Chapter 18: Carl and Emma

The interior of the cafe pulsated with the energy of the night, as if something hung in the air, heralding the coming events that were to turn the world upside down. Warm lights mingled with the sounds of music, creating an atmosphere full of magic. Only Alex felt that something wasn't right here. The darkness hid secrets, and the couple who had just entered was their harbinger.

Their conversation was tense. They watched their surroundings carefully, and every gesture seemed charged with caution. Alex felt his blood pressure rise. They seemed ready for something that went beyond a simple meeting in a coffee shop. They resembled wolves just waiting to strike. He didn't yet know why they bothered him so much, but something deep inside him screamed that he should be careful. He approached his friends, trying to hide his anxiety.

- Listen," he chuckled, leaning in conspiratorially, "these two people.... something is wrong with them. I've seen them before. In a previous era.

Luca, sipping his whiskey, raised an eyebrow.

- I think you've been misrepresented. They're just people, man.

- No, I didn't predict it," Alex replied, looking at them as if their whole lives depended on his words.

- They are ready to strike. I can feel it. We have to be careful.

Brother Elias, always calm, muttered philosophically.

- You can't be sure of that. Maybe they are just similar people to those.

- I'm never wrong. - Alex slammed his hand on the table, impatiently.

Luca rolled his eyes.

- Fine, fine, but let's not make a tragedy out of it. Making hasty decisions can get us into more trouble.

Brother Elias nodded.

- I agree. Let's be vigilant, but not lose our common sense.

Alex inhaled the air, calming down a bit.

- Consensus. But I'm not letting go. I will keep an eye on them.

At that moment, the café seemed to stop in time. Emotions - curiosity, anxiety, longing - mixed together, creating a strange aura that permeated every sound and smell. It was a night that promised something extraordinary, something that could change their lives forever. Determined, Alex decided to approach the couple. He had to know who they were and why they appeared here, in this place, now.

- Excuse me, do you have a fire? - He asked politely, reaching for a cigar he had snagged from the bar earlier.

He tried to remain calm, even though he knew he was facing danger. The man raised an eyebrow, and his companion looked at Alex investigatively. After a moment of silence, the man took out a gold lighter.

- Of course," he replied with a polite smile, lighting a cigar. - But don't pretend you're here by chance. You came to find out who we are, didn't you?

Alex suppressed a nervous smile.

- Therefore. Who the hell are you guys? - He asked, trying to maintain a firm tone.

The woman replied calmly, with a hint of mockery in her voice.

- A lowly gentleman, but what can you expect from a barbarian? - Her smile was icy.

The man smiled more broadly.

- Carl, and this is Emma," he introduced himself nonchalantly, as if it was just a social game.

Alex felt that the conversation was getting onto dangerous tracks. Whatever they were planning, he needed to find out more before it was too late.

- Well. We are your end," Emma added, looking at him with cool confidence.

- We know everything," interjected Carl. - We know your every move. And we are here to put an end to your time travel game.

- Fuck you," growled Alex.

Carl smiled even wider, but there was a shadow of danger in his eyes.

- What we are doing is only to restore balance. The Brotherhood needs stability, and you are unnecessary chaos. - His voice had something definitive in it, something that said this was not a conversation, but a judgment.

Emma sighed slightly, as if she was already bored.

- Let's end it Carl.

The atmosphere became thicker and thicker. The sounds of the cafe seemed to quiet down, and every breath was felt. Alex felt adrenaline filling his body.

- Go ahead Carl," he replied, looking Carl in the eye.

Carl slowly pulled the gun out from under his coat, and Alex felt the tension rising. This was no longer a game, it was a reality that suddenly became much more brutal. He knew he had to act carefully. He thought for a moment, then looked at the pair with renewed confidence.

- Let's resolve this like civilized people. I don't want unnecessary bloodshed. I just want to go home with my friends.

Carl raised his eyebrows, surprised, and Emma squinted, as if analyzing his words.

- Do you think it's that simple? - she hissed with derision. - Idealist...

Carl burst out laughing ominously.

- Power, that's the only thing that matters. We have it, and you ... you guys have nothing. I will sweep you away like vermin.

Emma joined in, nodding her head.

- Dialogue is for the weak.

Alex looked at them hard, not giving way.

- I am not afraid of you. You may have power, but I have something you will not understand. Freedom from brotherhood.

Carl stopped smiling. His eyes squinted in menace.

