CHAPTER FIVE: NO SANCTUARY

The skyline stretched endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass window of Kane's penthouse. The city below hummed with life, oblivious to the silent war waged in the shadows.

Kane stood there, one hand gripping a crystal glass of whiskey, the other resting behind his back. His suit was immaculate, his silver tie pin gleaming under the dim lights.

The heavy thud-thud of approaching footsteps broke the silence.

Kane smirked without turning. "You walk like an earthquake."

The Collider stepped into the room. A giant of a man, nearly seven feet tall, broad shoulders straining against his dark suit. A black fedora cast a shadow over his sharp features, and a thick cigar smoldered between his fingers.

Kane took a sip of his drink before speaking. "Victor Logan is still breathing."

The collider exhaled smoke, voice deep and smooth. "Not for long."

Kane finally turned, meeting Collider's unreadable gaze. "He's in a church." A chuckle. "Fitting, don't you think? He's praying for redemption, and I'm sending the devil to collect."

Collider took a slow drag from his cigar. "How many men?"

Kane shrugged. "Enough to make sure he stays dead."

Collider rolled his neck, bones cracking like gunfire. "I don't need backup."

Kane grinned. "Good." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Make it loud. Make it messy."

Collider nodded once, then turned and walked out, his massive frame blocking out the light as he disappeared down the hall.

Candlelight flickered across the old wooden pews. The air smelled of burnt incense and aged stone.

Logan sat in the front row, hands clasped, eyes closed. His bruising face was a mosaic of healing wounds, and the weight of his sister's death pressed against his chest like an iron chain.

The priest, an elderly man with kind eyes, stood near the altar, watching him. "You seek peace, my son?"

Logan opened his eyes, exhaling slowly. "No, Father. I seek clarity."

The priest gave a solemn nod. "Then may you find it."

The old wooden doors creaked open. Logan didn't turn immediately, but he felt the shift in the air, the sudden, unnatural silence.

Then came the footsteps. Slow. Measured. Heavy.

Logan's jaw tightened.

The priest glanced toward the entrance and gasped, taking a step back.

"Oh, dear Lord."

Logan turned.

A dozen men had entered, all dressed in dark suits, all armed. And at the center of them, standing like a Monolith, was Collider.

The hulking enforcer tilted his head, studying Logan like a hunter assessing wounded prey.

"Praying, Logan?" His deep voice rumbled through the church like thunder. "I'd kneel too if I were about to die."

Logan slowly stood. His fingers flexed. His heartbeat slowed.

"Funny," Logan muttered. "I was about to say the same thing to you."

Collider chuckled, removing his hat and tossing it aside. "Boys..." He rolled his thick wrists. break sword."

The goons surge forward.

Logan moved first.

He grabbed the heavy wooden pew in front of him and flipped it forward, smashing into the charging men. Three went down instantly, but the others kept coming.

A gunman raised his pistol. Logan lunged, twisting the man's wrist until bones snapped like twigs. The gun fired wildly into the ceiling, shattering the hanging chandelier.

Logan used the distraction—elbow to the throat. Knee to the ribs. A gun ripped from its holster- two shots, two bodies hitting the floor. 

A thug swung a brass-knuckled fist. Logan ducked, grabbed a candle stand, and drove the iron pole straight through the man's foot.

Screams echoed through the church.

A shotgun blast tore through a row of pews. Logan rolled behind the altar as wood splintered around him.

Then came Collider.

The brute charged like a runaway train, ripping through pews as if they were cardboard. Logan barely moved in time as Collider's massive fist cratered the marble floor where he had just been standing.

Logan fired his pistol- Collider caught his wrist, twisted hard, and sent the gun flying.

The next punch hit like a sledgehammer. Logan's vision blurred as he crashed against the pulpit, breaking it in half.

Blood filled his mouth. He spit red onto the floor and pushed himself up.

Collider smirked. "You're tougher than they say."

Logan wiped his lip. "And you're slower than I expected."

That got a laugh. "Let's fix that."

The fight turned brutal.

The collider swung with monstrous force- Logan dodged, but the sheer wind pressure sent papers and candles flying.

Logan grabbed a broken wooden beam, stabbed it into Collider's shoulder- the brute grunted- and yanked it out like a splinter, and headbutted Logan into the altar.

The priest ran for cover.

The collider grabbed Logan by the throat, lifting him off the ground. "Should've prayed harder."

Logan, gasping for air, reached behind him- his hand closed around the golden crucifix from the altar.

He swung it hard, smashing Collider across the face.

The big man stumbled.

Logan didn't stop. A knee to the jaw. A strike to the ribs. A full-force kick to the chest.

The collider crashed into the strained glass window.

The colorful glass shattered around him, sending him tumbling into the stormy night outside.

Silence.

Logan stood amidst the wreckage, breathing hard, his body screaming in pain. The church was in ruins- pews, broken candles toppled, blood smeared across the marble.

The priest peeked out from behind the altar, wide-eyed.

Logan adjusted his coat and gave the old man a nod. "Sorry about the mess, Father."

Then he turned and walked into the night.