《We are no heroes》
Chapter 1 - I peed myself...
Chapter 1 - I peed Myself...
Ima always shuddered at the thought of being in the spotlight.
It worried him.
It made his skin crawl.
It made his stomach churn and his head throb.
He didn''t dislike being in the spotlight.
He feared it.
But he wasn''t lucky today.
He stood in front of the people, beads of sweat trickling down his chin. He was frozen, unable to move or speak, but that didn''t matter because everyone was staring at him. He stammered, "I-I..." Everyone waited for him to speak and start his presentation. Ima rubbed his legs together. He needed to urinate in addition to not wanting to be there.
It didn''t help that he had a weak bladder either. Not only was he in the spotlight, he also risked wetting himself in front of twenty people packed in a meeting room, which included his supervisor, some of his coworkers, and his boss.
He felt his heart rate increase rapidly. It felt as if his heart were competing in a high-speed chase. He thought his anxiety was just getting worse since he was experiencing his biggest fear and that all he had to do was present and get it over with.
¡°The... agh!¡± There was Ima Kounya, experiencing a crushing sensation from his chest. He clutched his chest hard. A pained look had taken over his features. ¡°Agh...Agh¡± but the pain didn''t overwhelm the feeling he had trickling down his leg slowly but surely. He may have peed himself, he thought. But in fact, he was sure he had peed himself in a packed meeting room that included his coworkers, supervisor, and his boss.
It had felt as if the pressure from his chest had stolen all of the oxygen in his lung for itself. The world seemed to tilt a little¡ªwell, actually very much. Ima was falling. The world blurred together, colors merging, people transforming into grotesque shapes¡ªthis was normal, right? He thought.
But no one could answer him since it seemed his ears had gone to bed early today.
*THUD* Begone! The fear of being in the spotlight. He had just died from a heart attack and peed himself in a packed meeting room in front of his coworkers, supervisor, and boss. There was nothing left for him to fear. He could only let the suffocating pain and embarrassment go as he was pulled in by the darkness.
I hope that in my next life I will have no bodily functions.
It was his honest wish. He didn''t want to go through that again, accidentally peeing himself in public. It was humiliating. He would rather be in the spotlight. He had been in the darkness for quite some time, yet there was no god or devil that came to guide him. Was this what they called the void? A limitless stretch of darkness as far as one could see.
"What? Was that it? Was this the big secret of life? No judgment? No reincarnation?¡±
¡°I was a p**** my whole life... for nothing?"
He didn''t know if it was just him, but it felt awfully tight in the afterlife. Wait, was he supposed to feel at all? Maybe he wasn''t dead after all. Perhaps he was simply in a coma. If that was the case, he wished he had just died instead since he couldn''t bear the thought of waking up and facing everyone who was in that meeting room ever again.
He heard the sound of something crack. The sound was reminiscent of a chick breaking out of its shell. Then the sound multiplied, and an opening formed in front of him. Maybe he was finally waking up from his coma. He moved his hand and felt the sensation of what felt like the grooves of a tree. A light shone through the opening, and he squinted his eyes.
He reached for the opening. His hand passed through it, reaching for the light. He felt the soothing sensation of air wrapping around his fingers. He moved his body next, putting his left leg through. His eyes were having a hard time adjusting to the light. He thought it was a weird way of waking up from a coma. When he opened his eyes, he saw what he could only describe as divine.
The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
As Ima took in the scene, his eyes widened. The light bathed everything in soft, golden hues, and the air smelled fresh¡ªlike earth and trees, something natural. Although it did not feel like a dream, this world also did not feel like the one he was from. He hesitated, unsure of his footing, but something tugged at him, an unseen force pulling him deeper into the forest. The trees were tall, their branches swaying with a rhythm of their own, casting strange, dancing shadows across the moss-covered ground.
He turned to look behind him. It was a tree with a big hole. Had he just come out of that hole? He was bewildered. He put his head inside. It definitely wasn''t a portal to another world since it was empty inside.
He put his head back out, then felt a sudden chill. He looked down. He was butt naked. Ima suddenly felt cold, but not enough to freeze his butt off. But his manliness was nowhere to be seen.
Ima, don''t panic. He told himself as a single tear ran down his cheek. He wasn''t big by any chance, but did the gods really have to take his 3 inches away?
