Cherreads

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 : NO TURNING BACK

"Ah! Die…

You fucking bastard!

You deserved this!

If only everyone had known your true face!"

Stephen: "Fuck… what have I done? What do I do now? Is he dead?

Shit! I shouldn't have done this."

After killing Tank, Stephen realizes that he has done something terribly wrong.

He is completely shaken with fear. He doesn't understand what to do.

But then he forces himself to calm down and starts thinking about how to fix everything.

There is blood everywhere—on his hands, his clothes, his face.

He unlocks his phone using his fingerprint and mutters, "Fingerprints."

Stephen looks around. He notices Tank's car.

He walks up to the car and sees clothes inside, but the car is locked.

He pulls the keys out of Tank's clothes, unlocks the car, takes the clothes from inside, and puts them on.

He throws away his blood-soaked clothes and tightly covers his face with another cloth so that no one can recognize him.

He starts running—running very fast.

People stare at him as he runs past them.

He reaches his hotel room.

He picks up a large travel bag.

Inside the bag, he packs sanitizer, spirit, clothes, and five liters of water.

He slings the bag over his shoulder and runs back toward the same place again.

As Stephen leaves the hotel , Armin sees him and says,

"What's wrong with him?"

Stephen is running hard, gasping for breath.

His shoulders are slumped, his body exhausted, but he does not stop.

This time, Stephen keeps changing routes—alleys, streets, roads—again and again, so no one can trace his exact address.

After reaching the spot, the first thing Stephen does is clean Tank's body thoroughly.

He washes the body with water.

He removes all fingerprints from the body.Stephen knew it wouldn't be perfect, but it had to be enough.

He wipes fingerprints off the car as well.

He erases every piece of evidence.

He leaves nothing behind—he does everything carefully and completely.

He puts Tank's keys back into Tank's clothes.

He stuffs his own blood-soaked clothes into the bag and packs everything inside.

At that moment, he hears the sound of a car starting from a distance.

Stephen panics.

He quickly runs away from there, covering his face.

When he reaches near his hotel room, he finally relaxes and removes the cloth from his face.

Stephen sees Armin standing near his house.

Stephen :Of all times… why now?

At first, Stephen panics—what if Armin knows something? What if he suspects him?

Stephen takes a deep breath, calms himself down, and acts completely normal again.

Stephen: "Hi, Armin. What are you doing here?"

Armin: "I came to check on you. I felt really bad after hearing about your house, your puppy, and your bike.

It's a good thing Tank showed up at that time—otherwise that monster would've smashed you along with your bike.

Are you okay?"

Stephen understands that the media has once again hidden the truth and created a new story.

Stephen: "Yeah, I'm fine now. Good thing Tank arrived then, otherwise my situation was already doomed."

Armin: "By the way, I just saw you running with a bag and your face covered with a cloth.

You seemed in a real hurry. Everything alright?"

Stephen's heartbeat suddenly races.

He panics for a moment—but then forces himself to relax.

After thinking carefully and taking his time, he replies—

Stephen: "Actually, my sister had a flight, and she left some of her stuff here.

So I went to deliver it to her."

Armin: "You have a sister too?

But why was your face covered?"

Stephen: "Oh, that was actually my sister's scarf.

In the rush, I just put it on myself—haha."

Armin: "That scarf was pretty thick.

Anyway, leave it. I came to ask you something—did you make a serum along with the vaccine?"

Hearing this, Stephen feels fear surge through him again.

He gets nervous—but controls himself, thinks it through, and replies with a laugh, jokingly—

Stephen: "Yeah.I made a serum to kill villains, so the burden of saving the city would be a little lighter for the supes. Hahaha."

Stephen forces a smile, but his hands are still trembling.

Armin takes it as a joke and laughs too.

Armin: "Seriously? Hahaha.

Actually, I asked because I saw a torn bundle of serum tubes."

Stephen: "Yeah, I took those because I want to make an FBS—alone, without any team."

Armin: "Ohh. Alright, no problem.

If you need more later, just take them."

Stephen: "Sure."

Armin: "By the way, tomorrow the Super Five will give a speech at Citadel Ground.

They'll also talk about the elections. Come with me."

At first, Stephen thinks of refusing.

But he needs to show that he's a fan of the supes.

And anyway, Tank is already dead—his revenge is done.

Still, the regret of committing a crime hasn't left him.

Stephen: "Alright, I'll come."

Armin: "Great."

Armin:"You're wearing really expensive, branded clothes, Stephen. I'm honestly jealous. Where did you get them?"

