Note from the AuthorThis chapter continues directly from Chapter 3: Locked Doors, Open Secrets.If it's been a while, I'd recommend revisiting that chapter before reading on — the flow and the weight of this moment will land much stronger.
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Thunder rolled outside, low and heavy, making the thin walls of the storage room tremble.
"…and that's how Daniel became the leader of Shadow Legion."
The voice faded into silence.A silence that lingered. Heavy, suffocating.No one dared speak. The weight of Daniel's story still hung in the room, pulling every thought inward.
A knock broke it. Sharp, deliberate.
All eyes turned.Owen, sitting nearest the door, hesitated. His gaze flicked toward Ethan, then Ryan — a silent check, the kind friends give each other in uncertain moments. Both gave the smallest nods. Only then did Owen rise and move to the door.
The rain greeted him first, its scent damp and metallic, clinging to the air. And standing in the frame was Harrison. His hair clung to his forehead, uniform drenched, water dripping from his sleeves to the floor.
"Owen," he said, voice calm, slow, almost casual despite the storm. "No practice today. Better to call it off and head home."
His eyes shifted past Owen into the room."Where are the others?"
Owen faltered, glancing back inside. Naturally, Harrison followed his gaze and stepped in. His shoes left wet prints on the concrete as his eyes swept over the scene — Daniel's friends sitting in a circle, and among them, five unfamiliar faces. Freshmen. Strangers.
Harrison's brows lifted slightly. His tone stayed level, but the weight of his third-year presence was unmistakable."What's happening here?"
Jordan and his group stiffened. They didn't know him, didn't know his place, but they felt it. The quiet authority of someone older. Marcus even shifted awkwardly, throwing a look at the others as if to ask — who the hell is this guy?
Rowan, standing slightly apart as always, stepped back half a pace. Subtle, almost unnoticed.
Ethan moved first. He and Ryan stepped forward, their shoulders square."It's nothing big," Ryan said, steady. "These guys are first years. They got curious about Daniel… so we told them."
The name dropped.Daniel.
Harrison's expression changed — only slightly, but enough. A flicker, like the name was one he didn't want carried loosely.
Before the weight could settle, Jordan leaned in. "Don't worry. We're not looking to cause trouble for Daniel in any way."
Harrison's lips twitched into something between a smile and a smirk. He looked straight at Jordan, voice calm, but edged."Trouble to Daniel? I don't know what you're talking about, boy. What I'm worried about is this — his name leaving this room and reaching the wrong ears. That's when you'll find trouble."
Jordan's eyes lit, impressed despite himself. The corner of his mouth curled.
Harrison's tone hardened. "Let me tell you something. These guys—" he gestured lightly at Ethan, Zach, Ryan, the rest, "—they were once Daniel's closest friends. And even they can't get near him anymore. And you? You think you'll just walk up to him?" He gave a short, humorless laugh. "Don't make me laugh, kiddo."
The room fell heavy. Even Daniel's friends — for a heartbeat — felt the truth of it sink deeper.
Jordan leaned back, unfazed. His voice carried steady."So then… who's that red-haired guy from this morning? The one sitting with Daniel at the cafeteria. He looked close enough. New friend, maybe?"
Zach answered, his tone steady."The guy from this morning is Lucian. He's the head of the Fifth Faction of Shadow Legion. As for Daniel… he doesn't want anything from that world crossing into school. That's why Lucian's here. If something follows Daniel here, Lucian handles it."
He paused, the memory pressing on him.
"On our first day of the new term, some students showed up. Not for classes. They enrolled just to get close to Daniel, hoping to use Crestwood as a stage. That same day turned into a mess before it even began. And then Lucian appeared. We'd never seen him before — but he ended it fast. That was how we first understood things weren't the same anymore."
Jordan leaned back, his tone light, almost teasing."So you're telling me… you were all just close friends, living that cute camaraderie life, until the day you left the base. And suddenly Daniel turned distant."
