Maya takes a quick glance around pondering briefly about where the two where before ger attention is drawn by the crouching children, she walks up toward them brimming with curiousity as she notices them playing.

"What game are you kid's playing?"

"Where playing 'The Judge'"

"'The Judge'?" She replies curiously,

"Yeah!, Wanna try?" The child inquires,

"Here" a little girl interjects picking up a cockroach she turns it over and pulls a leg out slowly, the group laugh in tandem as it squirms in her grasp and Maya recoils.

"Put that down!. You can't do that!"

"Why, why not?, We've been chosen, we have received gods salvation!, We are fit to be judge!!",

taking a step back she's blocked off by an older boy,

"Here" he points at a transparent container full of bugs and roaches, "try it"

"Yes try the game"

"Play with us" the children chant, grabbing Maya by the jaw the boy squeezes her mouth open, smiling excitedly as he picks up a cockroach before bringing it towards her open mouth,

"Bite it"

(Someone please!),

The boy turns at the sound of the heightening commotion only to be met with a fist to the jaw, slumming to the ground unconscious, without pause Jay begins his assault on the other boys staving them off he pulls Maya to her feet and falls into his stance.

"They're fucking cult members" as if on cue the sound if a bell ripples through the surrounding area and the cultist children fall to their knees slamming their heads into the ground repeatedly as they mutter fanatically, wasting no time Jay turns to Maya finding her unconscious he signals Daryun to pick her up and back her,

"Get to the journalist, i'll go get the preacher"

Bolting towards the adult section he comes to a stop In front of a huge cathedral, (fuck!, Just how big is this cult!?), running up to the doors he can quickly tell opening them would draw too much attention, surveying the building he finds several rectangular windows positioned at the building sides and more inconspicuous windows a few feet above the big ones, in a feat of athleticism Jay pushes himself of the crevices in the old and dented wall managing, now up the wall but several feet away in a horizontal line from one of the smaller windows he contemplates momentarily before taking the risk and taking a leap off the wall, getting a hand at the windows edge he hoists himself up through the open window. Taking a look around he exhales shakily at the sight of the sea of people present, all bowing down and smashing their head against the floor while muttering prayers toward the white dog present in the dog house before them incessantly, looking towards Daryun's mom who slams her head into the ground, repeatedly screaming prayers incongruent he returns to his search for the preacher having located him he throws a small stone at the preacher who turns to his general area before picking the stone while sporting a confused expression, while glancing around another comes flying before he traces the trajectory and meets Jay's eyes, he takes a brief look around him to ensure the cultist we're still deep in prayer before signaling jay to meet him at the exit.

"This is a cult!" Jay states

"I've pieced that bit myself, question is how do we get Daryun's mom then escape all without being caught?" The preacher replies, the two meet Daryun along the way before passing Maya to the preacher to ensure optimum speed as they continue to sprint down their path,

"Humans actually worshiping a dog as their god, the devil is playing a very wicked game, I'm sorry i couldn't escape with your mother, we'll have to comeback for her later"

"Its fine", Daryun replies resolutely, (she's the reason where in this mess!),

"Is it really true that there's someone with proof?, can we even trust him?" The preacher turns toward Jay

"Yes. He knows a way out, he's also a journalist, must've been here to get a story and unfortunately got caught",

The group arrives at the decided spot shortly after but the journalist exclaims backing away in fear, "you idiots!…you've doomed us!" He shouts jabbing his finger repeatedly towards the preacher.

"Cult leader!" He manages before bolting away.

The two turn towards the preacher who dawns a sinister smile while holding the unconscious Maya in a choke hold

"Are you really trying ruin my paradise?, You know i can't allow that" the two now in full alert turn around before finding themselves surrounded by dogs while a section of them peel off in pursuit of the journalist.

"How could you be so careless!" The cult leader bellows towards the short escort, "find him!",

"I'm sorry sir, i'm sure we'll find him soon, the exits have all been sealed and the dogs have picked his sent and are on his trail",

"Good, we must find him no matter the cost!, This is an order from the messiah!, those who aided the heathen in his freedom shall face gods punishment and be executed!" the preacher states glaring towards the caged kids as the crowd rouses up in response,

"Yes!", "Dog god!", "Messiah!", "Judgement!", "They shall be judged!"

The people call, shouting fanatically in response as Daryun's mother quakes in her boots.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"My son?, He's going to be judged?, Daryun?" Pushing her way forward she reaches for the cages metal doors.

"Daryun!… Daryun!…my son!",

Releasing a sigh of exasperation the cult leader signals for his second in command.

"Crucify the witch!", The people gather around her before hoisting her away as she kicks and screams, she's placed against the giant crucifix then tied down to it.

Licking his lips in anticipation the cult leader's eyes settle on Maya's unconscious form, he pulls her along by her hair as the two within the cage shout in unison.

"Start the execution!",

The two are forced out of the cage struggling fiercely all be it to no avail as the watch the preacher disappear into a small building with Maya in tow, forced to their knees beside Daryun's crucified mother Jay hops forward managing to smash his head and heel into the worshiper behind and infront of him, barely keeping balance he turns but is quickly intercepted with with blow to the head, watching him drop unconscious, the short escort still clutching a bloody rock lifts his arms wide while further inciting the crowd,

"My brethren. Behold!, gods Judgment!, only we the chosen the saved! may judge!",

(This is all my...no it's her fault!, Why?!, why!, every time!, every! single! time!, My life's always been fucked all because of her!),

"Daryun" his mother mutters softly "I'm sorry" she concludes as an onslaught of tears trickle pass her pale irises, Daryun speaks up but is quickly rocked by the sight of his mothers head jerking to the side from the impact of a stone, watching silently for several seconds as the blood trickles down the side of her skull she remains unmoving, he roars pilling his skin off his arms while forcing his arms away from their bind, he's in front of her in a flash smashing his fist into every stone heaved at his mother gasping madly he shudders ceaselessly, his adrenaline forcing back the encroaching pain, shattered bones, bloodied hands and flayed skin, Jay watches now partially lucid in part horror and amazement,

"That's....my.....move" Jay mutters, Quickly moving a safe distance away while keeping a keen eye on Daryun, "This crazy..., get him!" The escort yells prompting the worshipers to rush towards Daryun who drops low grinding his teeth to will away the pain, two quick jabs later the men holding Jay down are stunned giving him enough time to force himself up, Daryun quickly unclenches his ruined hands helping to pull apart the ropes.

