, Alex glanced at the strange man in red, who was now giving him a curious look.
"What? Do you want a kiss like those two?" Alex asked, frowning at the man.
"I wouldn't mind," the man replied with a smile.
Alex clenched his teeth in frustration, stood up, and started walking away.
"Why do I keep attracting psychopaths?" Alex muttered to himself, loud enough for the man to hear.
What Alex didn't realize was that even after he left, the stranger kept watching him as he walked off.
"How could someone like him have such a small amount in him and still be alive? That's an interesting thing to see," the man said quietly, though no one was around to hear him.
---
Meanwhile, Alex continued walking through the streets, still in a foul mood. So much had happened in the last two days that he wished he had stayed home instead of going out.
'There's nothing to worry about. I'm heading home anyway,' he thought, passing through several alleyways.
However, during his walk, Alex suddenly heard a voice coming from one of the alleyways he had just passed. Curious, he quickly moved back and took a peek inside. What he saw made his heart race.
A man was pinned against the wall by four other men. One of them held the victim by his collar while two others were busy searching his pockets. The fourth man stood by, watching, as if guarding the scene.
It was clear to Alex—this was a robbery happening in broad daylight.
"What am I supposed to do? I can't take on four guys by myself," Alex thought, feeling his pulse quicken. He looked around, hoping to spot someone who could help, but everyone nearby was minding their own business, walking by without a care in the world.
"Wait, if I were in his place, wouldn't I want someone to help me?" Alex argued with himself. "And here I am hesitating to help someone else."
With a deep breath, Alex stepped out from his hiding spot and revealed himself.
"Let the man go!" he shouted, standing at the entrance of the alleyway. His voice echoed, causing the four men to freeze for a moment. They turned their heads toward Alex, all looking confused by his sudden appearance.
Meanwhile, one of the robbers resumed searching through the victim's belongings, completely ignoring Alex. This sight made Alex even angrier.
"I will..." Alex started to say, but before he could finish, he felt a strong shove from behind. The force of the push sent him stumbling further into the alleyway, right into the middle of the situation.
"Well... well... well, look what we have here," said the man who had been holding the victim against the wall. He let go of the victim and began walking toward Alex with a menacing grin. "Seems like your plan just worked and this one walked right into our hands," he added, his voice filled with mockery.
Alex's heart pounded in his chest as he realized the gravity of the situation. The other three men, including the one still rummaging through the victim's pockets, turned their attention toward him. The alley felt smaller and more suffocating with every second.
'Did I just get myself into this mess?' Alex thought, panic rising in him as the robber closed the distance. His mind raced with fear. He had stepped into something far more dangerous than he had imagined, and now he was outnumbered and cornered.