Burned But Not Broken

Chapter 08

The tallest of the three boys swung the metal pipe first.

Kelvin jumped back. The pipe hit the ground hard and made a loud sound. Sparks flew from the concrete.

The other two boys moved to the sides, trying to trap him. One of them had a thick wooden stick. The third one only used his fists, but his arms were thick and full of old scars.

Kelvin’s heart beat fast. These were not school boys like Zico and his friends. These were older. Stronger. Meaner.

The tall one smiled.

“Zico paid us good money to break your legs,” he said. “Don’t make it hard.”

He swung the pipe again. Kelvin ducked and stepped to the left. The pipe missed his head by only a few centimeters. The wind from the swing touched his ear.

Kelvin did not wait. He stepped in close and punched the tall boy in the stomach as hard as he could. The boy let out a heavy breath and bent forward, but he did not fall. He was tougher than Zico.

The boy with the wooden stick attacked from the side. The stick hit Kelvin’s left arm. Pain shot up to his shoulder. Kelvin gritted his teeth and kicked the boy’s knee. The boy shouted and dropped the stick.

The third one rushed in and punched Kelvin in the chest. Kelvin stumbled back and hit the wall of the alley. His back hurt. For a second he could not breathe well.

The tall boy raised the metal pipe again, ready to hit his legs.

Kelvin’s eyes became sharp.

He could not lose here. If he fell now, they would break his bones. Then he would not be able to find evidence. He would not be able to make Zico pay for his mother’s death.

When the pipe came down, Kelvin rolled to the side. The pipe hit the wall and made a deep mark. Kelvin grabbed a handful of dirt and old ash from the ground and threw it into the tall boy’s eyes.

The tall boy cursed and rubbed his face. Kelvin used that second to punch him hard in the jaw. This time the tall boy fell to one knee.

The other two came at him together.

Kelvin blocked one punch but took a hit on his ribs from the other. Pain exploded in his side. He tasted blood in his mouth. Still, he did not stop. He grabbed the wrist of the boy who hit him and twisted it. There was a sharp cry of pain. Kelvin pushed him into the third boy and both of them fell.

For a moment, all three attackers were on the ground or kneeling.

Kelvin stood in the middle of the alley, breathing hard. His left arm was swelling. His ribs hurt every time he breathed. Blood ran from a small cut on his lip.

But he was still standing.

The tall boy wiped the dirt from his eyes and looked at Kelvin with real surprise.

“What are you?” he muttered. “You’re just a kid…”

Kelvin did not answer. He only stared at them with cold eyes.

The three boys looked at each other. They had expected an easy job. A weak school boy. Instead they were the ones hurting.

The tall one slowly stood up and picked up the metal pipe again. His face was darker now.

“This is not over,” he said. “Next time we won’t hold back.”

They backed away toward their motorcycles. One of them was holding his wrist. Another was limping. They started the engines and rode away, leaving only dust and the smell of smoke.

Kelvin waited until the sound of the motorcycles disappeared. Then his legs became weak. He sat down against the wall and held his side.

The System’s voice came.

[You have survived the attack.]

[No mission was active for this fight. No special reward.]

[Warning: Host’s body has received damage. Rest is recommended.]

Kelvin let out a short, painful laugh. “I already know that.”

He looked around the alley again. The burnt barrel was still there. Near the base of the barrel, something small and shiny caught his eye.

Kelvin forced himself to stand and walked over. He picked it up carefully.

It was a silver button. The kind that belonged to a school blazer. On the back, there was a small letter “Z” scratched into the metal.

Zico’s button.

It must have fallen when they threw him into the barrel that night.

Kelvin closed his hand around it.

It was not strong proof yet. But it was a start.

He put the button in his pocket and slowly walked out of the alley. Every step hurt, but he kept moving. He could not stay there.

When he reached his motorcycle, he sat on it for a long time before he could start the engine. The pain in his ribs made it hard to breathe deeply.

As he rode home, the sky was turning orange. People on the street looked at him strangely because of the dirt and blood on his uniform, but no one stopped him.

When he finally arrived at the inn — his inn — he parked the motorcycle and walked inside slowly.

The woman who used to own the place was already gone. The house was quiet and empty.

Kelvin went up to his room, closed the door, and sat on the bed. He took out the silver button and looked at it under the light.

“Zico,” he said in a low voice. “I will find more. Piece by piece.”

The System spoke again.

[New information recorded.]

[Mission Progress: 5%]

[Continue searching. Time remaining: 6 days, 14 hours.]

Kelvin lay down on the bed carefully, holding his side. His body was tired and full of pain, but his eyes were still open.

Outside, the night was coming.

Somewhere in the city, the three older boys were probably telling Zico what happened.

And Zico would not stay quiet after this.

Kelvin closed his hand around the silver button and stared at the ceiling.

The next fight was already on its way.

He could feel it.