"Free my mom I'll hold them of" picking up the stones he hurls them with pitcher's throw forcing the worshipers to scatter, a second later Jay gets Mrs won free carrying her towards the building the cult leader took Maya into, Daryun takes guard letting Jay go ahead of him as he hurls the stones while following close behind.

The two bolt down a long dirty hallway till they meet a door to a room right at the hallway center, Jay drops Mrs Won to the side before smashing the doors open with a kick, Daryun and Jay stand frozen at the sight of countless dogs and the naked preacher pressed against Maya's struggling frame

"I'LL KILL YOU!" jay lunges dodging barely with the aid of Daryun's tug, rising of Maya's frame the cult leader picks a bloody slab of meat out of a bucket of water before throwing it at Jay who weaves pulling Daryun along as the dogs bolt at the two barely a second later narrowly miss the duo, groaning in frustration the preacher stretches for another slab of meat before screaming in alarm at the bite on his heel, looking down towards Maya he pulls at her hair before throwing her aside, turning to the two he finds himself drenched in water,

"And what's this supposed to do?" He inquires rhetorically chuckling towards the half dead woman holding up a bucket

"Mom!"....."Mrs Won!",

Chuckling lightly while swaying on her feet she coughs up blood while clutching her head, the dogs Turn towards the man growling as they circle slowly, realising what he'd been drenched with he reaches for the bucket again groaning in pain as Maya's bite stalls him, pulling her desperately he proceeds to strike her, he's stalled yet again as a bucket flies in smashing into his head, jerking his head to the side the dogs pounce on him and Maya swiftly rolls out of the way, Jay rushes towards her clutching the shaking girl as the group hear the encroaching sounds of blaring sirens.

(The journalist had dug under the metal gates surrounding the grounds while the worshipers where hospitalised for mental treatment Mrs won included, the preacher was found dead eaten alive and Daryun.....well...gone)

(Well till that specific day.....)

"Folks it's the national youth boxing tournament semis and on the right, one of the geniuses of the new generation, a strong contender despite being a junior!, And the current defending junior boxing champion Jayson Ross!. On the right, the Prodigy himself, the only unseeded competitor this far in, it's this year's very own dark horse!, Daryun Won!"

(It'd been a year since the incident...)

The match bell rings for it's start Daryun lunges in with a straight and Jay swerves right before putting distance between himself and Daryun while he watches his every move closely.

"Long time no see"

"You dodged that?, You've improved, but i'll have to make this quick",

"I'll confess to her after winning this fight" Jayson replies

in a feat akin to teleportation Jay's head cracks back unable to react at Daryun's seemingly 'teleporting fists' crash down on him giving no room to breathe and within seconds Jay's out like a light hanging on the ring ropes with blood trickling down his crooked nose, smiling callously Daryun stretches a hand towards the now barely conscious Jay, taking in the sight similar to the memory of himself performing the same motion towards Daryun, the images overlap as he grinds his teeth in shame willing desperately for the ground to swallow him whole, Daryun drinks in the felling of supremacy, grinning callously towards the boy writhing in shame before walking out of the ring as the crowd and commentators continue to go crazy. Heading through the tunnel while following beside a tall man in dark shades a call draws their attention,

"Daryun!" Maya who'd followed in pursuit shouts, the duo pause for an instance then resume their walk with neither looking back.

(That day i gave up boxing)

Jogging under the setting sun Jay pauses before throwing a series combinations of fast jabs, hooks and body shots, turning towards the rustling bushes he finds the 'little' Raven falling out,

"Sorry i didn't mean to spy"

"Raven! Ten more laps!"

"Haaaaa i'm going to die" the boy drawls in response, helping him up Yanick greets Jay briefly before turning to jog as he calls Raven on to follow behind him, watching the boy now able to keep up Jay chuckles recalling his previous frame but that quickly turns to shock at the sight of Raven copying his exact combination,

(This!... fucking copycats!) Jay growls before turning to resume his run.

"It's been a long time Jay" Mrs Won states as she feels his hair cutting it lightly as he helps with the directions. Staring at the missing person poster on the table he decidedly shifts the topic of conversation

"Any word from him?"

"No, it's been a few years now, he hasn't come for me, not since the cult incident" she pauses, "i can't blame him" she concludes before smiling brightly

"That little shit!"

"All done?" The woman smiles lightly in response

"yes ma'am" he replies

Dropping a fifty credit bill on the shelf he informs her and her helper as he and Mrs won go back and forth on the excess bill payed before the woman ultimately concedes,

"Thank you Jay" she replies beaming him an easily recognised smile, and for a moment he saw a shadow of her former self in the now partially blind woman, stepping outside the store he school's his saddened expression

"You won't say goodbye to your mom?"

"No...." Daryun replies, "he's my only family now" Daryun states while signaling to the dog in a miniature black jacket, smirking at the boy in response Vin walks on towards the luxurious mercedes with Daryun in tow,

"I'll definitely become your successor!" Daryun states boldly while stepping into the passenger's seat as the car zooms off into the distance.