WHY WHY WHY!?
N… NO, calm down. Why can come later. Now I need to deal with the threat.
The three stooges were walking towards me and my car, one taking the lead. They were about 10 steps away from me.
I stood a few steps in front of my car in a diagonal stance. Knife sheathed in my right hand, and my left hand in my coat pocket.
I observed everything I could about them, and then thought of a plan.
…It was really them. I'm sure of it. Even though their faces were covered in black mist, and their body shape, body movement, and attire didn't already confirm it, their behavior right now did.
They were not really looking at me, but past me. They were looking at the passenger seat of my car.
They… they were looking at Elise like she was a piece of meat. Like they had done in the past too.
I only felt endless guilt, but I couldn't get lost in it now. I'd have to prevent the worst.
There was no negotiating with them, they were hyperfocused and on a mission.
And worse, they were confident. I didn't even seem like a threat to them, even though I had beaten them in a fight before and they saw that I even had a knife in my hand now.
My weapon didn't make a difference because they were armed too.
The leader had a bowie knife in his right hand, and the stooge walking right beside him had a semi-automatic pistol still pointing at the ground.
But I didn't think the knife or gun was what gave them confidence, but the stooge who wasn't armed at all.
He was walking with his index and middle fingers crossed on both hands, and was the only one really focusing on me.
His power, was he already using it on me? And it's likely strong, which was what gave the group confidence.
I didn't feel anything yet, so it was likely not immediate. But I didn't want to risk finding out. I had to deal with him quickly.
However, the gun was the highest priority. If I were at gunpoint, I don't know if I would be fast enough to dodge the bullet. So he needed to be dealt with first.
The guy with the gun was also likely the one with the power that covered everyone's head in black mist. A non-combat ability that he uses the gun for to compensate.
This was supported by the fact that the leader had weaker weaponry. His ability was likely combat related, involving knives? The latter was just an assumption, I couldn't count on that.
…That was about all the information I could gather from them. How could I deal with them?
The only advantage I had is my speed, giving me potential surprise. I had to count on that.
I had my knife and one rock left in my pocket. The knife I would unsheathe with my thumb and throw at the arm of the gun-wielder, maiming it so he couldn't shoot while also disarming him.. The rock I would throw at the unarmed stooge, knocking him unconscious so he couldn't use his likely dangerous power.
Then I would rush toward the stooge with the gun. The leader would likely be surprised and in shock, but even if he could move it would be predictable. I was sure I could dodge him.
I'd grab the gun and my knife, kicking the gunman unconscious in the process. Then I would shoot the leader in the leg and kick him unconscious too.
Lastly, I'd slash the tires of their car and break the legs of the two sidekick stooges. That should disable them and keep them from going anywhere until I figure out what to do with them afterwards.
That was the best plan I could think of. But it still had uncertainty, because I didn't know the powers of the leader and the unarmed stooge.
If… if I failed, then Elise…
…She and Ken had to get out of here. I would do that first.
My mind was made up.
The world and me regained their motion..
The fingers of my left hand in my pocket moved towards the hidden phone.
As I saw the three stooges take another step towards Elise.
!?
…No no no NO NO!!!
THAT CAN'T BE!!! WHY!!!
I tried to text Elise to drive away.
But my fingers didn't move.
Only the stooges took another step forward.
I tried to text her again, with the same result.
*Gasp*
My breath got caught in my throat.
I was… hyperventilating!?
My knife slipped from my grip and clattered on the asphalt.
No not like this! Please not like this!
In panic, I bent forward to grab my weapon, but my legs gave out from under me.
My knees hit the ground. I could only balance myself with my upper body so that I didn't fall forwards completely.
And…, my knees didn't hurt. I didn't feel anything.
I didn't feel anything anymore in all my limbs as they were uselessly attached to me.
Only my torso, neck, and face had movement left.
And with that last amount of movement, I stared at the unarmed stooges, who still had his fingers crossed.
