Chapter 56 - going back to the hood (Part 11) - talk about racing your heart out

A GNX with Luis the ghost and me Cagiva Mito heh, looks like an interesting race.

“Homie this bring back memories…” Luis looking at the front while I tried to focus on the race

“Well what are we waiting for” Isabella pull something from her skirt and showing her panties!!? What the hell. I could see Mariam taking pictures here and Amin is steaming right now.

Hardware is distracted by this.

“Ready!!” Isabella swinging her panties but Mika ain’t holding back as well she suddenly open her panties as well !? Shit her sexy blue lace panties!?

“SET!!” I start to rev my engine and the roar of the engine in the GNX is roaring as well

“GO!!!!” I start to wheelie and speed in front and I did not look back. Funny is that I remember it well this part of the road, when I race on my own, all of that crazy stuff happen this is the only place that I feel at peace. Without my helmet I could feel the strong wind against me but I only feel extacy because of this.

The mountain air was crisp as I tightened my grip on the handlebars of my Cagiva Mito. The engine purred beneath me, eager for the race to begin. Opposite me, Luis sat confidently in his Buick GNX, the veteran driver ready to defend his reputation.

Immediately, I felt the thrill of the race. My bike hugged the curves of the downhill stretch, the wind whipping past as I leaned into each turn. Luis's GNX roared behind me, its bulkier frame more challenging to manoeuvre but powered by a formidable engine.

As we descended, the gap between us ebbed and flowed. The Cagiva Mito’s agility gave me an edge on the tight hairpins, but Luis's experience and the GNX's power kept him close. Each corner demanded precision, and I could hear Luis’s tires squealing as he pushed his car to the limit.

Reaching the bottom, I twisted the throttle, the bike surging forward on the flat stretch. Luis's GNX roared beside me, and we were neck and neck as we hit the uphill climb. Here, the motorcycle struggled, the incline testing its limits. I shifted my weight, trying to keep the front wheel grounded.

Luis began to pull ahead, the GNX's torque giving him an advantage on the steep ascent. I could feel the strain in my bike's engine, but I knew the final stretch would play to my strengths. The road narrowed, the turns becoming tighter. This was my chance.

I leaned into the bends, my knee almost grazing the asphalt. The Mito responded beautifully, darting through the curves with agility Luis's GNX couldn't match. I saw the finish line ahead and pushed harder, every muscle focused on maintaining control and speed.

In the last few meters, Luis was right beside me, the roar of our engines blending into a single symphony of power. With a final burst of speed, I edged ahead, crossing the finish line just a fraction of a second before him.

Luis shook his head, a smile spreading across his face. "You're a madman, Alex," he said, his voice filled with admiration. “this looks fun maybe next we do this again eh?.”

I laughed, my heart still racing from the thrill of the race.

"I'm looking forward to it," I said, with my eyes glinting with anticipation.

Luis comes out from the car and said to me

“still the same recklessness from ya…” yeah right Luis is not any different

“You still quick as ever…”

but one thing that is unexpected is Mika and Isabella is eye and eye to each other as if something is going on. Both of the girls is really gunning right now.

“Looks like my little sister is going for it…”

“ugh…damn man what the hell is going on?” As if the race wasn’t the big thing right now.

Mariam is jumping towards me “kukuku you one bad boy!!” She suddenly roundhouse kick me out of nowhere.

“What the hell bitch!!?”

“Did you know you have another girl is interested in you?” Mariam is smiling left to right looking at me now I started to chills behind my back as if Sil and Nat is behind going to pounce me.

“Ugh…not again…uh what the hell is going on here?” I had a bad vibes right now lucky me is in LA not in Malaysia or else… Mariam explain to me

“Before I explain everything, where the hell you know this babe?” She look at me in interest but Amin is really looking at Isabella at the point Mariam started to get jealous about it.

“honey…..” Mariam with her yandere look….damn dude…you own future wife is just in front of you…but you could see Amin is getting a lot exposure with beautiful girls right now.

“uh…honey? What are you doing with that bat?” Jeez Mariam is going for it. Good luck homie. I could hear a lot of beating from Mariam towards Amin. Words could not explain the horrors that Mariam did to Amin, her own future fiancé / boyfriend. I look at Amin who is unconscious. I touch him and he did not flinch, Mariam hold my shoulder with a really pissed looking expression.

