Chapter 56 - going back to the hood (Part 22) - Lose yourself

As we ride together, I can't believe my eyes. For the first time in years, the entire LA community is united, marching towards the Mayor's office like a riotous procession. People cheer for us, and I feel a surge of pride and purpose.

Damien turns to me, grinning. "This has never happened before, right homie?"

Mika smiles, her eyes shining with excitement. "Well, that's what you've been trying to build, right babe?"

Mariam chimes in, "That's our Alex - the only one who could pull this off!”

Amin nods in agreement. "Bro, this doesn't happen in anyone's life. First, the school, and now this...you've got a natural leader aura about you, bro.”

I gaze ahead, my mind focused on the battle ahead. "Whatever...but after this, it's war. I'm not holding back. People will die, but I won't pull my punches.”

Mika's expression turns sultry, and she whispers, "Babe, I'm turned on now.”

I raise an eyebrow, unsure how to respond. "Uh, what's that supposed to mean? We're heading into battle, and now I've got another girl problem to deal with?”

Mariam snickers, adding fuel to the fire. "Kukuku...if Nat were here, what would happen then, eh, bro?" Get a life, Mariam! This is going to get worse!

I glance around, ensuring everyone's wearing their face masks to avoid recognition. As we approach the Mayor's office, my eyes widen in surprise. "God dammit! It's like a fortress! Boulder's really well-prepared.”

Damien whistles, impressed. "Jeezz, Boulder's really scared of us, right homie?!"

I scratch my head, thinking of a plan, when suddenly Hardware and Luis arrive with a large truck. "Hold up, what are you doing?!" I shout, but it's too late. They ram the gate, and it bursts open.

"Well, that's one way to make an entrance," I mutter, surveying the scene. The police arrive, guns drawn, and Detective Tracy shouts, "I told the National Guard to stand down! This is a police operation!”

The front gates erupt into chaos as the police clash with Boulder's goons. I spot an opportunity and signal to my team. "Mariam, Amin, Mika, Damien, Hardware – follow me!"

We sneak towards the janitor's room, avoiding gunfire and police sirens. Bullets whiz past us, and we duck for cover behind a dumpster.

"Stay close!" I whisper, as we inch towards the office door. Mariam and Amin take point, using their agility and quick reflexes to evade gunfire. Mika and Damien provide cover, using nearby objects as shields. Hardware brings up the rear, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger.

Inside, we find ourselves in a dimly lit hallway. I motion for the team to fan out, covering each other's backs. We move swiftly, avoiding detection.

Suddenly, a goon appears around the corner. Hardware takes him down with a swift kick. Mariam and Amin disarm another goon, using their martial arts skills. We keep moving, our hearts racing with adrenaline.

I take point, unleashing my gun-fu skills, which leave Damien stunned. I leap towards the goons, precision-shooting at their legs and arms, disabling them. Meanwhile, Mariam takes down several with her fluid Capoeira moves, while Amin provides backup. Mika uses her karate expertise to target the goons' arms, taking them down with swift kicks.

We're a team of 15-year-old kids, executing a flawless action-movie-worthy takedown.

Damien exclaims, "Homie! That's new! I knew you weren't serious when we fought before!"

As we enter the building, the sounds of gunfire and slashing grow louder. We see blood spilling on the other side of the hallway. Maya and Soro's presence is unmistakable.

Mariam whispers, “Damn..."

Amin nods, "That must be them…"

Damien looks at me with a mix of awe and curiosity. "Homie, you gotta tell me about them after this. They're like superheroes!”

Mika's enthusiasm is infectious. "Babe! We gotta move fast! This is getting intense!”

We creep up to the next level, where Soro and Maya are taking down goons with ease. We converge, forming a united front.

Soro asks, "You know the plan, right?”

Maya exclaims, "Hurry up, I'm bored!”

I nod, and Damien chimes in, "Let's show them our moves!" We pull out our guns, knocking them together like a gang sign.

The office room is a maze of tables and partitions. We instruct the others to hold back while Damien and I take point. We charge in, guns blazing. The goons are heavily armed with assault rifles, but we're determined to take them down without killing them.

Soro provides covering fire, while Maya waits for an opening.

Damien uses his Close Quarters Combat (CQC) skills to disarm and disable the goons, taking them down with swift kicks and punches. I unleash my gun-fu skills, shooting at their legs and arms, disabling them without causing fatal harm.

As I glance around, I catch Mika watching me with a concerned expression. I feel a flicker of annoyance - can't she see I've got this under control? I refocus on the task at hand, taking down another goon with precision.

The room erupts into chaos, with gunfire and shouts filling the air. We weave between tables and partitions, taking down goons with precision and skill. Damien takes out a goon with a perfectly executed takedown, while I disarm another with a swift kick.

In the end, all the goons lie defeated, disabled but alive.

Mariam quips, "Damn man, just two of you taking down armed goons? What are you, Rambo?" Her joke falls flat, and I shoot her a warning glance.

Maya suddenly darts towards the door, charging inside with a fierce battle cry. Gunshots, slashing sounds, and screams fill the air, leaving me speechless with concern for her safety. Damien echoes my sentiment, "Good thing she's with us…"

We enter the room to find Maya's brutal fighting style has taken down the goons with ease. I wonder what kind of training Maruk put her through.

As we venture deeper into the maze-like building, the never-ending stream of goons leaves me baffled. How did Boulder assemble such an army?

Mariam and Mika work together seamlessly, taking down goons with precision. They share a high-five and exclaim, "That's what girl power is!" I roll my eyes, thinking, That's not girl power, that's just taking down goons.

The further we go, the tougher it gets. The goons are better equipped, and some of the armed men from outside have joined Boulder's side. Soro and Maya take them down, shouting, "Go! We've got this!" Me, Damien, Mika, and Amin press on, determined to reach the finish line.

Finally, we enter the main office - the mayor's office - where Boulder sits smugly in his chair, overlooking the city through a large mirror.

Welcome to my office, homies!" Boulder's smug voice grates on my nerves.

Damien takes aim at Boulder, but a clone intercepts him, followed by another. "Hahahaha! You think I'm dumb enough to take you down alone?”

A large man with blue eyes and blond hair appears, and Mika's expression changes to shock. "Dad...what the fuck are you doing here?”

Boulder reveals, "Like I said, everything is connected. Her dad is one of my goons. He lives for money, never realizing he had a Japanese daughter…eh?"

Mika's eyes widen in anger. "Naomi knew this but hid it…"

Mika charges at her dad, but he pushes her aside. Mariam and Amin back her up, while I take on the clones. "I'll handle these two!”

Damien jumps at Boulder, but the ex-soldier quickly takes him down, slamming him into the wall. I focus on the clones, who attack me with a flurry of kicks and punches. They're not armed, expecting a fistfight.

The room erupts into a royal rumble, with Mariam and Amin backing Mika up against her dad. I can see the fury in her eyes - she's beyond pissed.

The clones charge at me, but I'm ready. Ever since that dream, my body feels lighter, more agile, as if I can take on both clones with ease.

One clone, a female with a ruthless gaze, tries to punch me, but I dodge it and grab her arm, pulling her into a swift throw. The other clone tries to attack, but I meet her with a powerful front kick, sending her crashing to the ground.

The fight becomes a blur of punches and kicks, the clones and I exchanging blows in a high-energy dance. My training kicks in, and I start to gain the upper hand, my movements swift and precise.

As I battle the clones, Mariam and Mika struggle to take down Mika's dad, who seems almost impervious to pain. Amin tries to assist, hitting him with a chair, but the guy doesn't flinch, his focus solely on Mika's face. Mariam lands a kick to his groin, but he still doesn't react. Amin follows up with a knee to the face, while Mika unleashes a flurry of kicks and punches on her dad.

Meanwhile, the clones attack me with knives. I manage to grab one and punch the clone in the gut, but the other clone quickly retaliates with a powerful chop. I block it with my left arm and counter with a kick, sending her stumbling back.

I can't believe I'm living out an action movie scenario at just 15 years old, alongside my friends.

Mika lands a powerful kick to her dad's face, followed by Mariam's swift kick and Amin's knee to the gut. The combo is impressive, but the guy barely flinches, retaliating with a swift motion that sends all three flying into the wall. Mika quickly recovers and unleashes another kick.

I want to help, so I grab the knife from the clone and throw it at the guy's legs. He grunts in pain and drops to his knees. Mika seizes the opportunity, delivering a roundhouse kick to his head, while Mariam adds a drop kick to the back of his head.

Meanwhile, Damien is exchanging blows with Boulder, but it's clear Boulder has the upper hand. He's like Steven Seagal, using Wing Chun moves to take down Damien with ease.

The clones fight relentlessly, like machines, refusing to stop. That's the plan - if they sided with either Boulder or Mika's dad, we'd be overwhelmed.

I spot an opening and unleash a flurry of punches and kicks on the first clone, finishing with a strong drop kick that sends her crashing into the wall. She's knocked out for the moment. I counter a kick from the second clone, take her down, and punch her face before slamming her to the floor.

This is intense! I see Mariam flying towards me, tackling the clone and slamming into her.

"Damn man, that guy is like the Terminator!" Mariam exclaims, charging at Mika's dad again.

At least one clone is down, and I trust Mariam, Mika, and Amin to handle Mika's dad. I decide to support Damien, but Boulder swiftly turns his attention to me. "Not on my watch!" he exclaims, throwing a powerful strike that sends me crashing to the floor.

I quickly jump back to my feet and grab Boulder's arm, but he effortlessly weaves me around like a ragdoll, landing a palm strike that sends a shockwave of pain through my face. I stumble back, dazed, as Damien seizes the opportunity to grab his gun. However, Boulder is too quick, snatching the gun and breaking it with ease.

"Come on, homie...show me your stuff, not with guns!" Boulder taunts, his confidence and skill evident in his movements.

Mika's dad seems unfazed, while Mika and the others look exhausted. Amin asks, "Damn, this guy's tough...was your dad in the army, Mika?”

Mika retorts, "That's not my dad! An asshole like him could never be my father!"

Her dad sneers, "Still the crybaby and brat I knew. I told you, if you worked with them, you'd never be in this situation...Naomi's the coward, running away and leaving you behind.”

Mika's anger boils over, and she jumps up, kicking at him. He punches her in the gut, slamming her into the wall. Mariam instantly fights back with a flurry of capoeira kicks, but he blocks them with ease, mocking her martial art as "plain stupid.”

He grabs Mariam and throws her into the wall, and Amin tries to intervene but gets swept to the ground. As he's about to stomp Amin, I charge forward, tackling him to the ground. I unleash a flurry of punches and kicks, holding his head and kneeing him in the face. His nose bleeds, and he stumbles back.

I grab his leg and swing him around, slamming him into the wall. Mika, Amin, and Mariam stare in awe, unable to believe I could take down someone of his size.

Mika's dad eyes me with a hint of surprise, "You're tough, looks like you have military training, is it?" He seems to recognize the Close Quarters Combat (CQC) techniques I'm using.

I take him down with a series of precise CQC moves, exchanging blows and using techniques Darrel and Mr. Marcus taught me. He's incredibly skilled, and I suspect he must be special forces or have equivalent training.

Just as we're in the heat of battle, the clone regains consciousness - surprisingly quick. Now we have a bigger problem. One clone holds a knife, aiming at me, while Mika, Mariam, and Amin are still out cold. Suddenly, Nat appears out of nowhere, kicking the clone away.

"Looks like you need help?" Nat asks, her eyes locked on the clone. She takes down the clone with her signature kicks, packing a mean punch reminiscent of Sylvia. We fight back-to-back, and Nat asks, "What do you think?”

"Couldn't agree more, Nat," I reply, taking on Mika's dad while Nat handles the clone. Another clone joins the fight, but Nat is more than a match for them.

I know Nat is skilled in Savate, but I wonder about her mastery level. Suddenly, she says, "Well then...what about it?" with confidence, as the clones switch to using weapons. Nat swiftly kicks the pistol and knife away, delivering a straight kick to one clone's face and a combo to the other. Impressive!

