Logan's vision blurred as pain surged through his body. He could taste the metallic tang of blood in his mouth, and his world spun in disarray. Desperation and panic surged within him as he realized the futility of his attempts to reason with these relentless attackers.But amidst the chaos and agony, Logan summoned a last reserve of strength. With sheer determination, he managed to push himself up, his battered body protesting every movement. Blood trickled down his face from a gash above his eyebrow."Stop!" he gasped, his voice ragged. "This won't solve anything. You've proved your point. Please, just let me go."Carter's gang paused momentarily, their faces smeared with a mixture of rage and satisfaction. Carter himself looked down at Logan, a cruel grin tugging at the corners of his bruised lips."Let you go?" Carter sneered. "Oh no, Logan. You're going to remember this day for the rest of your life."And with that, the savage beating resumed, each blow a cruel reminder of the hu
The day of Logan's discharge finally arrived after four grueling days in the hospital. He had endured painful treatments, restless nights, and the constant reminder of the brutal attack he had suffered. As he prepared to leave the sterile confines of the medical facility, his mind was filled with a mix of relief and apprehension.Logan couldn't help but wonder about the cost of his stay. Medical bills in the United States were notorious for their exorbitant fees, and he was genuinely concerned about how he would manage to cover the expenses.Before he left his hospital room, Logan hesitated for a moment and approached one of the nurses. "Excuse me, could you tell me how much the bill is?"The nurse checked her records and then informed Logan of the total, a staggering amount that left him momentarily stunned. It was a sum that he couldn't have possibly afforded on his own, not without putting himself in severe financial jeopardy if not for the system.With a heavy heart, Logan headed
Logan anxiously dialed Aella's number, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for her to answer. He knew he had some explaining to do, and he desperately hoped she would pick up. But as the phone rang, he felt a growing sense of unease.Several rings later, Logan was about to hang up, fearing the worst, when Aella's voice came through the line. "Hello?"Relief washed over him, and he responded quickly, "Aella, it's Logan. I'm so sorry for not answering your calls. I messed up big time."Aella's voice held a mix of concern and irritation. "Logan, I've been trying to reach you for the past three days. The first day, it rang, and the next two days, your line was switched off. I was worried sick. I thought...I thought something terrible had happened to you."Logan couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. "I'm really sorry, Aella. Something did happen, actually. I was in an accident, and I ended up in the hospital."Aella's tone shifted to one of genuine concern. "Oh my goodness, Loga
As Logan continued to work, lost in his thoughts and distracted by the looming quest deadline, Daniel's voice suddenly interrupted his reverie."Logan, why are you here at work today?" Daniel asked, his surprise evident. "You should be at home, focusing on healing."Logan tried to sound cheerful despite his worries. "Hey, Daniel! I'm feeling great, really. Fit as a fiddle."Daniel raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Fit as a fiddle, huh? You look more like a harried rabbit. Your mind is somewhere else, my friend."Logan couldn't deny it; his mind was indeed occupied by the task ahead. He appreciated Daniel's concern, but he couldn't afford to stay home right now.They continued to work together, but Daniel couldn't help but notice that Logan's attention kept drifting. He would jolt his friend back to reality each time he caught Logan zoning out, trying to keep him focused on their tasks.As the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, Logan grew increasingly anxious. He knew he h
The taxi carried Logan back to the hotel, but he wasn't in the mood to appreciate the journey. His heart was heavy with the significant deduction from his earnings. He paid the driver, entered the hotel, and made his way to his room.Inside the room, Logan couldn't contain his frustration any longer. He slumped into a chair, fuming about the substantial loss. He grabbed his phone and began to calculate the exact amount taken from his hard-earned savings."Twenty-five percent of 150 million dollars," Logan muttered as he tapped away at his phone's calculator. The numbers appeared on the screen, and he froze as he saw the result: 37.5 million dollars."37.5 million dollars," he repeated, his voice filled with disbelief. The reality of the loss hit him hard, and his frustration boiled over. He stood up abruptly, his face contorted in anger.Logan began to pace around the room, his voice raised in frustration. "All that hard work, dedication, and sacrifice just to lose 37.5 million dollar
As 4 pm arrived, Logan informed Daniel that he was leaving for the day, citing his safety concerns in Crescent Street. Daniel, being a loyal friend, supported Logan's decision, understanding the risks involved in their neighborhood."Take care, Logan. We'll catch up later," Daniel said, patting him on the back.Logan nodded, offering a grateful smile. He headed outside the canteen, ready to find a cab that would take him away from the looming danger. The setting sun cast long shadows across the streets, and Logan's unease grew with every passing minute.Just as he reached the main road, preparing to flag down a taxi, he spotted Carter's vehicle approaching. It was a lowrider, and Logan's heart sank as he saw Carter and his friends inside, laughing and pointing in his direction, their mocking gestures unmistakable.Fear coursed through Logan's veins, and he knew he had to retreat to the safety of the canteen. He quickly turned on his heels and rushed back inside the store, his breath c
The engine purred as Logan's boss maneuvered his car through the dimly lit streets of Crescent Street, the city's labyrinth of secrets and stories. The pulsating neon lights and distant hum of traffic seemed a world away from the chaos of the canteen. The boss glanced at Logan, breaking the silence. "So, Logan, how long have you been in Crescent Street?"Logan leaned back in the passenger seat, his thoughts still swirling from the evening's events. "A little over two years now."His boss nodded thoughtfully but then corrected him gently, "Actually, I meant when did you move in, not when you started working at the canteen."Logan furrowed his brow, puzzled by the specific question. "Oh, I moved here about three years ago, not long before I started working at the canteen."The boss nodded again, seemingly satisfied with Logan's answer. He knew Logan was a private person, not one to divulge much about his personal life. Still, he couldn't help but be curious about his employee's past.C
Sighing deeply, Logan decided that a heartfelt apology was in order. He couldn't afford another 25% penalty from the system, and more importantly, he genuinely wanted to make things right with Aella.He glanced at the time and realized that she would likely be at her workplace, the bank, by now. With a determined resolve, Logan finished his breakfast and headed to work. As he reached the canteen, he approached Daniel with a request."Hey, Daniel," Logan began, "I need a huge favor. Can you cover for me for a bit today? There's somewhere I need to go."Daniel raised an eyebrow, skeptical of Logan's sudden request. "You know I can't just cover for you whenever you feel like it, right? What's so important?"Logan leaned in closer, his voice low. "It's personal, Daniel, and it's really important. Please, what are friends for?"Daniel hesitated for a moment, then relented with a sigh. "Alright, Logan, but don't make this a habit. Just make it quick."Logan nodded gratefully and quickly got