PeakWEST - 5 : Vessel

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 𝟺𝟷 - 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝?

Sasaki raced down the deserted streets, his water bike weaving effortlessly between empty lanes as he focused on the path ahead.

The midnight sky loomed above him, dark and foreboding, while the city lights cast a faint glow that shimmered off the streams of water forming beneath his bike.

His mind was filled with an intense resolve, blocking out every distraction as he honed in on his mission.

Each second felt crucial, the urgency mounting with every beat of his heart.

But then, in the blink of an eye, a massive car swerved into his path, appearing as if from nowhere.

The headlights flared in his vision, blinding him for a split second.

With no time to react, Sasaki crashed directly into the car, his water bike disintegrating in a violent burst as he was thrown off, hurtling through the air before colliding with the hard pavement.

The impact rattled through his body, and for a moment, he lay still on the ground, the world spinning around him.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up, every muscle in his body protesting.

His vision blurred, but he pushed aside the pain, not allowing himself to dwell on it for even a second.

Without hesitation, Sasaki was back on his feet, driven by sheer willpower. He stumbled forward, and as he did, water began to gather at his feet, swirling in response to his command.

The liquid formed into a smooth, flowing layer beneath his soles, giving his steps an unnatural glide.

He moved forward, his stride faster and more fluid with each step, his feet slipping seamlessly along the watery path he created.

This was no ordinary run—every movement was powered by the water technique he’d honed, turning his legs into a force of nature.

The water streamed around him, leaving a trail like a ripple through the air, allowing him to move faster and faster with each stride.

His legs moved as if propelled by a current, and he leaned into the speed, the world around him blurring as he tore through the streets.

The pain of the crash was still there, gnawing at the back of his mind, but Sasaki refused to let it slow him down.

His thoughts raced alongside him, putting together pieces of what had happened back at headquarters, the tragic scene that had filled him with dread and sorrow.

The blood-stained floor, the bodies of his fallen friends, and the silence that hung heavy in the air—all of it haunted him, pushing him to move faster.

His fists clenched with fury and a thirst for answers as he felt the weight of his mission pressing on him.

Back at the beach, meanwhile, Samuel was receiving a call, carefully he informed that he has a work to do and he left them.

The mood was tense, with an unspoken understanding between everyone there.

Samuel finally stood up, addressing the others with a calm tone.

"I’ve got something important to take care of,"

he said, his voice steady but hinting at a deeper sense of urgency.

"I’ll be back soon, so don’t worry."

He offered a reassuring smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

His words caught everyone’s attention, and they turned to look at him.

There was an unspoken question in their gazes, a silent concern that they shared.

They knew he wouldn’t be leaving unless it was absolutely necessary.

But they respected his decision and nodded in understanding.

His girlfriend, Marlene, gave him a small nod.

"Be careful, okay?"

she said, her eyes conveying a worry she didn’t voice aloud.

Back on the streets, Sasaki continued to push himself to the limit.

Every stride felt like a blur as he sprinted, the water around his legs allowing him to slip faster and faster, almost defying gravity.

His breath was heavy, his heartbeat thundering in his ears, but he was unstoppable, driven by the urgency of his purpose.

The streetlights whizzed past him, casting shadows that danced and flickered in his wake.

As he ran, he replayed the scene he’d left behind, the faces of Julie, Gojo, and his other friends flashing through his mind.

A lump formed in his throat, his chest tightening with grief and anger. He couldn’t let their deaths be in vain.

They’d been like family to him, each one a vital part of his life, and now they were gone.

He was determined to find the ones responsible and make them pay, no matter what it took.

Sasaki could feel his resolve hardening with each passing second.

His fists clenched, and a fierce determination filled his gaze.

The streets were empty, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched, that eyes followed him from the dark corners and hidden alleys.

It was as if a sinister presence was lingering around every corner, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Just keep going,"

he muttered to himself, ignoring the icy shivers that crawled up his spine.

He couldn’t afford to let fear or paranoia take hold now.

He had to stay focused, to keep moving forward.

As he reached the edge of the city, Sasaki slowed his pace, scanning the area.

His mind was still racing, piecing together every bit of information he had.

He knew he had to be cautious, to approach with a clear plan in mind, but he also knew he couldn’t afford to waste time.

The clock was ticking, and every second brought him closer to finding the truth.

Samuel’s friends shared a tense silence, each of them feeling the weight of his absence.

Marlene had known Samuel for a long time, and something about his demeanor had unsettled her.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was walking into something dangerous.

"Do you think he’ll be okay?"

she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

One of the others nodded reassuringly.

"Samuel’s tough. If anyone can handle it, it’s him."

But despite the words, a sense of unease lingered, filling the room with a heavy silence.

Each of them felt it, an unspoken worry that settled deep in their bones.

They could only hope that Samuel would return safely, that he wouldn’t be caught up in whatever dark force seemed to be creeping into their lives.

As Sasaki reached his destination, he took a moment to catch his breath, his gaze hard and unyielding.

He was ready for whatever awaited him, his mind and body primed for action.

This wasn’t just a fight for revenge; it was a fight to honor the memory of his fallen friends, to bring justice to those who’d been taken from him.

He stepped forward, his movements precise and calculated, and as he did, he felt the weight of his mission settle over him.

He was prepared to face whatever lay ahead, to confront the darkness that threatened to consume him and his friends.

No matter what happened, Sasaki knew he would keep moving forward, driven by a relentless determination.

For Julie, for Gojo, and for everyone he’d lost. He would fight to the very end.

𝘛𝘰 𝘉𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥...