Fitness is a good habit—especially for people like Owen, who could find themselves in danger at any moment. A strong body is the foundation for everything.
Owen had long maintained a regular workout routine. Back in Los Angeles, he had a go-to gym and a group of like-minded friends to train with. But after moving to Washington, he hadn't yet found a gym that truly satisfied him. For him, the atmosphere of a gym was everything.
Yesterday, Jack recommended a place called Metal Storm. Today, Owen came by to check it out.
After parking his car, Owen walked into the gym. At first glance, it wasn't bad. Definitely not one of those cheap, low-end gyms. Soft music played in the background, the equipment was plentiful, and the crowd wasn't too big.
"This way, please…"
The receptionist, a bubbly young woman, led Owen on a brief tour of the facility.
"This is our anaerobic zone, over there is cardio, and up ahead is the combat training area. Our instructor is new—she's a real beauty. Oh, and we have a pool downstairs. The county's freestyle swimming champion trains here every Tuesday…"
She introduced the gym enthusiastically. Owen liked the overall vibe, and decided to give it a try. He signed up for a trial session at the front desk and, after changing in the locker room, entered the training area.
He began with some bench presses, then leg training. After his anaerobic session, he hit the treadmill for a 3,000-meter warmup. He wasn't one to listen to music while running—his attention had been caught by what was happening in the combat area ahead.
On the mat, a coach was training a student. The coach, wearing protective gear, was a woman—likely the new "beauty" the receptionist had mentioned. And yes, she was attractive and in excellent shape. The student was another woman, but much plainer, offering little visual appeal.
The student let out occasional roars as she kicked the coach's body armor. The female coach guided her through high, middle, and low kicks—thump thump, the hits echoed through the room.
"Weak. Harder!"
The coach took the blows calmly while shouting encouragement.
"Picture me as your bestie. Yes, I just slept with your boyfriend. He's hot. I like his abs. That's right, he cheated. He betrayed you. We just walked out of a hotel…"
Her words hit home. The student's kicks and punches grew heavier. Each strike landed with a thunderous thud.
"Yes, that's it! You're angry! You want to punish those cheating scumbags! Kick her stomach—make sure she can't have kids. Kick her shin—make her kneel and beg for mercy. Kick!"
"F*** you, bitch! Die for seducing my boyfriend! I'll kick you to death!"
Fueled by rage, the student exploded into a wild combo of punches and kicks. The sound of impact rang out like fireworks, and her screams only intensified.
This bizarre training session quickly drew attention. Most people in the gym were watching, intrigued by the method. The coach stood calmly in the eye of the storm, completely in control.
The men lifting weights couldn't help but sneak glances at the two women. Beautiful women are always a sight to behold—even more so when they radiate aggression.
Owen smiled. The coach's teaching style was certainly unconventional, and clearly effective. And she wasn't just for show—her footwork was nimble, her defense solid. Not a single hit got through. While it looked like she was taking a beating, she was completely unscathed.
She reminded him of Monica—attractive, fit, and trained in close combat. You'd be a fool to underestimate either of them. Anyone who tried to mess with Monica wouldn't even get a chance to see Owen step in—he could already imagine the sorry state of the would-be harasser.
No one in their right mind dared mess with the coach. People were just having a little fun watching—no lines were crossed. And even if someone did try something, Owen doubted they'd last long.
Owen certainly wasn't going to hit on her. Once the novelty wore off, he returned to his training plan.
After finishing her session, the coach moved to a treadmill beside him. Owen didn't think she was interested in him—neither spoke. They ran in silence.
Before he realized it, the entire afternoon had flown by. Owen wrapped up his workout, showered, and left the gym.
But when he stepped outside—his car was gone.
The spot where he had parked was completely empty.
"Shit," Owen muttered. "Seriously? Someone stole a cop car?"
Owen's vehicle was issued by CTU. On the outside, it looked like a regular SUV, but it was a specialized police vehicle. The doors and windows were bulletproof, and the trunk was full of weapons.
If it had been towed, no big deal. But if a random thief had stolen it… Owen could already imagine their reaction when they opened the trunk. They'd probably thought they'd jacked a drug lord's ride.
He called CTU. All issued vehicles had GPS tracking. The tech team quickly located the SUV—20 kilometers west of D.C., at the Fairfax County Police Department.
"Owen, the county police said they got a call about a suspicious vehicle parked roadside full of weapons. They towed it to the station. I've explained everything—they said you can come retrieve it anytime."
So it really had been stolen. Owen hung up, annoyed. That poor bastard had probably freaked when he opened the trunk. Judging by the outcome, he might've even been the one who called the cops.
No car meant a pain in the ass. But it was already late. Owen decided to just take the metro home and retrieve the SUV from Fairfax PD the next day.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS (Chapter 79)
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 391)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 471)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 677)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 1059)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter][+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]