The cold concrete under Adam Kim's back felt damp as he opened his eyes. A dull ache throbbed through his arms and chest. The sky above the ruined building was grey, and a light breeze blew dust across the floor. Rusted beams jutted from broken walls, and torn plastic bags flapped like dead flags in the wind. The silence of early morning made the air feel even heavier.
Adam sat up slowly, wincing at the pain in his side. He noticed white bandages wrapped around his wounds. His shirt was torn, but someone had taken the time to clean his injuries. Right beside him lay a small bag with a bright red packet of **"BamBam!"** chips and a blue energy drink called **"Booster."** He blinked a few times, confused.
"Who...?" he whispered, turning his head to look around the building. There was no one. Just empty shadows and the distant hum of city life far beyond the alley.
His mind pulled up the memory from the night before. The face of the man on the rooftop. A calm, unreadable expression, and those sharp eyes. Adam had seen him only for three seconds... but it was enough. That face was burned into his mind now.
He tore open the chip packet with trembling fingers and ate quickly. He washed the dry food down with a long gulp from the "Booster." The cold fizz stung his throat, but it gave him a burst of energy. He stood up, legs shaking slightly, and walked carefully down the alley stairs.
The sun was climbing higher now, cutting between the buildings and casting long shadows over the alleyways. The city beyond was loud and alive, but this part — this forgotten corner — was full of silence and cracked pavement.
Adam walked aimlessly. He didn't know where to go, only that he needed to find somewhere peaceful. Somewhere quiet to think, to survive. He passed old buildings with broken signs, garbage bins, stray cats, and people who didn't look at him twice. No one cared. No one even noticed the bruised boy limping through the back alleys of the city.
Then he heard something.
Shouting.
It came from a narrow side street. Adam paused. His heart pounded fast in his chest. His body screamed at him to walk away, but the voices pulled him in.
"Stop crying, loser! You dropped your stupid toy again?"
"You think you can just walk away from us, huh?!"
Adam turned the corner.
Three teens were surrounding a small kid. The kid looked maybe nine or ten years old. He was shaking, holding a broken toy car in his tiny hands. One of the bullies slapped the car away, and the kid flinched hard.
Adam's hands clenched. His chest tightened.
*That was me,* he thought. *That's exactly how I felt... for three months.*
He took one slow step forward, then another.
*You're scared,* his brain screamed.
*But I can't watch it again,* his heart answered.
Without fully thinking, Adam pulled back his arm and threw the energy drink can with all his strength. The can spun through the air and smacked one of the bullies right on the back of the head.
"OW! What the—?!" the bully turned around, eyes wide.
Adam stood there, frozen.
The three bullies stared at him. The little kid stared too, hope and fear mixed in his eyes.
"You little piece of trash," said the tallest bully. "You're dead!"
They rushed toward Adam.
He backed away fast. His body was still hurt. He couldn't run far or fast. They were going to catch him—
But then, something unbelievable happened.
A hand appeared out of nowhere. A strong, calm hand. It grabbed the wrist of the tallest bully mid-punch.
"What the hell?!" the bully shouted.
Standing in front of Adam now was a teenage guy, maybe around 17 or 18. Black jacket, white shirt, short dark hair, and eyes cold as winter. His grip was tight, his stance relaxed. Like he wasn't scared of anything.
"You alright?" the guy asked, turning his head slightly toward Adam.
Adam couldn't even speak. He nodded.
"Good," the guy said. And then... he moved.
Faster than Adam could follow, the guy twisted the bully's wrist and elbowed him in the face. The bully dropped like a rock.
"GET HIM!" the others screamed.
The stranger didn't flinch.
He ducked a punch, slammed his knee into one guy's stomach, and flipped him onto the pavement. The third rushed him with a metal pipe. The guy grabbed it, yanked it away, and cracked it against the side of the bully's leg. A loud *CRACK* echoed down the alley.
All three bullies were on the ground now, groaning in pain.
Adam's mouth hung open. He had never seen anyone move like that before. It was like something out of a movie. Brutal, fast, and cold.
The stranger dropped the pipe and turned around.
"You should be more careful," he said. "You're still injured."
Adam blinked. "W-Who are you?"
The guy gave a slight smile. "Name's Daniel Park."
"Daniel... You... were you the one... last night?" Adam asked.
Daniel's face didn't change. "Maybe."
Adam took a deep breath. "Thank you... for saving me. Twice."
Daniel nodded. "Don't mention it. But next time, don't be a hero if you're not ready."
Adam looked down, feeling a mix of shame and pride. "I just... I saw myself in that kid. I couldn't walk away."
Daniel stared at him for a moment, then looked at the little boy. The kid was still shaking, but unharmed. "You did a good thing," Daniel said quietly. "But this city doesn't care about good or bad. It only cares about strength."
Adam looked up again. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Daniel shrugged. "Life teaches. Pain teaches faster."
Adam's hands tightened at his sides. "I want to learn. I want to be strong."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Strength comes with a price."
"I don't care," Adam said. "I just want to stop running."
There was a long pause.
The wind blew gently down the alleyway, rustling papers and carrying the distant honking of traffic. The sun was high now, but the alley was still mostly in shadow.
Daniel finally spoke. "Follow me."
Adam's heart jumped. "W-Where are we going?"
"To meet people like you," Daniel said. "Runaways. Fighters. Survivors."
He turned and walked away.
Adam stood for a second, looking down at the three beaten bullies and the little kid now picking up his toy car again. The kid looked at Adam with wide, thankful eyes.
"Thank you..." he whispered.
Adam nodded, then turned and followed Daniel.
As he walked, he felt something inside him shift. He wasn't just running anymore. He was moving toward something. Toward answers. Toward strength. Toward the truth.
Whatever this strange path was, he was ready to take the next step.
Even if it killed him.