Frienemy

As the chaos unfolded around them, John, Anne, Lila, and Alex darted behind a stall, hearts pounding like a drum. John's eyes widened, taking in the pandemonium, a mix of disbelief and urgency flickering across his face."Did you see that? What the hell just happened?" he muttered, gripping the edge of the stall as if it would anchor him to reality.Anne peered through a gap in the colorful banners, her face pale. "This isn't good. They're attacking everyone! We need to figure out a way to help."Lila shivered, her eyes wide and glossed over with fear. "But what can we do? They're outnumbered... and we're just—""Just what? Not fighters?" Alex interrupted, scanning the area with a frown. "We might not be benders yet, but we can't just sit here and do nothing. We have to stick together and find a way out."Anne nodded, a spark of determination lighting up her features. "Right! We need a plan. We can't just hide while they take people hostage. What if they come this way?"John felt the weight of responsibility settle over him. "Okay, let's think this through. We have to stay out of sight but also look for any way to warn others. If we don't act now, who knows what'll happen?"Lila bit her lip, glancing at the chaos beyond the stall. "I just wish Victor and Isabel were here. They'd know what to do.""Yeah, well, they're not," Alex shot back, trying to keep the mood light despite the tension. "So it's up to us. Let's move!"With hesitant nods, the group prepared to creep out from behind their makeshift cover, each pulse of the surrounding chaos echoing in their chests.Gordon ducked behind a nearby stall, his heart pounding in his chest. The vibrant colors of the festival felt like a cruel joke now, taunting him as chaos erupted all around. He peeked out just in time to see a bender unleash a torrent of energy, sending a flurry of debris flying through the air."Great," he muttered under his breath. "Just what I needed. A bender tantrum in the middle of a celebration."He clenched his fists, feeling the familiar weight of cynicism settle in. People were scrambling, their laughter replaced by panicked screams. Was it always like this? A facade of joy hiding something darker?The idea of stepping out from his hiding spot was tempting, but he couldn't shake off the nagging thought: what could he possibly do? He wasn't a bender; he didn't have flashy powers to protect anyone.Watching the scene unfold, Gordon felt a mix of frustration and helplessness. He was tired of feeling like an outsider, a spectator to the chaos that always seemed to consume the world around him.As he watched people rush past, he realized that even if he wanted to help, he had no idea how. Maybe this was just the universe reminding him that sometimes, staying out of the spotlight was the best way to survive.Just as Gordon was lost in his thoughts, he heard a loud crash nearby, followed by a string of curses that cut through the chaos. He turned just in time to see Flint and Brick stumbling around the corner, clearly out of breath and still munching on donuts, as if they were in the middle of a snack break rather than a crisis."Whoa, watch it!" Flint shouted, nearly crashing into Gordon."Yeah, you gotta watch where you're going!" Brick added, crumbs flying from his mouth. "Donuts are way more important than whatever this is!" He gestured wildly at the chaos unfolding in the square.Gordon raised an eyebrow, trying to process the absurdity of the situation. "Are you two serious? There's a bender attack happening right over there!"Flint glanced at the mayhem with a shrug. "Benders are always attacking something. You get used to it." He took another bite of his donut, as if it were the most normal thing in the world."Exactly! Besides," Brick said, leaning closer to Gordon, "this is a perfect opportunity for us to grab a snack and watch the show. Maybe even get a front-row seat to the fireworks!"Gordon shook his head, half-amused and half-annoyed. "You guys are ridiculous. Don't you care that people are in danger?""Danger? Pffft!" Flint laughed, his carefree attitude shining through. "We've seen way worse! Remember the time we got stuck in that cave with the giant rock monster?""Yeah! And we still got out with donuts!" Brick chimed in, grinning like a fool.Gordon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You really think it's all just fun and games? There's a serious problem here."Flint rolled his eyes, leaning back against a stall. "Oh, come on! You're way too serious for your own good. Just chill for a second. What's the