Lr stories part 1: Power royale

Chapter 30: Ice Age Part 4

The wind howled as William Dangerfield and Angelo Vasquez trudged through the frozen wasteland, the snow whipping against their faces. The vast expanse of white seemed endless, the cold gnawing at their bones. But there was something else in the air—a tension that neither could shake.

William could feel it, a prickle at the back of his neck, the sense that they were being watched. He glanced over at Angelo, who was still limping slightly from the wound Tommy had inflicted earlier. The two had grown silent, their previous conversation weighing heavily on them.

And then, just ahead, the snow began to swirl violently, almost unnaturally. William's heart skipped a beat. He knew who it was before he even saw him.

"Tommy..." he muttered, his breath visible in the frigid air.

The figure stepped out of the snowstorm, his face cold and determined. Tommy Tomorrow's eyes locked onto William, a mixture of regret and resolve in his gaze. His hands, both bare and bony, clenched at his sides as if ready to unleash his deadly ability.

"William," Tommy said quietly, his voice almost lost in the wind. "This needs to end."

William didn't respond immediately. He could see the desperation in Tommy's eyes, the weight of his responsibility. This wasn't just about the money anymore; it was about something far more personal. Both of them knew what was at stake.

"You don't have to do this, Tommy," William finally said, though he knew deep down that there was no other option.

Tommy shook his head, stepping closer. "I don't want to, but I have no choice. My mom... she doesn't have time, William. I'm sorry."

The moment hung between them, heavy and suffocating. William knew he had the upper hand—his ability to manipulate metal was powerful, almost unstoppable. But as he stood there, staring into the eyes of a man fighting for something so much bigger than himself, William hesitated.

And that hesitation would cost him.

Tommy moved first. His hand shot out, a bone knuckle detaching from his fist and flying towards William at bullet speed. William barely had time to react. He threw up his hands, instinctively pulling the metal from the ground beneath him to form a shield. The bone smashed into the metal, sending a shockwave through William's body, but he held firm.

"Come on, William! Fight me!" Tommy's voice was raw, desperate. He shot another bone, this time aiming for William's legs. William blocked it again, but he could feel his resolve weakening. Every instinct told him to fight back, to end this now, but something inside him hesitated. His mother's words echoed in his mind, and for the first time in this entire brutal competition, he wondered if he had the right to take another life.

Angelo, watching from the sidelines, saw the conflict in William's eyes. "William, don't—"

But it was too late. Tommy took advantage of William's hesitation, his desperation giving him a speed and precision that caught William off guard. Tommy lunged forward, sending another bone hurtling toward William. This time, it bypassed his defenses entirely, slamming into his stomach with the force of a sledgehammer.

The pain was immediate and excruciating. William doubled over, gasping as the wind was knocked out of him. The cold only intensified the agony, the world around him spinning as he dropped to one knee.

"William!" Angelo shouted, rushing forward. But he knew better than to get too close—Tommy was still dangerous, still ready to strike again.

Tommy stood there, panting, his eyes wide with a mixture of horror and resolve. "I didn't want to do this, William... I didn't want to..." His voice cracked, the weight of his actions crashing down on him.

William clutched his stomach, feeling the warmth of his blood seeping through his fingers. He looked up at Tommy, and for a moment, neither of them moved. The snow fell around them, a stark contrast to the violence that had just erupted.

But this wasn't the end. William knew it, and so did Tommy. This fight was far from over.

To be continued...