Hey, is this your idea of having fun?" Mariam asked, her eyes blazing with a mix of annoyance and amusement. She was standing with her hands on her hips, looking like a mom who'd just caught her kids pulling off the ultimate prank.

I rubbed my sore spot, still reeling from her sudden roundhouse kick. "Uh, I think you're the one who's having fun, Mariam. I'm just trying to survive here!”

Just then, Mika and Isabella started going at it again, their panties still waving in the air. Mariam threw up her hands and strode over to them, looking like a referee about to call a timeout.

"Okay, okay, that's enough! No more flashing, no more fighting! We're all just one big happy family here, right?”

I watched in awe as Mariam somehow managed to wrestle the two girls into a group hug, their grins and giggles replacing the earlier tension. I shook my head, chuckling. "Only in LA, folks. Only in LA.”

Amin just woke up and rolled his eyes, muttering something about "drama queens." Luis, meanwhile, was still grinning from ear to ear, clearly entertained by the whole spectacle.

"Well, that was fun," he said, clapping me on the back.

"Next race, we'll have to make it a bit more interesting. Maybe add some obstacles, like a pit of flaming panties?”

I facepalmed. "You're not helping, Luis.”

Mika stepped forward, her hands on her hips. "Bitch, who the hell are you going after my babe?" She glared at Isabella, her eyes flashing with mock outrage.

Isabella smirked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, maybe you should take a look in the mirror, little girl. Senor Alex is a man... A MAN... got it? He's not your Ken doll to play with!”

Mariam jumped in, her arms spread wide like a referee. "Alright, alright, that's enough, ladies! No more catfighting, no more panties-waving! We're all adults here... well, sort of.”

Mika and Isabella continued to exchange insults, their voices rising to a comedic crescendo. Mariam struggled to keep them apart, her face contorted in a mixture of exasperation and amusement.

Luis chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm starting to think we should just install a catfight arena in the middle of the city. It'd be a hit, I'm telling you!.”

I facepalmed, my eyes rolling heavenward. "This is not my life. I did not sign up for this.”

Amin just shrugged, grinning. "Dude, you're the one who wanted to race. You got to expect some drama.”

The scene ended with Mariam finally managing to drag the two girls away, still bickering and laughing, while Luis and Amin high-fived each other, enjoying the show. I just shook my head, wondering what other surprises the day might bring.

As I stood there, feeling like I'd finally wrapped up the drama with the Latino group, Isabella approached me with a mysterious smile. And out of nowhere, Lil Lim appeared, her eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my mind go, "Uh-oh, what's this lady planning now?”

"Alex, my man," Lil Lim said, her voice low and sultry. "I heard you're trying to unite the whole LA under one crew. That's cute.”

I raised an eyebrow, unsure where this was going. "Uh, yeah. I thought it was a good idea. You know, unity, peace, all that jazz.”

Lil Lim chuckled, a dry, mirthless sound. "You really think it's that easy, homie? You think you can just wave a magic wand and make all the crews get along?”

I shrugged, feeling a bit defensive. "Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And I've got a good chance of making it happen.”

Lil Lim's expression turned serious, her eyes glinting with a hint of menace. "I'll give you credit, Alex. You've got heart. But you're playing with fire here. And if you're not careful, you're gonna get burned.”

Mariam's eyes darted back and forth between me and Lil Lim, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. "Wait, what's going on here? How do you two know each other?”

I smirked, enjoying the surprise on her face. "Oh, Lil Lim and I go way back, Mariam. We used to run the streets together, back in the day.”

Lil Lim chuckled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Yeah, but Alex is much more high level in the hierarchy”

Mariam's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open in shock. “Lil Lim? Once a gangster?!”

I shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Ah, it was just a phase, Mariam. We were young and stupid.”

Lil Lim snorted. "Speak for yourself, Alex. I was never stupid. I was just... enthusiastic.”

The scene ends with Mariam looking like she's about to pass out from shock, Lil Lim grinning like a mischievous cat, and me trying to play it cool while my mind races with memories of our wild past.

Mariam's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising to a comedic pitch. "You know what? This is like, a crazy small world, right? I mean, I'm starting to think Allah's just messing with us now. Like, 'Hey, let's put Alex and Lil Lim in the same room and see what happens!’”

