Chapter 11: Taking the Fight to Raven
Jay stood outside Kenny's house, shivering slightly in the chilly evening air. His breath fogged as he knocked on the door for the third time. His phone buzzed in his pocket—Melanie had been calling all afternoon, but he ignored it. Right now, he needed answers, and Kenny was the only one who could give them.
When there was still no response, Jay tried the knob and found the door unlocked. A chill ran down his spine. That wasn't like Kenny.
"Kenny?" Jay called out as he stepped inside.
The house was eerily quiet except for the faint hum of Kenny's computer coming from his room. Jay climbed the stairs two at a time, pushing open the door—and froze.
Kenny sat slumped in his desk chair, his face battered and bruised. His right eye was swollen shut, his nose crusted with dried blood. His hand rested awkwardly in his lap, the fingers on his right hand bent unnaturally. Broken.
"Kenny!" Jay rushed forward, grabbing his friend by the shoulders. "What the hell happened to you?"
Kenny winced at the touch but managed a weak smile. "You're not gonna believe this," he croaked.
Jay crouched beside him, his heart racing. "Who did this? Was it Raven's guys?"
Kenny nodded, his voice shaky. "Yeah… Slade Masters and some other thug. They grabbed me on the way home. Said they had questions."
Jay clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. "Why didn't you call me? Or the cops?"
"Couldn't exactly call anyone," Kenny said with a grimace, nodding toward his broken phone on the desk. "They… weren't interested in letting me talk."
Jay's jaw tightened. "Did they say anything about my mom? About the flash drive?"
"They wanted to know what I knew," Kenny said, his voice low. "But I didn't tell them anything, Jay. I swear."
Jay's stomach churned with guilt. "This is my fault. If I hadn't dragged you into this—"
"Stop," Kenny interrupted, his good hand grabbing Jay's arm. "This isn't on you. We're in this together, remember? And if they're coming after us, that means we're onto something big."
Jay looked away, his jaw tightening. "I'm done playing games. I'm going after Raven."
"Wait, what?" Kenny asked, his voice rising in alarm.
"You heard me," Jay said, standing. "No more cloak-and-dagger crap. No more waiting for them to come to us. I'm taking the fight to him."
Kenny stared at him for a long moment, then sighed. "If you're going after Raven, you're gonna need this."
Kenny reached for a backpack at the foot of his bed and unzipped it, pulling out the contents with some effort. "Alice finished this a couple of days ago," he said, holding up the suit with a weak grin. "It's not exactly standard-issue cosplay, but it's badass."
Jay took the suit, his eyes widening as he unfolded it. The costume was sleek and modern, clearly designed with both function and style in mind.
Color Scheme: The primary color was a deep navy blue, accented with vibrant crimson details along the gloves, boots, and chest.
Design Details: The material had a faint metallic sheen, with subtle circuitry-like patterns etched into the fabric that glowed faintly yellow when the light hit them just right.
Mask: The mask was a minimalist design, covering the upper half of his face and leaving his jaw exposed. It had sharp, angular features that gave it an intimidating look, with crimson detailing around the eyes.
Utility: The gloves and boots had reinforced padding, and there was a small utility belt with compartments for basic tools or gadgets.
Jay turned the suit over in his hands, the weight of it sinking in. "This is… amazing," he said, his voice filled with awe.
"Alice really outdid herself," Kenny said with a weak chuckle. "She said it was her masterpiece."
Jay looked at him, his expression hardening with resolve. "This isn't just a costume, Kenny. It's a symbol. I'm not just some kid with powers anymore."
Kenny nodded. "You're a hero, Jay. And it's time the world saw that."
Jay slipped the mask over his face, adjusting it until it fit snugly. As he stared at his reflection in Kenny's cracked mirror, he felt a surge of determination.
"Raven's not gonna know what hit him," Jay said.