worst that could happen?"As the sounds of chaos grew louder, Gordon couldn't help but feel a mix of irritation and admiration for their reckless attitude. He glanced at the pair, who seemed completely unfazed by the danger around them. Maybe, just maybe, there was something to their carefree spirit after all."Fine," he relented. "But if we get caught up in this mess, don't say I didn't warn you.""Deal!" Flint grinned, holding out his donut like it was a sacred oath."Now, let's go see what's happening! Maybe we can snag a donut from that bender!" Brick said, pointing excitedly toward the chaos.Just as Gordon, Flint, and Brick moved toward the chaos, the air around them crackled with energy. The benders were growing more aggressive, their attacks sending shockwaves through the square. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the fray, silhouetted against the flames erupting from a nearby stall. It was Rage, his presence commanding and menacing, his eyes glinting with ruthless determination."Now, let's see how many of you are brave enough to face me!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos like a knife.Gordon's heart raced. "We need to get out of here!" he urged, but Flint and Brick stood frozen, their eyes wide."Dude, did you see that?" Flint whispered, clutching his donut as if it were a shield."Yeah! Boss looks like he's about to put on a show!" Brick exclaimed.Just then, Rage's gaze locked onto Gordon, his expression hardening. "Ah, I see we have an intruder," he declared, pointing a finger directly at Gordon. "You think you can hide in plain sight? You're in the wrong place."Gordon's stomach dropped. "What? I'm not your enemy!"Rage's eyes narrowed, the air around him thickening with intensity. "You're mistaken if you think you can just walk in here without consequences. This isn't a game."Flint and Brick turned to Gordon, confusion washing over their faces. "Wait, we thought he was cool!" Flint whispered, gripping his donut tighter."Yeah!" Brick chimed in, scratching his head. "What's the big deal?"Rage's voice dropped, becoming low and fierce. "The big deal is that you two are so distracted by your foolishness that you don't realize you've brought an enemy right to our doorstep. This man is not with us!"Flint and Brick exchanged wide-eyed glances, the realization hitting them like a ton of bricks. "Oh, crap!" Flint gasped, dropping his donut."We should've paid more attention!" Brick added, his expression shifting from confusion to panic.Rage commanded, his voice low and intense, each word dripping with menace. "You two need to deal with him before he becomes a problem."Gordon's heart raced as Flint and Brick exchanged uneasy glances, confusion etched on their faces. "Wait, what do you mean, deal with him?" Flint asked, a tremor creeping into his voice.Rage fixed them with a steely glare. "This isn't a game. If he's not with us, he's a liability. I won't tolerate any mistakes. If you let him slip through your fingers, I will make you regret it.""Uh, right. We can do that..." Brick stammered, disappointment creeping into his voice. "But I just made a new friend, you know? This kinda sucks.""Yeah, this really does," Flint added, trying to mask his nerves. "Can't we just, like, have a chat or something?"Rage's eyes narrowed, his intensity unyielding. "I'm not in the mood for negotiations. If he's not with us, he's a threat. Take care of it—before I do."With that, he turned away, leaving a tense silence in his wake. Flint and Brick looked at each other, their expressions reflecting both determination and regret."Let's not make this hard," Flint said, stepping toward Gordon, who had been caught off guard by the sudden shift in his fate.Gordon felt a surge of panic. "I'm not your enemy!" he protested, but his voice barely cut through the chaos surrounding them.Flint lunged forward, but Gordon dodged, sprinting toward the alley, desperate to escape the impending confrontation. Just as he turned the corner, he collided straight into Brick, who was charging in after him."Whoa! Easy there!" Brick exclaimed, barely managing to catch himself as they both stumbled back."Gordon? You're in trouble!" Brick shouted, eyes wide as he glanced back toward Flint, who was approaching quickly. "Rage just told us to—""I know what he said!" Gordon interrupted, panic rising in his chest. "I'm not trying to be a threat! I'm just trying to survive this chaos!"Brick hesitated, a conflicted look crossing his face. "But... Flint and I have to follow orders, you know? Sorry!"And he raised his fist.