As the school doors closed behind Daniel, he hesitated, wondering if he was making the right decision. For a fleeting moment, he thought about turning back—but it was too late. The gang had already spotted him. There was no going back now. He was on his own: no one was coming to help him, no one to hold his hand. It was just him and them, and the only one who could save him was himself.
The cold air slapped against his cheeks. The silence was suffocating—so complete you could hear a pin drop. It was nerve-racking, as if the world itself waited with bated breath, anticipating the inevitable showdown.
Daniel descended the concrete steps toward the hole in the fence hidden behind the bush. His eyes darted in every direction, scanning to make sure nobody saw him. At the bush, he paused one final time, glanced over his shoulder, then pulled the branches aside and slipped through the gap, heading straight for the silver Jeep parked at the curb.
Two large men stood in front of the car, balaclavas over their faces. Daniel stopped a few meters away from the imposing figures, but that didn't stop the death stares as their eyes locked onto his. Their stares were blank, unreadable: they stood like statues, refusing to look anywhere else but at him.
Daniel tried to pretend he wasn't scared—but who was he kidding? It was written all over his face. He was in too deep, and everything had gone too far. His mother always told him: be careful what you wish for, because when you get it, you might just find out it wasn't what you wanted. Today, that saying rang truer than ever. Malakie had never forced him into the gang life. None of them had. Daniel had asked for it—and he got it. But he had bitten off far more than he could chew.
His heart raced like a NASCAR engine. His hands felt heavy and slick with sweat. His body betrayed his intentions. These guys look like I'm about to be their next meal. He thought about running. His eyes flicked over his left shoulder, then his right, searching for an escape. But fear shackled him to the ground: his legs refused to move, as if his feet were carved from stone. His fear held him captive tighter than any prison cell ever could.
The tension reached its breaking point. Daniel's breaths came fast and shallow, sweat dripping from his face. Then, the two behemoths stepped forward, blocking out the light and shrouding him in darkness.
Daniel's eyes squeezed shut as he threw his hands up to shield his face and screamed.
"Please! Don't hurt me!"
But after the words left his lips, there was nothing—nothing but silence. Daniel slowly opened one eye and saw the car door open.
"Get in. Now!" Malakie's voice thundered.
Daniel stepped forward, legs trembling, eyes glued to the two masked men as he climbed into the car. He moved cautiously, half-expecting the two behemoths to bundle him inside.
"Relax," Malakie said, leaning back in his seat. "If I wanted you gone, you'd already be gone. No need to be on edge."
But the words did nothing for Daniel. He was still a sack of nerves, his eyes flicking around restlessly.
"Then why am I here? I haven't done anything. If you're worried about me going to the feds about that night—you don't need to. I haven't said a word. You don't have to worry." His voice cracked as he tried to steady it.
Malakie leaned forward, a sly smile playing across his lips.
"I ain't worried about that, young blood. I know you wouldn't go to the police. Hell, if you did, it'd be your neck on the line, not mine. And hey—you may be many things, but I don't think you're stupid enough to destroy your own life."
Destroy my life? Daniel's thoughts raced. There were two other guys with me. I didn't pull the trigger. I didn't even know that would happen. So why does he keep saying me—not we?
He wanted to ask. Desperately. But he was too afraid to go down that road.
"Then if you know I wouldn't go to the feds, why are you outside my school? Why am I here?" Daniel asked, confusion written all over his face.
"I'm here to make sure you haven't told anyone—friends, family, anybody." Malakie reached into his pocket, pulled out his car keys, and pressed the button to lock the doors.
Daniel swallowed hard, raising his hands as if to plead.
But his pleading fell on deaf ears. Malakie slowly drew his gun and aimed it at him.
Daniel's eyes flooded with tears. His chest heaved. "Please—you have to believe me! I haven't told a soul! Please—please don't kill me!"
Malakie's eyes locked onto Daniel's. His gaze spoke nothing but evil intentions, while Daniel's showed nothing more than fear and remorse. As the stare-down continued, the school bell rang out: signaling the end of the day and breaking the tension between the two.