- We'll see," he hissed quietly.

Carl and Emma exchanged glances - cold, sharp as knife blades, full of silent promise. The café was suddenly dead silent, as if the whole world had held its breath. People, oblivious to anything, sat over their cups, but tension, thick as cigarette smoke, hung in the air. Carl reached his hand under the table, and Emma raised her hand, on which her watch glittered. For a moment, it seemed that time actually slowed down, every second was at a premium. Alex did not wait for the first move. He threw himself forward, smoothly, with precision, delivering a low blow towards Carl's knee. The blow went in cleanly, hitting his right leg. Carl hissed in pain, his knee bent. The opponent staggered. At the same moment, Emma's watch emitted a quiet electronic beep, then her hand was filled with flickering energy. The blue glow flared, casting shadows on the walls. The energy in Emma's hands sizzled like charged rods, ready to be released. A jet of blue energy soared toward Alex, ripping the air. The cafe erupted into chaos - guests screamed, glasses broke from the explosion, and the ceiling began to crack under the onslaught of energy.

The energy hit Alex in the side, with a force similar to a cannon shot. He felt a burning pain searing through his body, and his ribs seemed to crackle under the onslaught of energy. Alex fell over, hitting his back on the table, which shattered under his weight. He felt the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. He clenched his teeth. He could not allow himself a moment of weakness. He lifted himself up, though the pain grew with each passing moment, as if his lungs were fighting for every breath.

- Enough of this," he growled.

Emma was faster. Before Alex could stand up straight, she was already lunging at him, her hand glowing, zinging with energy that rasped through the air. Alex barely had time to dodge to the side when her hand went right past his head. The impact hit the floor, which exploded under the force of the attack, splattering bits of wood and dust in the air. Alex rolled over and stood up, at the same time throwing a quick punch with his fist in Emma's direction. It hit her in the jaw with a loud crack. Her head snapped back and blood gushed from her mouth, but before Emma fell to the ground, Carl regained his balance. His eyes shone with anger, and a cruel smile appeared on his lips. He whispered something in an ancient language, and sparks began to flash in the air. He concentrated energy in his hands and sent a stream that resembled a burning steel rope towards Alex. Alex managed to dodge most of the attack, but some of the energy pierced his arm, burning his skin and muscles. He felt the pain run along his nerves like fire, but clenched his teeth, continuing the fight. Their forces were powerful, but Alex had something that those there did not have: a cold, primitive fury that boiled inside him, seeking an outlet.

His opponents did not give him a moment's respite. Emma got up from the ground, spitting blood, and Carl was approaching fast, preparing another attack. Alex took a deep breath and threw himself directly at Carl. Their bodies collided with momentum, like two fighting wolves. Carl raised his arms, but Alex brought out a quick hook to his side. The blow was brutal, precisely aimed at his ribs. Carl screamed, and his face contorted in pain as one of his ribs cracked under the force of the blow. He didn't have time to step back when Alex grabbed him by the neck and pulled him toward him with all his strength. Their heads collided with a clatter, shattering Carl's nose. Blood gushed onto Alex's face, who mercilessly pushed his opponent onto the table, which crumbled under the weight of Carl's body.

Emma did not wait. She launched herself at Alex with wild fury, her hands wheezing through the air as if they were cutting space itself. However, faster was Alessandra, who leapt at her with the grace of a puma. Emma barely managed to block the blows. One of the blows hit her in the jaw, turning her head to the side. Pain exploded in her skull, and the world swirled for a split second. Another blow hit Alessandra in the stomach, squeezing the air out of her lungs. She felt her insides reel with pain, but she didn't let herself be knocked down. She took advantage of the advantage of physical strength and launched a kick in Alessandra's direction. Her foot hit her knee with a loud crack, the sound of bone breaking under the pressure. Alessandra wailed and her body slumped to the floor, but she didn't stop fighting. She still tried to raise her arms, but Emma didn't give her a chance. Her fist fell on her face, cutting her lip and causing her to pass out from the pain.

Carl, despite a broken rib and a bleeding nose, managed to get up. His eyes were filled with frenzy, and his body radiated energy. 

- Get it! - yelled Hemingway, throwing the revolver, an old, cast-iron piece of history, in Alex's direction.