Damien exclaims, "That's one damn girl, ain't that right, homie?!" I couldn't agree more, though I'm a bit worried. At least we have some help now.

Nat explains to me, "Soro told me they're still dealing with an unknown assailant who's putting up a tough fight. He asked me to help you out."

Mika's dad counterattacks, and we exchange blows again. This time, his punches are weaker, as if he's tiring. I seize the opportunity, landing a strong punch to his gut and taking him down with a swift takedown. I follow up with a series of knees to his chest, but he refuses to give up, unleashing a flurry of punches. I'm getting excited again, and we continue exchanging blows in a intense combo of punches and kicks. Finally, he falls to his knees, exhausted.

"You're really strong...what kind of training have you been through?" he asks, panting.

"None of your damn business," I reply, kicking him in the face and sending him crashing to the ground.

As I catch my breath, I notice something odd - the clones seem less ruthless than before. Nat has managed to knock out one of them, and the other is struggling to keep up with her. This doesn't feel right; it was too easy.

As Nat takes down the last two clones, leaving only Damien and Boulder, we rush to check on Mika, Mariam, and Amin. They seem okay, just a bit drained. But I sense something off and ask Nat to keep a close eye on them. Meanwhile, I notice Damien and Boulder slipping out of the office, heading towards the roof of the building. My instincts scream that something is wrong.

I follow Damien and Boulder to the roof, and my hunch proves correct - another clone awaits, radiating an eerie, sinister aura. This one seems different, reminiscent of my previous encounter with Soro. Boulder appears exhausted, but his words send a chill down my spine: "Hahahaha, you both remind me of Darrel...what do you think, Omega?”

The name echoes in my mind - Omega, the last letter in the Greek alphabet, implying a final, ominous entity. My inner voice, Darrel's voice, whispers a haunting warning: "She's the one who killed me...watch out, kid." I'm taken aback - this girl, Omega, seems to be the same age as me, but Darrel's words suggest she's far more ancient, and far more deadly.

Boulder continues to taunt us, "Hey! What do you think? The one who killed Darrel?" Damien charges at Omega without hesitation, and my instincts scream that she's extremely dangerous.

I react instinctively, throwing myself at Damien to stop him from approaching Omega. But I'm too late. Her gun is already aimed at his head. I barely manage to deflect her arm, but the gunshot grazes my arm, searing with pain. I push her away, and her eyes flicker with an inhuman, mechanical intensity.

"You smell familiar...as if you're one of us...but you're not. What are you?" Omega asks, her voice dripping with an unsettling curiosity.

Damien and I exchange a wary glance. Boulder's maniacal laughter cuts through the tension, but Omega's sudden movement silences him. She impales him with her arm, piercing his body.

"Omega...what...are...you...doing?" Boulder's final words are cut short as Omega tosses him off the building.

"Inbecillitate...non amplius indigetis a Fratrum Mason," she utters in Latin, her voice devoid of emotion.

Omega turns to us, her gaze cold and calculating. "Darrel has hidden you well...now we need to clean up the loose ends.”

I grab my gun, pushing Damien away despite my injured arm. Adrenaline takes over, sharpening my focus. The rain-soaked streets of LA slow down around me. I take aim, but Omega counters with a shot. I dodge, using my bleeding arm to deflect her kick.

Damien joins the fight, taking down Omega with a perfectly aimed kick. "Alex, I've got your back!" he yells.

But Omega is relentless, her eyes fixed on us with an unnerving intensity. She unleashes a flurry of kicks and punches, each one aimed at my injured arm. I grit my teeth, using every ounce of strength to block her attacks.

We alternate taking her down, but Omega's strength is formidable. I wonder if even Soro or Maya could handle her.

Damien takes aim with his gun, but Omega dodges the bullet and delivers a swift kick to his head, sending him crashing to the ground. We spot helicopters approaching - a news chopper and a police chopper with a sniper on board. I quickly put on my facemask and help Damien with his.

I raise my arms, warning the helicopters to keep their distance. But Omega seizes the moment, snatching an AWP sniper rifle and aiming at the police chopper. It crashes towards us, and she swiftly targets the news caster helicopter. I see one of the crew members get shot, and I push Omega away, desperate to prevent further carnage.

