The cool night air wrapped around them as Leon and his parents strolled down the vibrant streets, the hum of the city alive with the pulse of evening. Leon walked between them, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets, the taste of La Prima’s lasagna still fresh in his mind. The warmth of the meal and their laughter had lingered, easing the knot of anxiety that had gripped him since the hospital visit earlier that day.

“I still don’t know how you managed to eat dessert after all that lasagna,” his mom teased, shaking her head in disbelief. “You must have a hollow leg.”

Leon grinned sheepishly, his head tilting toward her. “It’s all about balance. You gotta leave room for the cannoli—it’s, like, a rule or something.”

His dad chuckled, his hands tucked into his coat pockets. “I don’t know about balance. You inhaled that lasagna like it was a rescue mission.”

“That’s ‘cause it was,” Leon quipped, his grin widening. “And I saved it, didn’t I?”

His mom laughed, swatting playfully at his arm. “If nothing else, you’re definitely the hero of La Prima.”

They turned a corner, passing a street musician strumming a soft tune on a guitar. The melody wrapped around them, mingling with the distant hum of car engines and the chatter of other pedestrians.

“Hey, look,” Leon said, nodding toward a pair of heroes patrolling across the street. One wore sleek armor, their face obscured by a high-tech visor, while the other waved cheerfully to a group of kids. “Do you think they know who each other is? Like, under the masks?”

His dad shrugged, his tone light. “Some do, some don’t. It depends. Not every hero works alone.”

Leon’s gaze lingered on them for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “I want to be like that someday. Someone who makes people feel safe just by being there.”

“You will be,” his mom said, her voice warm but certain.

Her confidence was soothing, but it didn’t fully silence the unease that crept up the back of Leon’s mind. His smile faltered for the briefest moment before he caught himself. “I just hope I get there... you know, all the way there. The number one hero. The best. That’s always been my dream from the beginning.”

His dad stopped walking, his expression shifting to one of quiet intensity as he turned to face his son. “Leon, do you remember what I told you when you were little? About what makes someone great?”

Leon nodded slowly. “Yeah. You said it’s not just about how strong you are or how much power you have. It’s about how much you’re willing to give.”

“That’s right,” his dad said, his voice steady and low. “And you’ve got more of that in you than most people I’ve ever met. You’ve got the heart of a hero, Leon. That’s what matters.”

Leon hesitated, the fear he’d carried since the hospital visit bubbling to the surface. “But what if I never get a power?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “What if I can’t... be a superhero?”

His mom stepped closer, placing her hands gently on his shoulders. “Listen to me, Leon. Powers or no powers, you’ll always be our hero… my little hero,” her eyes smile as she tenders the cheeks of her little one. “You’re brave, and you care about people in a way that can’t be taught. And if anyone can find a way to make a difference, it’s you.”

“You don’t need to be number one in the rankings to be a hero,” his dad added, his tone unwavering. “Just being who you are is enough to change someone’s life. And you know what?”

Leon glanced up at him, his brow furrowed in silent question.

“Look here,’ his father said, prompting Leon to turn his head to spot a vibrant mural painted across a shop wall. An unconscious ‘whoa’ escaped his lips, as he took in the image of a hero with glowing wings shielding a group of children from a storm.

“Someday, someone’s going to paint your picture on the walls of this city,” his dad said, his voice filled with quiet conviction. “Not because you’re the strongest, or the fastest, or the most powerful. But because you’ll be the one who never gave up. The one who made people believe in hope again. And that’s the kind of hero the world never forgets.”

His mom smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from Leon’s forehead. “You’ll be remembered, sweetheart. Not just for what you do, but for who you are. And we’ll always believe in you, no matter what.”

Leon’s throat tightened, but he nodded, the weight of their words settling over him like a blanket. He managed a small, grateful smile. “Thanks. I’ll... I’ll do my best. I promise.”

“We know you will,” his mom said gently.

The comforting hum of the city returned as they started walking again. Leon carried their words with him, a flicker of hope rekindling in his chest.

But then, his father’s pace slowed slightly, his head tilting as if listening for something beyond their conversation.

“What’s wrong?” Leon asked, noticing the subtle change in his dad’s posture.

