Chapter 4
The alley was silent for a heartbeat, the bullies frozen in disbelief. Then, with a sound like air tearing apart, Mandle vanished. A flash split the shadows, and suddenly he was behind the leader. The boy spun, his face pale, eyes wide. Mandle's mismatched face twisted into a grin, his laughter sharp and unhinged, echoing like broken glass.
"Monster…" the leader whispered, his voice trembling. He tried to run, but Mandle's fist struck first. The blow bent his face grotesquely, teeth shattering in a spray of blood. The leader screamed, clutching his ruined jaw, but Mandle was not finished. With a snap of his fingers, fire erupted, engulfing the boy. His shrieks filled the alley, high and piercing, until flames consumed him completely. When the fire died, nothing remained but ash scattered on the cobblestones. The others scrambled, panic breaking their cruelty. "Run!" one shouted, but Mandle's figure blurred again. He appeared behind each boy in turn, his movements too fast, too unreal. A single kick to the neck — sharp, precise — dropped them lifeless. One by one, their bodies ignited, burning to brittle fragments of ash. The alley reeked of smoke and fear, the laughter that had mocked him moments ago now replaced by silence and death.
Then Mandle turned. His glowing eyes locked on Hoj. The drunkard, large though he was, collapsed inward, trembling uncontrollably. Tears streamed down his face as he recoiled, unable to reconcile the son he had cradled with the monster before him. Mandle stepped closer, his shadow stretching long across the wall. But before he could reach his father, a scream tore through the night — not from Hoj, not from the dead boys, but from Mandle himself. He clutched his head, his laughter twisting into agony. His body convulsed, collapsing to the ground.
Hoj, forgetting his own broken ribs and bleeding mouth, staggered forward. He caught Mandle before his head struck the stone, pulling him into his lap. "Mandle!" he cried, his voice raw with fear. The boy's eyes flickered, the glow fading, leaving only pain and confusion. The alley was filled with smoke, ash, and silence. The bodies were gone, erased by fire, but the horror lingered. Hoj held his son tightly, his heart pounding with dread. He did not know if the child was a blessing or a curse — only that the world had changed, and nothing would ever be the same again.