The first place Alex went was the Dean's office but arriving there, it so happened that the man was nowhere to be seen.
Nevertheless, Alex left and decided to return to his hostel — The school had closed already but there were still a few students walking around, those that either come from a far distance or do not have money to return home.
Alex could be considered as one of them — He had a home, it was not far from the academy but he didn't want to return home yet, untill he carries out his mission — only then, could he have a peace of mind.
On his way back to the hostel, a student stopped him.
"Are you Alex?" The girl asked him.
Alex gazed at the girl, he had never seen her before. "Yes," he replied. "Any problem?" He asked her.
She nodded and then dipped her hand inside her mini-purse, pulling out a small paper. "Someone asked me to give this to you," she said and handed the paper to him.
Alex was reluctant to collect it from her, he didn't know who she was and why anyone would send her to him.
"Haven't you always wanted to know why your parents were killed for no reason? You will find the answers you seek after you collect the paper from me," the girl said to him.
As expected, Alex collected the paper from her and the girl left afterwards. He went ahead to open the paper and when he did, an address was written there.
The address was located at a construction site, outside the city.
Without wasting time, Alex set off.
-----
Alex stood at the edge of the construction site, his sharp gaze scanning the unfinished skeleton of a building looming under the fading evening light. The wind howled through the exposed steel beams, carrying the scent of dust and concrete. Everything about the place reeked of a trap but he had come anyway.
The paper in his hand felt heavier than it should, as if the truth it promised weighed down his every step.
Answers.
That was what brought him here. The mystery surrounding his parents' deaths had haunted him for weeks—too many secrets, too many lies. If there was even the slightest chance of uncovering the truth, he couldn't ignore it.
Still, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something wasn't right.
With quiet, measured steps, Alex moved further inside. The half-constructed building stretched several floors high, the concrete walls jagged and incomplete. Machinery stood abandoned, the faint creak of metal echoing through the empty structure. Shadows stretched long and thin across the ground as the sun dipped lower.
The address had led him here so where were they?
Alex's senses sharpened, his ears tuned to every faint noise. He had learned the hard way never to let his guard down. If this was an ambush, he wouldn't be caught off guard.
Or so he thought.
A sudden snap of footsteps pierced the silence behind him. Before he could react, voices emerged from the shadows.
"You're just as reckless as I expected," a familiar voice drawled.
Alex whirled around, his muscles tensing. His eyes landed on a figure stepping into the fading light— theDean.
"So, you are here," Alex said coldly, his fists clenching at his sides. "What's the meaning of this?"
The Dean smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in his expression. "Did you really think you could keep sneaking around without us noticing? You've been far too curious for your own good, Alex."
A chill crawled down Alex's spine as more figures emerged from the shadows, one by one. There were at least a dozen of them, their faces obscured by masks. But his attention shifted when two other figures stepped forward—Mr. GustavoandVictor.
Alex's heart pounded harder. "You too?" His voice hardened with disbelief.
Mr. Gustavo's usual friendly demeanor was nowhere to be seen. His face was cold, unreadable. Victor stood beside him, arms crossed, his expression as sharp and dangerous as ever.
"You've been a thorn in our side for too long," Victor said, his voice low and threatening. "It's time to put an end to your little games."
Alex's blood boiled. "Is that why you lured me here? What—afraid of what I might find out?"
The Dean chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down Alex's spine. "You're bold. I'll give you that. But answers aren't free, boy. You should know that by now."
The masked figures began to move, encircling him slowly, cutting off any route of escape.
Alex's jaw tightened as adrenaline surged through his veins. If they thought they could corner him like some helpless animal, they were sorely mistaken. "I'm not leaving until I get the truth," he said, his voice cold and resolute.
Victor laughed softly, a harsh, humorless sound. "Truth? The truth is, your parents got in the way. And now… so have you."
The words struck like a blow to his chest. Alex felt his control slipping, anger burning through him like fire. His fingers twitched at his side. He could feel the raw energy coursing through his body, the strength he had gained, the power lurking beneath his skin.
"You shouldn't have come alone," Mr. Gustavo said, his tone almost pitying. "No one is coming to save you."
"I don't need saving," Alex growled.
And with that, he moved.
He lunged forward, his enhanced speed catching them off guard. The first masked man didn't even have time to react before Alex's fist slammed into his ribs, sending him flying backward into a pile of broken concrete.
The others surged toward him.
Alex twisted his body, narrowly dodging a blade aimed at his neck. He grabbed the attacker's arm, bending it at an unnatural angle until he heard the sickening snap of bone. Without pausing, he spun and kicked another figure square in the chest, sending them crashing into a metal beam.
But the numbers were against him.
A heavy blow struck his shoulder, and pain flared through his body. Alex gritted his teeth, retaliating with a vicious elbow to the face of the man who had hit him. Blood splattered against the dusty floor.
"Is that all you've got?" Alex taunted, his breaths coming fast and hard.
Victor stepped forward, slow and deliberate, as if the chaos unfolding around him was nothing more than a game. "You're impressive but you can't keep this up forever."
Alex didn't answer. His focus was razor-sharp as he weaved through the attacks, landing punishing blows with inhuman strength. But no matter how many he knocked down, more took their place.
The Dean watched with detached amusement. "You're fighting a losing battle," he said.
A sudden strike caught Alex in the side, making him stumble. Another masked man took advantage, slamming a metal rod against his back. Pain exploded through his body, but he refused to fall.
He couldn't. Not yet.
Alex's vision blurred for a moment, but his fury only grew. His power surged, burning under his skin, a reminder that he was no longer the weak boy they thought he was.
He turned his attention to Victor. "If you think I'll break, you don't know me at all."
Victor's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "Then let's see how far you're willing to go."
With a flick of his wrist, the remaining figures advanced all at once.
Alex braced himself, his breath ragged. He knew one thing for certain—he wouldn't stop. Not until he had the truth. Not until every single one of them regretted underestimating him.
And if they wanted a fight…He was more than ready to give them one.