Encino – Mike's Apartment
The night had settled in thick and heavy, as though the city itself was holding its breath. Mike couldn't shake the words of the mysterious stranger from his mind. His pulse quickened every time he thought about that photo. His old team. Faces he once knew. Faces that should have been left in the past.
But the past was never so easy to bury.
He picked up the photo from the floor, his fingers trembling slightly as he examined it. They were all smiles then—young, carefree, naive. They had no idea what was coming.
I should've died with them, he thought bitterly. The thought of being the last one standing gnawed at him.
The door clicked behind him, and he spun around, ready to confront whatever ghost lurked in the shadows. But it wasn't the man from earlier.
It was Johnny Lawrence.
Johnny raised an eyebrow. "What's going on, Mike? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Mike let out a sharp breath and dropped the photo back onto the table. "Maybe I have," he muttered. "But not the kind you'd want to meet."
Johnny stepped closer, his expression serious. "You're not the only one running from your past. But you can't outrun it forever."
Mike shook his head, frustration bubbling up. "You don't get it. It's not just my past. It's coming for me. And I'm not sure I'm ready for it."
Johnny's gaze softened for a moment, his usual bravado fading. "Look, Mike, you've got two choices. You can keep running and hope it all fades away. Or you can face it head-on. You've been through hell and back. But you're still here. And that means you've got more fight in you than you think."
Mike's eyes flickered with something—something like hope, something like resolve—but it was buried deep beneath layers of guilt and rage. "I don't know if I can fight this, Johnny."
"You don't have to do it alone," Johnny said quietly.
Mike looked up, locking eyes with him. "You really think so?"
Johnny smiled, but it was a crooked, knowing smile. "Hell, I've been through enough to know that sometimes, the toughest fight is the one inside your own head. But you can't let that win."
Valley High School – Gymnasium
Tory stood in the center of the gym, her feet planted firmly on the floor. She didn't move. Her instincts were sharp tonight, sharper than ever before. She knew something was wrong—knew it deep in her bones.
The gym was still. Empty. The shadow she'd sensed earlier had not returned, but that didn't ease the tension that hung thick in the air. It felt like a storm was gathering—one she couldn't see but could feel inching closer.
Her breath caught when she heard it again. Soft footsteps, like the padding of an animal hunting in the dark. But this time, they weren't a figment of her imagination.
A figure stepped into the doorway. Cloaked in shadow. Predatory. Silent.
Tory's heart raced. This wasn't a student. This wasn't anyone she'd seen before.
Her hands instinctively balled into fists as she moved into a defensive stance.
The figure didn't say a word. He didn't have to. The cold menace emanating from him spoke volumes.
Germany – FANG V2 Compound
Kade's chest heaved with controlled breaths as he stood in the training chamber, surrounded by stark white walls that made every movement seem more urgent, more deliberate. He was still adjusting to the feeling of power that thrummed beneath his skin, still learning the limits of his new body.
Today, however, was different. Today was the day that would prove whether he had fully transformed into the weapon they had molded him to be.
The door slid open, and Dr. Kessler entered, her heels clicking against the floor like a ticking clock. She looked at Kade with cold, clinical eyes, her lips barely curling into a smile.
"You've been given a mission," she said, her voice like steel. "It's time to prove your worth."
Kade's eyes, hard and unfeeling, locked onto hers. He didn't respond. He never did.
"Your target," she continued, "is in Encino. His name is Mike Harris. You know him as 'Ghost Echo,' but you will know him as your final test."
Kade's heart did not race. He didn't feel fear. But there was something in him that flickered. A memory, perhaps. A whisper from before he became this… thing.
Dr. Kessler's voice broke through his thoughts. "There is no room for failure. Do not underestimate him. He's one of the few who might stand a chance against you."
Kade's gaze never wavered. He didn't respond. He didn't need to.
Encino – Mike's Apartment
Mike was finishing his last set of push-ups when his phone buzzed. He wiped the sweat from his brow, ignoring the pain in his shoulder as he reached for the device. The message was short but direct:
The Ghost is coming. Prepare.
His fingers froze on the screen, the words sinking into him like a cold blade. He knew who it was. Knew what he was facing.
A shadow from his past.
Mike stood up, his mind racing. There was no running from this. Not anymore.
Valley High School – Gymnasium
Tory didn't wait for the figure to make the first move. She launched herself forward with a quick jab, but the man in shadow was faster. His hand caught her fist mid-air, twisting her wrist with a precise motion that sent a jolt of pain up her arm.
"Who the hell are you?" Tory growled, gritting her teeth.
The figure didn't answer. He didn't need to.
He was a shadow, and shadows didn't need names.