Part-23

  The streetlights cast an e glow as James walked home, the weight of the detention and the surprise enter with Mili settling on him. He savored the thought of the cake waiting for him, a small token of gratitude that warmed his heart. Suddenly, a figure emerged from a shadowy alleyway, blog his path.

  James' heart skipped a beat. Standing before him was Tony, a nky boy with a cruel smirk and a shaved head – a member of Lemon's notorious bully gang. His stomach lurched with a mixture of dread and anger.

  "James?" Tony's voice dripped with surprise. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the hospital… or worse?"

  James gritted his teeth. The memory of the "act" and the near-death experience was still raw. His eyes narrowed, a ess settling ihat surprised even him.

  "It wasn't a dream," James said, his voice low and dangerous. "You really tried to kill me."

  Tony's smirk faltered for a moment, repced by a flicker of unease. He quickly recovered, however, his smile returning, wider and more menag than before.

  "Well, let's just say," Tony began, leaning in close, his voice dropping to a spiratorial whisper, "if you even think about mentioning that little 'i' to the cops, you'll be wishing it was a dream."

  He paused, a glint of twisted pride in his eyes. "And besides," he tinued, puffing out his chest, "telling the authorities wouldn't do you any good. They wouldn't dare touch me. Not ohey find out about Fire Fly."

  James' brow furrowed. Fire Fly? What was he talking about?

  "Fire Fly," Tony tinued, his voice ced with a hint of reverence, "is an exclusive pany, an opportunity only a few get. And taking care of… problems… like you, James, well, that's a surefire way to get noticed. Get me a promotion, you might say."

  Before James could respond, Tony lunged forward, a vicious punch aimed at his face.

  Adrenaline surged through James' veins as Tony lunged. Everything seemed to slow down. The world narrowed to the ining fist, a cruel smirk etched on Tony's fabsp; In a heartbeat, a memory flickered in James' mind – the way he'd effortlessly dodged Ryan's blows duriion.

  Instinct took over. With a speed that surprised even himself, James dipped his head to the side, the force of Tony's punch whistling past his ear. His hand, seemingly guided by an unseen force, snapped forward in a blur. The satisfying "crack" of a e echoed in the night air as his palm ected with Tony's cheek with the same thunderous impact he'd unleashed on Ryan.

  Tony's eyes widened in shobsp; A crimson handprint blossomed on his cheek, followed by a siing bulge as his face torted in pain. Before he could even whimper, James struck again. Another "crack," another siing thud as Tony's head snapped bad forth with each impabsp;

  James felt a primal surge of power course through him, each thundercp fueled by a potent mix of fear and anger. It was exhirating and terrifying at the same time. But the memory of the st night beating, the malicious glint in Tony's eyes – they fueled his as.

  He stopped only when Tony crumpled to the ground, a whimper esg his swollen lips. James stared at him for a moment, his chest heaving, a strange mix of emotions ing within him.