I walked into the gymnasium, the sound of squeaking sneakers filling the air. Laughter and chatter reverberated off the walls, intensifying the knot of anxiety in my stomach. PE had always been a thorn in my side, an eternal source of worry and stress. It was the one class where I couldn't let my guard down. All in the name of Gotham Academy's commitment to "promoting overall well-being and holistic education" — or so they claimed in their flowery brochure. One wrong move, and the carefully constructed façade I had built over the years would crumble like a house of cards.

As the class began, I huddled in the back, hoping to blend in with the sea of students. The coach's voice boomed over the noise of the room, announcing each name like a harbinger of doom. My heart sank when I caught sight of the rope hanging ominously from the ceiling. Yeah, that was definitely a big no-no for me. I had to sit this one out. I couldn't risk ripping the whole thing off the ceiling. The thought of it sent a chill down my spine. I started discretely edging towards the door.

"Come on, Kent!" Tyler's arrogant voice cut through the air, slashing my escape plan to shreds. I froze, my eyes locking with his smug gaze.

"What's the matter? Can't handle a little exercise?" he taunted, his tone oozing superiority, as if he was speaking to a lower life form. Tyler's icy gaze bore into me, daring me to challenge him.

Summoning all the self-control I could muster, I took a deep breath and fired back, "Oh, exercise is no issue for me, Tyler. But hey, have fun swinging around like a chimp, I've got better ways to challenge myself."

Tyler's smirk widened. "Oh, really? So, what's your secret workout routine, Kent? Tiptoeing around life?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, striking a nerve I had carefully tucked away.

I mustered a dismissive smile. "Whatever, Tyler. I've got better things to do than entertain your ego. Now, if you don't mind…"

Before I could sidestep him, Tyler planted a hand on my torso, trying to block my path. I shot a glance at his hand, then met his eyes with a raised eyebrow. Seriously? Oh, the temptation to bulldoze through him like a tank was strong. But I stopped in my tracks. He was lucky I had to maintain this facade. How satisfying would it be to flick his hand off like an annoying fly. But I held myself back, aware of the catastrophic consequences that a mere flick could bring.

"Don't worry, Kent. You can run. But you're gonna have to climb that rope someday." He took a step closer, his expensive cologne assaulting my senses. "And when you do, I'll be there to watch you fall." Tyler's condescending stare scanned me from head to toe, his lips curving into a sneer as he took in my tattered shoes.

The jibe hit a nerve, causing my muscles to tense involuntarily. But I bit my tongue, refusing to let the situation escalate. This wasn't the place, nor the time, to let my frustrations get the better of me.

I turned away, keeping my head down. As I shuffled toward the exit, the echoes of Tyler's laughter and the cackles from his clique trailed behind me.

The darkness inside me churned, bubbling up like a cauldron of boiling rage. Each passing day seemed to stoke the flames of my inner fury, threatening to breach the fragile walls of control. I felt like a ticking time bomb threatening to explode. Like my anger was a living, breathing thing, demanding to be set free.

It didn't take a genius to figure out the root of the problem. I had no outlet for the pent-up energy simmering inside me. The thought made my skin crawl in disgust. I loathed the monster within me, the beast I was hell-bent on keeping at bay. Yet, a small voice whispered in the depths of my mind, reminding me that I couldn't keep ignoring this side of myself forever. It was urging me to find a release, before innocent souls got caught in its destructive wake. Maybe I did need to find that outlet, and fast. Before someone got hurt.

I stormed out of the gym, desperate to escape the suffocating tension. Inhaling deeply, the refreshing air filled my lungs, immediately easing the tightness in my chest. The warmth of the sun on my skin felt invigorating, each ray injecting me with renewed energy. My eyes searched for a sanctuary and I spotted a majestic tree nearby. I walked over and leaned my back against its sturdy trunk.

The rustling of leaves above provided a gentle soundtrack to my thoughts, their soothing rhythm calming my racing mind.

The peace was short-lived as I heard the sound of footsteps approaching me. I looked up and saw Helena's brother standing there, arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

"Kent," he said, his voice dripping with frostbite. I stood up, towering over him. "Wayne," I replied, returning the favor, trying to keep the tension out of my voice.

"What's your deal with Helena?" he asked, cutting to the chase.

"My deal?" I repeated, confused. "There's no deal, Damian. We're friends, nothing scandalous or newsworthy about that."

He let out a derisive snort. "Don't give me that. I know how guys like you operate."

I bristled at his insinuation. "Guys like me? What the hell does that even mean?"

"Oh, you know damn well what I mean," he spat back. "I suggest you keep your distance from her. For your own good."

I felt a surge of anger at his threat, but I clenched my jaw, determined to keep my cool. "I don't respond well to threats, Wayne," I retorted, my voice icy. "And I won't stop seeing her just because you tell me to."

Damian's jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might confront me. But then he seemed to think better of it and turned on his heel, storming off without another word.

I watched as his retreating figure disappeared around the corner. I wondered what his problem was. Was it me? Was he trying to protect his sister from me? Or was it something else entirely? Perhaps there was a more intricate web of family dynamics at play. The more I pondered, the more my head spun with questions. I rubbed my temples, trying to chase away the swirling thoughts.

