As Benji walked toward his house, he noticed two unfamiliar cars and a powerful motorcycle parked outside.
They were sleek and expensive, but completely out of place.
They were not his.
In the silence of the night, he felt a strange tension, and his heart started beating fast.
He began overthinking the possibilities of what was going on. A sudden gust of wind rattled the plants around him and sent a chill through his body.
"Mom and Dad?" he called out.
Are they okay?
He pushed the door gently. It creaked.
Inside, it was too quiet.
"Mom," he whispered.
He stepped forward with tension tightening his chest.
And then—
He froze.
His mother was lying on the ground near the entrance.
She was not moving. There was a minor injury on her head.
"Mom…?" he said in a shuddering voice.
His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees beside her.
Her hand was cold.
His fingers trembled.
"No… no… Mom… wake up…" he said loudly.
Tears blurred his vision as his mind spiraled into dark thoughts about what was going to happen.
"What happened?!"
A loud crash echoed from inside the house.
Benji's head snapped up.
He ran inside.
The living room was destroyed. Furniture was overturned. Glass was shattered.
His father stood in the center.
Fighting.
Two older boys circled him aggressively.
And behind them—
A child.
About Benji's age.
Sitting calmly on a broken chair.
Watching them fight.
Benji's father was injured.
But he was still standing.
Still fighting to protect his family.
"Dad—!"
The seated child tilted his head slightly, a carefree look on his face.
"Tatsu," he said quietly. "Handle that one."
One of the attackers turned toward Benji.
Benji stepped back instinctively.
But his father moved first.
He blocked the attacker's path.
"Benji… run."
"No!" Benji shouted. He didn't want to leave his father in danger.
His father didn't look at him.
"RUN."
Benji shook his head violently.
"I won't leave you!"
His father's voice roared louder than Benji had ever heard.
"GET OUT OF HERE!"
The authority in that voice broke something inside him.
Benji staggered backward.
Tears streamed down his face.
"I'll handle them," his father said, breathing heavily. "Save your life."
For a split second, their eyes met.
And Benji ran.
He ran without direction. As he ran, his mind filled with questions. What would happen to his family? Who were those guys? Where was he even running to?
Street after street. Road after road.
His mind refused to process anything.
What is happening?
Why?
His breathing became uneven.
His legs burned.
But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
In the night, he ran across an empty road. It was dark, and he didn't look back.
The moon was buried behind clouds.
Then the sky shifted.
The clouds parted, and the moon shone. Silver light spilled onto the road.
He slowed.
Then he stopped.
Eventually, he found himself near an abandoned industrial area.
His foot hit something metal.
A loose sewer cover.
Without thinking, he pulled it aside.
Darkness lay below.
He heard a very faint sound.
He climbed down.
A faint glow shimmered ahead.
Voices.
Shouting.
Benji moved toward the light.
And then—
The space opened into something massive.
An underground arena.
LED lights flashed.
Crowds screamed.
Money exchanged hands.
Two fighters clashed violently in the center ring while people roared in excitement.
Illegal fights.
Illegal betting.
Blood on the floor.
Benji stood frozen.
What… is this place?
A hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
"Hey. Who are you?"
He turned.
His stomach dropped.
Ryo.
And his gang.
Ryo's eyes widened with fury.
"You."
He grabbed Benji by the collar.
"So you're here too…"
Benji couldn't speak.
Ryo's voice grew louder.
"This is your fault!"
He shoved Benji.
"If you had stayed quiet that day, Elliot wouldn't have shown up!"
The crowd noise continued around them.
"I had to leave because of you!" Ryo shouted. "You ruined everything!"
His fist connected.
Benji fell hard.
Back at the house—
Benji's father fought relentlessly.
Despite his injuries.
Despite exhaustion.
He refused to fall.
In the underground arena—
Ryo kicked Benji again.
Benji curled up instinctively.
Mom is gone…
His father deflected another strike.
Dad is still fighting…
Benji was terrified of Ryo.
Ryo lifted Benji by the shirt and slammed him down.
"You made my life worse, and I'm going to make this the worst day of your life," Ryo spat.
Benji's vision blurred.
His ears rang.
This is the worst day of my life…
Back at the house—
His father drove one attacker back into the wall.
Breathing heavily.
Still standing.
Refusing to collapse.
In the arena—
Ryo raised his fist again.
Benji lay on the cold ground.
Trembling.
Broken.
But something inside him flickered.
No.
His fingers dug into the floor.
His voice barely came out.
"…It's not over."
At that same moment—
His father, bloodied but unbowed, straightened his back.
And said through clenched teeth—
"It's not over."
The underground arena roared.
The house remained locked in violent tension.
And the calm child sitting in the living room…
Watched.
Expressionless.
As if this had all been part of a plan.