It was beginning to grow dark out. Luz heard soft footsteps against the asphalt. Suddenly, she surrounded.
Luz looked up too see black-clad figures standing in front of her, almost gathered in a ritual-like circle.
"Bad day-" Jackie mumbled, as he appeared standing in a kung fu-stance and holding his fists up in warning. Luz tried to mimic his movements.
"We're in your debt, Mr. Chan," a deep voice belonging to one of the figures crooned in a not-so-friendly voice.
"Uh-oh," Luz mumbled, stepping back and holding her hands across from her chest.
One of the dark figures leaped at Jackie, and he kicked them aside. Several more figures tried pushing him and kicking, but he dodged them, nearly tripping him in the process.
"How can i help?" Luz asked over the din of grunting and kicking.
"Why fight," Jackie panted, grabbing her shoulder and pulling her along, "when you can run?"
"Run?" Luz yelled. "But we can't run! They'll just follow us!"
"Luz," Jackie said as we ran, "all is well."
Luz shrugged. All's well that ends well.
"Luz!" She heard a familiar young voice say, and Jackie and Luz turn around to see King keeping the rear.
"What are you doing here?" Luz sighed, looking seemingly exasperated.
"Aww, I wanna do fun stuff too!" King pouted, his arms folded on his chest.
"This not fun," Jackie said. "Dangerous."
King let out a sigh of discontent.
"Jackie, I'm sorry. I never meant for your family to get involved in this." Luz was standing outside of the shop with Jackie, Uncle, and King.
"It's not your fault," Jackie said solemnly. "The Dark Hand are always trying something." Which was followed by Uncle cuffing him on the head again.
"I told you," Uncle barked, "The talisman in the center of the shield is. That is where the magic lies."
