System (2)

Chapter 13

Mai sprinted through the dimly lit park, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

The night was eerily quiet, the vast expanse of the park devoid of people.

Two men were close behind her, their footsteps pounding against the pavement, echoing ominously in the stillness.

Panic etched across her face, she spotted a homeless man slumped beneath a tree.

Summoning what strength she had, she shouted, "Help! Help!"

The man stirred, glanced at her briefly, and then at the figures chasing her.

Without a word, he rolled over and went back to sleep.

It was a reaction she had seen far too often in the city.

Even as she had run past darkened houses, screaming for help, no one had opened their doors or so much as peered outside.

The truth was brutal: no one wanted to cross the gangs that controlled the streets.

Calling the police was pointless; they were either too afraid or too corrupt to intervene.

Here, survival was a solitary endeavor.

Tears streaked Mai's cheeks as the reality of her plight set in.

Her legs burned from running, her strength waning.

The men behind her weren't in a hurry; they were savoring her desperation.

Her foot caught on a root, and she tumbled to the ground, her palms scraping against the rough gravel.

Before she could scramble to her feet, they were upon her.

One of the men sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "You know, it's not safe to be out this late."

"Please," Mai begged, crawling backward, her voice trembling. "Let me go."

The second man laughed darkly. "Oh, we're not done yet. We haven't even started."

The first man slapped his companion on the back of the head. "The boss wants her untouched, remember? Don't get any ideas."

"What if we tell him she wasn't..." The second man's smirk widened, "...intact when we found her?"

"If you're ready to take a bullet to the head, be my guest." The first man's tone turned icy, and the second man's grin faltered.

Reluctantly, he grabbed Mai's wrist and yanked her to her feet. "Don't worry," he sneered, "I'm not going to do anything...yet."

As Mai struggled in his grip, they began dragging her out of the park.

Elsewhere in the park, Elijah arrived, his phone's GPS offering little guidance.

"Kai could've at least said where in this massive park she'd be," he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.

He began jogging, his eyes scanning the shadows.

Distant voices caught his attention, sharp and angry.

He quickened his pace, moving toward the commotion.

When he reached the scene, his eyes locked onto a horrifying sight: a burly man kicking a girl curled on the ground.

"Shut up!" the man barked. "Do you know how annoying you are? Screaming for help when no one's coming. Just shut up already!"

The other man, standing nearby, shook his head. "You shouldn't have hit her. The boss—"

"She wouldn't stop yelling!" the big man snapped, cutting him off. "It's not like anyone's going to help her."

Mai lay on the ground, clutching her stomach. Her cheek was swollen, a fiery red where she'd been struck. Tears streaked her dirt-smeared face.

Just as the larger man leaned down to grab Mai, a rock came hurtling through the air, striking him square in the face.

He staggered back, blood streaming from his nose. "Argh! Who the hell?!" he bellowed.

Elijah stepped into view, his eyes blazing with fury.

Without hesitation, he charged at the second man, aiming to tackle him.

The man reacted quickly, raising his knee and slamming it into Elijah's stomach.

Elijah stumbled, the air knocked from his lungs, but he recovered swiftly, dodging the next punch and countering with a low kick.

His foot connected with his opponent's groin, and the man crumpled to the ground with a strangled cry before blacking out.

The larger man, now recovered, roared in anger and charged at Elijah.

He grabbed him in a bear hug and slammed him to the ground with brutal force.

Elijah gasped, struggling to roll away as the man raised a boot to stomp on his head.

At the last second, Elijah rolled aside and scrambled to his feet, retreating to gain some distance.

The big man wiped blood from his face, his expression twisted in rage.

"You've got guts, kid. Too bad it won't save you."

Elijah's eyes darted to the unconscious man on the ground and back to Mai, who was standing up.

He needed a plan.

His opponent was stronger and angrier, and the odds were stacked against him.

Summoning his courage, he lunged forward, feinting a kick.

The man didn't fall for it, delivering a brutal punch to Elijah's stomach.

Elijah staggered back, coughing up blood, his vision blurring.

"You think you can take us on?" the man growled. "You're nothing but a joke."

The other man began to stir, groaning. He glanced around, his face darkening. "The girl's gone!" he shouted.

"What?" The big man's head snapped toward Mai's empty spot.

"Damn it! The boss is going to kill us."

Elijah, sensing a fleeting opportunity, gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand.

His body screamed in protest, but he pushed through the pain.

As the big man turned back to him, Elijah activated the breathing technique he'd been practicing.

A surge of energy coursed through him.

[Burst has been activated. All stats increased by 30%.]

Elijah headbutted the man, who recoiled with a grunt.

Taking advantage of the moment, Elijah yanked free from the man's grip, leaving behind a few strands of his hair. Bloodied but determined, he bolted into the shadows of the park, his heightened speed carrying him far from his attackers.

"Should I go after him?" the big man growled, but the other shook his head.

"No point. If we're caught in another gang's territory tonight, we'll have more than the boss to worry about. Let's go."

Reluctantly, the big man spat on the ground and turned away. The two men vanished into the night, leaving the park eerily quiet once more.