A sound caught his attention¡ªa soft, but distinct rustling. His pulse quickened, his mind scrambling for a logical explanation. But logic wasn¡¯t of much use here. He turned toward the source of the noise and saw something moving between the trees.
A shape, not quite human. It had the build of a rabbit, but it was much bigger and was covered in a fine, shimmering fur. Its eyes gleamed with predatory sharpness as it watched him. It jumped forward. It barely made a sound, as if the ground itself was cushioning its every move. The creature had a long, curled tail, and it swayed with an eerie grace.
Ima froze, his heart thudding in his chest. Was this a trick of his mind? Or was he really here, in this strange world with unknown creatures?
Before he could process it further, the creature lunged at him with terrifying speed. Ima barely had time to react, sidestepping just as its claws grazed his arm. He stumbled backward, panic surging through his veins. His mind screamed for him to run, but his legs felt like lead.
As he fumbled to gain his bearings, the creature came at him again, this time faster, its claws slashing through the air. He barely managed to dodge again, but his back collided with a tree. The creature''s shadow loomed large, its breath hot on his skin.
He knew he couldn¡¯t outrun it¡ªnot like this. His body was already exhausted, adrenaline pooling in his veins, but his limbs felt like they were moving underwater.
Think! Think, Ima!
His heart pounded, but then a flash of light¡ªbright and almost instinctual¡ªflared in his chest. It felt like his body was aligning with something, something natural. The force of his fear, his panic, coiled within him, and then... he knew.
Ima raised his hands, trembling, and in a frantic burst of energy, he hurled a small flame at the creature. The fire hit it directly in the chest, causing it to howl in pain and back away. Ima didn¡¯t wait. He turned, scrambled to his feet, and ran. His legs burned, his breath ragged, but he pushed on. Behind him, the creature screeched but didn¡¯t follow.
Ima stumbled as he ran, finally falling into a patch of soft grass. His heart still pounded, his hands shook, but he was alive. He had survived. For now.
He collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. The cool earth pressed against his back as he stared up at the bright sky, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The sunlight above blurred his vision, sweat stinging his eyes. He swallowed hard, his throat dry and burning.
His body ached, every muscle screaming in protest, but he couldn¡¯t rest yet. Not completely. His ears strained for any sign of pursuit¡ªfootsteps, rustling leaves, the snap of a branch. But all he heard was the whispering wind and the distant call of a morning bird.
Was he safe? Had he really escaped?
Ima forced himself to sit up, his pulse still hammering in his chest. He closed his eyes, letting the world around him fade away. His mind raced through the possibilities.
He had never wielded fire before. Never even imagined he could. And yet, in the face of death, something deep within him had awakened.
His breath steadied, but his mind raced. He flexed his fingers, half-expecting to see sparks dance between them, but there was nothing. Just trembling hands, dirt under his nails, and the raw sting of exhaustion.
The forest around him was still. Too still. The creature hadn¡¯t followed, but that didn¡¯t mean it was gone. He forced himself to his feet, legs unsteady beneath him. He had to move, to find shelter, to understand what had just happened to him.
Ima stumbled forward, his body aching with every step. His thoughts were a tangled mess¡ªflashes of fire, the creature¡¯s scream, the impossible energy that had surged through him. He needed to rest.
He almost fell once more when his foot snagged on something. When he looked down, he saw it¡ªa hole in the ground, partially hidden by overgrown grass and twisted roots. It wasn¡¯t large, just wide enough for him to squeeze through.
Ima dropped to his knees and peered inside. Darkness swallowed the space below, but cool air drifted up, carrying the scent of damp earth. He hesitated, listening for any sign of movement, any lurking danger. Nothing.
With a deep breath, he slid inside, lowering himself carefully into the hole. The ground sloped downward, and he braced himself against the walls as he descended. The space was small but deep enough that he could sit up without being seen from above. A burrow, maybe? Abandoned he hoped.
He curled up against the wall, his body finally giving in to exhaustion. It made him feel secure. At least, for now.
Chapter 2 - The Forest...
Chapter 2 - The Forest...
It had been three days since he had been here. No matter how far he went, the trees seemed never-ending. He has not seen any other living things besides the strange-looking rabbit. He was sure of one thing, though. This wasn''t earth, nor was it a dream or the afterlife. It was another world, and he was sure of it.
A cave he found while wandering in the forest acted as his shelter. with no survival skills whatsoever, that¡¯s all he could do. For a weak p**** 27-year-old man, it was pretty amazing that he had managed to survive for a whole three days. The human spirit was really something.
