CHAPTER 5 

Why, oh why, do I consistently entangle myself in messes? Is it a talent? A hidden superpower? An incurable affliction? 

"Could it be as simple as asking, 'Gentlemen, would you kindly return to your affairs and forget about this detour?'" 

Evidently not. 

And the perverse twist was that my empathy, not my duty as a law enforcer, had propelled me into this predicament. Despite my hatred for this kid, the cruelty of his circumstances was palpable. 

I could have distanced myself from this disaster. Yet, I didn’t. Some deep-seated, inexplicable sense of justice refused to allow it. 

Now, I found myself squared up against a trio of brutes. Their leader's venomous snarl echoed, "You've got a death wish, pal." 

Was this guy for real? 

Suppressing laughter proved impossible. The sheer ridiculousness of his clichéd threat sent me into a fit. He seemed utterly confounded, teetering between rage and confusion. 

"You find something funny?" he spat. 

"Oh, I'm sorry, but your cliché is too profound for your comprehension," I retorted. 

His puzzlement morphed into pure fury. Excellent. The bullies, once tormenting the kid, were now focused on me. 

Their muscles were sizable, hands meaty. Yet, their brains seemed utterly inadequate. Their gang leader, or as I christened him, Veiny, took the center, his cronies flanking me. 

Veiny charged towards me. Poor chap, he really thought his punch would connect. I sidestepped and delivered a blow to his ribs. I felt them reverberate against my fist. 

While I was grappling with Veiny, Lefty lifted me off the ground, intending to slam me into a wall. However, I managed to hook my legs around him, effectively choking him out. As he crumbled to the ground, I noticed the crowd. 

The shower room had transformed into an amphitheater, an audience cheering us on, bloodthirsty. Among the spectators, the kid, still on the floor, bore an expression of shock. 

“Get him!” Veiny barked, directing Righty to take a swing at me. He fumbled, no technique, just muscle. I swiftly dodged, broke his nose, and, before I knew it, was decked by Veiny. 

Damn, he got my face! 

But complacency was a luxury I couldn't afford. I bounced back, engaging Veiny again. He swung for my face, I dodged, yanked his arm forward, and connected my fist with his face. He stumbled back, and I didn't relent. 

"Halt!" 

Silence consumed the room as the guards stormed in, armed and menacing. I expected them to interfere sooner. But it seemed they’d been persuaded otherwise. 

“Now, why did you have to go and disrupt the fight?” The voice resonated from the bathroom shadows. Out stepped a stout, middle-aged man with an aura of authority. The guards seemed to respect him. 

“We were simply welcoming the new arrivals. Standard procedure here, officer." 

Reluctantly, the guards retreated, but not before issuing a stern warning. 

"You're audacious, kid. But it might be the death of you," the middle-aged man said, approaching me. 

I spat out blood, "Is that right?" 

"Indeed," he affirmed. "And you're indebted to me." 

I owe him? 

Before I could question, he departed. I gathered myself, heading towards the kid. He had a bloody nose but appeared relatively unscathed. 

In classic Alexander style, he ignored my help and left the room. 

"You're welcome, by the way," I called out, not realizing I'd spoken out loud. He paused, turned back and said, "Thank you." 

Finally, a flicker of gratitude. Maybe I'd gained his trust after all. Or so I thought, until his next words shattered my optimism. 

"Thanks to you, I'm now everyone's target."