Encino – Mike's Apartment
The chill of the early morning air crept in through the cracked window. Mike stood at his window, staring out into the dark expanse of Encino. His mind was a battlefield, one where the ghosts of his past and the weight of his present collided with an intensity that made him feel like he was losing control.
The Ghost is coming. Prepare.
He couldn't get those words out of his head. The message had been clear. Kade, the shadow, the very thing that haunted his nightmares, was coming to finish what had been left undone all those years ago.
Mike's fingers tightened on the windowsill, the wood splintering beneath his grip as his anger surged. This wasn't just a fight. This was something personal. The mission Kade had been given wasn't just about taking out a target. It was about confronting the man he had once been.
He turned abruptly, his jaw clenched. The mirror on the wall caught his reflection—a man he didn't recognize. A man shaped by war, by violence, by loss. But beneath it all, something was still there. Something human.
I will not break, he thought, his voice a whisper in the stillness.
His training had only just begun. He wasn't ready for this, not yet. But he would be.
The bell rang, and Mike's phone buzzed again, breaking him from his thoughts.
Johnny.
Mike swiped the screen.
"Yo, Mike. You ready for this?" Johnny's voice crackled through the speaker.
Mike exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the moment settle on his chest. "I don't know if anyone's ever really ready for something like this."
Johnny's voice softened, the usual bravado gone. "You've got more fight in you than you think. Just don't forget that."
Mike's fingers lingered on the phone screen for a moment before he hung up. The weight of Johnny's words stuck with him, a reminder that the fight wasn't just physical. It was mental. And it was a fight for his soul.
Valley High School – Gymnasium
Tory's body was bruised and battered, her movements slower now as she fought against the shadowy figure in front of her. He was relentless, his every move calculating, precise. She had never faced an opponent like this—cold, efficient, and seemingly unstoppable.
She dodged a strike, but his next move was faster. He grabbed her by the arm and spun her into the floor with an unnatural strength. The impact sent a sharp pain through her body, but she didn't stop fighting. She couldn't.
Her fingers brushed the floor, searching for something, anything that could give her the advantage. Her hand closed around a metal pipe, and without hesitation, she swung it at his legs. The strike caught him off guard, and for the briefest moment, he faltered.
But he recovered quickly, moving back into position with the fluidity of someone who had trained for a lifetime.
Tory rolled to her feet, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Who are you?" she demanded, but the figure didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Germany – FANG V2 Compound
Kade stood in front of the glass wall, his eyes fixed on the holographic display that showed the location of his target—Mike Harris, Encino. His expression remained unreadable, but his mind churned with something he couldn't quite identify. It was more than just the mission. There was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind, a sense of something unfinished.
Echoes of the past, he thought. Echoes of a name… a face… a family.
He shook his head, dispelling the thought. It didn't matter. The mission was all that mattered.
"Are you prepared?" Dr. Kessler's voice came over the intercom, breaking his concentration.
Kade didn't respond. He didn't need to.
The screen in front of him shifted, showing a map of Encino. His fingers hovered over the controls. The mission had been given, and it would be completed. No mistakes. No mercy.
The mission was all that mattered.
Encino – Mike's Apartment
Mike pulled on his jacket, the weight of his decision settling heavily on his shoulders. He couldn't sit here and wait. Not anymore.
The doorbell rang again, this time more insistent. Mike's heart skipped a beat as he walked toward the door. He opened it to find Johnny standing there, his eyes serious, his usual smirk replaced by something more urgent.
"You sure about this?" Johnny asked.
Mike looked at him for a long moment, his mind racing. "No. But I don't have a choice."
Johnny nodded. "Then let's make sure we're ready for whatever comes next."
Valley High School – Gymnasium
Tory had barely managed to get back to her feet when the shadowy figure lunged at her again. This time, she was ready. She sidestepped, using his momentum against him and driving the metal pipe into his chest.
But the figure didn't flinch. Instead, he reached up, grabbing the pipe with an unnatural strength and twisting it from her hands.
"You're good," he said, his voice like ice. "But not good enough."
Tory's heart raced, and she knew that she couldn't keep this up much longer. Her body was giving out, the injuries she'd taken from their previous encounter wearing her down.
The figure took another step forward, his eyes locking onto hers. She could feel the pressure in the room, the weight of inevitability pressing down on her.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the tension. "Tory!"
Mike's voice.
She didn't have time to process the relief that surged through her, because the next moment, Mike was there, moving faster than she had ever seen him.
The shadowy figure turned, clearly startled by Mike's arrival. But it wasn't enough. Mike's fist connected with the figure's jaw with brutal force, sending him stumbling back.
Tory stood frozen for a moment, disbelief mixing with relief. Mike was here. And for the first time in what felt like forever, she had hope.