As Alex crept closer to the group, he could feel the energy building up inside him, like a simmering pot about to boil over. He was ready to unleash his newfound powers, to show Joseph and his friends that he was no longer the weak, defenseless, and useless boy they thought he was or have known him to be.
He was now strong, stronger than all of them and he would use his powers to bring all of them down to their knees.
All the pain, the abuse, the anger, the frustration, the resentment, everything that they caused him... He would make them feel all of it, bit by bit.
He would make them feel what it means to be dead than alive. He would make them regret being alive to witness his transformation.
Hero?... Damn that word!
His father has been crazy, serving humanity at the expense of his own life. He abandoned his family and choose strangers to be his family... At the end, what did he gain?
Being beheaded in public and burnt to ashes?!
How ironic! How laughable!
He covered his mouth as he let out a muffled chuckle, lowering himself backwards, he chuckled, his shoulders moving as he did so.
From laughing, he began to sob silently. He bent forward, still covering his mouth, he cried silently. His father's handsome face flashing in his eyes, his mother's warm smiles etched on his mind... He has lost them for good.
He was now an orphan! He was pathetic.
The only hope he has now was Peter, his dearest friend. He was the only source of light in his life right now and hopefully, he will do anything to sustain the light.
With a sudden burst of speed, Alex shot forward, his body moving at an incredible velocity. He was done crying, it was time for revenge.
He was a blur of motion, his feet barely touching the ground as he hurtled towards Joseph. The bully's eyes widened in shock as Alex appeared out of nowhere, his fist flying towards Joseph's face.
The punch connected with a loud crack, sending Joseph flying across the clearing. Alex didn't stop there. With his incredible speed, he darted from one person to the next, taking them down with swift and precise blows.
Joseph's friends were caught off guard, unable to defend themselves against Alex's lightning-fast attacks. They fell to the ground, groaning in pain as Alex continued his rampage.
In a matter of seconds, Alex had taken down the entire group, leaving them lying in the dirt.
Joseph, still dazed from the initial punch, looked up at Alex with a mixture of fear and shock. "W-what are you?" he stuttered, his voice trembling with terror.
Alex's gaze fell on Joseph, his expression cold and unforgiving. "I'm the one you messed with," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "I'm the one you thought you could bully and intimidate. But you were wrong."
Alex's eyes seemed to bore into Joseph's soul, and the bully felt a chill run down his spine. He had never seen anyone like Alex before, anyone with such power and such anger.
"You see, Joseph," Alex continued, his voice dripping with venom, "you and your friends made a big mistake. You thought you could push me around, that you could make me feel weak and helpless."
Alex's fists clenched at his sides, and his eyes blazed with a fierce intensity. "I'm not weak, Joseph. I'm not helpless. And I'm certainly not going to take your crap lying down."
Joseph and his friends cowered in fear, knowing that they had underestimated Alex. They had thought he was just a weak, defenseless boy, but they had been wrong. The Alex standing there was different.
"I am going to make all of you pay for your mistake!" He said and with a swift and deadly motion, Alex reached out and grabbed Joseph by the throat. The bully's eyes widened in terror as Alex lifted him off the ground, his feet dangling in the air. Despite Joseph's towering height, Alex raised him up with ease.
"You should have left me alone," Alex hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "You should have never messed with me."
With a sudden burst of strength, Alex slammed Joseph to the ground, the bully's head cracking against the dirt. Joseph's friends watched in horror as Alex began to drain the life force from Joseph's body.
Joseph's eyes turned glassy, his skin pale and clammy. His body began to wither and shrink, his muscles wasting away as Alex drained his energy.
The other bullies watched in terror as Alex turned his attention to them. One by one, he grabbed them and drained their life force, their bodies withering away like autumn leaves.
As the last bully fell to the ground, Alex stood there, staring at the dried-up corpse. He felt strangely at peace after killing them, peace that he hadn't felt in a long time now.
He turned around and began to head back to his hostel. He had accomplished his mission and his purpose today and he was satisfied.
>>>
The following morning, the news of Joseph's death and that of his friends was everywhere in the academy. They had died mysteriously and the academy is yet to discover the truth.
The area where it all happened was sealed, no one could go there except authorized staffs.
Meanwhile, Alex was heading to the library when all of a sudden, someone came from behind and placed their arm around his neck.
He was ready to react but instantly stopped the moment he perceived a familiar scent — it was Peter his friend.
"Hey, man," Peter said excitedly. "Where have you been?"
"I've been around, I should be the one asking you that," Alex replied.
"I have coming to see you but each time I do, I don't find you," Peter complained. "I was worried."
Alex gazed at Peter for a while before throwing a question at him.
"Are you scared that they will kill me just like they did to my parents?"
The question was sudden, Peter didn't see it coming. His mind reeled with many things, many possibilities.
'Could it be that he has found out already? But how come? Who told him?'
Peter thought as he stared at Alex.
"I know what you are thinking," Alex broke the silence after some time. "I know that you are aware that I know what is going on and I know that you are now hiding something from me."
"Alex, I—"
"I did not tell you not to keep things from me but if you are doing that, let it not be something bad because I will find it hard to forgive you."