He let the words hang a moment, then added, softer, but sharper:"Don't you think… maybe he doesn't want you caught up in that world anymore? Maybe he's protecting you."
Zach's lips curved into a thin smile. His reply was steady, not defensive, but certain."Do you think we don't know that much already? What do you expect when we say we're Daniel's closest friends? If it weren't for us, there wouldn't be the Daniel you're talking about now. One way or another, we were part of what made him pursue this path. And you're right — he doesn't let anyone close anymore. Not unless they're part of the ranked crews, the nine faction leaders of Shadow Legion. Those are the people he fights beside. If we want to stand there too… we'll have to reach that level."
A sigh escaped Zach then, sudden, almost weary."I don't even know why I'm telling you all this. Maybe because you asked too much. But I'll say this—if any of you think about letting Daniel's name slip outside this room… there won't be mercy from those guys."
Theo, wide-eyed, turned to Jordan, as if waiting for his reaction.
Jordan exhaled, his expression unreadable. When he spoke again, his voice carried quiet understanding."So Daniel is the leader of Shadow Legion. Nine factions under him. And the only way to be with him again is to climb high enough to stand among them. Makes sense."
He tilted his head slightly, curious."Then tell me… who are these faction heads? Were they always with Shadow Legion, or did they come in later?"
Before Zach could speak, Ethan's voice cut through, edged with irritation."I don't get why you're so interested in this. If you're still pressing on, then you've been chasing this from the beginning."
"Stop it, Ethan," Harrison's voice interrupted, calm but firm. His eyes narrowed on Jordan. "Say what you came here to say. Then let it rest once they've understood."
Zach took over again, his voice quieter this time, carrying more weight."That day… we were just a group of friends. Bruised, beaten, but still believing we had each other for life. That's how it was. But then the break came. Everyone went back to their own homes, their own lives. That's when we heard Daniel had gone to an academy. We couldn't even reach him anymore.
"And when he returned… he wasn't the same. His looks, his presence, everything had changed. He felt like something else — like a beast had taken shape in him. And with him came a new Shadow Legion. A new structure. Nine factions, new leaders. Apart from one or two old names, the rest were strangers to us."
Jordan leaned forward slightly, voice measured."So… are you still in Shadow Legion? Or is it only the factions that count now?"
Zach nodded slowly. "Shadow Legion grew bigger. The old crews stayed, but the factions were created to lead above them. And yes… we're still a crew under them, for now."
Jordan caught the weight in Zach's tone and pressed further."So you've been trying to make your crew into a faction, haven't you?"
The silence that followed was answer enough.
Jordan's gaze sharpened. "Then how many of you are there?"
Zach hesitated. He didn't want to spill too much. Harrison cut in instead, steady."Not many. Just enough. We're not building an army. We're trying to reach Daniel."
Jordan's eyes flickered with amusement. "So you're part of them too, huh? Harrison. Eight of them, plus you. That makes nine."
He let out a low laugh, which drew a twitch from Ethan and Ryan. Then he leaned in, smiling faintly."Nine of you, and half barely know how to throw a punch. Soccer boys playing at fighters. You expect to climb to the top of Shadow Legion like that? It feels like a joke."
"Watch your mouth," Ethan snapped, stepping forward, but Jordan's tone cut across his anger, suddenly heavier.
"Then let me help you."
The words cracked through the room like thunder. For a heartbeat, no one moved.
"I'll help you climb," Jordan continued, voice steady, unshaken. "Because as you are now, you'll never make it to the top. You want strength. I can give it."
The room fell still. The rain outside eased, but inside, silence weighed heavy.
Harrison was the first to break it, his voice low."I think you should forget everything you heard today. And leave."
"Why?" Jordan asked simply. His gaze swept across their faces, reading each expression. "You already know it yourselves. With your current strength, you can't reach him. So why refuse help?"
