The night was dark, and my heart raced as I fled down the dimly lit street, pursued by two shadowy figures. Their faces were shrouded in darkness, and their bodies moved with eerie speed, blending seamlessly into the night. Even their clothing seemed to meld with the darkness, making them appear as if they were part of the night itself.

I glanced back for a fleeting moment, and my breath caught in my throat as I saw the two men closing in on me. Their presence was ominous, and fear gripped me tightly.

I forced myself to look ahead, and my eyes met the welcoming glow of a streetlight. It stood sentinel on the sidewalk, providing a small oasis of light in the otherwise foreboding darkness.

This was my chance to catch a glimpse of my pursuers and perhaps identify them. I sprinted toward the light, determined to steal a glance at the two men chasing me.

As I neared the streetlight, I turned my head to steal a glance at my pursuers. The anticipation was overwhelming, a mix of fear and curiosity. I needed to know who they were, what motivated them to chase me through the night. Maybe it was just some local troublemakers, or worse, the bullies who had tormented Kirk earlier – the ones I had confronted and fought with.

But when I finally saw their faces illuminated by the soft light, my heart sank, and my fear intensified. These were not ordinary individuals; they were the vest men.

Their heads were obscured by dark hats that seemed to block any light from revealing their features. It was as if they were headless figures chasing me down the street. Panic surged through me as I remembered the ordeal I had endured at their hands before. I had been strangled and left gasping for breath, and the memory of that pain still haunted me.

I continued to run, my legs pumping desperately as I pushed myself forward. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, providing the energy I needed to keep going. I was running on emergency fuel, every ounce of my strength devoted to escaping these relentless pursuers.

If only I could tap into that strange red power I had discovered earlier. But there was no anger fueling me now, only raw terror. All I wanted was to put as much distance as possible between me and those nightmarish figures.

Then, as I rounded a corner near a moonless alleyway, I stumbled and fell to the ground. Dizziness overwhelmed me, and my vision blurred as I struggled to get up. But I couldn't stop; I had to keep moving, no matter how disoriented I felt.

As I pushed myself up, I saw someone in front of me. At first, I wasn't sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me, but then I let out a startled cry and tried to veer to the right. My legs twisted awkwardly in my panicked attempt, and I tumbled to the ground.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Desperate and disoriented, I looked up at the approaching figure. His broad shoulders and long arms were unmistakable, and he was dressed in a tuxedo or suit, wearing sunglasses with wires that disappeared into his clothing.

"Uncle?" I whispered in disbelief, hope and confusion warring within me. He turned his gaze toward me, and I saw a hint of resignation in his expression.

But before any answers could be exchanged, one of the vest men shouted, "Hey, you!" They brandished strange weapons that resembled wands or scythes, their tips glowing with an ominous red light. It was as if they were preparing to unleash a destructive force.

Uncle Bruce, however, was quick to respond. He drew his own weapon, which emitted a brilliant blue light. The vest men growled in frustration, their weapons at the ready as they shifted into a combat stance.

My uncle mirrored their stance, and a tense standoff ensued. Then, without warning, flames erupted from the vest men's weapons, hurtling toward my uncle. He raised his own weapon, creating a protective wall of ice in front of him.

I watched in astonishment as the battle between fire and ice unfolded before me. It was as if I had stumbled into a world of magic and mystery that I had never known existed.

My uncle, displaying remarkable control over his powers, leaped into action. He commanded the ice to surge toward the vest men, propelling them into the air. They used their fire as makeshift rockets to regain their footing, ready to strike with their deadly wands. But my uncle was faster, conjuring a block of ice that descended upon them, sending them crashing back to the ground.

The vest men writhed in pain, their cries of agony filling the night air as they eventually succumbed to unconsciousness. Uncle Bruce melted the icy path he had created and landed gracefully on the ground.

I could only stare in awe at the man I had always known as my uncle, realizing that he possessed powers beyond my wildest imagination.

He rushed toward me, concern etched on his face as he lifted me from the ground. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.

I hesitated for a moment, trying to process everything that had just transpired. "I think so," I replied, though uncertainty still lingered in my voice. "Are you...a wizard?"

Uncle Bruce offered a faint smile but gave no immediate answers. "All will be explained in due time," he said cryptically. His weapon disappeared, turning into tiny flakes of snow before dissipating entirely onto the pavement.

He turned away momentarily, then paused and looked back at me. "Go home, all right?" he urged, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination.

I nodded, the sense of urgency in his voice compelling me to obey. I wasted no time, sprinting toward my house as I grappled with the bewildering events of the night.

What had I just witnessed? Who were those men? Why could they wield strange powers from their wands? And why had they pursued me? I couldn't fathom the answers, and the questions gnawed at my mind.

I knew I couldn't confide in my mother about this. My uncle had made it clear that there were secrets to be kept. Sharing this newfound knowledge with her might put her in danger as well.

As I neared my home, a mixture of relief and exhaustion washed over me. I was only two blocks away from the safety of my own house. I pounded on the front door, desperately hoping that my parents were home.

My mother answered the door, her expression one of confusion as she surveyed the late hour and my disheveled appearance. She craned her neck to glance down the empty street before focusing her attention back on me.

"Why didn't you tell me the prom party was over? I didn't think it only lasted one hour," she scolded gently, her concern evident.

I forced a weak smile, the weight of the night's events still pressing down on me. "Sorry, Mom. I thought it was a two-hour thing, so I decided to walk home to let you and Dad sleep," I fibbed, the words tumbling from my lips. I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth, not when it might endanger her too.

I stepped inside, and my mother closed the door behind me. As the door clicked shut, a profound weariness washed over me, and I staggered toward my room. The exhaustion was overwhelming, and it was as though sleep claimed me almost instantly.

I collapsed onto my bed, my body heavy with fatigue, and allowed the soothing embrace of sleep to carry me away from the bewildering events of the night.