Everything else was pretty earthlike aside from one thing, the magic. He couldn''t stop thinking about that day¡ªthe day fire had come out of his hand. It felt warm yet it didn''t burn him. He has been trying to recreate it, but every single time only sparks came out.
¡°Okay, I''ll definitely get it right today.¡±
He closed his eyes, focusing on Warm throughout his body. All he had to do was let the warm sensation he was experiencing flow out through his fingertips.
At twenty-seven, Ima was trying to do magic naked in a forest located in another world. Well, at least his d*** wasn''t hanging loose in the air. After all, he had no d*** at all to begin with ever since he came to this world. Just like his disappointment with his d*** size, he failed once more to recreate the magic.
His missing d*** wasn''t the only thing that had changed. Begone his bown, curly short hair instead he had waist-length pin straight, soft, and lucious black hair. Maybe whoever had sent him here had planned on making him a girl and simply forgot to give him a p****.
It definitely wasn¡¯t a ¡°hey, I¡¯ve been turned into a girl¡± situation because he still looked like a guy. At least, mostly. But where the heck had his d*** gone? Did he have a new one coming soon? Was that how it worked in this weird universe?
He sighed and looked down at his bare body. "Seriously? What is this, a cosmic prank?"
At least his wish had come true. There was no way for him to pee himself in public ever again now, but he still had a butthole.
His mornings consisted of scavenging for fruits for breakfast, which he was currently on his way for. His feet ached so much it felt as though he had been walking on a stone-paved trail from America to China from walking barefoot.
He soon reached his usual fruit-picking spot, a dense bushland with ripe fruits on every bush.
All though he had been having diarrhea from eating so much fiber. It was his only choice since his hunting skills were zero and his magical success was also zero. It was way better than starving. He began picking at the bushes, shoving berries into his mouth like an orc who hadn''t eaten in days. Eating was the sole focus of his mind. He was so focused that he hadn''t sensed the thing creeping up behind him.
*TSsssss*
He froze. Turning back wasn¡¯t an option, he knew he shouldn¡¯t. And then¡ªinstinct took over. He ran. A gigantic snake, reminiscent of a Titanoboa, lunged towards him but miissed. Its massive form crashed through the trees, but it swiftly rovered immediatly, spotting the fleeing Ima.
He ran as quickly as he could. The run was causing his body to heat up. Beads of sweat trickled rapidly down his forehead. His shoulders collided with several trees, resulting in immense shoulder pain and causing him to slow down significantly. His legs, heart, and shoulders burned. He could feel his body getting tired. He was running out of breath.
Ima was never a runner, yet he found himself running for his life from a gigantic snake monster. Then *humm* He was swallowed up whole, like a chick giving a guy head. Well, at least it didn''t have teeth, or else it would have crushed his nonexistent d***.
The snake''s throat was large enough, so he wasn''t actually suffocating. But he was running out of oxygen at the speed of sound. When he realized he had no way out, he felt hopelessness slamming down on him like a massive dump truck, and like the p**** he always was, he began to cry uncontrollably like a baby.
If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Fear and hopelessness dominated his entire being, then he felt a familiar feeling. The feeling he felt when that rabbit monster attacked him on his first day here. He raised his palm to the ceiling of the snake''s body. He put his entire soul into it.
¡°Please work. I want to live.¡±
Then the warm feeling came back again. He could feel the energy exiting his palm. Once again, the familiar fire squirted out of his palm, something he could never do to a girl because he never had any hoes to make squirt for him. A hole burned through the snake. It had stopped moving. a beam of light shown through, he reached his arms out the hole, lifting up his body.
The first breath of air was the most divine thing he had ever experienced. It felt absolutely liberating. He quickly climbed out of the snake. The saliva from inside the snake coated his body from head to toe, making him feel cold, and he stank like dead fish.
He realized he was in a part of the forest he hadn''t been to before. He strolled aimlessly, hoping luck would lead him to safety. Then he heard distant muttering, which became louder as he approached.
¡°The goods have been great this week.¡±
Four men. All covered in black cloaks, their faces hidden as if hiding the truth of the universe.
¡°The next shipment is coming today. We better get moving.¡± one said.
Interesting. He understood what they were saying despite never having heard their language. His eyes lit up. Ima had a good idea¡ªbetter than all ideas he has ever had. He planned to follow the men, he thought they might lead him to civilization if he followed them.