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Well, I guess you could say that.”

Mariam threw up her hands, her expression exaggerated. "I mean, what's next? Are you going to tell me you're secretly related to Isabella too?”

Lil Lim snorted, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Nah, this kid? He's scarier than the Hound of Darrell! I mean, you've never seen a kid as crazy as Alex here... he's like a miniature gangster in training!”

Mariam's eyes widened in mock horror. "Oh no, what have I gotten myself into?!”

I grinned, flexing my muscles. “Hey, that was in the past!!.”

Lil Lim chuckled. "Yeah, and a strong sense of crazy! I mean, who else would try to unite all the crews in LA? You're like a tiny, gangster version of Oprah!”

Mariam responded back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I now understand why Natalie wanted to keep you on a short leash. I mean, it's clear you're a wild animal who can't be trusted to roam free. 'Alex, don't eat the furniture!' 'Alex, stop trying to negotiate with the cat!’"

I started to get annoyed, my voice rising in mock horror. "Hey, don't even joke about that! I'm still traumatized from the last time Natalie tried to discipline me. I mean, I thought I was a tough gangster, but nope, she turned me into a sobbing mess with just one look. I don't want to relive that torture again!”

Mariam playfully rolled her eyes. "I'm starting to think Natalie's plan was to keep you on a leash and sedate you with treats." She chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Like, 'Here, Alex, have a cookie and stop trying to negotiate with the furniture’."

I threw up my hands, my face contorted in a comical expression of terror. "Oh please, don't even suggest that! I'll never hear the end of it. 'Alex, sit. Alex, stay. Alex, stop trying to take over the world’."

Lil Lim burst out laughing, her eyes streaming with tears. "Oh man, that's a mental image I can't get out of my head now!”

The scene ends with us all cracking up, the tension replaced with ridiculousness. But that all ended with Luis suddenly interrupting us, his expression serious.

"Alright, you won fair and square, but your driving skills still give me the chills, kid." He gave me a look that said, "I'm trying to be a responsible big brother here.”

But then I dropped a bombshell: "And when are you going to tell me that you know the leader of this Latino community?”

Everyone's eyes widened in surprise, except for Isabella and Lil Lim, who just raised an eyebrow. Mika suddenly stood up next to me, looking confused. "Hey, what the hell is going on now? I thought we were just here to race?”

I shook my head, my mind racing. "Yeah, that was the idea, but I got a feeling that Luis's departure from the gang is connected to something bigger. Darrel never told me about this, and now I'm starting to think there's more to the story.”

Luis's expression turned grave. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, Alex. But I'll give you credit - you're in deep, and you're still standing. For now.”

"Then enlighten me..." I replied to Luis, my voice firm and determined. I wanted answers, and I wanted them now. The mysteries of the past had haunted me for too long, and I was ready to uncover the truth.

Luis's expression turned somber, his eyes clouding over with memories. "It's a long story, Alex. One that involves blood, betrayal, and revenge. The 102's disbanded in a brutal way, torn apart by internal conflicts and power struggles. Darrel's death was just the tip of the iceberg, a casualty of a war that had been brewing for years.”

He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "Damien's vendetta against the city is personal, fueled by a desire for revenge against those he blames for his brother's death. But there's more to it than that, Alex. There are forces at play here that you can't even imagine, forces that will stop at nothing to claim control of this city.”

I listened intently, my mind racing with questions and suspicions. I knew that I was in over my head, but I was determined to see this through to the end. Little did I know, the truth would change everything I thought I knew about the city, and about myself.

My voice was laced with anger and frustration as I spoke. "Do you know that Darrel suddenly asked me and Damien to take a job at a pawn shop? It was just another job, but I knew it was a diversion. Because after we left his crib, Darrel was killed in cold blood. Do you have any idea what I've gone through while protecting Damien from getting himself killed?”

My eyes blazed with intensity as I confronted Luis. "You left at the time when the 102 was at its peak. You have no idea what it's like to be in the trenches, fighting for survival every day.”

Luis looked at me seriously, his eyes filled with a deep understanding. "Look, kid, Darrel and I went way back. All the way from the Rangers in Bosnia. Don't forget, kid, I'm a soldier. I served America and was left forgotten. But Darrel brought us back from the darkness. He gave us a purpose, a reason to keep fighting.”