Stephen suddenly realizes — shit.

He has come wearing Tank's clothes from the car.

Stephen:"My sister gave them to me as a gift."

Armin:"Oh… your sister must be really rich then."

 OK bye !

 

The Citadel

Mighty Guy:

"Which one of you spoke to Tank last?"

Mighty Guy summons the Super Five and makes them stand in front of him.

He looks extremely serious as he questions them about Tank.

Supergirl:

"Sir… I did."

Mighty Guy:

"What did you talk about?

Where was he at that time?

What do you know about him?"

Supergirl:

"Actually, I didn't speak to him directly.

A footage of Tank went viral, which made him furious, and then he left."

Mighty Guy:

"Left where?"

Supergirl:

"I don't know, sir.

It's possible he went to kill the person who made the footage viral."

Mighty Guy:

"What footage?

Who leaked it?"

Mighty Guy suddenly loses his temper and shouts in confusion—

Mighty Guy:

"Wait a minute—someone explain to me what the hell is going on here!

What happened while I was in Bloodhound?

Mr. Sonic, Mr. Fantastic—why are you two silent?"

Supergirl explains everything clearly, removing his confusion.

Mighty Guy:

"So… this man is the one who killed Tank?"

Mr. Sonic:

"No, sir.

He's just an ordinary human.

He can't kill Tank."

Fantastic Guy:

"He can…

If Tank was in his human form."

Mighty Guy:

"Has anyone seen this man?

Does anyone know where he lives?"

Supergirl:

"Only Tank saw him, sir.

And only Tank knew his address."

Mighty Guy:

"Ashley!"

Ashley:

"Yes, sir!"

Mighty Guy:

"Show me Tank's movement tracking—every place he went."

Ashley displays Tank's tracking data to Mighty Guy and the rest of the Super Five.

They discover that Tank stayed at a hotel.

Fantastic Guy immediately understands.

Tank came here.

Which means the man he was hunting lives here too.

Then they see Tank taking a strange route toward an isolated location.

Mighty Guy:

"Where was Tank going?"

Mr. Sonic:

"He was taking the man to kill him.

Tank always killed his enemies there.

He once took me along too.

There are no cameras there—that's why."

Supergirl:

"You guys are unbelievable…"

Mighty Guy:

"Idiot Tank.

Now there'll be no footage… no proof."

Fantastic Guy:

"Ashley—was Tank's body found at that exact location?"

Ashley:

"Yes."

Fantastic Guy:

"If no one else was there except those two,

and Tank's dead body was found there…

then that man is the killer."

Mighty Guy:

"All of you—find that man.

He must not escape.

Ashley, assign this case to our best detective.

That man is not getting away."

Fantastic Guy:

"By the way… this man is interesting.

He killed a supe—

a member of the Super Five—

and now he's hiding."

Mighty Guy stares sharply at Fantastic Guy.

Fantastic Guy lowers his eyes, nervous.

Fantastic Guy:

"Sorry, sir."

While the Super Five are discussing Stephen's capture inside the Citadel, Stephen is somewhere else—planning how not to get caught.

He hurriedly packs his belongings.

He decides to leave the hotel.

Stephen calls Henry.

Stephen:

"Hello, Henry."

Henry:

"Yeah, bro?"

Stephen:

"Uh… you remember you said if I ever needed anything, I should tell you?"

Henry:

"Yeah. What do you need?"

Stephen:

"I need a new place… and some money."

Henry:

"A new place again?"

Stephen:

"Well… actually, there's a lot I need to tell you."

Henry:

"Everything okay?"

Stephen cuts the call.

Stephen knows he has messed with the Super Five—and escaping now won't be easy.

He starts worrying that the Super Five or the police might storm into his room at any moment—to arrest him or throw him into some twisted, terrifying Citadel prison.

So he decides to change locations immediately.

Stephen leaves the hotel and reaches Henry's house.

Henry:

"Look, bro, I'll give you whatever you need.

But now tell me—what's going on?"

Stephen:

"What I'm about to tell you… don't get shocked.

And don't start screaming."

Henry:

"Just say it."

Stephen:

"I killed Tank."

Henry freezes.

Henry:

"WHAT?!

You killed Tank?

How?

What happened?"

Stephen tells him everything.

Henry:

"So you made a serum…

that stopped Tank's transformation…

and then you took advantage of it and finished him?"

Stephen:

"…Yeah."

Henry:

"Shit.

Shit.

SHIT!

Stephen, what have you done?!

