The fight was about to begin.Arnold and Takey stood facing each other.Tension filled the air.But before anything could start—Everything broke.Takey's men rushed forward all at once.Not one. Not two.All of them."Ayelen!" Miyara shouted.For a second, it looked bad.Too many people.Too sudden.But then—Thud.Thud.Arnold moved.Two punches.Two people down.Just like that.Everyone froze for a moment.They weren't expecting that.Takey jumped in, aiming a kick straight at Arnold.Arnold dodged easily—Then countered.
Two more men dropped, without him even breaking eye contact with Takey.Now it changed.The remaining men stepped back.Then—Knives came out.Weapons.Ayelen's chest tightened.Miyara clenched her fists.But Arnold—
Didn't move back.Didn't hesitate.They attacked together again.All at once.And then—Something happened.sudden shock.Invisible.But heavy.Everyone froze.No one could move.Not Takey.Not his men.
Not even Ayelen or Miyara.Arnold felt it too.His body refused to respond.something was holding him in place.Some of them tried to move—But failed.Then—Footsteps.Slow.Calm.
A man walked toward them from the darkness.No rush.No fear.Just presence."Tch… tch… tch…"His voice was quiet, but clear."These weapons… aren't for kids."He looked around at all of them."If you still depend on weapons… you'll never become real fighters."A small pause.
Then his eyes shifted to Arnold."Am I right… Arnold?"Arnold's eyes widened.He couldn't move.But he could see.Ayelen.Miyara.Both frozen.Something inside him pushed.He tried to move—And this time—
His left hand twitched.Slowly—He forced it."Stay away…" Arnold shouted, his voice breakingthrough the pressure."…from my brother and sister!"For a moment—Everything faded.
Flashback
A younger Miyara sat on the ground, holding two small children close to her.Ayelen.And Arnold.But something felt different.Something unspoken.Arnold…Wasn't their real brother.Fire burned around them.A forest in flames.Smoke. Chaos. Fear.Miyara held them tighter.Protecting them.
Flashback ends
Back to the present—
The man stood in front of Takey.Calm.Unbothered.He took the knife from Takey's hand.Effortlessly.And then—It disappeared.Gone.Like it was never there.
One by one—
He collected every weapon.Knives.Blades.Anything they had.All of them—Vanished.Fear spread across the group.No one spoke.No one moved.The man turned slightly.
"Go home," he said simply.
A pause.
"Or I'll call the police."
No one argued.No one resisted.
And just like that—
He was gone Silence remained.The forest felt different now.Heavier.Stranger.And nothing…felt normal anymore.
• CHAPTER 5 ENDS •