Lizbeth_Williams

In a decaying city where the powerful prey on the powerless, *Liam Carter*—a broke janitor with nothing but a mop and a mountain of debt—discovers a tattered journal in the trash. Its pages, scrawled by a homeless man named *Old Joe*, hold brutal truths: *“Fear is fuel. Pain is a teacher. And even the weakest can burn empires.”*  

When Liam’s younger sister *Mia*—chronically ill and running out of time—becomes collateral in a corrupt politician’s scheme, he has two choices: die quietly or fight dirtier. Armed with guerrilla tactics from Old Joe’s journal and a **survival instinct** sharpened by desperation, Liam wages war against the **Iron Fist Gang**, their billionaire puppeteers, and the broken system that wants him dead.  

But survival has a cost. Every victory leaves scars. Every ally—a cynical nurse, a retired boxer, a hacker teen—demands loyalty Liam isn’t sure he can give. And as he rises from janitor to folk hero, Liam must answer the question haunting Old Joe’s journal:  
“Will you be a spark… or the wildfire that consumes everything?”

From Dust to Dawn

The basement stank of sweat and blood. The crowd chanted: *"Rattlesnake! Rattlesnake!"*

Rattlesnake, a meth-fueled brawler, cracked his knuckles. "Gonna enjoy breaking you, pretty boy."

Liam's ribs screamed from last week's beating. *Survival Focus. Breathe.*

The bell clanged. Rattlesnake charged. Liam ducked, but a knee slammed into his gut. *Crack.*

Promoter Lattimer: "Not much of a show, Carter!"

Liam spat blood. *Old Joe's voice: "Fear's a fire. Burn them with it."*

He feigned a stumble, baiting Rattlesnake into a corner. The crowd leaned in.

Liam (whispering): "You're slow. Guess the meth ate your brain."

Rattlesnake snarled, charging. Liam yanked the fire extinguisher, spraying foam into his eyes.

Liam (slamming the canister into his gut): "Stay down."

The crowd fell silent. Then erupted.

Poem: "Breathe"

*The flame begins in the hollow of the ribs,

A spark struck from the friction of survival.

Breathe in ash, exhale ember—

Even the drowned learn to burn.*

Cliffhanger:

Promoter Lattimer tossed cash at Liam's feet. "You're fighting Viper next week. Pray."

Chapter 5: The Inferno