Chapter 3 — Breaking Point
Inside the Blackwell family living room, Krist sat across from Harrison while Luna walked in carrying two plates of food.
She handed one to Krist and the other to Harrison.
"Thanks," Krist said.
"You're welcome," Luna replied before heading back toward the kitchen.
A moment later, she returned carrying her own plate along with a bowl of sliced fruits, which she placed on the center table before sitting down on a single couch nearby.
For several minutes, the three teenagers simply talked about random things while eating.
Then Harrison suddenly cleared his throat dramatically.
The room went silent.
"So…" he began, leaning forward with interest. "You said you had a challenge for me."
His golden eyes narrowed excitedly.
"Let's hear it."
Krist glanced around the room before lowering his voice.
"Is your dad home?"
Both twins shook their heads.
Only then did Krist relax slightly.
"I want to hack into the Stark Institution database."
Luna nearly dropped her fork.
"You want to WHAT?"
Meanwhile, Harrison's lips slowly curled into a grin.
Then the grin widened.
And widened.
Until—
"Hahahahahaha!"
He burst into loud laughter.
Krist stared at him blankly.
After laughing for nearly a full minute, Harrison wiped tears from his eyes before turning toward Luna.
"You see?" he said proudly. "This is why he's my best friend."
He pointed dramatically at Krist.
"Great minds think alike!"
Krist looked at Luna.
"Is he always this annoying? Because I'm seriously thinking of sealing his mouth"
Luna shrugged casually.
"All the time," Luna replied immediately.
"Traitor!" Harrison gasped dramatically.
"We can do that since we don't need his mouth," she replied. "Just his fingers."
"Wow," Harrison muttered while opening his laptop. "My own sister bullying me in front of guests."
Krist snorted.
"You deserve worse."
"At this point, I'm convinced your Dad adopted you from a mental hospital."
"Cruel," Harrison muttered while opening his laptop. "Absolutely cruel."
A few seconds later, the sound of rapid typing filled the room as he immediately began working.
Krist glared at him suspiciously.
"You're way too excited about this."
"Illegal activities build character," Harrison replied proudly.
A while later, dinner ended.
Luna stood up first and collected Harrison's empty plate before glancing at Krist.
"You too."
Krist grabbed his plate and followed her into the kitchen.
By the time he entered, Luna had already started washing the dishes.
Without saying anything, Krist moved beside her and began drying them.
For a while, silence filled the room.
Then Luna finally spoke.
"How was your day?"
Krist sighed tiredly.
"Terrible. As usual."
"It's Billy again, isn't it?"
Krist nodded.
Luna clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"I still can't believe you let that idiot push you around."
"You won't have to worry about that anymore," Krist said quietly.
Something about his tone made Luna stop washing for a second.
Krist's eyes darkened slightly.
Something about his voice made Luna look at him properly.
Krist slowly placed the plate down.
"For the past year, I kept telling myself to stay calm… to stay patient."
His jaw tightened.
"But I think I've just been acting scared."
Luna remained silent.
Krist looked down at his reflection in the sink water.
"I'm done being weak."
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"And this time…"
"I'm going to hit back harder."
Luna slowly smiled.
"That's more like it."
She leaned against the counter.
"What about Maya? How's she handling everything?"
"She's trying to act strong," Krist replied quietly. "But I can tell she's worried."
Luna nodded slowly before speaking again.
"So…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"What exactly happened today?"
Krist hesitated for a moment before speaking.
Stark Institution
7:53 AM
Krist sat quietly at the back of the classroom reading a book while waiting for class to begin.
As always, Maya sat behind him.
Then the classroom door slammed open.
Billy walked in alongside three other students.
Billy was short and overweight, with dirty blond hair and narrow eyes constantly filled with arrogance.
The moment he entered, his gaze locked onto Krist.
A cruel smile appeared on his face.
He walked straight toward him.
SLAM!
Billy's fist smashed against Krist's desk.
"How does it feel?" Billy asked loudly.
Krist didn't respond.
Billy's smile disappeared.
"I said," he growled, "how does it feel to be captain of the team?"