…It's over. I could do nothing.
I could only stare as the stooges walked closer. They were only a few steps away from me now.
And they would walk right past me.
I could only keep my ears open in hope, but with every second that passed, even that hope diminished.
WHAT WERE THEY DOING!!! PLEASE DRIVE AWAY!!!
Elise and Ken didn't. I didn't hear the car move.
WHY!!! I TOLD THEM TO LEAVE!!! WHY DIDN'T THEY!!!
!? THEY, THEY WERE PARALYSED TOO!?
The realization hit me, and all my hope was lost.
I… I closed my eyes. Guilt overwhelmed me. It was all my fault.
I heard the stooges take another step toward me.
And I heard a car door open.
"JACK!!!"
My eyes shot wide open as Elise screamed my name.
I heard her take a step towards me, and another car door open.
I saw the stooges stop. All their attention shifted to their prey.
"AAH!"
I heard Elise trip.
I could imagine their grins behind the black mist.
"Aarg, Shit!"
I heard Ken curse behind me and fall too.
I had heard it all.
And I… I…
I snapped.
Elise and Ken had disobeyed me, had betrayed me.
I… my emotions overwhelmed me.
I couldn't think anymore.
Yet, something rose.
Something deep within me moved my tongue.
"Still can't swoon girls the normal way, Luke?"
A shock went through the leader whose name I called.
For the first time, his attention was solely focused on me.
I continued provoking with a devilish grin on my face, while staring straight into where his eyes were supposed to be.
"Guess not. Girls like her only care about pretty faces like mine. She would never fall for an ugly mug like yours which you have to cover like that."
All three stooges were stunned.
Then, anger rose up in the leader, as the other two watched him.
He spoke with venom in his voice.
"You know Jack, I was just gonna let you watch…"
My expression didn't change.
"But I'll let that slut watch me carve up your face first."
My eyes shot up in horror. My grin reversed.
"NO!!!" Elise screamed.
His grin had likely returned. It was exactly the reaction he had wanted from me and her.
His knife moved towards my face. I was now an inch away, ready to slash across it.
"WAIT!!! YOU WANT ME!!! LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!"
I ignored Elise, like Luke did, because everything was exactly like we both wanted.
I moved everything I still could!
I grabbed the knife with my teeth, and yanked it out of his hand!
My body moved like a whip, and my teeth let go!
The knife flew past the leader, and into the body of the unarmed stooge, below his collarbone!
Before that, using my previous motion, I slammed my forehead in the leader's groin!
A scream and groan filled my ears simultaneously.
And I felt pain in my knees.
The unarmed stooge had uncrossed his fingers!
I shifted back. The momentum left me squatting on my feet now.
I assessed.
The unarmed stooge had his hands open. He was leaning slightly forwards, in shock and stunned with the knife now embedded in his left collarbone.
The leader was bent forward. A new knife, a duplicate, had appeared in his right hand, but he was still stunned.
The one with the gun had it aimed at me, but the leader was partially in the way.
I grabbed the last rock from my pocket and threw it at the head of the unarmed stooge!
I then grabbed Elise's sheathed knife from the ground and stood up slightly back to the left, the leader's body now fully covering the gun's path.
*Crash*
I heard the rock impact the unarmed stooge's face!
I looked. The rock had hit his forehead, rocking it back. Strength left him. He was falling forwards.
I focused again on the other two. The leader had a second knife in his other hand now, about to attack.
*BANG*
A gunshot rang out, leaving ringing in my ear.
The bullet was way off to the side, even beside where I was squatting a moment before. He would have missed either way.
The leader was stunned again at the sound.
I took a step sideways, while unsheating my knife with my thumb. I assessed the gunner's arm position.
The recoil had the gun pointing slightly upwards. He was holding it with both hands. His right hand was the one with the trigger finger.
I tested how sharp the knife was due to Ken's power by streaking my thumb slightly across the blade.