He moved as quietly as possible, taking care not to make any noise. He was feeling anxious. The men appeared suspicious. He was worried about following them to some assassin hideout or whatever. Despite this, he continued to follow them.
After what seemed like an eternity, he followed them to what appeared to be a little city, which actually was a city. Ima stood at the edge of the city, hidden among the trees. His breath was ragged, and his body was still coated in the thick, slimy residue of the snake¡¯s insides. He could feel the weight of it¡ªsticky, cold, and nauseating¡ªbut his mind was elsewhere.
He watched the backs of the men as they disappeared inside. The city had a gate. He sighed as he saw how tall and imposing it was, with guards watching over the city. ¡°How am I going to get in? I''m naked, slimy, and smelly.¡±
He felt exhausted and disappointed. He had wanted to reach civilization as quickly as possible, but things do not always go as planned. He sighed. The idea of sneaking past them was out of the question. They were trained soldiers and were probably too sharp and too aware of their surroundings. But there was a different angle he hadn¡¯t considered¡ªa distraction. As he looked around him, his mind raced. There had to be something¡ªanything that could cause a disruption, enough to divert the guards'' attention. His eyes darted around, scanning the landscape. He saw nothing obvious. But then a thought struck him.
The forest was covered in weird, unfamiliar plants, and he saw a patch of tall, dry grass near the edge of the road that led to the gate. The wind was picking up, the air shifting as the gusts picked up speed. If he could somehow ignite the grass, it would create a massive distraction. The guards would be forced to deal with the fire while the travelers made their way inside, and he could slip in behind them without being seen.
How do I start a fire? His mind raced. I don''t have anything... except...
He glanced down at his palms. ¡°Magic! I have magic!¡± Now he knew exactly how hed get in.
¡°I''m going to start a forest fire.¡±
He felt the familiar warmth return to his hand once again. He gazed at the grass and closed his eyes to concentrate. All he needed to do was set the grass ablaze to distract the guard.
The fire he managed to light was small. But it was enough to light up the grass. The fire quickly spread, and he hurried to leave the area to hide and find an opportunity to sneak into the city. It was a risky plan, but that¡¯s all he managed to come up with.
The flames spread fast, their golden glow flickering against the daylight. The guard cursed, shouting for help as he ran toward the fire, his back now turned. It was his chance to pass through unseen.
Ima wasted no time, darting towards the city gates, which were left half open by the distracted guards. The sound of his feet was muffled by the crackling fire as he got closer and closer to the looming city gates. He was almost there. One mistake and it would all be over.
He kept moving, his heart pounding in his ears. If he hesitated, even for a second, someone would notice. And if they caught him¡ªhe didn¡¯t even want to think about that. Ima reached the outer walls. He pressed himself against the rough stone, waiting for the right moment.
Now.
He slipped inside, keeping low. The moment he stepped onto the cobbled streets, a wave of noise and movement crashed around him. Vendors called out, carts rumbled past, and the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air.
No one seemed to notice him¡ªat least not immediately. Then came the stares. The whispers. A child pointed. A woman gasped. Someone let out a sharp, startled laugh.
Oh. Right. He was completely naked.
He really wanted to die, and he would do so now if he could. He quickly found an alley and hid, hoping no one had noticed he was missing his genitals. He needed clothes and definitely needed a shower since his smell got worse by the minute.
It was killing him. The alley was narrow and dark, a welcome respite from the stares and whispers of the streets. Ima pressed himself against the stone wall, his face burning with embarrassment. He tried to steady his breathing, but the frantic pulse of his heart wouldn¡¯t stop.
What do I do? How do I get clothes and get cleaned up?
Chapter 3 - The Far Away City...
Chapter 3 - The Far Away City...
He crept around quietly, making sure no one saw him this time. He needed no one to see him. He was embarrassed to be naked and dreaded being seen that way again.
In reality, Ima had no idea what he was doing. He had died of a heart attack¡ªand peed himself while doing so. The irony of it all wasn¡¯t lost on him. He hadn¡¯t passed away wrinkled and surrounded by his grandchildren, but instead, in a packed meeting room at his job, facing his biggest fear. It felt unfair. He wasn¡¯t anyone special. He had no redeeming qualities aside from being a coward.
And he knew that. He hated that about himself. Whatever god had sent him here should¡¯ve just let him die and reincarnate, erasing the memory of his pathetic existence.