“Not sure,” his dad replied, his voice careful. His eyes scanned the darkened corners of the street, his usual easy demeanor giving way to something sharper. “Let’s pick up the pace.”

Leon’s mom glanced at her husband, catching the shift in his tone, and gently urged Leon forward. The warmth of their earlier words lingered, but the night around them felt suddenly colder, the shadows deeper.

The quiet hum of the city shattered in an instant.

Leon’s father stiffened, his superhuman senses flaring with the unmistakable presence of danger—a predator honing in on its prey. Without hesitation, without thought, his instincts as a protector took over. “Watch out!” he roared, his voice cutting through the stillness like a knife.

Before Leon or his mother could react, he moved. A blur of speed, a wall of safety. His hands pushed his wife and son out of the path of the unseen threat, shoving them to safety.

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“Wha—!” Leon stumbled back, his footing lost as he hit the ground hard. His mother wasn’t as lucky. Her head collided with a nearby lamppost with a sickening thud, and she crumpled to the ground, motionless.

“Mom!” Leon screamed, his voice cracking with panic. He scrambled toward her but froze at the sound—a thunderous crash followed by the splitting of concrete.

The ground trembled beneath him. Slowly, Leon turned.

The creature stood in the settling dust, illuminated by the faint glow of a streetlamp. It was wrong—its presence felt like it didn’t belong in this world. Jet black and impossibly thin, its skeletal frame stretched upward to nearly twenty feet, an abomination of bone and sinew. Viscous fluid oozed from its jagged form, sizzling as it dripped to the ground, eating through the concrete like acid.

Its claws, monstrous and blade-like, gleamed in the dim light, one of them impaling his father through the torso, pinning him in place like a broken doll. Blood poured freely, staining the pavement in a growing pool.

Its face—or what passed for one—was a macabre blend of jagged teeth and soulless, hollow eyes. A guttural growl rumbled from deep within its chest as its jagged tail swayed behind it, slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Leon’s heart pounded so violently it felt as if it might burst from his chest. His hands trembled, his breath quick and shallow. This thing—this monster—was the stuff of nightmares.

But his father...

“F-Father...” Leon’s voice wavered, his entire body trembling as he forced himself to stand. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to get away, but the sight of his father held captive by the beast rooted him in place.

“Leon...” His father’s voice, weak and strained, broke through the haze of terror. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he coughed, but his gaze was resolute. “You... need to go. Run.”

“No!” Leon shouted, tears streaming down his face. His legs moved before his brain could process, dragging him closer to the nightmare before him. “I can’t leave you! I can’t!”

“Leon! Stay back!” his father bellowed, his hand trembling as he reached toward his son. Despite the agony etched into his features, his expression remained unwavering. “I’ll hold it... but you have to—”

“Help! Somebody help us!” Leon’s cries rang out, desperate and raw. His voice cracked as he pleaded, his eyes scanning the street. “Anyone! Please! Help my dad!”

In the distance, silhouettes appeared. Heroes—clad in their iconic costumes—arrived, their eyes widening at the sight of the monster.

Leon’s heart soared for a brief, fleeting moment. The heroes—the very ones he had idolized his entire life—were here. They would save his father.

But then... they stopped.

One by one, their faces twisted in horror as they took in the monstrous figure before them. This wasn’t a villain with motives they could predict, or a thief to apprehend. This was something else entirely—a predator that didn’t belong in their world, something primal and unstoppable.

The monster let out a bone-chilling roar, rattling the metal collar around its neck as acidic saliva sprays from its jaws, dissolving a nearby mailbox into a puddle of smoldering sludge.

The heroes hesitated. Then, slowly, they began to back away.

“No...” Leon whispered, his stomach sinking. “No! What are you doing?! You’re heroes! You can’t just—”

The first hero turned and ran. Then another. Soon, all of them fled, vanishing into the safety of the city’s shadows.

“Come back!” Leon screamed, his voice cracking with anguish. “Please save my father! I beg of you! Come back!!”

The monster growled low, its hollow eyes shifting toward Leon. Its tail snapped through the air, striking dangerously close to where he stood.

“Leon...” His father’s voice broke through his despair, weak but insistent. “You have to go... now.”

Leon looked back at him, tears streaming down his face. His fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms, but his father’s gaze—full of love and desperation—made his legs finally move.

