Sonia had just walked away, her footsteps fading into the quiet evening. I sighed and stood up, ready to head home. The streets were empty, the kind of silence that makes you feel like the world is holding its breath.
Then I heard it.
A scream—sharp and painful—echoed from a nearby alley. "Aaaarghhh!" It sounded like someone was in trouble. I stopped, heart pounding. There was no one else around. Without thinking, I ran toward the sound.
The closer I got, the louder the cries became. They weren't just screams anymore—they were groans, the sound of someone barely holding on.
I turned into the alley and froze.
A man lay slumped against the wall, dressed in white clothes soaked in blood. His shirt was torn, his pants stained, and his shoes were covered in dark patches. Blood dripped from a deep cut on his forehead, and his left arm looked broken. His face was pale, but his eyes were sharp—full of something strange and knowing.
I rushed to him, kneeling beside his trembling body.
"Hey! Are you okay? What happened?" I asked, trying to help.
He looked at me and whispered, "You came."
"I heard you screaming. I want to help," I said, reaching for my phone. "I'll call someone—"
"No," he said, grabbing my wrist. "No hospitals. No police. It's too late for me."
"You're bleeding. You need help."
He coughed, blood on his lips. "I know who you are."
"What?"
"You're like me," he said. "We don't belong here. We're the bugs in this world. Glitches. But powerful ones."
I didn't understand, but before I could ask, he touched my forehead. A strange warmth spread through me, like energy waking up inside. My vision blurred for a second. Something had changed.
"I've given you my powers," he said. "You'll feel it soon. Find out who you are. Discover your mission."
I tried to speak, but he gripped my arm again.
"Run," he said, eyes wide. "They'll come for you now."
And then… he died.
I sat there, stunned. But before I could move, three men stepped into the alley. They wore black clothes, tight and sharp, like assassins. Their faces were half-covered, but their eyes locked onto me—cold, focused, dangerous.
I stood up slowly, trembling. I turned toward the alley's entrance, hoping to escape. But before I could take a step, one of them moved fast and blocked my path. The others closed in, forming a wall between me and the dead man.
I froze.
They started talking, as if I wasn't even there.
"He's the one," said the first. "We should kill him now. Quick and clean."
"No," said the second. "We don't know what he knows. If the old man gave him something, we need to be careful."
"He's just a kid," the third scoffed. "We slice his throat, search his body, and be done with it."
I swallowed hard, heart racing. Then a fourth voice cut through the air—calm, deep, and commanding.
"Enough."
A man stepped forward from the shadows. Taller than the rest, dressed in the same black but with a silver mark on his chest. Their leader.
He looked straight at me. "Did he tell you anything?"
I hesitated. My mind raced. If I told the truth, would they kill me? If I lied, could I survive?
"No," I said, trying to sound calm. "He was already dead when I got here. I didn't hear anything."
The leader narrowed his eyes. "You're lying."
"I'm not," I said quickly. "I swear."
He raised his hand. "Kill him."
One of the assassins lunged at me, blade flashing—but I moved. I don't know how, but my body reacted fast, faster than I ever thought possible. I dodged the attack, heart pounding, adrenaline surging.
Something inside me had changed.
And now… I had to survive.
I dodged the blade just in time, my body moving like it had a mind of its own. The assassin stumbled forward, surprised. The others stared at me, eyes wide.
The leader tilted his head. "What? How did he move that fast? The target was supposed to have weird powers. Did he... pass them on?"
One of the assassins growled. "No way. Our mission was just to kill the old guy. Boss said he had some freaky abilities, that's why we had to take him out quick. But this kid? He's not part of the job."
"Yeah," said another, cracking his knuckles. "Boss hired us to end the man in white. Said he was dangerous with his powers. We don't know what they are, just that they're bad news. If the kid got them now, we can't leave loose ends."
The third one laughed. "Hey, kid. You look shocked. Did that dying freak give you his curse? Boss will want us to report this. But first, we finish the mission—and that means no witnesses."
I backed up, fists clenched. "What are you talking about? I don't know anything about powers or missions!"
The leader smirked. "Doesn't matter. We were sent by the higher-ups to kill that man because of his powers. He was a threat. If he gave them to you, you're a threat too. Hand over whatever he passed, or we make you."
Before I could answer, the first assassin charged again, swinging his blade high. "Die, kid!"
