# CHAPTER 10: The Capture
As Krist crossed the road, Samir—one of the boys who usually followed Billy around—was leaving the school grounds.
The moment he spotted Krist heading toward the alley, a cruel smile appeared on his face. However, it vanished just as quickly when memories of what had happened the previous day surfaced in his mind. A shiver ran down his spine.
Still, he forced himself to move.
He hurried across the road and stepped directly into Krist's path.
"Where do you think you're going?" Samir asked.
Krist raised an eyebrow but didn't stop walking.
"This area is restricted," Samir continued, though there was a noticeable hint of nervousness in his voice.
When Krist finally stopped, he was standing directly in front of him.
"Oh? It's Billy's little watchdog."
Samir's face darkened.
Yet despite his anger, he didn't move to block Krist's way.
Krist took another step forward until he was standing beside him.
"You know, I've always been curious about something."
Samir remained silent.
"Why are you always the one stuck playing guard dog?"
Still no response.
"Don't bother answering. I already have a theory."
Krist smirked.
"You're either at the bottom of Billy's little hierarchy because your father has the least influence, or because he has no influence at all."
Samir clenched his jaw.
"My father has more influence than Han's and Johnny's."
Krist immediately noticed the reaction.
"So why are you always the one standing outside while they get to have all the fun?"
Samir hesitated.
Krist pressed further.
"If what you're saying is true, then why aren't you the one giving orders?"
For a moment, Samir didn't know how to answer.
The truth was that Krist already knew.
Unlike Billy and the others, Samir never seemed to enjoy bullying people. Whenever Billy tormented someone, Samir would usually stand outside as lookout. Many times, Krist had caught him looking away whenever the bullying got too extreme.
"My dad owns Abner Designs," Samir finally muttered. "I watch the rear because I like doing it. Nobody forces me."
Krist laughed.
"Nobody enjoys standing around doing nothing unless they're a coward."
Samir's expression stiffened.
"You know what Billy does is wrong."
Krist's voice became colder.
"You don't participate because it doesn't sit right with you."
Samir lowered his gaze.
"But instead of stopping it, you help them."
"I don't help them!"
"You do."
Krist's eyes narrowed.
"Every time you warn them that a teacher is coming, they escape punishment."
Samir froze.
"And every time they escape punishment, they get another chance to hurt someone else."
The words struck harder than Samir wanted to admit.
Before Krist could continue, a gust of wind swept through the alley.
Both boys instinctively looked up.
A second later, Samir's eyes widened in horror.
A bicycle was racing toward the alley at terrifying speed.
"Luna..." Samir whispered.
Fear immediately overtook him.
He stumbled backward, tripped over his own feet, scrambled back up, and ran straight into the school building.
Krist blinked.
"What the—"
Without slowing down, Luna shot into the alley like a missile.
Billy was busy kicking a boy curled up on the ground while Han and Johnny laughed nearby.
Han happened to glance behind him.
His instincts screamed danger.
He jumped aside.
The bicycle flew past the spot where he had been standing moments earlier.
CRASH!
The front wheel slammed directly into Billy.
The impact sent him flying several feet before he crashed into the pavement.
A scream of pain echoed through the alley.
Krist stared.
Even he hadn't expected Luna to be that ruthless.
Billy rolled across the ground, clutching his leg and howling in agony.
Judging from the angle, it was definitely broken.
Luna calmly stepped off her bike.
She didn't even spare it a glance.
Her cold eyes settled on Billy.
"I warned you."
Billy looked up in terror.
"I told you not to put those fat hands of yours on my little brother."
Han rushed forward and grabbed her shoulder.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Luna slowly turned her head.
Only her head.
The cold look in her eyes made Han freeze.
"Let go."
For a brief moment, he hesitated.
Then his anger returned.
"I'm talking to—"
Luna ripped her shoulder free.
"LET."
She spun.
The back of her heel connected with Han's jaw.
GO.
