Chapter 6: The first display of power
The city streets were quiet that night—too quiet, Kelvin thought. Ten years of silence had carved a shadow around him, but the city didn't know he was back. Not yet.
He moved through the alleys with the ease of someone who had walked these paths a thousand times before. Neon lights flickered, reflecting on puddles from an earlier rain. Somewhere in the distance, laughter, music, and the low rumble of engines filled the night. Ordinary, chaotic… unprepared.
Kelvin's eyes scanned the crowd. A familiar gang—faces he'd known long ago—hovered near a corner store, making their usual show of bravado. They thought the streets were theirs. They didn't know.
It only takes one move to remind them.
He stepped out from the shadows. A few seconds of silence, and then the first whisper: "Is that…?"
Before anyone could react, the air shifted. The closest thug froze, a subtle pressure against his chest like a tide pushing him back. Others tried to move, but something invisible held them. Panic flashed across their eyes. Kelvin raised a hand, and they stumbled back, colliding with the walls and each other.
It was enough. Just enough to make them understand: Kelvin was back, and he was no longer the man they remembered.
Ten years… and this city still smells the same.
From a rooftop above, a figure watched silently. A camera flashed, capturing the scene. Rumors would spread by morning. By noon, the whispers would grow into fear. By evening… the city would know.
Kelvin didn't wait. He melted back into the shadows, leaving only stunned witnesses and the faint echo of a laugh that was both familiar and terrifying.
He paused in the alley, chest rising and falling with quiet intensity. This is only the beginning. They will all feel my power… eventually.
Author Note:"Ten years of silence… and yet, some things never change."
Chapter 7: The City Reacts
By morning, the city was buzzing. Whispers of a shadow moving like lightning spread through the streets. Videos of the alley incident—blurry yet chilling—had reached phones, news sites, and even gang networks.
Kelvin didn't care. He moved with purpose through crowded markets, the scent of street food and exhaust in the air. He noticed the subtle glances, the sudden pause in conversations as people whispered his name—some still unsure if the rumors were true.
In a downtown cafe, two men in suits spoke in low tones.
"Did you see it?" one asked."Yeah… whoever that is, he's not human," the other replied.
Kelvin smiled to himself. Exactly the reaction I wanted.
He knew his enemies would be watching, plotting. He had allies too—loyal ones who remembered him differently. One of them, Taye, slid a folded note across a table:
"The city's awake, boss. They know. And they're scared."
Kelvin read it, eyes narrowing. Good. Let them fear me—but not yet understand me.
As he left, a group of rival gang members lurked near a corner. One stepped forward, clearly testing him. Kelvin didn't even flinch. A subtle shift in his stance, a barely perceptible glare, and the man froze, then stumbled back. The rest scattered, their bravado shattered.
From a nearby rooftop, someone else was watching—a figure cloaked in black, eyes sharp. Kelvin didn't notice them yet, but he would. Soon enough.
Author Note:"The city sleeps uneasily now. Kelvin is awake."
Chapter 8: Old Ties, New Threats
Kelvin returned to a familiar hideout—a dusty warehouse by the river. Here, the past lingered like the smell of old paper and metal. Taye waited, along with a few loyal allies.
"You really stirred the city up," Taye said, smirking."They needed reminding," Kelvin replied.
Plans were drawn, maps spread across a table. It was time to reclaim what was his. But while old ties remained, new threats had emerged. A gang he had never faced before had moved into his territory while he was gone.
"We've got reports of a new player, boss. Not local. Dangerous," Taye warned.
Kelvin leaned back, eyes narrowing. Finally… someone interesting.
Later that night, a minor skirmish broke out at a checkpoint near the docks. Kelvin arrived just in time to see his men struggling. A flash of his presence was enough: enemies hesitated, then retreated.
Control is everything. Fear is a tool.
Back in the warehouse, Kelvin's mind drifted to the past—friends lost, enemies made, alliances broken. Some debts take a decade to settle… and some are only beginning.
A soft ping from his phone interrupted the silence. A message appeared: "He's back. And he's stronger than ever."
Kelvin's lips curled into a faint smile. Let the games begin.
Author Note:"Some debts take a decade to settle."