I jumped back, but this time I felt a surge—like fire in my veins. I swung my fist without thinking, and it hit his arm hard. He yelped and dropped the blade. "Argh! What was that? He's got the power!"
"See? The old man transferred it!" shouted the second one, rushing in with a kick. His boot aimed at my chest, fast as lightning.
I twisted away, grabbing his leg mid-air. "Get off me!" I yelled, throwing him into the wall. He crashed with a thud, groaning.
The third assassin pulled out two daggers, spinning them like in those anime shows. "You stole his power? Boss didn't warn us about this! You're just a nobody!"
He slashed at me, blades whistling. I ducked under one, but the other grazed my shoulder. Pain shot through me, but I ignored it. "I didn't steal anything! He just touched me!"
We circled each other, trading blows. He stabbed low—I blocked with my arm, feeling stronger than ever. "Hah! Weak block!" he taunted.
I punched his gut. "Shut up!" He doubled over, but kicked up, hitting my chin. I staggered back, tasting blood.
The leader watched, arms crossed. "This changes things. The man had powers, that's why we were ordered to kill him. If you have them now, our mission expands. You're done."
The second assassin got up, joining the fight. He threw a punch— I sidestepped and elbowed his back. "Damn these powers! Boss said the target was special, but not this!" he spat.
"What powers?" I demanded, dodging a dagger from the third. "Tell me why you're after him!"
The first one recovered, grabbing me from behind in a chokehold. "We don't know the details! Just that he's a glitch or something. Boss wants him gone—no questions!"
I felt that warmth again—the power. It exploded out. I broke free, spinning and slamming him to the ground. "I hate you guys! Leave me alone!"
The leader finally moved, pulling a long sword from his coat. "Enough. Mission says kill the target. You're extra, but we'll handle it."
He swung wide—I leaped over it, landing a kick to his side. He grunted but countered with a slash. I rolled away, heart pounding.
"You fight dirty!" I shouted.
"And you fight like you got a cheat code," he replied, hatred in his eyes. "But powers or not, boss's orders— you die!"
We clashed again—fists, blades, kicks flying. Punches landed with cracks like thunder. I blocked a sword strike with my bare hand, shocking myself. "How—?"
"The powers we were warned about," the leader hissed, pushing harder. "Boss knew he had them. Now you do. We'll end it!"
One assassin threw a dagger—I caught it mid-air and hurled it back. It hit his leg. He screamed, "You freak! I'll make you pay!"
The fight raged on, alley walls shaking from our impacts. I was bruised, bleeding, but the power kept me going. They hated me for getting in the way of their mission, and I hated them for trying to kill me.
Finally, I saw an opening. With a yell, I charged the leader, power surging like a storm.
But before I could reach him, the leader smirked and said, "I'm sorry, kid, but this is the end." [Shadow Sneak] He vanished into thin air right in front of me. I blinked, shocked—what just happened? Where did he go? Then, pain exploded in my back as his dagger sliced deep. I gasped, stumbling forward, blood pouring out. He had appeared behind me somehow, like magic.
I fell to my knees, clutching the wound. The assassins laughed, circling me.
"Look at him," one sneered. "Thought he could win with that stolen power. Pathetic."
"Yeah," another added, kicking dirt at me. "You got the old man's tricks, but our boss here? He's got his own trump card. Powers too. That's why he's the leader—always one step ahead."
The third one chuckled. "Kid, you never stood a chance. We were just playing. Boss's shadow move? That's real power. Yours is just a hand-me-down."
I groaned, trying to stand. "You... you have powers too? That's not fair!"
The leader wiped his dagger, grinning. "Fair? This is a mission, not a game. I hide my gifts until needed. Now, time to finish you off."
They raised their weapons, ready to end it. But then, the leader's watch started beeping loud and fast.
He glanced at it, frowning. "Damn. Time's up."
One assassin groaned. "Already? Boss, we almost had him!"
"Yeah," said another. "The higher-ups set that strict time limit. Mission ends now, or we get in trouble."
The third nodded. "Kid's lucky. If not for the clock, he'd be dead meat."
The leader sighed. "Fine. Pull back. He's bleeding bad anyway—might not last the night. Mission complete on the old guy; this one's a bonus we can't claim now."
They backed away, vanishing into the shadows. I tried to get up, but the world spun. Blood loss hit me hard. Everything went blurry, and I dozed off right there in the alley.