Chapter 4: The Puppet's Choice

That Night — The Alley

“Damn college… disgusting and frustrating every damn day,” Kaiser muttered.

Empty streets. Flickering lights. Cheap headphones pumping lo-fi static. Just another late walk back to the dorm.

Then—a scream. Muffled. Ahead, in a side alley.

Kaiser froze.

Two men loomed over a young woman. One held a knife. The other grabbed her arm. Her jacket torn. Eyes wide with fear. Sweat cold on her skin.

“Chill out. Just gonna mess with you a little,” one sneered, flipping the knife.
“Don’t make us serious.”

Kaiser’s face didn’t change.

Yep, not my problem.

But then—a voice. Cold. Commanding. Exploding in his skull:

“Save her. Now.”

Kaiser flinched, sweat beading.
No, no, no, no… not now. W-Why is it back? After all these years… why?

His legs moved before he could think.

Two men. One knife. One holding her down. Panic. No time.

Oh no… I have to obey. Even if I don’t want to.

He stepped into the alley.

“Oi,” he said flatly. “You guys brain-dead or something?”

The men turned.

One sneered, knife raised.
“Walk away, kid, before you end up in a hospital.”

The other licked his rusted blade.
“Drop your stuff and run… or we’ll leave you in pieces you can’t imagine.”

“PLEASE!” the woman screamed. “SOMEONE HELP ME!”

Something inside Kaiser snapped.

He moved. Fast. Like his body belonged to someone else.

He grabbed the man’s wrist mid-swing. Blade stopped cold.

Bones popped as he twisted hard. The man screamed, dropping the knife.

Before he could react, Kaiser slammed his fist into the thug’s jaw. Down. Stone.

The second guy roared, charging.
“YOU INSOLENT RAT!”

Kaiser ducked, drove a knee low. He shrieked.

A brutal punch ended the fight. Crumpled.

Breath fast. Hands trembling. Alley silent.

The woman stared—unsure if he was savior… or threat.

“Go,” he said quietly. “Call someone. Get somewhere safe.”

She ran.

Adrenaline faded. His stomach twisted.

He stumbled to a trash can. Vomited. Throat burned.

I didn’t even know how to fight… my body moved on its own.

Hands shaking. Mind racing.

What… did I just do?

“…Screw this. I’m going home.”

Few Months Later — Dorm Life Hell

Cross-legged on the dorm floor. Textbooks like a minefield. Empty coffee cups. Laptop crashed twice.

“Okay… focus…” Kaiser muttered. Page full of formulas.
Why does math feel like alien language?

Notes scribbled, crossed out, rewritten. Words blurred.
Slap his cheeks. “Semester finals. Just survive.”

Subject A? Barely.
Subject B? Meh.
Subject C? No idea now many chapters it has.

Still… he didn’t quit.

Red eyes. Numb fingers. No talent. Just willpower.

No one’s pushing me. Just me. 

Mirror above desk. Small, tired smile.

“Still standing, huh? Not bad, trash.”

One Month Later — The Message

Rain poured. Thunder echoed.

Scrolling lazily. Then—freeze.

A message. No… a photo. Name. Date.

Everything silent. Face frozen. Mouth open. No sound.

Body trembling. Weight sinking in.

Tears welling.

“What… the fu-… is this…?”

Phone slipped. Hit the floor.