Han's eyes rolled back as he collapsed unconscious.
When Luna turned around again, Billy and Johnny were already running.
Without hesitation, she gave chase.
But before she could take more than two steps, a blur shot past her.
Krist.
His speed surprised even Luna.
Billy wasn't difficult to catch. His broken leg guaranteed that.
So Krist ignored him.
Instead, he focused on Johnny.
Johnny burst out of the alley toward the main street.
Krist spotted a metal container nearby.
Using it as a stepping platform, he launched himself into the air.
Johnny looked back just in time to see a shadow descending toward him.
THUD!
Krist landed directly on his back.
Both boys crashed to the ground.
Before Johnny could recover, Krist twisted his arm behind his back and pinned him down.
A few moments later, Krist, Luna, Harrison, and Maya stood in front of Billy, Johnny, and the unconscious Han.
Billy glared at Krist with hatred.
"So you ended up calling her again to settle your scores."
Krist looked genuinely confused.
"Calling who?"
Billy pointed toward Luna.
"That devil over there."
Luna awkwardly cleared her throat.
"I may have crossed paths with him a few times."
"A few times?" Billy shouted. "You nearly killed me every single time!"
A look of realization appeared on Krist's face.
"So that's why you would stop bullying me for a week or two and then suddenly start again."
Luna shrugged.
Billy felt his heart sink.
Krist suddenly turned serious.
"I'll be back."
He pointed at Han and Johnny.
"Make sure those two keep their mouths shut."
Luna smiled.
The moment they saw that smile, Han and Johnny turned pale.
Even Billy felt a chill run down his spine.
They knew exactly what that smile meant.
Krist then grabbed Billy by the collar and started dragging him away.
"Wait," Maya called out.
She walked over to him.
"What are you planning to do with him?"
Krist glanced at Billy before looking back at her.
"Don't worry. I just need answers."
Maya looked unconvinced but didn't press further.
Krist nodded toward Luna and Harrison.
"Don't forget why we came here."
Luna immediately understood.
"We'll continue scouting the area."
Their original mission had been to find a quiet and secluded location near Stark Institution where a van could be parked without attracting attention.
A place they could use later if things got complicated.
"We'll call you if we find anything useful," Harrison said.
Krist nodded.
The two of them mounted their bikes and headed deeper into the district to continue searching.
Maya remained behind.
She slowly turned toward Han and Johnny.
The smile on her face made both boys instinctively take a step backward.
"Now then," she said sweetly.
"Let's have a little chat."
Han and Johnny immediately felt a sense of dread.
Meanwhile, Krist dragged Billy toward a narrow passage hidden behind several stacks of wooden crates.
After making sure nobody was watching, he pulled the crates aside, revealing a gap in the wall.
Billy's eyes widened.
Before he could react, Krist pulled a black cloth bag from his backpack.
"What are you doing?" Billy asked nervously.
Krist smiled.
"Making sure you don't know where you're going."
Billy's face immediately paled.
"You can't do this!"
"I can."
Without another word, Krist pulled the bag over Billy's head.
Darkness swallowed his vision.
Billy felt himself being dragged forward.
He couldn't see where they were going.
Couldn't tell which direction they were turning.
Couldn't even tell how far they had traveled.
The uncertainty was almost worse than the fear.
Eventually, they stopped.
A door creaked open.
Billy was pushed inside.
A few moments later, he felt ropes tightening around his wrists and ankles.
Only when Krist was certain he couldn't escape did he remove the black bag.
Billy blinked several times as his eyes adjusted to the light.
When his vision finally cleared, he found himself tied securely to a chair inside an unfamiliar storage room.
Krist sat down directly across from him.
The warmth and humor that usually appeared on his face were gone.
Only cold determination remained.
Billy suddenly realized something terrifying.
This wasn't the same Krist he had bullied for years.
And for the first time, he wasn't sure he was the one in control anymore,
Now now what do you know about my parents death krist ask