Rama was on the defensive as three attackers kept him on his back. To block their punches he kept his arms up, trying to seek an opening to escape. Jet landed behind them, falling onto his rear. He frantically got up, seeing Rama in dire straits. The room’s layout was slightly different than the one above, this one having a kitchen behind them. There were also two beds in the room, with a chair seated between them. With haste, Jet picked up the chair, and chucked it.

It crashed against one, knocking him off Rama. With one side of his body relieved, Rama hit another assailant with a right hook. The man was forced back, groaning as his body rolled across the floor. As Rama struggled with the final man, Jet ran to the kitchen, picking up random utensils. One of the men Rama knocked off saw Jet and charged him.

“Kitchen style!” Jet yelled, throwing forks at the man.

He awkwardly blocked the spoons and forks, continuing forward. Jet then grabbed a knife and chucked it, making the blade embed itself into the man’s right thigh. He screamed in pain while behind Rama finished his final assailant with a headbutt. He stood up, and with a running start hit the screaming man in the head with a high kick, decommissioning him.

Rama and Jet turned their attention to the rolling man who finally stopped to regain his bearings. He looked up only to meet kicks until he lost consciousness.

“Booyah!” Jet cheered upon finishing off the last opponent.

Jet and Rama high fived.

“Ok that was intense,” Rama said when they noticed something dropping down from the hole.

Like water poured into a cup, people fell into the room, quickly outnumbering Rama and Jet.

“Bro, it's time for the secret technique,” Jet declared.

“Right!”

“Run away!” they said, running to the door behind them.

They entered the hallway, hearing the crowd yelling after them. The strange orchestral music continued to play as they sprinted. At the end of the hallway was an elevator. No words needed to be exchanged; they both knew they had to get to Sifu Ramos. Reaching the elevator, Jet slammed the button to call it. The elevator opened but was occupied. Before them stood a large man about 6’8. Beneath his bald head and bushy black beard was a red and white american football jersey and blue jeans. He looked down at the boys, the purple glow emanating from his eyes.

“Oh fu-”

The large man picked them up, squeezing their throats with each hand. He stepped forward as the boys struggled. Rama threw kicks to the body while Jet punched the man in the face. The giant grunted, his strength weakening. With gritted teeth, he threw Jet through a wall and Rama down the hallway.

Rama gasped on the ground, trying to recover. Over the din of the music he heard the sound of the horde approaching. Despite his body wanting to stay down, he arose with wobbly legs. He looked ahead, seeing the large man go through the hole he’d made. He wanted to go after them but the sound of the horde was too near. He whipped around, seeing about a dozen people barreling towards him with those awful glowing eyes.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Rama kicked the first one that came close, throwing them back into the crowd. He stepped forward, attacking before they could recuperate. One opponent threw a punch which Rama grabbed. He pulled the man forward, grabbed his head, and slammed it against the wall. Another moved up, hitting Rama in the face with a punch. Rama took more blows as they surrounded him. He was almost knocked down but recovered his footing and sprung up, tackling one assailant. He rolled over them then stood up. Before his opponent could recover he stomped their face into the ground and backed up.

He was on the other side of the hallway now, seeing that behind the wall of purple eyes was Jet fighting. He was being thrown from wall to wall. The giant chuckled as Jet forced his way upright after each throw. Jet threw a punch to the giant’s gut but it only made the large man chuckle more. He punched Jet in the side, knocking him through another wall. Rama felt anger well up within him but stopped. Sifu Ramos’ words echoed through his mind. Don’t get angry. That’s the worst way to summon Chi. Be calm. Be water.

Rama could feel it. His body glowed, but it was a very faint illumination. It was a start. One of the possessed people barreled to him which Rama nonchalantly dealt with by punching their head into the ground. The show of force made the others take a step back. Rama ran to them, hitting one with a shoulder bash. In the center of them, they all threw punches and kicks but Rama was able to dodge each one and counter. Each punch and kick felt satisfying. It was like his fists hit with the force of a swung hammer.

He grabbed one leg and threw his elbow down, breaking it. The man wailed in pain as Rama continued to assault the others. One by one they fell as he fought down the hallway, pushing them back. Rama continued to use the environment to his advantage. He threw people against the walls, leaning back against it to support himself from falling. His strength increased. He kicked one man in the stomach, forcing him through the wall. Eventually one remained. He screamed as he threw punches at Rama but each one was blocked. Rama repeatedly punched him in the chest, finishing it with a punch to the head.

Rama breathed heavily, looking behind him. There laid a trail of unconscious bodies and others moaning in pain. Remembering that these had been innocent people, Rama’s pride vanished, replaced by guilt. A crash came from one where Jet was. Rama ran to the hole, peeking inside. In the room was Jet, standing before the knocked out giant wielding a pipe that appeared to have come from the bathroom’s. The room looked like a tornado went through it. Everything appeared broken in some shape or form.

“Jet!” Rama said, entering the room.

“Rama!” Jet replied. “This guy was trouble. You know how many things I had to smack against his head?”

“A lot.”

“Everything.”

Jet spat out some blood when the man began to stir once more. Jet angrily bashed the pipe against the man’s head, keeping him down.

“Let’s get out of here. We still need to get Sifu,” Rama told him.

Together they left the room. Jet whistled upon seeing the unconscious bodies that littered the hallway. They went back to the elevator but Rama didn’t go in once the door opened.

“You gotta go get Sifu without me,” he said.

Jet gave him a confused look.

“Why?”

“I’m going to help Lorraine.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah I’ll be fine. I got superpowers right?”

He held out his arm, showcasing the light glow coming off it. Jet nodded and the two exchanged a fist bump. The elevator door closed, leaving Rama alone.

“You can’t stop the music,” the disembodied voice said.

“It’s a part of life itself. It flows through everything. You cannot stop the symphony.”

Rama ignored the voice as he headed to a nearby stairwell, running up it to reunite with Lorraine.