The moment Jaison pulled the trigger, Brandon’s trembling hand rested on his watch. The next second, when a rain of white blasts landed, Brandon was already gone.

Jaison tilted his head. Brandon escaped. He might be a problem in the future, but Jaison was not afraid. He knew that, unlike him, Brandon was weak. He lacked the will to do whatever has to be done to survive. This was how he was trapped and ambushed in the first place, and if he came back for round 2, this would be how he gets defeated again.

He turned to the rest of the disabled gang members on the ground. These men knew what was about to come. They screamed and prayed and pleaded and begged, but Jaison acted mercilessly. All the voices were silenced one by one. When they were finally gone, the Watcher felt like he was one step closer to getting back at the society that has wronged him so much.

Suddenly, sirens came from all around.

Jaison smirked in bloodthirst.

Selena walked out of bathroom in pajamas. A white towel was wrapped around her soaked hair. She has just had a nice, ten minute long shower, and the entire time, she was thinking about one person: Brandon Bai.

The man in the white armor, as the media has grown to call it. Some have complained about the transition from “figure” to “man”, but recently evidence have shown the modified voice more likely came from a man than a woman. Plus, witnesses reported the armor was more masculine than feminine. “Figure” was also very ambiguous, so…

Selena didn't care about the boiling media. She has gotten closer to the man in the white armor than any media ever could. At this point, she was already 90% sure Brandon was that man.

Actually, make that 100%.

That was what first jumped into Selena’s mind when she turned on the lights in her bedroom and found Brandon on the ground. His white armor was shattered with a gaping hole in his stomach.

Selena didn't scream. His heart rate increased, but it was not of fear. It was of excitement.

Wasting no time, she put Brandon on her bed. He has passed out and his wound looked serious. Calling an ambulance might not be in time. Plus, it would completely bust Brandon’s identity. Even if he was saved, he would wake up into a world that might want to put him back down.

Suddenly, her eyes landed on the Emerald Brandon gave her. Carrying it seemed to have the effect of refining her body. She hoped it would do the same for Brandon. She quickly grabbed onto the Emerald and placed it next to Brandon’s wound. At the first few seconds, nothing happened. Just when Selena was about to take the risk and call an ambulance, the Emerald started to fade. It went dimmer and dimmer until it eventually disappeared in a puff of dust.

Brandon’s eyes snapped open. His wound has mended.

“Brandon!” Selena smiled victoriously, both because of her quick thinking and the current situation between the two. She has caught him! “Now what’s your excuse?”

But Brandon didn't respond. His eyes were opened, but they looked dead. Selena was concerned. With a much more serious look, she leaned forward and waved her hand in front of the man.

“Brandon? You ok?”

“Yeah.” Brandon’s response was no more than a whisper. Suddenly, he remembered something. Turning to Alpha, he was practically screaming.

“Alpha, send the police reinforcement away from the warehouse!”

He reacted quickly, but...

“It’s too late.” Alpha’s answer was ice cold. To provide additional information, it projected the video captured by a police bodycam in the air.

“Oh my god.” Selena gasped.

Brandon was silent as he watched Jaison dismantle a dozen armed police officers. The handguns and shotguns were no use to his white armor. Jaison acted swiftly and expertly. Every shot or slash ended the life and duty of one officer. The officers stood their ground, but eventually, their panicked cries for help and rabid gunfire came to a stop.

12 officers, killed.

Jaison might have did the actually shooting and stabbing, but Brandon knew he was responsible for their deaths. If he never called them in...he has a part in this.

Just like he has a part in what happened to Jaison. Jaison was his brother. His brother! How in the world did he not notice his change? The signs were so obvious! Jaison was practically screaming for help for weeks!

The answer was painstakingly clear.

Brandon didn't notice Jaison’s change because he didn't care. He didn't care about his brother enough to explain his thoughts and reasoning to him. He didn't care about his brother enough to check up on him after his parents wrongfully accused him. He felt like it was his parents’ duty to educate Jaison. This was the price of that false belief.

On the side, Selena glanced at Brandon. She knew that, despite similar armors and weapons, the one that was killing the cops wasn’t Brandon. She could also tell Brandon was in pain, but she didn't have time to let him process.

“Who is that?”

“The Watcher. Another person with powers and assets similar to mine.” Brandon paused, debating whether he should reveal the true identity to Selena. After all, the two weren’t exactly the closest. He didn't know if he could trust her. Then again, without her, he would be dead.

If she meant him ill, all she had to do was sit back and wait. Without Selena’s Emerald, he would be gone already.

He finally gave in.

“He’s also my brother.”

Selena frowned. “That is...a lot of information to unpack.” She glanced at Brandon’s wound. It has healed, but the blood on his armor and on her bed were still there. That would be a tough one to explain to her parents. “I’m guessing he did that to you too.”

“Yep.”

“So he is evil? What are you going to do with him?”

If it was another scenario, Brandon would’ve defended Jaison from being called evil, but not this time. All he could muster was a one-word answer.

“Nothing.”

“What?” Selena almost choked in surprise. Is he serious? “What do you mean nothing? You need to launch a counterattack or rally some help or...”

“It’s out of my hands now.” Brandon was clear. “Jaison killed twelve police officers and he had no intention of hiding it. Sooner or later, the government and the military will get involved. If I try to get involved, I will be discovered and hunted down too.”

“So what do you want to do?”

“I’ll go into hiding. If I am careful, neither Jaison nor the government can track me down.”

“You can’t just run!” Selena exclaimed with widened eyes. “You know how powerful you yourself are! If your brother can do this to you, then what can the government do about him?”

“I’m sure he’s not invincible. Eventually, he will fall.”

“But what will be the price?” Selena leaned forward and stared into Brandon’s eyes. Brandon might be the one with the armor, but she was the dominating figure. “Don’t forget, he’s your brother. In your own words, he’s your responsibility! You have failed him! Just because he defeated you once doesn’t mean you have the right to just turn and run.”

Brandon gulped.

“So what do you want me to do? Kill my own brother? There is no way I can take him alive.” He stood up and walked toward the door. “I’m sorry, I really am, but I’m leaving now.”

Just he was at the door, Selena suddenly yelled something.

“You’re a narcissistic asshole! You know that, right?”

He paused.

“Deep down, you don’t give a damn about duties and responsibilities. You only care about yourself and making yourself feel good. If you can make yourself look like a hero by carrying out the so-called responsibilities, great! But the moment things go wrong and you have to take some risk, you turn and run and give up whatever duty you claim you had!”

“That’s unfair.” Brandon couldn’t help but find himself denying what Selena said. “I am not running in fear. I am retreating because of perfectly logical reasons…”

“Oh please! Shut the fuck up and listen to me!” Selena walked to between Brandon and the door and blocked the exit. “If you really want to do the right thing, then taking on someone who have blasted a hole in your chest will be as easy as gunning down a bunch of shooters whose weapons couldn’t do a damn thing to you! This is about making a stand no matter the cost! Even if you fail, it will be better than doing nothing!”

“So tell me, Brandon, are you a real hero who truly values the duty that comes with your power, or are you just a hypocritical coward that runs away at the first sign of trouble?”

Brandon sighed.

“I am sorry, but heroes have a tendency of dying, and I am certainly not a hero.”

He gently but firmly pushed Selena to the side before leaving the room, leaving the blonde girl in fury.

When Selena went to school the next day, she was still having trouble getting over what Brandon said. How could he just leave like this? How dare he? Because of him, a monster is roaming the city uncontested!

She was in such a bad mood that even when the class bell rang, she was still wandering in the halls.

That made her the first person to witness the events unfold.

A figure in white walked through the front door of the school.

