Smoke in the mind

The images of Celin, locked away in Kate's blacksite prison, burned into Kelin's eyes.

He couldn't sleep.

He couldn't speak.

His brother—his blood—was now a pawn in a game run by corrupt commanders and Red Ballas kings.

And Kelin… was caught in the middle.

Blurred Lines

Inside the Green Bender base, the lights flickered as Kelin sat silently in the war room.

Multiple screens displayed chaos:

Red Ballas patrolling San-Jamb with brutal force.

Kate's private police growing stronger.

Melin and Jack tightening their grip on the city.

And in the center of it all…

Kelin's reflection, staring back at him.

But it was all starting to blur.

"Everyone's a villain now," he whispered.

"And I'm not even sure who I'm saving anymore."

A Leader's Doubt

Bytefire entered the room quietly.

"You haven't spoken in hours."

Kelin turned to him, lost.

"What if we're too late?"

"What if I become the same monster I'm fighting?"

Bytefire hesitated, then handed Kelin a flash drive.

"This is our last trace. A signal coming from the prison Kate built. If you're going to do something, it has to be now."

"But you need a real plan, Kelin… not rage."

Kelin stared at the blinking light of the flash drive.

Red Ballas Pressure

That same night, word spread fast across the San-Jamb underground:

"Red Ballas just wiped out a rival gang near Zone 9."

"Melin's squad is growing—new blood, new weapons."

"Anyone seen talking to outsiders gets disappeared."

Kelin watched from the shadows, hidden beneath a hood.

Everywhere he turned, he saw red flags, red graffiti, red jackets.

The Ballas were everywhere.

It was like the whole city had become a living monster, breathing violence in every corner.

Even the street signs began to blur in his eyes.

"No safe path. No trusted ally," he muttered.

"I need a new move… before they trap me next."

Alone in the Fog

That night, Kelin stood on the edge of an old building overlooking San-Jamb, the wind howling around him.

His eyes scanned the streets, his mind racing.

"If I hit the prison head-on, I lose."

"If I trust Kate, I lose."

"If I face Melin now… I may lose my brother forever."

He breathed in, eyes full of fire.

"But if I wait too long… Celin might not be alive much longer."

To Be Continued...