It cut. It was razor sharp.
I threw the knife from a side angle.
It barely flew past the leader's body, spun in midair, and cut across the gunner's wrist.
"AAAHHH!!!"
He screamed, but I was moving again before the sound even reached me.
I sent a roundhouse kick to the still flinched leader.
It grazed his chin. His head shot to the side. The knife in his hand vanished in thin air. His legs gave out.
I caught him and looked at the gunner. The gun was falling to the ground. He had dropped it in pain.
I didn't need to throw the leader at him.
I shoved his unconscious body to the side and rushed towards the last stooge standing.
Before I came into his focus, I already sent a sidekick towards his head.
It landed on his chin. His head whipped back. The black mist disappeared, revealing his unconscious face.
I grabbed his arm before he crashed into the asphalt.
I laid him on the ground, and looked at the other two.
They were unconscious on the ground, faces revealed. The knife that went into that stooge's collarbone had disappeared too. I did see some blood, but he would probably be fine for a while.
I looked at Elise and Ken. They were getting up while looking at me, with both worried, shocked and aghast expressions on their faces.
…They would come later. I focused on the gunner again.
His wrist was bleeding profusely. He would bleed out like this.
I cut some fabric from his attire with the knife, and tied the wound with it tightly.
It… it probably wasn't enough. I didn't know what else to do. I probably brought some time, but he needed medical treatment to survive.
I grabbed the knife that had fallen on the ground and wiped the blood off it with his clothes. I also grabbed his gun holster, put it on myself, and placed the gun into it after setting the safety on.
It was a plastic semi-automatic pistol that I recognized and shot with myself a couple of times. It was a handgun commonly used by law-enforcement.
I then walked towards their leader.
I picked up the knife sheath from the ground near him, put the knife back in it and in my pocket again.
Just in time for Elise and Ken to stop behind me.
I turned towards them. Elise was the first to speak.
"Jack, are you…"
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU DRIVE AWAY LIKE I TOLD YOU TO DO!!!"
Both their expressions changed to shock. They had never seen me angry before, which was good. The impact would be much greater. How things happened here could never repeat again!
"WHEN I TOLD YOU EVERYTHING I ALSO SAID TO ALWAYS LISTEN TO ME! NOW YOU DIDN'T! AND IF I DIDN'T SAVE IT AT THE LAST MINUTE, THOSE GUYS… THOSE GUYS…"
I looked at Elise. Her eyes were wide open.
"NEVER DEFY ME AGAIN. IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOU GUYS, I… I… I won't know what to do with myself anymore."
…I said my piece. I looked at Ken.
He met my eyes, and then glanced back at Elise, likely the confirmation that she was the main culprit to this almost tragedy.
I looked back at her, and was stunned. Her expression had changed to something unexpected.
Anger.
"YOU IDIOT!!! OF COURSE WE COULDN'T JUST DRIVE AWAY AND LEAVE YOU TO THEM!!!"
…Huh!? IDIOT!? WHAT WAS THIS MORON TALKING ABOUT!?
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN!? OF COURSE YOU COULD! I COULD HAVE HANDLED THINGS MYSELF!"
"IS THAT WHAT YOU CALLED THAT!? THEY…, THEY MIGHT HAVE KILLED YOU IF WE JUST LEFT!!!"
"SO WHAT!!! AT LEAST SOMETHING WOULD HAVE ONLY HAPPENED TO ME, INSTEAD OF ALL THREE OF US!!!"
Elise's eyes shot wide open. She was astonished for a moment. But, her anger soon returned manyfold.
"YOU…, YOU GODDAMN HYPOCRITE!!! YOU THINK WE COULD LIVE WITH OURSELVES TOO IF WE JUST ABANDONED YOU LIKE THAT!!!"
Wh… what!?
My anger cracked. But…, but still…, I spoke.
"And what did your heroics accomplish, huh! Absolutely nothing!"