Please, Allah, don't let this get out. I pray that this won't go viral.

I leap over Omega, using my kicks to wrestle the rifle from her grasp. The rain-soaked streets of LA become a battleground as she unleashes a relentless flurry of punches and kicks. The fight is long and brutal, but I spot an opening. Damien takes aim at her back, but she doesn't flinch. She spins around, gun in hand, and I barely manage to deflect her shot. I counter with my own gun, aiming for her abdomen, but she kicks me with incredible force. I dodge her bullet by mere inches, the shot grazing my forehead, narrowly missing my left eye.

I seize the moment, taking aim again. Damien spots a grenade on her belt and makes a split-second decision, pulling the pin. Omega tries to pull away, but I take the chance to shoot, aiming for her legs and arms. We try to retreat, but it's too late. The grenade explodes, sending Omega's body flying apart, scattering limbs and debris everywhere.

The ringing in our ears slowly fades, and Damien stands before me, his eyes burning with an unspoken challenge.

"Hey homie...you know what...there's something that hasn't felt satisfied..." Damien's voice trails off, but I know exactly what he wants.

"Not again...Darrel loves you, bro..." I try to reason with him, but Damien's determination is palpable.

"This is a duel, homie...you know what it will end up..." Damien readies himself, his gun at the ready. I glance at my own weapon, only 10 bullets left. Damien notices and nods, "This is personal.”

The news caster helicopter disappears into the distance, leaving us alone on the rooftop. The sound of thunder booms, and we take aim. The air is electric with tension.

Our guns blaze, bullets flying back and forth. We dodge and weave, each shot narrowly missing its mark. The fight spills into close quarters combat, our bodies clashing in a flurry of punches and kicks.

We exchange blows, our movements lightning-fast. Damien lands a solid kick, but I counter with a swift punch. He blocks it, but I use the momentum to take him down. We crash to the rooftop floor, our guns skittering out of reach.

We lie there, panting, our eyes locked in a fierce stare. The fight has ended in a draw, both of us too exhausted to continue. The rain pours down around us, washing away the adrenaline and leaving only a deep-seated tension.

As we gaze up at the dark, rain-soaked skies, I ask Damien, "Why the hell do you want this closure?”

Damien's response is laced with anger, "Darrel left me a message: 'I know you won't be happy about this, but Alex is more of a man than you.' That's what pisses me off." I'm stunned - what is Darrel trying to achieve?

But then Damien's expression changes, "But I look back at how you pulled this off, uniting all of LA to clean up the city...that took me out of my zone." I realize what Darrel meant, and I share his words with Damien, "You know what Darrel said about you? 'You'll never accept his death and will seek revenge, no matter the cause.' That's what I worried about, homie.”

Damien replies, "Looks like we're in Darrel's playing hands, that asshole.”

As we lie there, I notice Soro watching us from the shadows. Maya appears beside him, and I wave goodbye.

"Looks like you took her down...time for us to part ways," Soro says, before Maya adds, "You're interesting, big brother Alex...see ya.”

They jump off the building, disappearing into the night. Damien asks, "Who are they?" I reply, "A relative..." but Damien just chuckles, "Bullshit...they're not even human. They're killers.”

I stand up, helping Damien to his feet, as the police sirens approach. Damien suddenly walks away, saying, "Hey homie, let me have the glory..." before Detective Tracy appears, pushing me away.

I fall down the stairs, realizing Natalie and Mika are there with me. I hear the police shouting at Damien, "Freeze! This is the police!!”

I'm exhausted, my mind numb from the chaos. As I close my eyes, the sound of sirens and shouting fades into the background. I feel myself being pulled away from the scene, Mika and Nat's gentle tugs on my arms a welcome respite from the turmoil.

"Come on, Babe, let's get out of here," Mika says softly, her voice a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves.

Nat adds, "Yeah, you've done enough for one night. Time to take a break."

I let them lead me away, my eyes still closed, as I try to process the events of the night.

The adrenaline is wearing off, replaced by a deep fatigue. I'm just too tired to think about it anymore.