From the shadows, he spotted a clothing rack not too far away. Pants, shirts, underwear¡ªperfect. He looked left and right.
¡°Nice! No one in sight.¡±
Like a ninja, he ran to the rack and grabbed a set of clothes in one swift motion.
Ima had stolen for the first time. A pang of guilt hit him, but survival came first. The owners would understand, right? Then a sudden thought made his stomach twist.
This world¡¯s state was equivalent to the medieval era back on Earth. What if the owner had HIV or something?
His expression twisted with disgust as he stared at the clothing in his hands.
¡°Oh right, I have no d*** or p****. I¡¯ll be just fine.¡±
Shaking his head, he shoved the stolen clothes under his arm. First, he needed to wash up. Running around in his current state would only draw more attention.
After sneaking around for a while, he finally found what he needed, a well.
It was a small stone structure near the back of what looked like an abandoned shop. A wooden bucket hung from a frayed rope, swaying gently in the breeze.
¡°This¡¯ll do,¡± he muttered, scanning his surroundings one last time.
With no one in sight, he set the clothes down and reached for the rope. Lowering the bucket into the well, he listened for the splash as it hit the water below. As he cranked it back up, the wooden pulley groaned in protest.
Through clenched teeth, he hissed, "Come on, don''t be so loud."
The bucket emerged, sloshing with water. Without hesitation, Ima doused himself. The shock of cold hit like a punch, and he bit his lip to keep from yelping. He scrubbed away the dirt and grime with his hands, then dunked his head, letting the water cascade over him.
Now soaked but at least clean, another problem arose. He had no towel.
He stood there dripping, the cold seeping into his bones. The breeze only made it worse. He shivered violently, cursing his lack of foresight.
With a resigned sigh, he shook his head vigorously, trying to shake off some of the water. Then he slid his arms into the sleeves of the shirt.
¡°Dressed or not, I would still catch a cold.¡±
Sliding the pants on, he muttered a silent prayer hoping that he wouldn¡¯t somehow catch a disease from them.
Stepping onto the streets of the city, Ima¡¯s eyes widened in amazement. The architecture, the people, the clothes, the tools¡ªeverything felt like he had been sucked into a movie. The only difference?
Everything was filthy, and the air reeked of waste and unwashed bodies.
He paused frequently, staring at things or people, mesmerized by the strange world around him. He had no direction¡ªjust endless curiosity guiding his steps.
Then he felt it.
A small hand grasped his own.
Startled, he turned around, his heart pounding.
Had he been caught? Did they figure out he set the fire and stole the clothes?
"It wasn''t me!" he blurted out. "I didn''t do it!"
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
He looked down.
A girl.
She had the face of a child, her body covered in rags, her skin caked with dirt. Her eyes brimmed with fear, her tiny hand trembling as it clutched his.
"Please... help me.¡±
Ima stared at her incredulously. Was she a beggar? Had she mistaken him for someone kind? Sadly, she had chosen the wrong person¡ªhe was even poorer than her. He had nothing at all.
Before he could shatter her hopes completely, two men emerged behind her. Their faces were full of anger.
One was tall and broad-shouldered, a deep scar running across his left cheek. His gaze burned with rage as he locked onto the girl.
¡°That bitch.¡±
He cracked his neck left and right before lifting his hand, aiming it at her. The girl froze, her face pale with terror. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tugged at Ima''s hand desperately.
¡°Please help me. I beg of you, they''re going to kill¡ª¡±
A violent explosion of fire erupted from the man¡¯s hand.
The flames roared to life, engulfing the girl before she could finish her plea. Ima barely had time to react. The fire consumed her in an instant. Her small body disintegrated before his eyes.
A heap of black ash fell to the ground.
The world around him blurred. His ears rang. His stomach twisted into knots, and his breath caught in his throat.
That... that just happened. He wasn¡¯t imagining it. The heat still lingered on his skin. The acrid stench of burnt flesh filled his nose, making him gag. His trembling hands clenched at his sides, unable to process what he had just witnessed.
A second man, shorter but just as menacing, stepped forward with a smirk. He had dark, unruly hair and weathered features. He placed a firm hand on Ima¡¯s shoulder, chuckling.
¡°Take it easy, will ye?¡± He leaned in, his voice almost teasing. ¡°How ''bout ye head on back home and take yourself a long, hearty nap? It¡¯d do ye some good.¡±
¡°It would,¡± the tall man added.
