CHAPTER 6

"Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God." Sam dropped her phone and started trembling. Johnny and Daniel looked at each other, absolutely terrified. However, after glancing at the even more petrified teenagers, they snapped themselves into action.

"Okay, guys. Listen up!" Daniel announced. "First things first, everyone calm down. We can't freak out, okay? I'm going to call 911 now and I'll wait here for them until they arrive. Johnny, you, Demitri, Mitch and Chris go into the forest together and see if you can find them. It's a long shot, but just try your best and KEEP YOUR PHONES ON. We can't afford to lose anyone else. Sam…" Daniel paused, looking at his daughter, who was starting to hyperventilate. "You just stay here, sweetie."

Johnny nodded at Daniel and him and his search party took off into the woods, hoping and praying that the boys weren't too far away…

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Miguel groaned and stumbled to his feet. It took him several moments as every inch of his body was throbbing in pain, all the way from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. It was like someone had replaced blood with boiling water, and it was burning him from the inside out. However, he forced himself to get up. He knew that they were pretty far into the forest, and it would be a long time until someone was coming to help them. Quickly ripping off his t-shirt and wrapping it around his arm to stem the bleeding, Miguel then stumbled over to Hawk, who was still unconscious but otherwise unharmed. He tried to wake his friend up for several minutes using every known technique in the book: pouring water on him, shouting his name, slapping his face, shaking his shoulders. Nothing worked. He then took out his phone, trying to find help, but he groaned when he realised that Robby and Tory had broken it in half. Miguel sighed. He knew what he had to do. Crying out in pain, Miguel slowly lifted Hawk up and draped him across his shoulders. His knees felt like giving out but he forced himself to start walking in the direction of basecamp…

According to his map, it was about a 1 and a half mile journey back to base camp but he underestimated how tough that journey would be. Normally, for a cross-country runner like Miguel and Hawk, that journey would take them no longer than 10-15 minutes. However, with Hawk slung across his shoulder and his body feeling like it had been sent through a paper shredder, every step he took felt like the final one before he would collapse and pass out. He forced himself to continue though, not daring to stop as he knew that if he did, he wouldn't get back up. Finally, after around 40 minutes, Miguel started to see some familiar sights…

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"Did you find them?" Daniel asked, urgently, as Johnny and his search party came into the clearing. Johnny looked down and shook his head. At this point, he was extremely worried. He had no idea what he would do if something happened to Miguel. After the school fight, he had gone off the rails with his drinking, and he knew that that may happen again if Miguel was back in that hospital bed long-term.

"We searched everywhere in a half mile radius. Nothing." Johnny murmured to Daniel, quietly so Sam - who seemed to be on the verge of having a mental breakdown - wouldn't hear. He looked at her and saw her facial expression, and then turned back to Daniel. "Go take her home, Larusso. She shouldn't be here. Let me take care of this." Johnny offered. Daniel sighed and shook his head.

"I told her. She wants to stay. Just in case, you know…" Daniel's voice trailed off and Johnny nodded. He did know. In case when the paramedics found the guys, their hearts weren't beating anymore. Robby had already proven the lengths he would go to to win a fight against Miguel during the school fight. However, his dark train of thought was cut off when Demitri leapt to his feet.

"LOOK!" Demitri shouted, pointing into the foliage. Everyone stared into the forest and saw a dark shape appearing to be walking towards them. It was too wide and tall to be human, but they couldn't tell what exactly it was. A couple of seconds later, everyone's hearts leapt into their mouths as the figure came into brightness and they saw what it was. It was Miguel, with Hawk over his shoulders. Miguel's eyes widened when he saw them, and he had to blink several times to make sure he wasn't imagining things. His body was screaming in pain, and he was just about ready to keel over and die.

"Oh, my fucking God! I made it. I made it. I…"

Miguel didn't finish his sentence. Less than 100 yards away from the basecamp and well in their view, Miguel finally collapsed, letting unconsciousness take over him. He didn't even feel himself being carried into an ambulance and rushed to a hospital…

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An hour later, Miguel and Hawk were in neighboring hospital rooms, and their families were scrambling around the rooms. Sam had calmed down considerably now, and was now sitting right next to an unconscious Miguel in his hospital room. She said right there for several hours, barely even moving, hearing people come and go from the room around her but not even looking up. Eventually, night fell and visiting hours ended. Miguel's family went home, exhausted and worn out, leaving just Johnny and Sam on opposite sides of the room.

"You should go home. Get some sleep." Johnny grunted. Only one of them was allowed to stay in Miguel's room overnight. Sam shook her head.

"No. I'll stay. It's not like I'm going to get any sleep if I go home anyway." Sam murmured. Johnny nodded. Now that Miguel was safe, Sam had started to think clearly about the whole afternoon's events, and Tory's final words on the call rang through her brain on repeat.

Hey, Larusso. You're next, bitch

It had taken Sam nearly 4 months to start to make progress at tackling her PTSD issues after the school fight, and this ambush had just sent her back further than she started. She knew that she was going to be having nightmares at least until the All-Valley, and she would probably be looking over her shoulder for Tory long after that.

