Five Hundred Credits

The night air was heavy as Ash made his way back to the meeting point. His clothes were torn, his arms sore, and his mind still reeling from what had just happened. 

The memory of the fight with the spider lingered, the sensation of his body moving unnaturally fast, dodging when he should have been dead.

And now, he had to deal with Gregor.

Gregor stood near the entrance of an old, abandoned diner, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. 

When he saw Ash approach, his eyes widened slightly. "Well, look at that. Thought I'd have to wait till sunrise before giving up on you."

Ash didn't bother responding. He walked right up and dropped the crate at Gregor's feet. The weight hit the pavement with a loud thud. "You could've warned me."

Gregor raised an eyebrow. "Warned you about what?"

Ash's fists clenched. "About the goddamn spider in there! There are still creatures roaming that place!"

Gregor smirked, pushing himself off the wall. "Oh, that. Just rumours, mostly. Wasn't sure if anything was still around. Guess you found out firsthand."

Ash's blood boiled. "Bullshit. That thing nearly killed me. If I didn't handle it, I wouldn't be standing here right now."

Gregor shrugged. "And yet, here you are. Still breathing. Which means you handled it, yeah?" He tapped his boot against the crate. "Three hundred credits aren't given for simple jobs. You should've expected danger."

Ash glared at him. "Then I want five hundred."

Gregor let out a sharp laugh. "Five hundred? You're lucky you're getting paid at all. Maybe I should just keep the credits and say you never showed."

Ash's hand twitched toward his knife. For a split second, the thought of gutting Gregor right there flashed through his mind. He could do it. Gregor wouldn't have time to react.

But then what?

The Scorpion Gang wouldn't let it slide. Killing Gregor would bring the full weight of the gang onto his back, and Lena needed him alive.

Ash let out a slow breath, forcing his rage down. He wasn't stupid. "Fine. But I still want five hundred."

Gregor scoffed. "Take your three hundred and be happy with it."

His tone was dismissive, condescending. He turned to open the crate, but then—

Ash saw it. The shift in his stance. The tightening of his shoulder. The slight twist of his hip.

Gregor swung.

But before his fist could connect, Ash moved—

He didn't think. His body reacted.

Gregor's punch sailed through empty air. Ash was already behind him, his knife drawn. The blade stopped just inches from Gregor's throat.

Gregor froze.

A cold silence filled the space between them.

Ash's voice was quiet, but deadly. "Do you think I'm that easy? I was with Ethan during combat classes. Why do you think he calls me reliable?"

Gregor's eyes flickered with something between frustration and realization.

Even if someone wasn't drafted into the military, there was an option to take free combat training. 

The government had made it available after too many civilians were being slaughtered in the early years of the Rift Crisis. Ash had taken those classes—as he realized how much he needed to survive.

He had trained alongside others, including Ethan. Unlike many who treated the courses as mandatory drills, Ash had actually learned.

Gregor swallowed, his confidence cracking for the first time. His body remained tense, but he knew—he'd lost.

Ash lowered the knife slightly. "Five hundred credits. There's a dead spider in the warehouse. No other creatures around. Which means free loot for you. You're already getting a bargain."

Gregor's jaw tightened, but he knew he had no leverage. His hand hovered over his watch, fingers twitching. "Fine. But Ethan's gonna hear about this."

"Do whatever you want. Just send the credits."

Gregor tapped his watch. A second later, Ash's own device vibrated—five hundred credits transferred.

Satisfied, Ash pulled his knife back and took a step away. He turned without another word and disappeared into the night.

—----------------

Gregor stood there, fists clenched, veins pulsing at his temples. His pride burned worse than any wound. That bastard had humiliated him.

No one disrespected the Scorpion Gang without consequences.

Ash was going to pay for this. One way or another.

—----------------

By the time Ash reached home, exhaustion was pressing down on him. His body ached, but his wounds were gone.

The cut from the spider's leg? He checked his arm—it had healed completely.

His awakening had done more than just save his life. It had changed him.

He pushed the thought aside and unlocked the door, stepping into the apartment as quietly as possible. 

The room was dark, just the faint glow of the city beyond the window casting shadows against the walls.

He moved to Lena's door, cracking it open slightly.

She was there, curled up beneath her blanket, breathing softly.

Safe.

Ash let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and closed the door gently.

Stripping off his ruined clothes, he stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower. The cold water hit his skin, washing away the grime, the blood, the sweat.

His hands rested against the wall, his head bowed as everything finally caught up to him.

He had awakened. He had dodged death in a way no normal human could. And now… he had a power he didn't understand.

What did that mean for him?

For Lena?

As he lay down on the couch in a fresh set of clothes, staring at the ceiling, the question circled in his mind.

What the hell was he supposed to do now?