"I don't actually remember Runaway Fam, that arc…" Jack thinks.
"But it will come soon, in the next few weeks. I'll try my best to help…"
The sun falls and the moon rises.
"Time to earn some reputation,"
Jack says as he kicks the door and rushes inside.
It's a club.
And he's here just to beat up everyone—yeah, really smart move (sarcastically, of course).
Jack beats one person, then another.
That's just how the week goes on. At this point Jack has beaten so many people that most of his clothes are covered in blood.
But he didn't forget to work.
He was talking to Soo-jin.
"Do you have any problems?"
Jack asks.
"No—wait, actually…"
"Hm?"
"My sister… uhm, never mind."
Soo-jin pauses.
"No, no, tell me."
"Well… my sister's friend ran away. Only one message. She just sent a message to my sister and that's all."
"Can I meet your sister?"
"What? Why? You're not a detective, are you?"
"No, but I know somebody…"
Jack replies.
"Um, well, I can give you her number."
"Great."
Soo-jin gives him her sister's number.
And that's how Jack, after work, ends up at Soo-jin's house.
(Yeah, why talk on the phone if he can just show up in person?)
"Explain—did anything strange happen to her before?"
Jack asks.
"N-not really, but Minsu-Ji had trouble with her family…"
Soo-jin's sister says.
"Well… what kind of trouble?"
"They got divorced three months ago,"
the sister replies.
"O—well, if tha—"
Jack can't finish because someone knocks on the door.
"It's probably my friend. He's good."
Jack opens the door.
It's…
Jace (Burning Knuckles).
"Why did you call me here?"
Jace shouts.
"I know you're the smartest in J-High. I've heard a lot from Daniel about you,"
Jack answers.
Jace steps inside. Jack explains the whole situation.
"Oh, well… I suggest you call the cops,"
Jace comments.
"They do nothing! Just lazy asses!"
Soo-jin's sister replies.
"If that's the case… I'll help you."
"R-really? Yay! Thank you, mister!"
Jack and Jace leave.
"So what do we do now?"
Jack asks.
"I have a small idea… I'll call you soon."
Jace walks away.
........
Jack's phone buzzes twice, then once more Jace's signal.
"Meet me behind the old convenience store," the message reads.
Jack arrives to find Jace leaning against a cracked wall, hands bandaged but still faintly glowing with heat.
"I did some digging," Jace says. "Minsu-Ji's family problems weren't the whole story. Her father owes money. Bad people. The kind who don't mind taking someone as leverage."
Jack frowns. "So she didn't run?"
"No," Jace replies. "She was taken. And the trail's fresh."
Jack cracks his knuckles. "Then we follow it."
Jace smirks. "Already got a lead a warehouse near the harbor. But here's the catch: these guys? They're not the weak punks you beat up for fun. They're organized."
"Good," Jack says, stepping forward. "I'm tired of warm-ups."
Jace sighs.
Together, they head toward the dim streets, the night wind cold against their faces.
A storm is coming, and they're walking straight into it.
(Also I forgot most of Runaway Fam, fr.)
Chapter end bey