As Ryder leaned against the wall of the cell, breath hitching in his throat, a strange sense of futility washed over him. His body was weak, but his mind was anything but. He needed a plan. The overwhelming desire to survive gnawed at him, fueling his thoughts.

Just then, the heavy cell door creaked open again, drawing his attention. Ryder braced himself, expecting more punishment, but instead, a different officer stepped in. This one was younger, wiry, and wore a look of disinterest as he leaned casually against the door frame.

"Ryder Blackwell?" the officer said, glancing at a piece of paper in his hand.

Ryder's heart skipped a beat. His real name. "Yeah, that's me."

The officer waved a hand dismissively. "You're not what we're looking for. Your boss messed up, and you're just a small fry caught in the mess. Consider yourself lucky. You're getting out of here."

Ryder blinked, confusion swirling in his mind. "What do you mean? They just beat me up."

"Like I said," the officer replied, rolling his eyes. "You're not worth the effort. We're focusing on the bigger fish. The Chen family doesn't have time to deal with low-level thugs like you. You're being released."

Before Ryder could respond, the officer stepped back, motioning for Ryder to follow him. The shock of the unexpected release sent a wave of adrenaline coursing through him. Maybe he could still salvage something from this situation.

They walked down the dimly lit hallway, passing other cells filled with desperate faces. Ryder couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. He might be getting out, but he knew many wouldn't be so lucky. The thought weighed heavy on his conscience.

The officer led him to the front desk, where a weary-looking clerk typed away at a computer. The officer leaned against the counter, speaking in a low voice. "This one's getting released. Just a pawn in a bigger game. Don't make me regret it."

The clerk looked Ryder over, then shrugged and grabbed a stack of papers. "Sign here, and you're out."

Ryder glanced down at the documents, his heart racing as he scribbled his signature. The ink felt like a lifeline—his way out of this hellhole. As he finished, the clerk handed him a small slip of paper. "Your belongings are in the back. You can collect them on your way out."

The officer stepped aside, allowing Ryder to move toward the exit. Each step felt heavier than the last, but he was finally breaking free. The weight of impending doom still loomed over him, but he refused to let it drag him down.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

When he reached the back room, he spotted his belongings piled haphazardly on a table. The worn clothes he had been wearing, along with his phone—thankfully intact. He quickly stuffed everything into his bag and took a deep breath, ready to face the outside world again.

As he pushed open the heavy door, sunlight hit him like a shockwave. Ryder squinted against the brightness, his eyes adjusting to the bustling scene outside the police station. Cars whizzed by, people walked past, completely unaware of the nightmare he had just escaped.

He took a moment to gather his thoughts. The Chen family was ruthless, and they had made it clear that he was not safe. Even if he was released now, he was still a target. The police were only one part of the equation; the real danger came from the family who had orchestrated his boss's downfall.

Ryder knew he had to lay low for a while. The last thing he needed was to draw attention to himself. As he started to walk away from the station, a surge of determination ignited within him. This wasn't over. He needed to figure out what to do next.

After wandering through the streets for what felt like hours, Ryder found himself in a dingy café, a safe spot where he could collect his thoughts and formulate a plan. The worn leather booths and the faint scent of coffee offered a comforting contrast to the chaos of the outside world.

He slid into a corner booth and pulled out his phone. It was battered but functional. He needed to reach someone—anyone who could help him navigate this mess. He had heard whispers of a contact in the city who might have connections to the underground scene, someone who could provide intel on the Chen family and the state of the gang.

Ryder scrolled through his contacts, finally landing on a name that made his heart race—Jax. Jax was a fixer, known for his ability to procure information and help people like Ryder disappear when things got too hot. If anyone could point him in the right direction, it was Jax.

He hit call and waited, the phone ringing in his ear. After a moment, a gravelly voice answered. "What's up?"

"Jax, it's Ryder," he replied, urgency creeping into his voice. "I need your help. Things went south, and I'm in serious trouble."

"Ryder? Shit, what happened?" Jax's tone shifted instantly, and Ryder could almost hear the gears turning in his head.

"I just got released from the station. The Chen family is after me because of my boss. He's dead, Jax. Tortured to death. I don't know what to do."

"Get somewhere safe," Jax replied without hesitation. "I'll meet you at the usual spot. I might have some intel on the Chen family and a way for you to lay low."

Ryder felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Thanks, man. I'll be there."

After hanging up, he took a deep breath, realizing that this was just the beginning. He had escaped the cell, but the fight for survival was far from over. As he stepped back out into the bustling city, the shadows of danger loomed over him, but Ryder felt a flicker of hope igniting within. He wasn't just a pawn anymore—he was determined to take control of his fate, even if it meant diving deeper into the dark underbelly of the city.

With every step, he resolved to not to be powerless like now ever and became the titan that crushes these whales, and ultimately, carve out a new identity in this unforgiving world. This wasn't the end; it was only the beginning of his fight for survival.