Still no answer.
Billy suddenly grabbed the book Krist was reading and threw it across the classroom.
Only then did Krist slowly raise his head.
Billy smirked.
"Much better."
He leaned closer.
"Now I have your attention."
"What is there to feel?" Krist replied calmly. "Being captain isn't a big deal."
Billy's smile disappeared.
"You stole my position."
Billy's face twisted instantly.
"You bastard!"
He grabbed Krist by the collar and yanked him upward.
"That position was supposed to be mine!"
Krist chuckled softly.
"The captain should either be the best player, the smartest player, or the best leader."
His eyes met Billy's.
"You're none of those."
"That position belonged to me!"billy restorted
Krist chuckled softly.
"That explains why the team almost lost every match under you."
A few students laughed quietly.
Billy's face turned red with rage.
Before Krist could react—
Billy snapped.
BAM!
His fist slammed directly into Krist's face.
Maya immediately stood up.
"Stop it!"
But one of Billy's friends grabbed her before she could move.
Billy grinned wickedly.
"What's your name again?" he mocked.
Krist stayed silent.
BAM!
Another punch landed.
"What's your name?"
"…Krist."
Billy laughed loudly.
"No."
He punched him again.
"Your name is Prick Stark."
The others laughed with him.
Billy crouched down slightly until his face was inches away from Krist's.
"You know," he whispered cruelly, "your parents were pathetic."
Krist froze.
Billy smiled wider.
"Your mother was a bitch."
Silence.
"Your father was weak."
Something changed in Krist's eyes.
"And honestly," Billy whispered, "it's not surprising they ended up dead after that plane cra—"
CRACK!
Billy's body flew sideways after Krist's kick smashed directly into his face.
The classroom erupted into chaos.
Krist stood there breathing heavily.
His eyes no longer looked calm.
They looked dangerous.
"What did you just say?" he asked coldly.
Billy looked up in fear, blood pouring from his nose.
The two boys holding Krist rushed toward him again.
The first barely reached him before—
SNAP!
Krist twisted his arm violently, breaking it instantly.
The second tried to punch him.
Krist ducked beneath it before driving his knee into the boy's jaw.
The boy collapsed unconscious.
Billy panicked.
For the first time—
He looked afraid.
He turned and tried to run.
Krist chased him immediately.
Another student stepped in to stop him.
Krist grabbed him by the throat and slammed him onto a desk before continuing forward.
Then he reached Billy.
And started punching him.
Again.
And again.
And again.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MY PARENTS?!"
Punch.
"WHO TOLD YOU THAT?!"
Punch.
"ANSWER ME!"
Blood splattered across the floor.
Billy screamed helplessly beneath him.
Students backed away in fear.
Krist looked completely out of control.
Then suddenly—
Strong arms wrapped around him from behind.
"Krist!"
Coach Miles struggled to hold him back.
"Stop!"
Krist kept fighting.
"He talked about my parents!"
"You're going to kill him!"
Slowly…
Reality returned.
Krist looked around the classroom.
Destroyed desks.
Blood.
Terrified students.
Billy barely conscious on the floor.
Then the anger inside him suddenly shattered.
And for the first time since his parents died—
Krist broke down.
Back in the kitchen, silence filled the room after Krist finished speaking.
Luna stared at him carefully.
"So that's why you're in trouble," she said softly.
Krist nodded.
"But that's not the important part."
His eyes darkened again.
"Billy knew something."
Luna frowned slightly.
"You think he knows about the crash?"
"No," Krist replied immediately. "Someone told him."
He clenched his fists.
"And I think Mr. Adams is involved."
Silence.
Luna slowly folded her arms.
"So what exactly are you planning to do by hacking the school database?"
A cold smile appeared on Krist's face.
"The principal."
Luna blinked.
"…Bellatrix?"
Krist nodded slowly.
"I need a way to fire Bellatrix."
Luna's eyes widened completely.
"…You're serious."
Krist looked toward the living room where Harrison was still typing away.
Then he spoke quietly.
"This is my father's school."
"And I'm done letting parasites run it."