“I’m not leaving you!” Leon sobbed, stumbling toward him despite the overwhelming fear clawing at his chest. “I can’t—”

“Leon!” his father shouted, his voice fierce despite his broken body. “Protect your mother! That’s an order! Go!”

Leon faltered, torn between terror and grief, before finally staggering back toward his unconscious mother. His father’s gaze followed him, softening despite the blood pooling at his feet.

With a final, shuddering breath, Leon’s father locked eyes with his son one last time, his tears spilling freely. “I love you... son. Never forget that.”

The monster let out another feral roar before ripping its claws free. Blood sprayed across the ground, pooling beneath Leon’s father as his body collapsed, lifeless, to the pavement.

“No!!!” Leon’s scream tore through the night, raw and filled with anguish. Tears blurred his vision, streaking down his cheeks as he clutched his unconscious mother close.

The monster didn’t stop. Its jagged claws scraped against the pavement, its head tilting unnaturally as it focused on the small, vulnerable boy. The acidic saliva dripped from its open maw, sizzling against the concrete. Its tail, long and grotesque, curled behind it like a poised spear, sharp and merciless.

Leon’s heart pounded in his chest. His body trembled uncontrollably, his breaths shallow and quick. He wanted to run, but his legs felt like they were locked in place, his terror rooting him to the spot.

But even through the overwhelming fear, a deeper instinct fought to take hold—a desperate drive to protect. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms. He wiped his tear-streaked face, trying to summon the courage his father had shown.

“Stay away!” he shouted, his voice cracking but determined. He placed himself in front of his mother, his small frame a feeble shield. “I-I won’t let you hurt her!”

The monster let out a guttural growl, its eyeless face turning toward him fully. It opened its maw, jagged teeth glinting in the dim light as its tail whipped forward with terrifying speed.

Leon gasped, his body freezing in panic. He knew he couldn’t move fast enough to avoid it.

“Leon!”

The voice was sudden and sharp, and before he could comprehend what was happening, his mother’s arms wrapped around him, pulling him to the ground.

The sharp crack of the tail piercing flesh echoed in his ears.

Time seemed to slow.

His mother’s body jerked as the blade-like tail plunged through her torso, blood spilling from the gaping wound. The monster snarled, retracting its tail with a violent pull that sent her crumpling to the ground.

Leon’s breath hitched as he stared, frozen in disbelief.

“M-Mom...?” His voice was small, barely audible. He crawled to her side, his hands shaking as he pressed them to the wound, trying in vain to stop the blood that poured from her like a crimson river. “No, no, no! Please! Stay with me! You can’t leave me!”

Her hand trembled as it reached for his face, cupping his cheek with the faintest of touches. “Leon...” she whispered, her lips curling into a weak smile despite the pain contorting her features. “You’re... safe. That’s all... that matters.”

Tears streamed down his face as he gripped her hand tightly. “But you’re not! You’re not safe! I... I couldn’t—” His sobs choked his words, his young voice breaking under the weight of the moment.

She shook her head weakly, her bloodied fingers brushing against his face. “You’re brave, Leon... braver than you know. But you must live, please live on my precious son…” Her breathing hitched, a cough bringing up more blood as her strength began to wane. “Never... forget... how much we love you. Your father and I... we... believe in you.”

The monster growled behind them, its hollow maw opening as it prepared for another attack. But before it could strike, the collar around its neck sparked to life. A violent jolt of electricity coursed through its body, causing it to let out a screech of pain.

It recoiled, thrashing wildly before leaping onto a nearby building. With a single, powerful bound, it disappeared into the shadows of the city, its guttural growl fading into the distance.

Leon didn’t notice. He couldn’t. His world had shrunk to the frail woman in his arms.

“Mom?” he whispered, his voice trembling. Her hand slipped from his cheek, falling limp against the ground. Her eyes fluttered shut, her smile frozen in place.

The distant wail of sirens filled the air, growing louder as they approached, but they felt meaningless. Leon collapsed over his mother’s body, clutching her as sobs wracked his small frame.

He cried for her, for his father, for the heroes who had abandoned them, and for the monster that would haunt his dreams forever. The boy who had once dreamed of being the world’s greatest hero was left broken in the darkness, his cries echoing into the unforgiving night.