Do you realize the Super Five and the police will hunt you down?

They'll tear you apart!"

Stephen:

"I know.

That's why I need to move somewhere else."

Henry:

"Then get the hell out of here—now!

I've got a wife and kids.

If the police or Mighty Guy shows up, I'll be dragged in too—and so will they.

You need to go far away.

I'll arrange something in another city."

Stephen:

"Not another city.

Just far away—but within this city."

Henry:

"Are you insane?

Why?"

Stephen:

"Because Armin might already suspect me.

If he finds out Tank is dead…

and Stephen suddenly disappears to another city…

he'll connect the dots.

And besides, my company—

the place I work at—

it'll be too far."

Henry:

"…Fine.

You're stubborn as hell."

Suddenly, Stephen breaks down.

He hugs Henry and starts crying.

Stephen:

"I'm really scared.

I never wanted to do this.

I was always afraid of bloodshed…

but what choice did I have?

I had to save my own life.

Please help me, Henry."

Henry:

"Calm down, brother.

Nothing will happen to you."

Stephen:

"Thanks, bro."

Henry drops Stephen at his new place

and gives him some money as well.

Next Day

Citadel Ground

A massive crowd has gathered at Citadel Ground.

People have come from all over the city to hear the Super Five speak.

Armin and Stephen arrive as well.

Stephen:

"There's a crazy amount of people here."

Armin:

"Because of the Super Five."

An announcer's voice echoes across the ground—

Announcer:

"Please welcome the Mayor of Bright City… Mayor Arnold!"

Mayor Arnold:

"Citizens of Bright City,

for years we have lived in fear—

fear of crime, fear of monsters, fear of the unknown.

But today, Bright City is changing.

Crime is falling.

Development is rising.

Hope is returning.

This progress is not accidental.

It is the result of unity, discipline,

and those who protect us every single day."

(He glances toward the Super Five.)

"Yes, questions are being raised.

But we will not let doubt and misinformation tear this city apart.

We are building safer streets,

stronger systems,

and a better future.

Bright City will move forward—

together."

"And now, please welcome the captain of the Super Five…

Mighty Guy!"

Mighty Guy:

"Thank you all for being here,

for listening to us,

and for giving us the chance to speak.

It is with great sorrow that I must tell you—

our great supe,

the one we all knew as Tank,

is no longer with us."

The crowd erupts into murmurs.

People are shocked.

Some children begin to cry.

Mighty Guy:

"Last night, while Tank was spending time with his girlfriend,

a man approached him…

and shot him with a gun.

Someone is challenging us.

Someone hates us.

Maybe they don't like the fact

that we are making this city safer…

cleaner…

crime-free.

But I promise you—

we will find him.

And we will punish him.

Are you with me?!"

Crowd (chanting):

"YES!

WE ARE WITH YOU!"

Mighty Guy:

"I also want to share some good news.

We are opening a school—

Citadel Academy.

A place where only supes will study.

Where they will learn to control

and properly use their powers.

And the student who ranks number one

will either join the Super Five…

or I will create a new elite team,

just like the Super Five.

Right now, one position is vacant.

We will conduct interviews.

And the one we choose

will replace Tank in the Super Five."

"So now…

let us remain silent for five minutes

in honor of Tank."

The entire ground falls silent.

One minute passes.

Suddenly—

BOOOOM!

A deafening explosion shakes the area.

People scream.

Panic erupts.

Everyone looks up.

Several missiles are flying straight toward the Super Five.

The crowd runs in all directions.

Mighty Guy, Fantastic Guy, and Supergirl jump into action, stopping the missiles mid-air.

As the missiles explode, glowing words appear in the smoke—

"I'll kill you, Mr. Sonic."

Chaos spreads everywhere.

Armin runs in fear.

Stephen freezes for a moment, terrified—

then starts running too.

But suddenly, Stephen notices something.

A man standing at a distance…

holding a remote controller.

The man turns and starts running.

Stephen follows him.

He keeps chasing him for a long time.

They finally reach a silent, deserted alley.

The man disappears.

Stephen looks around, searching.

Then a voice echoes—

"Hello, Stephen."

Stephen turns around.

A young man stands there,

wearing a long black overcoat

and a black hat.

Stephen:

"How do you know my name?"

Stranger:

"I know everything about you."

Stephen:

"Have we met before?"

The stranger gives a slight side-smile.

Stranger:

"Yes.

At the café."

Yes—this is the same stranger

Stephen and Henry met earlier at the café.

More Chapters