Comeback

I could still hear the crowd's laughter ringing in my ears as I walked back toward The Dungeon.

Every step felt heavier than the last. My hands were sweaty, my stomach tight. This was crazy. Nobody bombed a battle this bad and showed their face again on the same night.

But I wasn't the same person who had walked out of that club fifteen minutes ago.

I had a point to prove. I was getting back on that stage, and this time, I wasn't gonna choke.

The moment I stepped back inside The Dungeon, I could feel the weight of eyes on me.

People nudged each other, whispering. A couple dudes straight-up laughed. I had left a joke, and now I was back like a ghost that didn't know how to stay dead.

Blaze was still in the crowd, talking with his crew, grinning like he just won a championship. His people noticed me first. One of them tapped him on the shoulder, nodding in my direction.

He turned, saw me, and smirked.

"Ayo, lil' man," he called out, his voice cutting through the noise. "You forget somethin'?"

The crowd chuckled. Someone shouted, "Bro came back for another L!"

I ignored them. My heart was pounding, but I kept walking.

Straight to the host.

I locked eyes with him and said, "Run it back."

The host, a dude named Rico, raised an eyebrow. "You serious?"

"I ain't stuttering."

The crowd ooh'd at that.

Blaze's smirk didn't fade, but I saw something in his eyes—annoyance. He had already clowned me once. Now I was taking his moment away by making it about me again.

"You really want that smoke twice in one night?" he asked, shaking his head. "You a glutton for punishment, huh?"

"You talkin' a lot," I shot back. "Let's see if you can still rap."

The crowd erupted at that. A couple people clapped. They wanted to see this.

Rico chuckled, rubbing his chin. Then he nodded. "Aight. If you wanna embarrass yourself twice, who am I to stop you?"

He turned to the DJ. "Run that beat back."

The speakers rumbled.

The same slow, menacing beat from before filled the room.

Blaze cracked his knuckles.

"Boy, you really must hate yourself," he muttered. "Aight then. Let's put you in the dirt for good."

Rico lifted the mic. "Blaze, you up first."

Blaze nodded and stepped forward.

"Look who came back—man, you must be confused,

Thought you wanted to be a rapper, now you just like to lose.

Didn't learn the first time? Bro, you thick in the skull,

You got no bars, just ego—man, your tank is on full."

The crowd hyped him up, cheering and stomping their feet.

"You step up again? Man, that's real funny,

'Cause now you 'bout to lose twice—like a broke-ass dummy.

Lil' man wanna rap? Lil' man wanna shine?

Nah, lil' man just came back to waste my time."

Cheers. Claps. Laughter.

Blaze stepped back, passing me the mic. He looked confident, already knowing he won.

That's where he messed up.

Because the second I grabbed the mic, I could feel it. Everything shifted. I felt the rhythm in my bones. The beat was no longer just background noise—it was mine.

I stepped forward, mic close, voice steady.

The crowd went quiet.

And I spit.

"You call that heat? That weak-ass rhyme?

You got the crowd fooled, but you wastin' my time.

I was nervous before, now the fear been erased,

You said dig me a grave? Nah, bro, switch places."

The crowd shouted, "OHHH!"

Blaze's smile vanished.

I wasn't done.

"Came back from the dirt, now I'm back for the crown,

You a king in this spot? Well, I'm takin' you down.

Talked big before, but your rhymes ain't tough,

You a wolf to these sheep, but to me? Not enough."

The crowd was losing their minds.

Blaze opened his mouth, but I cut him off.

"Oh, now you quiet? Ain't got words?

Funny how the loudest ones always leave first.

You was talkin' 'bout skills? You was talkin' 'bout clout?

But now I see what it is—you was just runnin' ya mouth."

Screams. Cheers. Stomps.

Blaze was frozen.

The crowd was chanting. "RUN IT BACK! RUN IT BACK!"

For the first time that night, Blaze looked shook.

I stepped closer, dropping my voice low so only he could hear.

"Still think this game ain't for me?"

He clenched his jaw. But he had no words.

I stepped back, looking at Rico.

He grinned.

"Aight, I think we got our winner."

The crowd exploded.

For the first time in my life, people were cheering for me.

I grinned, gripping the mic.

This wasn't the end.

This was just the beginning.