Ima¡¯s gaze flickered past them into the alleyway. A group of girls huddled together, bound and trembling.
His breath hitched.
His feet moved before he could think. He bumped into people, shoving past them as he ran. His heart pounded, but he didn¡¯t stop.
She was right there.
She was holding my hand.
She¡
Ima stumbled back behind the old shop, his legs giving out as he collapsed beside the well. His hands dug into his hair, his breath ragged and shallow.
His mind replayed the scene over and over¡ªthe girl''s desperate plea, the raw terror in her eyes, and then¡ nothing. Just fire and ash.
His stomach twisted painfully. His hands clenched into fists, shaking.
"Why am I here?"
His chest felt tight. He wanted to scream, to throw up, to run¡ªbut there was nowhere to go. He buried his face in his hands, shaking violently.
¡°Why didn¡¯t I do anything?¡±
He laughed, ¡°That¡¯s right, there was nothing I could do.¡±
¡°What could I have done? I''m weak and pathetic. I couldn''t have saved her.¡±
He could not bear the fact that he had done nothing. He wanted to save them and to lessen the weight of the guilt that was tearing him apart from inside.
But what could he do?
He got up and marched back into the streets, walking around aimlessly like a zombie.
His mind was spinning, consumed by guilt and fear. The image of the girl turning to ash replayed over and over in his mind, a sickening loop he couldn''t escape.
Ima wandered the streets, his body moving on instinct while his mind remained trapped in the memory of burning flesh.
The acrid stench clung to his nostrils, making him want to retch. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her terrified face, her outstretched hand, and then¡ªnothing. Just ash.
She had begged him to help. He had done nothing.
He should have ran faster. He should have grabbed her and bolted. He should have¡ª
His stomach clenched painfully. There was no undoing it. No bringing her back. But the others were still alive. He had seen them¡ªhuddled together, bound, afraid.
His fists clenched.
If he left now, they¡¯d all die. Just like her.
A sick, heavy weight pressed down on his chest. He didn¡¯t want to go back. He wanted to disappear, to curl up somewhere dark and cold and pretend none of this had happened
He wanted to go home.
His legs carried him against his better judgment, back towards the alley where the men had stood. His heartbeat pounded against his ribs as he peeked around the corner, keeping himself hidden. The two men were still there, speaking to a third¡ªa wiry man with a hunched posture and a calculating stare.
¡°I¡¯m tellin¡¯ ya, the boss doesn¡¯t like delays,¡± the wiry man said, scratching his stubbled chin. ¡°Move ¡®em quick, before they cause more trouble.¡±
¡°The last one didn¡¯t cause any trouble,¡± the tall man chuckled darkly. ¡°didn¡¯t even scream.¡±
Ima¡¯s breath hitched. His stomach twisted into knots.
The shorter man glanced toward the alley. ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll take ¡®em . Just make sure we get paid proper.¡±
The wiry man and the tall man left. The short man turned toward the captives. The girls shrank back. Ima¡¯s body tensed. He had to act now.
But how? He had no weapon. No strength. No plan.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his skin. Those girls needed to be saved. They were only being watched by a single man. He could do it. He thought since ultimately this was his only chance to do so.
His eyes darted around, searching for a weapon¡ªanything.
Then he saw it.
A broken wooden beam, likely fallen from an abandoned cart, lay near the gutter. It was thick enough to swing with force, splintered at the edges but solid in his grip.
Ima gripped the wooden beam tighter, his knuckles turning white. The midday sun bore down on the street, casting sharp shadows beneath the buildings. The alley wasn¡¯t hidden in darkness¡ªit was right there, in plain sight.
And yet, no one did anything.
People walked by, some glancing in the direction of the struggle, but their eyes slid away just as quickly. Others didn¡¯t even look. Their faces set in expressions of forced ignorance. A group of men leaned against a storefront, deep in conversation, while a woman across the street adjusted the fruit stand she was tending to, never once pausing.
It wasn¡¯t as if they couldn¡¯t see.
Ima¡¯s pulse pounded in his ears. How could they all just ignore it?
He swallowed hard, the rough texture of the beam biting into his palms. If no one else would do something, then he would. He crept behind the man with silent footsteps
This was it.
He had no plan, only the fire burning in his chest and the weight of the wood in his hands. But he knew he had to do it.