"Yes, I'm fine, thanks to you," she responded calmly, her voice a soft melody in the tense air. He was so relieved to see someone appreciate his kindness. It was the first time he'd helped someone, and instead of mockery, he received genuine gratitude.
Mark, however, was not pleased. "Hey! Who exactly called you here? How long was it going to take for you to mind your own business? She's my girlfriend, and I have every right to do what I want with her. You have no right to interfere!" He yelled, his voice sharp and angry. Daniel's gaze remained fixed on the girl, a flicker of concern in his eyes.
He was surprised to hear Mark claim her as his girlfriend. He'd looked at her, hoping she would deny it, but her silence spoke volumes. It was true. But why would a girl like her stay in a toxic relationship? The way Mark treated her was appalling, not like a girlfriend, but like a rag, a slave.
Looking at her pale, beautiful face, Daniel felt a pang of guilt. Something was wrong, something more serious than it appeared. He wanted to say something, to offer help, but the words caught in his throat. He swallowed his apprehension and turned back to Mark.
"Look, Mark, we don't always have to be at each other's throats. You know what I stand for, and yet you choose to do this when I'm around. You come to my territory, expect me to turn a blind eye? It goes against my beliefs! How can you call her a girlfriend when all I see is you torturing her?" Daniel's voice was steady, his words laced with a quiet fury.
Mark's response was dismissive and cruel. "Torturing her? We were just playing!"
"Seriously? Tell me you didn't mean that. 'Just playing' like children in a nursery? She was screaming, calling for help!" Daniel's voice rose, his frustration boiling over.
"Yeah, she was calling out for help, definitely not calling out to you. You're not the right person to help her! You should do me a favor and mind your business!" Mark snapped, his gaze locked on Daniel's.
Daniel, his face hardening, met Mark's challenge head-on. "Alright, now that you've informed me I'm not the right person to help her, I understand. But the problem is, I was the one who came to arrest you, and I won't let you hurt her again!" His voice was low and dangerous, his annoyance palpable. Mike, ever the braggart, stood beside him, his usual cocky swagger replaced by a wary silence.
Mark, seeing the seriousness in Daniel's eyes, glanced at his crew. They were all gathered around, their faces contorted in smirks and snickers. It was their usual tactic, to mock and belittle anyone who dared to stand against them. Daniel, however, remained unfazed, his eyes fixed on Mark, waiting for the inevitable.
"Well, if you're such a great help, fighting corruption, protecting everyone, protecting this society like you claim..." Mark said, taking a menacing step closer. "Then why on earth have all your teammates gone missing? You've been a bad luck charm to everyone around you! They all disappear, and you couldn't protect them! Maybe you want my girlfriend to go missing too, pretending to protect her when you know what you do to them?"
The air crackled with tension. Daniel, though, remained calm, his patience wearing thin. Mark's words were a barb, a direct hit on his deepest fear, a fear that he had been carrying for too long. He had tried to avoid violence, to reason with them, but their taunts and disrespect had reached their peak. He was done with their games. If they wanted violence, they would get it. They had pushed him too far, and he was ready to fight back. His eyes, once filled with a quiet sadness, now blazed with a cold fury. The time for words was over. The time for action had arrived.
"Tell me, Daniel," Mark spat, his voice dripping with venom, "you claim you can save my girlfriend and everyone else, but what about your own mother? Why did she disappear? Why couldn't you protect her? You're a bad omen, even to your own parents!"
Daniel had expected this. Mark always used his mother's disappearance against him, a constant jab at his deepest wound. But this time, it wouldn't be the last. This time, it would be the final blow.
Mark, basking in the venomous glory of his words, turned to his crew. They erupted in laughter, mocking Daniel just as they always had. The sound of their jeering was like a physical blow, sending a jolt of icy fear down Daniel's spine.
And immediately Mark was turning to look at him, he punched him so hard on his jaw, a force so powerful it sent him crashing to the earth. The impact was a roar in his ears, a searing pain that pulsed through his body.
But this wasn't just any punch. It was a punch forged from years of rigorous training, a punch capable of bending iron. Daniel was born with incredible strength, and his training had made him an unstoppable force.
Mark raising to his feet, a primal fury coursing through him, Daniel lunged at Mark, his fist a blur of motion. The air crackled with the raw power of his attack, the impact echoing through the air.
"Get away from him!" The girl screamed, her voice laced with fear and anger. "Leave him alone! I didn't ask for your help! Just go away, let us be! I have no problem with my boyfriend, and it's none of your concern how he treats me!"
The girl's words were a dagger to his heart. This was the very thing he had been trying to avoid, the very thing that always drove people away from him. He thought she was different, that she saw past his past, that she understood. But her words proved otherwise. She was no different from the rest.
He looked at her, a storm of emotions swirling in his eyes. He could see the flicker of regret in her gaze, but it was too late. She had condemned him, just like everyone else. He was no different from the monster they saw him as.
The incident had ignited a fire of frustration within Daniel. He couldn't believe he'd been dragged into this mess, only to be met with such blatant disregard. "They don't deserve my help," he muttered under his breath, his gaze fixed on the girl, her face etched with guilt. He turned on his heel and stormed away, leaving the couple in his wake.
The girl watched him leave, her eyes filled with remorse. As soon as he was out of sight, she rushed to Mark's side, her hand reaching out to help him up.
"Get off me!" Mark roared, recoiling from her touch. His voice was laced with anger, a stark contrast to the way he'd been whimpering just moments before. "It's all your fault! You're the one who got me hurt!"
She flinched, her face pale. "I'm so sorry, Mark," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to..."
"Didn't mean to?" Mark scoffed, his words dripping with venom. "You think I'm stupid? You knew what you were doing. You always do this! You make me look like a fool, and then you act like you're the victim!"
His accusations hung heavy in the air, leaving the girl speechless. She knew he was right, at least in part. She had a habit of trying to please him, even when it meant putting herself in harm's way. But she couldn't help it. She was drawn to him, to his power, his intensity. And she was terrified of what he might do if she didn't give him what he wanted.
"Just come home with me," Mark growled, his eyes narrowed. "I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."
The girl's heart sank. She knew what he meant. He was going to hurt her. But she couldn't bring herself to defy him. She was trapped, caught in a web of fear and desire. She had no idea how to escape.
"I said, I'm very sorry... I..." 
"Sorry for your f***ing stupid self!" Mark spat, his voice laced with fury. "Just come back home and see for yourself what happens. Then maybe, just maybe, you'll have a better apology. But that's after you've learned your lesson!"
He stormed off, leaving the girl standing alone, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she was in deep trouble. Going home was a terrifying thought, but she couldn't imagine running away. Mark would find her, no matter where she went. He was always watching, always in control.
She knelt down, her fingers trembling as she gathered her scattered belongings. Her mind raced, searching for a solution. Maybe Daniel, the young man who had helped her, could offer some kind of help. He had seemed kind, compassionate. But she knew that appealing to him would likely only bring more trouble. Mark would be furious if he found out she'd reached out to someone for help.
She had to go home. She had to face Mark. There was no other option. She took a deep breath, trying to steel herself for what awaited her. As she walked away, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a trap. She had no idea what Mark had planned for her, but she knew it wouldn't be good.