"You're a good person, Larusso." Johnny said, quietly. "And you know, I'm sorry for pitting Miguel against you last year. I didn't know you. Just because your dad's a bitch, doesn't automatically mean you're one too."

Sam laughed.

"Well, that apology started great. It kinda slipped off at the end with you insulting my dad, but yeah, it's okay. My dad did the same thing you did and I didn't handle it great either. Guess it took Miguel and I finally growing up for you two to grow up too."

Johnny chuckled and nodded.

"Yeah. He deserves someone like you. He's been through a lot in his life, in Ecuador and here. I glad he finally managed to catch a break."

Sam glanced at Miguel, who was still unconscious on the hospital bed, and raised an eyebrow.

"This is catching a break, for you? Jesus you have low standards." She remarked. Johnny rolled his eyes.

"You know what I mean. After everything he's gone through in the past year, the last thing he's needed is another toxic relationship." Johnny said. "Anyways, good night, Larusso. See you tomorrow."

"Good night, Sensei Lawrence." Sam murmured in reply, smiling faintly at him. This was the first time she had ever seen Sensei Lawrence anything but his normally rude, politically-incorrect-as-hell self, and she realised why Miguel loved him so much. Johnny then left the room and Sam stood up shortly after, heading towards the bathroom. On her way, she peaked into Hawk's room and saw how eerily empty it looked. She knew what she needed to do. Pulling out her phone, she dialled a number…

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"Daniel, this is insane!" Amanda snapped as her and Daniel drove home from the hospital that night. "Those boys could have died, and you're telling me they're not going to press charges?!"

Daniel shook his head.

"Yup. It sucks but that's the way it is. There's nothing linking Kreese to the attack so if Miguel and Hawk's family press charges and Robby and Tory get sent to juvie, there's nothing stopping Kreese from staying in the valley for the rest of his life. Our bet will be off and he will face no criminal charges. I mean, you saw how well he talked during that All-Valley hearing. He's manipulative and calculating to another degree. The only thing we can do is just bite the bullet until the tournament and train hard enough to beat them."

Amanda nodded and sighed.

"I know. It just sucks, that's all. So there's nothing you can do?"

Daniel clenched his jaw.

"I didn't say that…"

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Later that night, Daniel stormed into the Cobra Kai dojo, ready to confront Kreese. There was no way that man was getting away with nearly killing two students. Not if he could help it.

"KREEEESE!" Daniel bellowed as he barged through the entrance of the dojo. It was nearly 11 pm so of course there were no students there, but Kreese was normally there almost all the time. "Show yourself, you coward!

Kreese stepped out of his office moments later and grinned at Daniel, completely at ease.

"Greetings, Mr. Larusso." Kreese smirked. "What can I help you with?"

"What can you help me with?! WHAT CAN YOU HELP ME WITH?! YOUR THUGS NEARLY KILLED TWO OF MY STUDENTS!" Daniel shouted, out of control now. Kreese, not losing his cool demeanor, nodded.

"Yeah, I heard about that. Excellent job if you ask me. That Keene kid especially. I guess I have you to thank for training him so well, and for training Mr. Diaz and Hawk so poorly."

At the mention of Robby, Daniel's blood boiled.

"Listen here, old man." Daniel growled, menacingly, grabbing Kreese by the collar. "You stay the hell away from my students until the All-Valley, or you're not going to live to see your 73rd birthday!"

Kreese looked down at Daniel's hands and tutted cockily.

"Now, now, Daniel. You might want to take your hands off me. Remember, it didn't work out so well for your wife. And you know, I'm being pretty considerate making this bet with you and Johnny. I'm sure you wouldn't want me to… back out of the deal, would you?"

"You back out of the deal and so help me God there will be so many cops on you that your grandchildren are going to need lawyers." Daniel spat. Kreese shrugged.

"Well, that works out for me 'cause I don't have any grandchildren. Besides, last time you tried to make a complaint against me, it didn't go so well, remember? And then at the All-Valley hearing. In case you don't remember, I'm a pretty good talker." Kreese remarked. Daniel rolled up his sleeves.

"Fine. Fair enough. Then I kill you myself." Daniel snapped. Kreese chuckled.

"Well, before you do that, I thought it might be nice for me to introduce you to my new co-senseis. I know you and Johnny are teaming up so I thought that it was only fair for me to call in the cavalcade too."

Stepping out from the office, two men dressed in black Cobra Kai gis grinned cockily at Daniel. Daniel's blood ran cold as he recognised them. Staring back at him were two men he hoped he would never have to see again: Terry Silver and Mike Barnes.

"Hey Danny Boy." Barnes grinned. "Long time no see."

Daniel's mind was suddenly sent back to that All-Valley. He visualised every single blow Barnes sent his way. He was suddenly filled with the same fear he felt that day, but this time, he had no Mr. Miyagi to calm him down.

"So, Daniel…" Kreese said, quietly but firmly. "Let me lay down the law for you. What your students do to my students is fair game. What my students do to your students is fair game. But, if you ever think about coming after me personally again, I warn you that these men are trained in the Cobra Kai way. Strike First."

"Strike Hard." Silver continued. Barnes grinned sadistically at Daniel before finishing the mantra.

"No. Mercy…"