The monster inside

The night was cold and heavy with rain as Alex made his way toward his small apartment. His footsteps echoed against the wet pavement, the steady drizzle soaking him to the bone, but he didn't care. His mind was occupied, swirling with scattered thoughts, until a piercing scream cut through the air like a blade.

He stopped abruptly, his heart skipping a beat. The scream had come from nearby.

Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the sound. The streets were nearly empty, shadows dancing under the flickering light of broken street lamps. The rain pounded harder against his back as he darted through narrow pathways, his sneakers splashing through puddles.

As he rounded a corner, he entered a dark, narrow alley. His breath caught in his throat at the sight before him. June — trembling, her back pressed tightly against a brick wall — was surrounded by three men. The glow of a nearby streetlight barely illuminated their faces, but Alex could see the sinister grins etched across them.

"Come on, pretty girl," one of the men taunted, his voice low and oily. "No need to be shy. Let us take care of you tonight."

Another man laughed and stepped closer, his shadow looming over her. "You're too beautiful to be out here all alone."

June's eyes were wide, filled with terror, her entire body trembling. Her lips quivered as she struggled to find words, but nothing came out.

Alex's chest tightened. The scene triggered a flood of memories from his past—his own helplessness, the cold laughter of those who once cornered him like this, the feeling of being powerless. The anger he had fought so long to suppress began to surge from deep inside him.

His fists clenched involuntarily, and his whole body began to tremble—not from fear, but from the boiling rage that burned hotter with every passing second. His breathing slowed as his instincts sharpened. He felt his vision narrow, focusing only on the three predators.

In a voice calm yet chilling, he finally spoke.

"Let. Go. Of her."

The men all turned their heads toward him, surprised at first to see a lone boy standing at the alley's entrance.

The largest of the three chuckled, sizing him up. "And who the hell are you supposed to be, pretty boy?"

"Yeah," another sneered, flashing yellowed teeth. "Is she your girlfriend or something? You gonna fight us for her?"

The third man grinned wickedly, pulling out a short metal pipe from his pocket. "Look at this little knight in shining armor."

Their mocking laughter filled the alley, but Alex's expression didn't change. He took one step forward, his gaze cold and unwavering.

"Walk away," Alex said softly, his voice nearly a whisper, but laced with menace. "Before you regret it."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the first man broke out laughing, waving his hand. "Get him."

The man with the pipe rushed forward, swinging it horizontally. The metal glinted under the dim light as it cut through the rain-filled air. But Alex dodged it effortlessly, his body moving with a speed and precision that seemed almost unnatural.

Before the thug could react, Alex stepped in close and delivered a sharp elbow to his throat, causing him to stagger and choke. In the same fluid motion, Alex grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back, and slammed him head-first into the nearby wall. The sound of the impact was sickening, and the man crumpled to the ground, groaning.

The second thug lunged at Alex from behind, attempting to grapple him, but Alex spun around and drove his knee hard into the man's stomach. The attacker gasped, doubling over, and Alex followed with a vicious uppercut that sent him crashing backward into a pile of garbage cans.

The first man—the leader—watched in disbelief as his two companions fell in a matter of seconds. His mocking grin was now gone, replaced by pure rage. He pulled out a switchblade, its silver blade glinting as he flicked it open.

"You think you're tough, you little shit?" he growled. "I'll cut that pretty face of yours open."

He lunged forward with the knife, slashing wildly. But Alex's instincts had already taken over fully. Every movement was precise and calculated. He sidestepped the attack and grabbed the man's wrist mid-strike. With a twist, he disarmed him, sending the blade clattering to the ground.

In a blur of motion, Alex slammed his forehead into the man's nose, hearing the sickening crack of cartilage breaking. Blood spurted from his nostrils as he screamed in agony.

Alex didn't stop there. His rage consumed him like wildfire. Every suppressed emotion—fear, humiliation, anger—exploded at once. His fists pummeled the man's face, one strike after another. Blood splattered onto Alex's shirt, his hands aching with every impact, but he couldn't stop.

The man's face became a swollen, unrecognizable mess. His pleas for mercy were muffled by Alex's relentless fists. The other two men lay unconscious nearby, but Alex's entire focus was on the leader, now barely breathing under him.

The rain fell harder, mixing with the blood pooling beneath them. Only then did Alex finally stop, gasping for air, his blood-soaked fists trembling at his sides. His chest heaved, and his heart pounded violently inside his ribcage.

Silence filled the alley except for the sound of rain pattering against concrete.

He turned his head slowly, searching for June. She still stood frozen against the wall, her eyes wide in horror, hands covering her mouth as if unable to breathe. Her whole body trembled as she looked at him, not with relief—but with fear.

Slowly, Alex extended a trembling hand toward her. His voice was low, almost tender.

"It's okay... No one's going to hurt you."

But June only shook her head, backing away slightly. Her face had turned pale, and her lips quivered.

"D-Don't... don't touch me," she stammered, her voice barely audible.

"June, please... it's over. You're safe now," Alex whispered, his voice breaking slightly.

"Stay away from me!" she screamed suddenly, tears falling freely from her eyes.

Without giving him a chance to respond, she turned and ran from the alley, her sobs echoing through the narrow streets as she disappeared into the rain-soaked night.

Alex stood there alone, frozen in place, watching her vanish. The rain continued to pour, blending with the silent tears now slipping down his cheeks. His shoulders sagged, and his breath came out in ragged gasps.

He looked down at his bloody fists and at the broken men lying around him. He had protected her. He had saved her. Yet, instead of gratitude, all he saw in her eyes was terror.

The rain washed the blood off his hands, but it couldn't wash away the guilt, nor the emptiness gnawing at his chest.

In that moment, Alex realized something painful—no matter how much strength he had gained, the darkness inside him scared even the ones he cared about most.

He remained standing there in the rain, broken, alone, and hollow.