Wicked Justice

The cold night air blew against him while he was looking down at the dark, flowing water reflecting the city lights like stars. His hands tightened as he gripped the railing, his heart pounding as his decision would be a decision he couldn't take back.

"This is it. No one will care if I'm gone."

He was lost in his thoughts, ignoring everything around him. He barely noticed the couple walking past him.

One of them, a man, smirked and glanced at him. "Yo babe, look at this loser… bro tryna act emo. Hahahaha!"

The girl laughed, her voice irritating, mocking, and sharp. "Yeah, why don't you just jump already?"

The man added to it. "You're a loser. Go ahead and do everyone in this world a favor already."

Their laughter echoed in the quiet night, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. His grip tightened on the railing, his thoughts spiraling. If only they knew what he was about to do. If only they knew what he was about to do…

He climbed onto the railing, looking down and wondering where everything had gone wrong. He tried to push it away and prepared to jump…

Suddenly, he heard footsteps running toward him, fast and frantic.

"HEY!"

A voice broke through his deep thinking. He looked up just in time to see a girl sprinting toward him through the dim lights, her breath visible in the cold, her face full of panic and despair.

"Please, don't do it!" she shouted at him.

But he didn't stop. She tried reaching out and grabbed his foot just as his foot slipped from the slippery edge. Her grip tightened around his leg, and before he could pull away, they were both falling into the empty night. The wind screamed around them as they plummeted to the ground below.

For a split second, both their eyes met—hers full of desperation, his full of resignation.

Then, as everything seemed to slow down, a voice rang in his head.

[System activation commencing. Would you like to be chosen for a second chance? (Y/N)]

He thought about it for a split second, and then instinctively he whispered, "Yes."

A sudden energy barrier surrounded them, slowing down their descent as if the world slowed down. They hit the water with a light splash. The impact that should have shattered their bones and stolen their breath dissolved just as they sank into the cold, dark river. Everything just went silent…

The girl jolted awake, her body shivering, as she lay on the cold, muddy bank of the river. Her soaked clothes clung to her, heavy and cold, but she barely noticed. She blinked dazedly, her mind racing.

"I… survived?" she shot right up, her breaths quick and shallow, freezing when she noticed him lying beside her. Panic surged through her body, noticing his hands were still holding her. "He's alive," she muttered to herself, voice shaky. "Thank god."

Looking down at him, she noticed his face. Even though he was unconscious, there was something peaceful about his face, an innocence that stood in sharp contrast to the sadness she had seen in his eyes just moments before. She couldn't help but think, "He's … cute."

Shaking her head, trying to focus on the situation. "You're lucky I was here," she muttered even though she wasn't sure if she was saying it to him or herself. She reached under his arms, groaning as she struggled to lift him. "Damn, bro, why are you so heavy?"

After some effort, she managed to carry him to her car, which was parked near the bridge. She carefully laid him in the backseat, shivering as the cold night air blew on her. Her hands struggled to turn the car on, finally managing to blast the heat and prevent them from freezing. Gazing out at the quiet and bright city, she looked back at him occasionally, thinking, "He's still unconscious, huh." His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm as her grip on the wheel tightened. "What were you thinking, trying to throw it all away like that?"

The girl bit her lip. Her heart felt heavy with questions she couldn't yet ask. For now, she focused on getting home.

She arrived at her apartment, which was modest, cozy, and warm in contrast to the harsh cold outside. She opened the door while struggling to hold him up, dragging him inside. His tall frame leaned on her as she moved him towards her bed in the corner. "You're lucky I work out," she muttered to herself as she managed to lay him down on the soft mattress.

She stood there for a moment, catching her breath, and looked down at him. His clothes were soaked with dark stains from the river, water getting in her bed sheets. She sighed, pushing her damp hair back from her face. "I can't leave you like this," she murmured, kneeling beside him. With careful hands, she took off his hoodie and tossed it aside, then took off the wet shirt underneath.

Her movement slowed down after looking at his lean, defined body with scars and bruises marring his smooth skin.

She hesitated, her fingers grazing over the marks on his skin. The touch felt too personal, but she forced herself to focus.

"Focus!" she muttered, shaking her head.

She took off his shoes and jeans, which she piled near the door to deal with later. Pulling out one of her oversized hoodies and sweatpants from her closet, she dressed him quickly, making sure he was warm and comfortable.

When she was done, she took a breath and let out a sigh. "There," she said softly. "There. You'll be okay now."

The boy moved around a little bit, his face twitching while he was sleeping. She bit her lip as her mind started racing with questions again.

"Who are you?" "What were you thinking?" "Trying to throw it all away like that..."

She said aloud while looking at him. "I need my questions answered."

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This is my first time creating a novel, so if you notice any parts that don't make sense or need fixing, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Any feedback will help me improve and make the story better for future readers. Also, I'd be really happy to know what you think about it. Your support means a lot, and your feedback will keep me going!

Creation is tough, so cheer me up! Thanks for reading!