His smile faded into seriousness."And let me tell you this — in this room, the strongest isn't one of you."
That caught their attention. Everyone who had been cautiously listening now leaned in, drawn by the certainty in his tone.
Harrison's reply was calm, but firm."We're not a crew the way you think. We're just friends, doing whatever we can to get back to the one we care about. Maybe you're right. Maybe you're stronger. I won't argue that. But more than standing at the top… we'd rather have a quiet school life. Still, if it takes fighting to reach Daniel, then we'll fight."
Ethan clenched his fists, something restless in him stirred by Harrison's words. Adrian, watching from the side, noticed it even if no one else did.
Rowan's voice broke through next, calm, measured."It's true — our strength isn't enough. But what we do have is resolve. And if someone can't share that resolve, even strength won't mean anything. That's why Jake said it best. We shouldn't drag first-years into this, but protect them from it. Whatever's coming, it's our responsibility to shield them. That's our goal. To protect."
The words struck home, grounding the others. Ethan's shoulders eased, though his face still held tension.
Jordan's head tilted. "Jake? He's not in your crew, is he? But wasn't he the reason this all started? Strange he's not part of you."
"Shut it already," Ethan snapped, sharper this time. "You only know what you've heard. There are thousands of things between us you don't. Jake's not part of the crew, no. Even Harrison helping us is a shock in itself. Why should Jake be? Daniel's choice to lead Shadow Legion was his own. We're chasing after him because he's our friend, because we know who he really is.
"And Jake—" Ethan's voice steadied, more certain now, "Jake's carrying a bigger role than any of us. He's the school president. With the way things are, his responsibility is heavier than ours. He has to keep Crestwood from falling apart. Do you even know what it takes to hold that role right now?"
A hush settled again. The storm outside had calmed to a drizzle.
Jordan finally spoke, quiet, almost amused."So… Vanguards. That's your crew name, isn't it? The one you started back then. Now your leader sits at the head of Brookhaven's most dangerous gang."
He let out a low, almost disbelieving laugh. "Hard to imagine. A high school student ruling something like that."
His eyes shifted. "So who's your leader now? Harrison? No. He's got presence, but not the fists. Then… you, right?"
His gaze fixed on Rowan. Everyone's eyes followed.
Jordan smiled faintly. "Then it's your call. Let us into Vanguards. Or not."
Rowan shook his head slowly. "I'm not the one to decide. Half the time I don't even know my place among them."
Jordan chuckled low, leaning forward."Then if I beat you… that decides it, doesn't it? You're missing a chance most people would kill for. And let me be honest—apart from you, Rowan, none of them could beat any one of us. One-on-one."
Shock rippled across the room. First-years, saying this, with such certainty? Their presence didn't feel like bluster. It felt real.
Jordan's tone softened, but the weight lingered."Let us in. I'll show you how to reach the top of Shadow Legion."
The silence that followed was absolute. His words weren't arrogant, weren't desperate. They were truth. Presence alone made them undeniable.
Ethan spoke at last. Quiet. Determined."Let them in."
No one argued. They all felt it.
Ryan finally asked, voice careful, carrying the question that had been hanging unspoken since the start."So… who are you guys, really?"
The air in the room tightened. The rain outside had softened to a faint patter, yet inside it felt heavier than ever. These five had come asking for Daniel. They had heard everything. They had forced their way into the circle of his closest friends. Now the question hung, demanding an answer.
Jordan chuckled, low and unhurried. The sound pulled every gaze toward him. His lips curved, but he didn't speak right away. He let the silence stretch until it pressed against their ribs. Everyone waited, bracing, knowing instinctively that whatever came next would not be ordinary.
The words he was about to say would fracture the room. They would ripple outward, carrying weight strong enough to alter not just these nine friends, but the very balance of Shadow Legion itself.
Then Jordan spoke. Slow. Certain. Irrevocable.
"I'm Gideon Cross' son."