"AND YOU WOULD HAVE JUST DRIVEN AWAY IN MY SHOES! I DON'T BELIEVE THAT FOR A SECOND!"
"…I… I…"
I couldn't respond. She was right.
"And…, they were just after my body. They…, they could have that, if it meant you'd be safe."
!!!
It was the final nail in my heart. Only guilt and horror were left in me after what she just said.
"YOU!!! NEVER DARE THINK THAT AGAIN!!! YOU OBVIOUSLY CARE ABOUT IT NOW, DON'T JUST THROW THAT AWAY!!!"
"I CARE ABOUT IT AGAIN BECAUSE OF YOU!!! AND I CARE WAY MORE ABOUT YOU!!!"
…My tongue was limp. I… I couldn't respond. My heart was in agony.
Elise had tears in her eyes. But she continued speaking anyway.
"If… if they had their way with me. Would you just have abandoned me!?"
"No, of course not!" I immediately said.
"Then, even if that happened. I… I know I would have recovered again, together with you."
"…"
"So please. I don't want any of us to face things themselves. I… I want to face things together with you, no matter how horrible."
…I couldn't look at Elise anymore, so I looked at Ken.
He simply nodded while looking me in the eyes.
…
I found my courage after a moment.
I looked into her blue eyes.
…And nodded too, burying my guilt.
Then, she took a step forward.
And hugged me.
"I'm so glad you're alright. I… I was so scared."
…I…, my defenses broke. I hugged her back.
"I'm so glad you're alright too. And…, thank you for staying here."
She simply nodded against my chest.
"Thank you for protecting us."
"Always," I responded while stroking her hair.
…We stood there in each other's embrace for a while.
*Cough* *Cough*
I snapped back to reality, and looked at Ken, who had grabbed my attention.
"Seems like Elise really is a better hugger than me."
My eyes shot wide open, but I didn't blush this time.
I only shot an angry glare at that inappropriate jerk!
"So, what do we do about those guys?" Ken continued unfazed.
…Goddamnit, it never ends. But, he's right. We have to decide what to do with them.
I let go of Elise, and she released her hug and then walked beside me.
We three stood side to side. Elise and Ken were awaiting my judgment.
But before I spoke, I had moved my left hand to one of my pockets.
*Ting* *Ting*
Elise's and Ken's phones went off simultaneously, and then I spoke while staring at the stooges.
"I'm not sure what to do with them. I wanted to just call the police, but now that I calmed down, something else crossed my mind."
Elise and Ken stared intently at me. I couldn't see in their eyes that they realized what I meant, so I continued speaking.
"They were standing still in that street, almost like they were waiting for us in ambush. Like they knew we were coming that way."
My friend's eyes went wide. What I just said, combined with their phones going off at the same time because of the message I just sent them using my hidden phone, made what was hidden in my words clear to them.
My father might have sent them after us. And his shadow might be listening to us right now.
The chance seemed negligible. How would my father ever know about those stooges? That incident in the past involving them was never reported, and we had no interactions with them since then. The only evidence was unconfirmed rumors of a wild variety.
It was likely a terrible coincidence. Just like I had thought about my house blowing up previously. Only that last part likely wasn't a coincidence, but my father's influence.
So, was this a coincidence too, or not? I needed to make sure to figure out if these stooges were here by their own will, or his.
And make sure they could never do something like they wanted to do to Elise again.
There was only one way to do both.
"I want to interrogate them myself, and convince them to never do something like this again. Only that, especially the latter, would likely require me to…, torture them."
…I didn't look at Elise, though I prepared myself to hear her deafening anger.
…!
She had grabbed my right hand.
I shot a look at her. Her eyes were full of sadness.
"I understand. But I…, I…, I don't want you to do that. I…, don't want you to become like them." She said with a voice full of doubt.
"You realize that if we don't do this ourselves, the police will. Who just fumbled about with my mother's investigation thus far. Who I don't trust for one bit. Or do you have a better idea?"
