The rain hadn't stopped.
It came down in heavy sheets, blurring the neon lights of the city into smeared watercolors. Elias leaned against the cold metal of a rusted car, the hood of his jacket pulled low over his face. His heart thudded heavily against his ribs, not from fear — not anymore — but from something darker, heavier.
Across from him stood Jonas, one of Marcus's newest pawns.
Jonas was only 24 years old, tall and wiry, with pale brown skin, short dreadlocks, and sharp cheekbones that gave him a fox-like appearance. His profession had once been a mechanic, but now he was a fixer — the kind of man who could make problems disappear for the right price. He was fast, cocky, and dangerously unpredictable.
"Elias," Jonas drawled, bouncing a knife from hand to hand. "You're making this harder than it needs to be."
Elias didn't flinch. The reward he had received earlier — Combat Mastery — coursed through him like a second heartbeat. He knew every move Jonas was planning before he made it. He could see the tension in his shoulders, the slight shift in his weight.
"I'm tired," Elias said quietly, almost sadly. "Of being everyone's target. Of running."
Jonas smirked. "Then stop running."
The knife flashed in the night.
But Elias moved like water, ducking under Jonas's slash and landing a clean punch to the side of his face. Jonas stumbled, surprised by the sudden counter. He hadn't expected a fighter.
"You... you're not the same guy they warned me about," Jonas muttered, wiping blood from his mouth.
"I'm not," Elias said, stepping forward. "I'm worse."
In less than a minute, Jonas was on the ground, disarmed and gasping for breath. Elias stood over him, chest heaving from the rush, the rain washing away the blood from his knuckles.
He could finish it. One blow.
But he didn't.
Because he still wasn't that man yet.
Instead, he turned and walked away into the storm, leaving Jonas coughing and broken behind him.
---
Elira was awake, sitting by the window, blanket wrapped around her. Her mind buzzed with worry. She hadn't heard from Elias in hours, and every instinct in her screamed that something terrible was coming.
She pulled out her notebook — a habit from her journalist days — and scribbled down thoughts:
Marcus is preparing something
Elias is changing — too fast
I need to help him before it's too late
Her phone vibrated.
Unknown number again.
Text: Meet me tomorrow. 7 PM. The bridge. Come alone. If you want to save him.
Elira's blood turned cold.
Was it a trap? Probably.
But if there was even a chance it could help Elias... she had no choice.
---
Character Spotlight: Jonas Rivers
Name: Jonas Rivers
Age: 24
Profession: Ex-mechanic, now mercenary/fixer
Appearance: Lean and wiry build; light brown skin; short dreadlocks; sharp, fox-like features; several tattoos visible on his forearms — a snake, a broken watch, and a black star.
Attitude: Arrogant, fast-talking, but with a hidden sense of regret about the life he chose.
Flaws: Overconfidence — he underestimates his opponents, believing speed and agility are enough. Easily manipulated by promises of wealth.
Fate: Jonas will reappear later, carrying guilt about tonight's events — and when the moment comes, he may just switch sides.
---
Elias made a choice tonight. Even though he had the power, even though he could have ended Jonas without a second thought, he didn't.
In our own lives, it's easy to become what we hate — especially when we feel wronged, hurt, or cornered. But true strength sometimes lies in restraint, in choosing not to let darkness change who we are.
The storm within Elias grew quieter — for now.