His voice was laced with a philosophical tone, as if he was sharing a sacred truth. "You see, kid, the streets are a war zone. And we're all just soldiers, fighting for our own survival. But sometimes, the greatest battles are the ones we fight within ourselves.”

I took a deep breath, my eyes locked on Luis. "I know you're trying to reason with me, Luis, but now it's my turn to explain my plan. I owe it to you, Naomi, Darrel, Hardware, and everyone else who's been hurt by Damien's actions. I promised to clean up this city, to make it a safe place for Naomi, Mika, Xavier, and everyone else to live without fear.”

My voice was firm, resolute. "Damien's vigilante justice may have started with good intentions, but it's only causing more harm. I can't just stand by and watch as the city burns. I have to act.”

Luis nodded, a small smile on his face as he glanced at Isabella. She smiled at me, her eyes shining with a mix of hope and fear. "When you came to my restaurant, I knew immediately that you had an aura about you that could change this city for the better. But what I'm afraid of is that it might come at a great cost. A cost that could be permanent.”

She took a step closer, her voice urgent. "My big brother Luis risked his life so that I could have a place to live. And now, because of Damien's actions, that life is being threatened. So, I ask you, what is your plan to clean up Damien's mess?”

"I have a plan," I said, my voice firm and determined. "I'm working with Detective Tracy of the LAPD now.”

Isabella's smile was laced with sarcasm. "Oh, so now you're working with the pigs, huh?" But I knew in my heart that this was the only way to stop Damien without any interruptions.

I explained my plan to them, my voice filled with conviction. "I want to make sure the Latino community is safe from the De Santo gang's grasp. They betrayed the 102 before, and I know they're involved with the Mexican and South American cartels. But what I didn't know was that one of our own members, Boulder, was the traitor.”

Lil Lim's eyes widened in shock, but Luis's expression remained stoic, as if he had already known.

"I warned Darrel about this, but he said he had a bigger plan in mind." I pulled out the letter I had kept with me, the one that had changed everything. Luis read it, and tears streamed down his face. "Estúpido y loco Darrel, ¿por qué diablos te guardas esto para ti? ¿No somos camaradas?" he muttered, his voice cracking with emotion.

I knew enough Spanish to understand that he was calling Darrel stupid and crazy for keeping this secret to himself.

Luis looked at me, his eyes filled with worry. "Is that why you want to help Damien? Is there something bigger at play here?”

I nodded, my jaw clenched in determination. "I want to put the Darrel case to rest, and the 102 gang for good. I need to clear up all the loose ends that still linger in this city.”

Luis's expression turned grave. "And what if you get yourself killed again, kid? I warned Darrel that using kids to clean up our mess wasn't what I had in mind.”

My anger boiled over, and I punched the ground with a strength I didn't know I had, breaking the asphalt. Luis's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back, as if he had never seen me like this before.

"What's happening to you, kid?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"I couldn't help it, Luis... I'm so angry with myself for not stopping Darrel sooner. If I had known what he was planning, I would have stopped him when he visited me in Malaysia. Dammit!" I slammed my fist on the ground, my emotions boiling over.

"I need to get this right, or someone else will get caught in the crossfire when I face Damien again. He's targeting someone big, just like me. Boulder's playing behind the scenes, but I know he's not the mastermind. Someone else is pulling the strings, someone who even Darrel was willing to work with... the FBI!”

Luis's expression turned grave, his eyes filled with a deep concern. "I know, kid. Darrel's secret identity was only known to me, and that's why I left the gang. He told me to get out, to protect Isabella, who was only 14 at the time. He said, 'Get out of this crossfire, Isabella is more important than this gang... you're the only one she has, homie... just leave.'"

I felt a lump form in my throat as Luis revealed the truth. "What the hell is going on, Luis? I need to know what's happening.”

Just then, a black Cadillac Seville pulled up, and Detective Tracy and Mr. Hawk stepped out. "Looks like we're all here, easy to discuss this, eh, Luis?" Detective Tracy said, his eyes locked on me with a knowing glint.

Luis's gaze turned distrustful, but Detective Tracy just smiled. "Alex seems to be trying to approach you, Luis. Unexpected things, eh, Mr. Hawk?”

Mr. Hawk placed a hand on my shoulder, his voice calm and soothing. "Son, we need to talk about this.”