"…No, I don't. I… I just feel like it crosses a line. But…, but if you really think what you want to do is best. Then…, then I'll agree with you."
…Okay. That's Elise's sentiment. I looked at Ken next. He immediately spoke when I met his eyes.
"I agree with you. But I think you should just kill that scum afterwards," he said without a doubt on his face.
My eyes shot wide open.
"K… Ken!" Elise gasped next to me.
"They were after you Elise! You think they would have just stopped at you! You saw what their powers were! It's basically a free ticket to do that disgusting shit! In fact, they seemed way too familiar with the routine already! Who knows if they've already done it before!"
Elise's grip tightened on my hand, but my expression remained neutral as Ken continued, staring into my eyes.
"Jack, you said torture might set them straight, but you could always be wrong. Why risk it all and waste your time with it. If you kill them, we'll be sure that they never harm someone again."
…I shifted my gaze at the stooges.
Ken… Ken's argument sounded very appealing. But…, but…, I…,
A sparring ring flicked through my memories. And my father's amber eyes judging me.
"I won't kill anyone Ken. That…, that's the only thing I can't do."
A silence fell, and I heard Ken respond.
"Then I'll kill them for you."
My head snapped back as I stared into his dark brown eyes.
There was zero reluctance or hesitation in them.
…I nodded. He had convinced me.
"No!" Elise yelled beside me.
My head shifted to her blue eyes. There was conviction in them. Something I didn't understand.
"What? You'd allow me to torture them, but not kill them?"
"I don't want you to do either is my preference! Only…, only if you are truly convinced it's the best way I'll allow it! But…, killing…, how are you convinced it is if you can't even do it yourself!"
My eyes went wide again. She…, she saw right through me.
"…Yeah…, you're right. I…, I won't kill them."
Her eyes lit up.
"But I still think torture is the best way to go about it."
Her expression froze. She stared deep into my eyes…
And nodded. Elise yielded. She had seen that I was convinced.
I looked back at Ken.
"Are you sure about this?"
I nodded at him.
"…Fine then. How do we go about it?"
I took a deep breath and looked at the stooges again.
They were still unconscious, but not in harm's way.
Except for the one with the gun. A small red puddle had formed on the asphalt where his wrist was.
I needed to bring him to William immediately, otherwise he wouldn't survive.
"One of the guys is bleeding out. We have to get him to William first. We could then also immediately explain to him…, explain to him…"
All that happened. What we were going to do to them, and why.
The words I wanted to say got caught in my throat. Because I realized something.
Could I still convince William, a doctor, to be on our side if I said I was going to torture them?
And even if…, in what way would he see me afterwards.
I… I knew the answer.
The same way I saw my father. With fear and disgust.
"I… I can't torture them."
"What! Why!" Ken immediately said next to me.
"I… I don't think I can look Elise's dad in the eyes afterwards." I said, still staring at the stooge bleeding out.
Elise and Ken stayed silent, so I continued speaking.
"I guess…, I'll call the police anyway. Do you two agree?"
Elise immediately grabbed my right hand, now with both her hands. I looked at her.
"Of course I agree! I think that's truly the best!" She said passionately.
I got a small smile on my face. I looked at Ken next.
His expression was more conflicted, but when meeting my gaze, he spoke.
"I didn't take her dad into account. But…, in that case, I think you're right. I…, I just hope we won't regret it."
I nodded, and let out a deep sigh.
I looked at Elise, she let go of my hand.
I grabbed my phone from my pocket, and dialed officer Rock's number.
The phone rang a few times, and then…
I put the phone down
"Jack?" Elise asked.
"I got his voicemail."
We three were staring at each other confused, thinking of an explanation.
But before I could think of one, or call the police itself.
The reason why officer Rock hadn't picked up revealed itself to us.
We all heard sirens in the distance.
And the sound made my heart pound in terror.