The Alliance of Darkness

I had only one person left to turn to for answers—my father's closest friend, Joey. My father had always held him dear, considering him more of a brother than a friend. However, I didn't know where Joey lived. Then, I remembered—my uncle used to record the addresses of everyone he knew in his personal files.

I rummaged through my uncle's desk drawers, only to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of files and addresses. It was a daunting task. After hours of searching, I finally found the one I needed—Joey Michael's address.

I grabbed the file, picked up my bag, and set off toward his house. The journey was long, my legs ached, but at last, I found myself standing before Joey's doorstep.

I knocked. After a few moments, the door swung open. Joey stood before me, unchanged from how I remembered him. He eyed me with curiosity and asked,

"Who are you? What do you want?"

I responded, "You don't recognize me, Joey?"

He frowned. "No, sorry, I don't."

I took a deep breath. "I'm Shadow… Oliver's son."

His face twisted in shock. He stared at me, disbelief evident in his eyes. He almost refused to believe it.

"You've grown so much, kid. Come in."

Once inside, I wasted no time. I told him everything—about what had happened to my parents eight years ago. Joey's expression darkened. Tears welled up in his eyes, streaming down his face. It was shocking to see a man like him—a former military trainer, an expert in weapons and combat—break down in such a way.

Then I asked,

"I need to know something. I found a note in my father's office… it mentioned him and my mother joining a gang called 'The Bloods.'"

"Do you know anything about this?"

Joey hesitated before speaking. "Now that you're old enough, you deserve to know the truth. Your parents did join that gang… but I never understood why. When I found out, I cut ties with your father and never spoke to him again."

"But he left the gang a year before you were born. He and your mother wanted to raise you away from that life. The gang didn't accept his departure. They threatened him—if he left, they would kill him and your mother. Your father had too much evidence against them. They couldn't risk it."

A wave of shock crashed over me. My mind raced with questions.

Why did my parents join the gang?

I finally know who killed them… but they are well-hidden.

I looked at Joey, my voice firm. "Do you know where this gang is now?"

"No, I don't," he admitted. "I only knew how much your parents regretted their past."

I thanked him and left as the sun began to set. Walking home, my thoughts swirled.

"Were my parents really criminals?"

"Did they deserve to die?"

"No matter what it takes… I will avenge them."

That night, I made a difficult decision. I would drop out of school, quit my job at the restaurant, and dedicate myself to revenge. I needed to grow stronger.

It wasn't easy, abandoning my friends and leaving behind everything I had. Every day, I watched my phone as messages poured in. Some friends were worried about me. Others… were mocking me, laughing at my silence.

I realized then—if I wanted to be strong, I needed training. Intense, brutal training. But where could I find someone to teach me real combat, to train me with weapons?

The answer was obvious. Joey.

He was the only one. The only person who could turn me from a weak, useless boy into someone powerful enough to claim vengeance.

I returned to his house and knocked on the door. Joey opened it, looking surprised.

"Shadow? What is it?"

I stepped inside, nervous about my request. But I pushed my fears aside.

"I need your help, Joey. I need you to train me."

Joey sighed. "That's a difficult request, Shadow. I'm married now… I left that life behind long ago."

Desperation filled my voice. "Please, Joey. I can't live like this anymore."

He fell silent, lost in thought. My heart pounded. He was my only hope—the only one who could transform me.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Joey spoke.

"…Alright."

A wave of relief and excitement washed over me. I grinned.

"Thank you, Joey! When do we start? I'm ready whenever you are!"

Joey smirked. "Since you want intense training, follow me."

I followed him to a corner of his study. Without warning, he pulled open a trapdoor in the floor. A staircase led into darkness.

"Come," he said.

Nervous but determined, I descended with him. The air was thick, the space pitch black. Joey lit a candle, illuminating a steel door locked with multiple chains. One by one, he unlocked them all.

The door creaked open.

What I saw left me speechless.

A massive underground training facility lay before me, fully equipped. A vast space filled with weights, combat dummies, obstacle courses—even live firearms.

Joey turned to me.

"This is where you'll train, kid. Get ready for the most grueling experience of your life. Remember, you chose this path."

I met his gaze and grinned. "I won't back down."

Thus began my transformation.

Joey pushed me to my limits every day. There was no rest, no mercy. I bled, I fell, I failed. But I got back up, again and again.

We climbed mountains. We ran through fire. We fired bullets. I learned how to handle weapons, how to fight, how to endure pain.

Joey was relentless—his training was ruthless, unforgiving. But I endured. Every night, my body ached, my skin bruised, my muscles screamed.

Still, I continued.

"I will become strong."

"I will become a warrior."

"I will have my revenge."

And one day, I will stand before the Bloods and make them pay.