"Yeah, what about it...?" I asked, my voice firm but wary.

"About what really happened," Detective Tracy replied, his eyes locked on mine with a serious intensity. "Nat knows all about it, son. That's why she wanted to protect you from it. She knows your recklessness will only put her heart through more pain." Jeez, Nat, that's girl that I fallen in love it.

But before I could respond, a strong vibration shook my head, like a warning bell ringing in my mind. My inner voice, Frederica, was calling out to me again.

"Alex, push that man away!" she screamed.

I reacted instinctively, shoving Detective Tracy aside just as a bullet whizzed past my ear. I felt a searing pain in my shoulder, and blood began to pour out. Shit, someone's shooting at us!

I fell to the ground, my vision blurring, but I managed to shout at the others. "Take cover!"

As I struggled to stay conscious, I saw Mariam, Mika, Amin, and Luis staring at me in horror. But what I saw next made my blood run cold. A girl, identical to Frederica as a teenager, emerged from the shadows, clad in body armor and wielding an assault rifle. My mind raced with questions, but one thing was certain - this was no ordinary girl.

"This can't be happening...what the hell is going on?" I exclaimed, my mind reeling in shock. The girl standing before me is a clone, but her sinister gaze made her look like a killing machine. It was like something out of a Terminator movie.

I grasped Detective Tracy's hand, holding him back. "Don't move...let me handle this. Just keep them safe, please..." My voice was laced with a mix of anger and fear as I stared at the clone, my heart racing with memories of Frederica.

Suddenly, my head vibrated again, and Frederica's voice echoed in my mind. "She's extremely dangerous, Alex. We have to stop her...or everyone dies." Dammit, this was like Kudat all over again!

Mariam and Amin exchanged a knowing glance, and Mariam voiced my concerns. "You've got to be kidding me? Didn't we destroy that facility? Is the US government involved in this?”

But I had no time to think. Mika tried to fight back, but I yelled at Mariam to pull her back. "Mar, pull Mika away!" Mariam complied, and Mika was furious.

"What the hell, Alex? Let me help!" But I knew this was too dangerous for her. "Stand back, protect them, got it? You're the only one with a gun besides me!”

Mika hesitated, but Mariam's joke broke the tension. "What kind of story will I tell Nat about this?" I glared at her, serious. "Not now, Mar.”

With the others safe, I approached the clone, my heart racing with anticipation. "What do you want?" I asked, my hand instinctively reaching for my gun.

"Eliminate..." she replied, her voice flat and devoid of emotion. Instantly, she pulled the trigger, but I managed to grab the rifle and hold it firm. She quickly switched to close quarter combat, her movements swift and precise, but devoid of any emotional expression.

We clashed, our bodies locked in an intense struggle, but her face remained blank, devoid of any emotion. I grabbed her shoulder, trying to gain control, but she countered with a quick kick to my gut, her movements mechanical and detached. I blocked it just in time, but her elbow connected with my face, sending me stumbling back.

I recovered quickly, my training kicking in. I launched a front kick, connecting with her chest, but she barely flinched, her expression unchanging. She countered with a swift punch, but I dodged it and grabbed her wrist, twisting it until she cried out in pain, but her face remained emotionless.

Her gun clattered to the ground, but she didn't hesitate. With her free hand, she pulled out a knife and lunged at me, her movements robotic and precise. Our blades clashed, the sound of metal on metal echoing through the air, but her expression remained blank, devoid of any emotion.

My gun-fu training took over, and I began to fight back with precision and skill, but her emotionless expression made it seem like I was fighting a machine. I disarmed her and pinned her to the ground, my knife pressed against her throat.

"It's over," I panted, my heart racing with adrenaline.

But she just stared at me, her eyes empty and devoid of any emotion, and I realised that I was fighting a clone, a machine, not a human being.

She managed to counter back, pulling my knife away from her throat, and suddenly I was fighting all over again. I couldn't believe it - she was like a machine! Her movements became even more agile, bursting with punches and kicks that I could only barely block.

I stumbled back, desperate to protect myself. "Shit, this is really bad!”

Mariam suddenly joined the fray, trying to counter the clone's attack. I yelled at her in horror, "Get away, Mar!!!" I knew instantly that the clone would target her next.

