The Cracks Begin to Show
Days after the doctor's words, Mikey barely left his hospital bed.He used to bounce back from injuries, laughing through pain, fists ready for the next fight. But now, his right arm hung useless at his side, wrapped in bandages, stiff and unresponsive.
Every time he tried to clench a fist, nothing happened. His hand trembled, powerless.
His reflection in the hospital mirror didn't look like the "hero" people cheered for. It looked broken. Weak. Pathetic.
Spiraling
Nurses came and went, Jin visited as often as he could, but Mikey barely spoke.When Jin finally pressed him, Mikey whispered:
"Do you remember back then… when I couldn't protect anyone? When I was the weak kid that bullies stomped on every day? That's me again, Jin. I'm useless. I can't protect you. I can't protect anyone."
He slammed his fist into the mattress, his eyes red."They all called me a monster when I was strong… but now, now I can't even lift my arm. I'm nothing."
Kael's Poison
Meanwhile, Kael's manipulation spread further.Students began whispering in the halls:"Did you hear? Mikey got crippled. Guess all that 'strength' was just luck.""Serves him right. He caused all those fights anyway."Some even laughed at the thought of their "school hero" laid up in a hospital bed.
Kael didn't even need to lift a finger. The rumors and doubts he planted grew on their own.
A Darker Thought
That night, when Jin left, Mikey sat alone staring out the hospital window. The moonlight spilled across his bed.
He clenched his good hand tight, trembling."If I can't fight… then maybe… I shouldn't even be here."
The thought terrified him, but it wouldn't leave.
Jin's Realization
Jin, sensing something was wrong, returned earlier than expected and caught Mikey staring at the window with that dead look in his eyes.
"Mikey… don't you dare think that way," Jin said, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Kael wants this. He wants you broken. But you're not done yet. You're more than just your fists."
Mikey didn't respond. His eyes were hollow, his fire dim.