Boom!
The sound of a thunderclap tore through the gray morning sky, echoing faintly as if the heavens themselves were warning of something unseen.
Kayden sat by his window, watching raindrops race down the glass. The world outside felt quiet—too quiet. The incident at school still played in his mind: the gang's glare, Ragna's smirk, the tension that clung to the air long after the fight had ended.
He thought time would ease it. But it hadn't.
Even days later, he couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching him.
The book in his hands had stayed on the same page for half an hour. His parents were out visiting relatives, leaving him alone in the silence of the house.
Then came a knock.
Knock. Knock.
Kayden frowned, pushing the curtain aside to peek outside. The rain had slowed to a drizzle. He opened the door cautiously—only for his expression to freeze.
Standing there, drenched from the rain but smiling like she owned the world, was Liora.
"Liora?!" he blinked. "How the hell do you know where I live?"
She grinned, brushing wet hair off her face. "Oh, you know… magic."
He stared at her flatly. "Magic, huh?"
"Okay fine," she said, stepping past him before he could react, "I might've followed you once or twice. But don't freak out."
"You what—"
"Relax!" she laughed. "I didn't break into your house or anything. I just... asked around."
Kayden pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're unbelievable."
"That's what my teachers say," she said proudly.
He sighed, defeated. "So what do you want?"
"To get you out of this cave. You've been hiding all week."
"I'm not hiding."
"You are," she said simply, crossing her arms. "And we're going out. Right now."
Kayden leaned against the wall, unimpressed. "No."
"Kayden—"
"I said no."
She gave him a long, knowing look. "You think staying inside will make your problems disappear?"
He didn't answer.
"Come on," she said softly. "You can't keep running from the world."
Her voice wasn't pushy this time—it was gentle. That made it worse.
Kayden let out a breath, then finally nodded. "Fine. But you're paying for lunch."
Her grin lit up. "Deal."
---
They stepped out into the damp air. The city still glistened from the earlier rain. Puddles reflected the morning sky as they walked side by side through narrow streets.
At first, silence filled the space between them. Then, slowly, Liora began talking—about school, about the gossip spreading like wildfire, about how the principal pretended not to know Ragna's gang had powerful people backing them.
"They were suspended once, you know," she said suddenly.
Kayden looked over. "The Vex Crew?"
She nodded. "Yeah. But they came back. I think someone's protecting them—someone high up."
Kayden frowned, his steps slowing. "Figures."
"Maybe just… stay away from them for now," she said carefully. "You've already done enough."
"I don't like seeing people bullied, Liora. If that makes me a target, so be it."
She sighed. "You're impossible."
He gave a small smile. "I've been told that before."
---
They reached a cozy café at the edge of town. The smell of roasted beans and pastries filled the air. Liora ordered two iced coffees without asking, and they sat near the window, watching the street.
For a while, the world seemed calm. Liora's laughter softened the edges of Kayden's worry. She teased him about his messy hair; he teased her about stalking him.
For the first time in days, he actually laughed.
Maybe things were finally normal again.
Or so he thought.
---
Across the street, sitting on a bench under a flickering streetlamp, a man adjusted his cap and lowered his phone. His eyes were locked on the café window—on Kayden.
A slow grin spread across his lips.
"Found you."
His name was Jex, one of Ragna's most loyal men in the Vex Crew. He had been keeping tabs ever since the school incident.
He stood, blending into the flow of pedestrians, moving like a shadow.
---
Kayden and Liora left the café and headed toward the park. The air smelled of wet grass, and sunlight broke through the clouds in pale streaks. Liora was in the middle of joking about their math teacher's weird tie when she noticed Kayden's expression shift.
"What's wrong?"
He scanned the street. "Nothing. Just… felt like someone was watching."
She followed his gaze but saw no one. "You're just paranoid."
"Maybe."
They kept walking.
Behind them, Jex trailed at a safe distance, hand in his pocket, phone in hand. He whispered quietly, "Got them. Sending the address now."
---
By the time he reached Ragna's house, the sky had turned gold with the late afternoon sun.
The house looked less like a home and more like a fortress built out of concrete and arrogance. The walls were painted black, graffiti covered the gates, and loud music boomed from inside. The smell of smoke and cheap cologne hung in the air.
Jex pushed through the door and found the rest of the Vex Crew lounging around—some playing cards, others scrolling through their phones, all wearing that same smirk that came with thinking they ruled the world.
Ragna sat in a large chair at the back of the room, cigarette between his fingers, half-lidded eyes glinting with something sharp and dangerous.
Jex didn't waste time. "Boss, I found him."
Ragna's voice was low and smooth. "Found who?"
"The guy who embarrassed us at school. Kayden. He's out right now—with that girl, Liora."
That got Ragna's attention. He leaned forward, smoke curling from his lips. "Oh? So our little hero has a girlfriend now?"
"Looks like it."
Ragna stood, stretching lazily, the faintest grin on his lips. "Where are they?"
"Near the park. I followed them there. He lives not far from it."
Ragna exhaled, watching the smoke drift upward. "Good."
"So what's the plan?" Jex asked.
Ragna's smirk deepened, cold and deliberate. "We give him a reminder. People like him need to learn when to stay quiet."
"Want me to handle it tonight?"
Ragna shook his head. "No. Let him enjoy his little peace. Trace him home first. Then we pay him a visit."
Jex nodded. "Understood."
Ragna turned toward the window, watching the city burn orange under the dying sun. His reflection in the glass looked almost serene. "Kayden… huh? Let's see how long your bravery lasts when no one's watching."
---
Back at the park, Liora and Kayden sat on a bench under a wide tree. The breeze carried the scent of rain and the sound of distant laughter.
Liora tilted her head. "You're thinking again."
Kayden smiled faintly. "You sound like my mom."
"That's because I'm right."
He looked up at the fading sky. "I guess I'm just… waiting for something bad to happen."
"Then stop waiting," she said softly. "You deserve to breathe too, you know?"
Her words lingered in the air, gentle but heavy.
As they started heading home, a shadow moved across the street behind them—Jex, phone pressed to his ear.
"Yeah," he whispered. "I've got the address."
A faint voice on the other end replied, calm and amused.
> "Good. Tomorrow night, we teach him a lesson."