"Saved by the bell—hmph, how fitting." Malakie smirked. "Just remember, Daniel—this is real life. Men die like that man in the house every day. The best advice I can give you? Keep your mouth shut. Don't speak a word of what happened. You do that, and everything will work out just fine for you."
Daniel nodded frantically, his wide eyes glued to the gun in Malakie's hand, following its every movement like a frightened puppy.
Meanwhile, Gabriel ran out of class and down the hall towards Daniel's classroom. Students streamed past him, leaving for the day. Confusion twisted his face when the last student left and Daniel was nowhere to be seen.
There's no way he got out that fast. I told him we were walking home together. So where is he?
He spotted Daniel's teacher stacking papers on her desk and knocked on the door.
"Hi Gabriel, good to see you again. I hope all is well—and I hope Daniel gets better soon," said Miss Jiles.
Get better soon? I knew something was up with him.
"Miss Jiles, do you know when Daniel left?" Gabriel asked.
"Yeah, he left last period. He said he had cramps. He was supposed to go and see the nurse, but she said he never showed up."
"Thanks, Miss Jiles."
"Anytime, Gabriel."
As he turned to leave, Gabriel nearly collided with Jai-Lee.
"Gabe! You didn't hear me calling you from down the hall?" she said, catching her breath.
Gabriel opened his mouth, but Jai-Lee raised her hand, cutting him off. She leaned in, whispering:
"Before you try and say anything—remember. Superhero. Human. Big difference, Gabe. Big difference."
"You're right," Gabriel admitted. "I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you—but right now we've got bigger problems. Daniel skipped class. We need to find him before he does something stupid. I'll ask his friends. You check outside—see if he's there."
Gabriel asked around, but friend after friend told him the same thing—they didn't know where Daniel was. Jai-Lee had no better luck. She scoured the crowd of students flooding out of the school gates, eyes darting frantically. It was like Where's Wally. Then—finally—she spotted him.
Daniel. His face pale with fear. And beside him—two massive men in balaclavas. Jai-Lee's stomach dropped.
She sprinted back into the school, lungs burning, legs screaming, refusing to stop until she found Gabriel. As she reached him, she doubled over, hands braced on her knees, struggling to breathe.
"What's wrong with you?" Gabriel asked.
Jai-Lee stuck out her finger and pointed it towards him as she gasped for air. "I… found him."
Gabriel sighed with relief. "Thank God for that."
"Erm… about that…" Jai-Lee's voice wavered.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "Just say it, Jai. What's going on?"
"I think Daniel's with the gang members from the other night."
"What?!" Gabriel's shout echoed, and without another word he bolted out of the school.
It didn't take Gabriel long to notice Daniel, but instead of rushing over he took a deep breath and listened in on the conversation.
"Remember what I said, little homie," Malakie's voice carried. "Keep your mouth shut and everything will be okay."
Gabriel could hear his brother's heartbeat spiking—hammering out of control. He wasn't about to wait around any longer: he charged right over to them without a second thought.
"Oi!" Gabriel roared, charging forward. "Get away from my brother—now!"
Malakie turned, grinning. "Ohh, so this is the infamous Gabriel. Glad to finally put a face to the name." He extended his hand.
Gabriel glared at it and ignored him. "I said move away from my brother. I won't say it again." He clenched his fists, ready to fight all three of them.
Malakie's men stepped forward, hands drifting toward their hips, ready to draw their firearms.
Daniel saw it instantly. His stomach dropped. He rushed over and pushed Gabriel back.
"It's all good, young blood," Malakie said with a smirk. "No blood needs to be spilled today. Consider this a one-time pass. Next time you step to me like that? Let's just say—luck won't be on your side."
Gabriel refused to look away, eyes locked on Malakie until he and his men slid into the Jeep. As the car slowly drove past, Malakie leaned out the window, waving with a devilish grin plastered across his face.
Gabriel had won the battle, but every fibre of his being agreed on one thing: the war had only just begun.