First Fans and the First Crack

The firebomb’s path shifted in midair. Glass shattered. The flame tail struck the raiders’ own van instead, igniting the backup fuel can they had hidden inside. Their whole ambush collapsed into panic and self-inflicted chaos. The school entrance lights came back on. Aiden stood in the smoke and rain, shoulders heaving like he had just crawled out of the ocean. The chat paused for two full seconds and then flipped completely. ["OH SHIT."] ["He didn’t tank it. He rewrote the fight."] ["That just saved the whole school."] ["I take back the word useless."] ["That’s a hero."] Vera did not laugh first this time. She watched the man in the frame, soaked in mud and rain, and lowered her voice. “If you missed what just happened, I’ll tell you.