Darkened skies turned the alleyway into a grayscale landscape.

“I’ll start by making you regret ever coming here today.”

Unsteady scene.

As Max began to shift his attention to his left shoulder, Charlie swung his left elbow towards Max’s face.

The smooth and swift movement of the elbow was met with the quick action of Max’s hand.

Max’s detailed eyes. Fiery rage.

“Wow, you’re fast. But… I don’t need any fire to deal with you. I’ll end this quickly.”

Charlie’s picturesque blue eyes.

“Wow, you really think I’m gonna lose to you? In your dreams.”

Charlie lifts his left knee and drives it into Max’s chest. Simultaneously, he shoves Max down with the hand he had on the shoulder.

Falling backwards. Coughing blood.

Moments before impact. Cocky smile.

Max lands on his hands and swings his right leg out. Charlie darts back, narrowly avoid the trip.

Max backflips into a standing position and charges at Charlie.

“I’M ENDING THIS RIGHT NOW!”

As Max extends his right hand out, forming a fist, Charlie stands his ground.

Max stops in front of Charlie and begins to wildly swing his fists. Charlie manages to continuously dodge the shots.

“Scared of taking a punch?”

“Your guard’s down.”

Charlie grabs on to Max’s left arm and shoulder. He then uses all of his strength to heave Max into the air.

‘There, I got him.’

While mid-air, Max’s right arm descended, turning his elbow into a point.

‘Oh, shit. I’m screwed.’

The sharp elbow connected with Charlie’s face. There was an amplified crunching noise as Charlie released Max and fell backwards.

Charlie felt the back of his head hit the ground, followed by darkness overtaking his vision.

——

“Charlie… Charlie!”

Charlie opened his eyes to Anna’s sunny yellow gaze staring back at him.

“I… failed again, huh?”

Anna’s face formed a smile.

“You haven’t failed. He’s knocked out. The police are on their way. Everything’s gonna be OK.”

Charlie returned Anna’s smile.

“That’s great to hear.”

After a brief period, Anna converted her smile into a face of scorn.

“You’re so damn reckless, you know that? Always going to the extremes to show off, huh?”

“Speak for yourself. Last I remember, you had a giant gash in your shoulder.”

“Asshole, I’m trying not to think about that. Don’t talk about that.”

Charlie glanced at Anna’s right shoulder, which was now wrapped by her shirt.

“Well, the good news is, you stopped the bleeding.”

“Are you implying that there’s bad news?”

“Yeah. Now you have you walk around everywhere shirtless.”

Anna gave off a look of curiosity.

Shortly after, the immediate presence around her turned into pure hell.

“Do you… have a problem… with my chest?…”

“Uh, no, I think you have a great body. I just didn’t think you were that kind of person,” said Charlie as he pushed himself up and scrambled back, his eyes turning white.”

“JUST WHAT KIND OF PERSON DO YOU THINK I AM?!”

“Uh wait, I didn’t mean that! I’m sorr- Wait a minute.”

“What, any other comments about me?”

“No, I’m just wondering… I remember Max pulling the knife out of you.”

“Yeah, obviously, it’s not in me anymore.”

“So, where is it? Is it still on him? We should check to see if he still has it.”

“Yeah, we should check.”

“Yeah, you guys should’ve checked.”

Charlie and Anna both turned to find Max on his feet, slowly approaching while holding the knife in question in his right hand.

Charlie was dumbfounded.

“This dude’s literally a cockroach…”

“It’s just one thing after another, isn’t it?”

Charlie carefully observed Max as the enemy made his approach. He noticed that Max’s left arm was dangling like a zombie’s arm.

“Looks like my awesome move broke your arm.”

Charlie met Max’s gaze with a look of tenacity.

“Am I gonna have to break more of you?”

Anna joined Charlie to his right, matching his presence and posture.

“I think we’re gonna have to show this guy where his place is.”

Max grinned and lifted the knife to chin-level.

“Show me where my place is? How about I show you guys what it’s LIKE TO DIE!”

Max broke into a run and charged as Charlie and Anna watched.

“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-“

Suddenly, someone grabbed on to Max’s broken left arm, which was forced back as he continued to run.

“WHA-“

Max exclaimed the sound of pain as he fell face down, losing his grip on his weapon.

The knife bounced and landed in front of Charlie’s feet.

“You forgot about someone.”

Holding on to Max’s arm was Tsuru, who was grinning from ear to ear.

“I’m not going to let you hurt them. We have a job to finish.”

Charlie and Anna stood over Max, preparing to end the fight as the sun began to break through the clouds.

Sunlight began to radiate off of the duo’s battle-worn bodies.

Charlie raised his fist to his chest.

“Like Tsuru said, we have a job to do.”

Anna flicked her hair back with her hand.

“We have to help our friend out.”

Charlie moved his arms to form a boxing stance.

“So, understand this.”

Tsuru joined Charlie on his left side and placed her left arm on her hip. Simultaneously, Anna assumed the same boxing stance as Charlie.

The trio then unanimously declared their intent to Max.

“WE’RE NEVER GIVING UP!”

Max raised his head and met their collective gaze with a stare akin to a ferocious inferno.

“I don’t care anymore. I’m not losing this.”

Charlie noticed that sparks were appearing around Max.

“WE NEED TO GET-“

Suddenly, there was a large, violent explosion.

Everyone was sent flying back as windows shattered and flames erupted to the sky.

——

After awakening, Charlie immediately sat up.

‘Where’s the others?’

Charlie looked to his right. Anna was crumpled up against the wall, blood pouring from her head.

“Oh, shit, ANNA!”

Charlie grabbed on to Anna and began to talk to her.”

“Anna, you’ve gotta wake up, please, wake up already, Anna…”

Charlie’s attention was then caught by an object leaving the wall of flames in front of him.

As Max slowly made his way out of the fire, Charlie rose to his feet, holding Anna in his arms.

Max stopped his walk just outside the inferno, locking eyes with Charlie and grinning.

Charlie noticed that Max’s left eye was encased in fire.

‘I guess, as insane as it is to be able to make fire from nothing, there’s still a limit to his powers.’

Charlie’s face formed a look of grim determination.

‘We’re completely screwed now, but I’m not ready to give up. We have to make it out of this alive.’

For a brief moment, both Charlie and Max froze in their respective places, waiting for each other to make a move.

“Charlie and Anna. BOTH OF YOU, IT’S TIME TO DIE!”

Charlie stood his ground as Max raised his right hand to form a fireball.

All Charlie could do was stare into Max’s flaming orange eyes.

Suddenly, Max was encased in a web of lightning.

The wall of fire disappeared, revealing a dark-hooded figure standing behind Max, holding Tsuru over his right shoulder.

When the lightning web disappeared, Max turned around and launched a tirade against the intruder.

“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU INTERFERING WITH MY FIGHT? LEAVE OR DIE!”

The figure lowered his hood, revealing his short, messing black hair and twilight blue eyes.

“Who am I? You hurt my friends, so I’m the guy who’s gonna destroy you.”

Charlie’s mouth dropped to the ground as he realized who had just appeared.

“Is that you, TAMASHI?!”

——

Savior: Original Story by OneSevenEight

Episode: Framed Perspective - Part 14