Chapter 5 — Fear Has a Mirror
The waterfront grew colder as the night deepened. The sound of the waves echoed against the concrete walls, and the air felt heavier — charged, like a storm building from inside the earth.
Ethan Walker stood calmly in front of the five boys, every second of silence tightening around them like an invisible rope. Their confidence had already begun to crack.
Derek Ames tried to laugh, but the sound came out uneven.He wasn't used to losing control.
"You can't just show up and scare us," he muttered.
Ethan didn't blink.
"Fear isn't something we show you," he said softly."Fear is something you create for yourself… when you see the reflection of what you truly are."
Chloe Matthews' voice whispered into Ethan's ear.
"Ethan… we have the entire video archive. All their backups. I have every file."
That was the moment the boys' faces changed.
Marcus Voss stiffened. Oliver Hayes swallowed hard. Henry Price stepped back slightly. Trent Locke's hand trembled around his phone.
They understood.
Their secrets weren't secrets anymore.
Ryan Carter appeared from behind, calm and firm, staying beside Aaron Blake — like a guardian standing between past pain and new fear. Aaron looked pale, but his spine was straight. For the first time, he wasn't the one shaking.
Derek tried to recover his arrogance.
"Do you have any idea who my father is?!"
Ethan stepped closer, eyes locked on him — calm, cold, unshakable.
"Yes. And I know he won't be here tonight. Which means… you finally stand alone."
Lucas Bennett's voice chimed through the com, almost cheerfully:
"Rear exit secured. Nobody's getting away."
Ethan turned slightly to Aaron.
"Aaron. Look at them."
Aaron hesitated — then did.
For months, he had seen these boys only as monsters. Untouchable. Powerful.
But tonight… they looked small.
Like children caught in the middle of their own spoiled game.
Aaron's voice was quiet. But it carried more strength than he ever had in school.
"Do you feel scared now?"
Not one of them answered.
They didn't have to.
Their faces told the truth.
Chloe's voice came softly again.
"Ethan… go ahead. I'm ready."
Ethan nodded once.
And then — the taxi headlights flashed twice.
That was the signal.
This was not the punishment yet — not the real retribution.
This was simply the moment when fear finally looked back at them.
The mirror moment.
The moment they realized they weren't the hunters anymore.
They were prey.
Ethan spoke slowly, like carving truth into their bones:
"This is only the beginning."
The wind shifted.
The waterfront seemed darker.
The game had officially started.
And Aaron Blake… was not a victim anymore