Alex caught it without hesitation, turning the barrel toward his opponent. Carl laughed, his energy sizzling in the air, and sparks flashed on his fingers. But he didn't notice as Alex dashed forward, knocking over the table. In an instant, as Carl reached out to fire another burst of deadly energy, Alex squeezed the trigger. The rumble of the revolver drowned out everything, and the bullet hit Carl right in the shoulder. His body retreated from the impact, and his contorted face betrayed his pain and astonishment.

- You son of a bitch! - shouted Carl, grabbing his arm, from which dark blood, thick as cream, was dripping.

He threw himself at Alex, who did not have time to prepare for such an attack. He knocked him to the ground, and their bodies began to roll on the floor. Carl drove his knee into Alex's abdomen, crushing his ribs, and then began to pound his face with his fists. Each blow shook Alex's skull, and his vision became increasingly hazy. The skin on his face cracked under successive blows, and blood rushed to his eyes. Alex felt that he had to act quickly, otherwise this fight would end in death for him. In a desperate gesture, he grabbed Carl's arm, twisting it with a mighty snap until he heard the bone stop resisting the force. Carl screamed in pain, but Alex did not stop. He kicked him in the side, breaking more ribs, and then lifted himself off the ground. He was shaking with pain, his body was shattered, but he knew he had to end this fight.

Emma, seeing her partner on the ground, reacted immediately. Her attack was imminent, energetic, full of fury. A stream of energy moved toward Alex, but he dodged it, jumping between tables, knocking them over like pawns in a game. The cafeteria turned into an inferno - tables, plates, cups, everything flew through the air, shattered by blue explosions. Elias and Luca jumped up, trying to assist Alex. They walked like shadows, efficiently, with rage in their eyes. Elias rushed at Emma, grabbing her arm and twisting it, forcing her to stop her attacks, while Luca maneuvered between the tables, trying to block Carl. But Emma was not defenseless. She turned with the agility of a cat, kicking Elias in the stomach, breaking out of his grasp.

- Not so fast little brother," she growled, raising her hand and directing a stream of energy toward him.

Elias collapsed to the ground, screaming in pain as the energy pierced his body.

Luca, seeing Carl rising, tried to pull him away to a safe distance from Alex. This was not enough. Carl, despite his wounds, began to attack with even greater ferocity, his strength increasing, and each successive blow carried more destruction. Luca fell.

When Alex felt the situation slipping out of his control, he made up his mind. He threw himself forward, slamming his fist into Carl's shoulder, who was just preparing for another attack. The impact was powerful - Carl wailed, and then they both flew out the window, shattering the glass into thousands of shards. They fell into the street, landing hard on the sidewalk.

Alex felt pain, as if every bone in his body was broken. He lay on the ground, panting heavily, while Carl tried to get up, bleeding and howling in pain. For a while, there was only silence.

- This is your end," whispered Alex through clenched teeth, standing up shakily.

Carl stood across from them, barely keeping his feet, but hatred still smoldered in his eyes. They clashed again. The blows were chaotic, full of anger, and each hit carried brute force. Alex, tired and battered, but unrelenting, slapped out more blows, using every advantage he could find. Carl was like an animal bitten to death, fighting until his last breath. Despite the blood dripping from his mouth, the blows that hit him again and again, his movements were increasingly desperate. Alex finally took the initiative. In one swift movement, he swung and hit Carl in the sternum, feeling his opponent collapse. The final blow was brutal. Alex grabbed Carl by the throat and slammed his head against the ground with all the force he could afford. He heard Carl's skull hit the hard pavement, and his opponent's body went limp.

The victory was painful, bitter, and its cost was great. Before Alex could do anything, however, Emma, despite her injuries and cut face, was already at Carl's side, casting one last desperate glance in Alex's direction, and reached for the bracelet on her wrist. She squinted, focusing on her target, then pressed one of the buttons on the ring that adorned her hand. Suddenly, a teleportation gate opened, as if plucked from outer space, emanating an intense light. The radiance emanating from the portal blinded everyone, and before Alex had time to react, Emma pulled a barely alive Carl behind her and they disappeared into the light. The gate closed. The cafe became quiet again, full of smoke, destroyed, tables scattered, blood on the walls and floor testified to the brutality of the clash. Alex stood there, barely holding himself up looking at the place where the gate had just appeared in disbelief. He could not comprehend what had just happened. This was something completely different from before.

- What the hell is this? - whispered Elias, approaching Alex.

Alex stood in silence, and the question still smoldered in his head: what now?