The pillars of Hostel known only as "The Uncles" stood outside. Their eyes glinted with suspicion as one of them, Uncle Chuck, leaned forward and tapped the screen of Justin phone. The message blinked back at them.
FR.
Uncle Justin cracked his knuckles. "This is a Fake Report."
Chuck grinned. "Well then, let's give our guest a proper welcome."
Meanwhile, outside the broken apartment complex, Jalen stood with the runaway girl. She clutched a small backpack, her eyes still red. The world felt bigger and darker than it should've at her age.
"Come on," Jalen said softly, offering a hand. "Let's take you home."
She looked up, surprised. "You're not coming?"
"I've got a different route," he replied, glancing in the direction Daniel had gone. "He's walking into fire. I'm making sure you don't end up burned again."
She hesitated then took his hand.
At the far end of the city, Daniel arrived at Hostel's hideout. The building was deceptively quiet, lights flickering like a trap waiting to spring.
As Daniel walked in, Chuck was already there, standing center stage like an actor prepared for his scene.
"You don't belong here, Park," Chuck said.
"I'm not here to belong," Daniel replied, fists clenched. "I'm here to end it."
With no more words, Chuck charged first. His attacks were relentless, his fists like steel. Daniel responded quickly almost too quickly mirroring Chuck's stance and movements.
A frown formed on Chuck's face. "You're copying me?"
"I can do more than that," Daniel answered.
Just then, Justin stepped in, cracking his neck. "You copy one of us, we overwhelm you with two."
Daniel kept up as long as he could, mimicking both their fighting styles but he soon felt the gaps. His form was tight, his reflexes sharp, but everything was too structured, too rigid. His predictability was now a liability.
He got hit hard.
His back slammed against a concrete pillar. Blood trickled down his lip.
Then he remembered Jalen.
How he moved in fights.
Unpredictable.
Calm.
Ruthless.
Daniel rose again his stance looser, his eyes calculating. He stopped mimicking and started flowing. When Chuck struck, Daniel sidestepped with a grin. When Justin threw a kick, Daniel ducked beneath it and countered without hesitation.
This time, Daniel wasn't copying.
He was adapting.
Far across the city, Jalen stood outside a modest apartment building. The girl hugged him tightly before rushing into the arms of a tearful mother who'd nearly given up hope.
As the door shut, Jalen turned away, checking the time on his phone.
It was time to see how Daniel was doing.
Because if he wasn't already ready to stand alone, he would be soon.