I knew Helena's family was one big tangled mess. Her father being a wealthy socialite known for his lavish lifestyle meant they were constantly in the public eye. Drama and attention seemed inevitable. But despite all that, Helena remained kind and genuine, a rare find among the privileged offspring of Gotham's elite. I treasured our growing friendship, finally feeling like I belonged somewhere. The thought of losing that connection because of Damian's disapproval made me feel sick.

My thoughts drifted back to the chaotic scene at the convenience store that had brought Helena into my life.

I was fishing around in my pocket for some spare change, hoping to stretch it out for a meager lunch. I reached for the bag of chips that would constitute my meal, when the sound of scuffling caught my attention.

Amidst the shabby shelves, two ragged and emaciated figures were locked in a desperate struggle over a candy bar and a can of soda. One of them wielded a rusted pocket knife, its blade glinting ominously in the fluorescent light. I hesitated, unsure of what to do. This was exactly the type of situation I tried to avoid meddling in.

Suddenly, the scuffle ended with a loud thud, and one of the men stumbled backward, knocking over a rack of cereal boxes. I was about to offer my help when I picked up the unmistakable sound of someone typing 9-1-1 on their keyboard, immediately recognizing the distinct notes.

I strained my eyes to peer through the cluttered shelves, towards the source of the sound, and saw a disheveled woman fumbling with her phone. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed movement near the entrance of the store. I squinted through the aisles, trying to discern what was happening, when the glint of metal caught my eye. I watched in horror as a tall and lanky man holding a gun came into view, shouting orders for everyone to get on the ground.

The universe seemed to be playing a cruel joke on me. It was almost as if fate had conspired to bring me to this exact moment. I stood frozen in my spot. The thought of intervening made my heart race with apprehension.

How could I stop the man without causing harm, especially in front of the other customers? Any kind of physical restraint would likely be met with resistance. One small miscalculation and I risked breaking one of his bones, exposing the monster I really was for all to see. The man's eyes darted around the store, scanning for any signs of defiance. I was frantically searching for a solution but my mind was blank. Until screams started to pierce the air.

I dashed towards the front of the store. The mugger was aggressively demanding money from the terrified cashier, his eyes blazing with anger and desperation. The other customers were cowering behind the aisles, their eyes bulging with fear, and the cashier looked like she was about to faint.

As I got closer, I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, my instincts taking over. The people nearer to the exit were already leaving the store, their hurried footsteps echoing on the linoleum floor. The mugger grew more agitated and twitchy, waving his gun around wildly and making threats that only served to heighten the tension in the air.

I stepped in front of the clerk, shielding her from the mugger's view, and raised my hands in a gesture of peace. "I think you better go," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "The cops are going to get here soon." The mugger's face twisted into an angry sneer. "Get out of my way!" he spat, trying to shove me aside. When I didn't budge, he looked at me bewildered, his finger tightening on the trigger. A high-pitched scream rang out, startling him, and his finger jerked involuntarily.

For a moment, time seemed to slow down, and I could see the bullet racing towards me. My eyes widened in shock. I braced myself for the impact. Pain shot through my shoulder, and I stumbled back, wincing. I looked down to see the bullet dropping to the floor. It stung like a bitch, but it didn't pierce through. The man looked as shocked as I felt, his jaw dropping in disbelief.

I was left standing there in a daze, unable to process what had just happened. The mugger didn't miss the opportunity to make a run for it. He dashed towards the exit door, knocking over the display of candies, which spilled all over the floor like a burst of sweet confetti. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he spotted a woman tightly gripping her purse. He shoved her with force, snatching her purse in the process. The woman stumbled and fell to the ground. He paid her no attention and continued his sprint towards the door. My feet felt glued to the ground as he made his escape. I knew I was pretty tough, but bullets? The other customers, who had hidden during the commotion, were starting to come out of hiding, cautiously peering around the aisles.

I instinctively scooped up the mangled bullet from the floor. Just as I was slipping it into my pocket, the sound of the store bell caught my attention. A young woman with raven hair had barged into the store. It was the first time I laid eyes on her. She had an air of confidence about her, and her eyes gleamed with a fierce determination.

She had heard the gunshot and ran right towards the danger. Shouldn't she be running in the opposite direction? Her bravery was both admirable and puzzling. She looked around with a frown, taking in the scene of chaos and confusion. "What the hell happened here?" she exclaimed, her eyes darting between the scattered items and the distressed customers who were helping each other up and tending to the traumatized cashier.

The young woman turned to me. I was still rooted on the spot. "Hey, I remember seeing you on campus," she said, a hint of recognition in her voice, "What happened? I heard gunshots." her eyes pierced through my daze. I shook my head, trying to clear the fog that had settled in my mind. "I...I don't know," I stammered, "Some guy came in here with a gun and started demanding money., I looked over at the shaken woman behind the counter, who was still visibly trembling. "He tried to shoot me, but he missed." I added. The girl's eyes seemed to look right through me.

She frowned in concern, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "It's okay," she reassured me. "You're safe now" she added soothingly. "But the police will be here soon and we don't want to get caught up in the chaos." With that, she took my hand and led me towards the door, the other customers following closely behind us.