For a moment, Selena thought it was Brandon, returning to apologize to her and ask for help against Jaison. That was when she realized the figure was shorter than Brandon.

And then all hell was unleashed.

Dozens of floating droids appeared around the white figure. They quickly spread themselves across the entire school. Charging through classrooms, they fired a round of warning shots before making an announcement.

“You have been taken captive by the Watcher. Remain in this room. Attempts to resist or flee will be punished by death.”

Selena turned to the white figure in horror. The white figure walked toward her. As he was in front of her, he took off his mask, revealing a face similar to that of Brandon, only younger.

“Selena, isn’t it?” Jaison smiled wickedly. “You know, you’re one of the reasons I am doing all this. Why does my brother get to have a beautiful girl like you? Well, no matter. He’s dead now.” He gently tapped Selena’s chin.

Selena shook, but she didn't dare to pull away.

Jaison tilted his head.

“I suggest you follow me. Of course, you can try to run, but…” He turned around and set his eyes on another student in the hallway. That student was looking at the exchange in terror. Jaison pointed at that student. Before the victim could run, two droids turned to face it and fired two red blasts. When the boy hit the ground, he was no more than a piece of barbequed meat.

“Oh my god!”

Selena wanted to throw up, but she was able to keep it down.

Jaison turned and walked down one of the halls. Selena had no choice but to follow him tightly. There were eight droids around Jaison, standing guard. There was no way she could escape alive. All she could do was wait and see what Jaison wants.

Jaison walked into one of the classrooms. The droids lowered their head in submission.

“Jaison? What are you doing?”

Most of the students were completely surprised. Among them were three familiar faces. Mark Dirvin, Dickon, and Jasmine.

All three of them were consumed by terror.

They didn't know what has happened, but apparently Jaison has taken over the school, as well as their fate. All three of them have frequently poked fun at Jaison, to say the least. They wouldn’t be surprised if Jaison wanted to get vengeance.

That was exactly what happened.

“Bring these three out.” The Watcher ordered coldly, pointing at the three bullies. His AI immediately complied and relayed the order to the droids. Six droids moved forward and aimed their blasters threateningly. The three shook in terror, but they had no choice but to comply.

As the three left the room, most of the class took a breath of relief.

But Jaison wasn’t done yet.

“You know, I never liked this class. You, Mr. Isaac, are an idiot and a bully. You let the students with good grades do whatever they want and break the rules. For dumber students like me, you don’t even try to help. Quoting my late brother, you have failed your duty. You, Jonas, you just want to show off your good grades...and you, Lauren, don’t think I didn't know the lies you spread about me. All of you make me angry.” He grinned. “And all of you are going to die.”

“What?”

“No! Please!”

“What did we do to you?”

“What the fuck is that logic?”

A wave of cries came from the rest of the class, A few braver boys leaped forward, trying to make a last stand, but Jaison has had enough. A single wave of his hand sent all ten or so droids in the classroom to open fire on the students.

Selena watched in horror as the students were burnt through. Screams and cries covered the room as dozens of lives perished. In the end, after twenty seconds, all of the students were dead.

The classroom was turned into a slaughterhouse.

The three bullies were wetting themselves. If Jaison did this to the entire class, then what would he do to them?

“Why did you do that?” Selena’s eyes widened as she demanded. Angry overcame fear. “Those were just some small grudges! It’s not worth killing twenty students!”

“Twenty students…” Jaison suddenly turned around and grabbed Selena by the throat and slammed her into a wall. “is nothing compared to what I’m feeling! I am a god! I am above all you pathetic idiots! Will you feel bad for crushing a line of ants?”

Selena choked, but Jaison held her there mercilessly. Finally, just as she was about to pass out, Jaison released her.

“I will make myself very clear. I am keeping you around because you were dating my brother, and it pleases me to have you as a testimony to my strength. But for your own sake, don’t treat this as permission to insult me. I am a deity, and you are just another pathetic human being.”

He turned to the three bullies.

“As for you…”