Sure enough, the clone pulled out her gun, aiming it at Mariam. But Mika was quick, landing a front kick to the clone's head. Amin joined in, kicking her again, and the clone stumbled back, giving us some space to breathe.

Mariam's eyes blazed with anger. "You just shot my homie like you ain't going back empty-handed!" she snarled, cracking her knuckles.

Mika pulled out her gun, her voice firm. "Bitch, I don't know who the hell you are, but this is our turf you're standing on right now…"

The clone's expression remained blank, but her eyes flickered with a hint of calculation. She knew she was outnumbered, but she didn't back down. Instead, she charged at us with a fierce battle cry, her movements lightning-fast. We were in for the fight of our lives.

Luis tackled her, and she stumbled to the ground, warning me, "Like I said, you're going to get yourself killed, kid...Detective Tracy, call for backup!" Something inside me screamed warning, and I instinctively rushed towards Luis, protecting him. But I got shot again, this time in the left side of my gut. Shit, this was getting bad - fast!

I pulled my gun and shot at her, but she dodged it with ease. Why did I have a feeling she wasn't alone? Damn, two bullets had gone through my body, but my adrenaline was masking the pain. I fought back, but weakness was creeping in. The clone was relentless, taking me down with a series of swift kicks. Luis kicked her back, but she countered with a three-hit combo, sending him flying to the ground. She grabbed her gun, trying to pull the trigger, but I managed to hold her gun and elbow her face. But she suddenly stabbed me - the end game.

As I lay there, she raised her knife to finish me off, but someone countered her attack. I knew that face - Soro! What the hell was going on? He said, mocking me, "I told you, you're not in this game...if you hesitate to kill her, you'll die first, bro…"

With Mariam and Amin's help, I stood up, my vision blurry. "Soro...what the hell is going on?" I asked, my voice weak. He replied, "Something big is going down, bro. Come on, are you going to let your buddies carry you like that?" Damn bastard. I stood next to Soro, my eyes fixed on the clone.

"Look, she's good, but not as good as me..." The clone lunged forward, but Soro countered her easily, kicking her away. He turned to me, his eyes serious. "It's time to wake up, bro...just like the last time..." Shit, I hated that trance - it still scared the hell out of me. Once I was in it, I could only focus on the clone.

I took a deep breath, and my vision began to brighten, even in the darkness. The clone's movements slowed, and I could see her every move, even a line of light tracing her outline. I followed the line and punched her face, my fist connecting with a satisfying crunch.

I saw her reaching for the knife and gun, but I kicked her gut and pulled away from the knife strike, grabbing her gun and shooting her leg and arm. She crumpled to the ground, and I kicked her face, dodging her weak attempt to slice my leg. I elbow-dropped her chest, and she spat blood, before I elbowed her again, putting her into submission.

But my inner voice shouted another warning: "Alex, look out!!!" I saw a bullet heading towards me from afar and dodged it just in time. Soro appeared out of nowhere, sniper rifle in hand, and took out the shooter. "Dammit, another clone...one down, two to go," he said nonchalantly. "Looks like you can handle her, but I'll take care of the other two.”

I stared at him in disbelief. "What the hell, Soro? Are you a soldier fairy, just popping in and out as you please? Cheeky bastard!"

Soro chuckled. "Hey, someone's got to keep you alive, bro. Let me handle the other two...if you want to capture her, be my guest." He disappeared into the darkness, leaving me to hear the distant sounds of gunfire.

I shook my head, incredulous. "This is insane..." I muttered, struggling to contain the clone's fierce resistance. But I managed to grab hold of her, my arms wrapping around her neck in a tight sleeper hold. She thrashed about, but I held firm, my muscles straining with the effort. Finally, she went limp, her body crashing to the ground.

Mariam and the others breathed a collective sigh of relief, but Amin's voice was laced with concern. "Bro, look at your eyes..." I turned to the side mirror of the car, and my heart skipped a beat. My eyes had turned yellowish again, the same eerie glow I had seen before.

I knew I had to snap out of it, but my body seemed to be beyond my control.

With a surge of adrenaline, I slammed my head against the ground, the pain jolting me back to reality. But it was too late. My vision blurred, and I felt myself falling, my body crashing to the ground. The last thing I heard was Mariam's scream, "Alex!" before everything went black.