From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25 - What's My Name?

Max sat firmly on top of Joe. They were about the same size, but with the damage Max had already dealt, Joe was struggling. No matter how much he squirmed, Max shifted his weight just right, keeping him pinned with brutal efficiency.

"Answer the question!" Max snapped, placing his hand over Joe's index finger.

"What do you mean?! Why are we targeting you?!" Joe shouted in desperation. "It's because it's you! You're weak—you never fight back! You're an easy target! As for why it started... I don't know! I just followed Ko's lead, that's all!"

'Just as I thought,' Max mused. 'A follower. A sheep. Not even on Max's list. Probably bullied him just like the others... but never had the guts to think for himself.'

"Alright, then answer this," Max said, leaning in closer. "What's my name?"

"Your name?" Joe's voice cracked. His entire body tensed, confused. It seemed like such a simple question. "It's... Max Smith. You're Max Smith."

Max's grip around Joe's finger tightened—and without a second's hesitation, he yanked.

CRACK.

A sickening crunch filled the air. Joe let out a piercing scream.

"ARGHH!" Joe screamed, his voice echoing off the storage room walls. He wasn't even sure what hurt more—the sharp pain or the shock of it all. Feeling the unnatural bend in his finger, there was no doubt. It was broken.

Before he could recover, he felt Max's grip shift, his other hand now holding onto a different finger.

"Why... why?!" Joe sobbed. "I told you the truth! Your name is Max Smith! Max Smith!"

"I know," Max said calmly. "But here's the thing—I needed you to understand that my threats aren't empty. That I'm serious."

His tone was cold, measured, far too composed for someone in the middle of torturing a classmate.

"Now you'll think twice about lying. Because every time you do, you'll remember this pain. And wonder if I'll take another finger."

Joe was trembling. His mind raced with a single thought: This guy is nuts. Completely unhinged. Did all the bullying finally push him over the edge? Has he been secretly training, waiting for the right moment to explode?

Max leaned in, eyes narrowed. "Since you're so good at following orders, then answer this—why is Ko targeting me? Did he ever tell you? Ever hint at a reason?"

Joe gulped, his voice barely a whisper.

"I... I..." Joe stammered, fear overtaking every inch of his body. He couldn't say he didn't know—he wouldn't. Not after what had just happened. If he gave another empty answer, another finger might go.

So he searched, desperately digging through his memories for anything—any scrap of useful information.

"Ko... Ko follows orders from the school's top dog," Joe finally said. "He's not in our class. He's in Class 5A. Every class has a leader—Ko runs ours—but they all answer to him. The guy in 5A."

"If anyone knows the real reason we target you," Joe continued, "it's Ko... or that guy."

Max took that in silently, nodding to himself. It reminded him of his own school days—a structure just like this. Each class had a so-called 'boss' to keep the delinquents in check, and all of them reported to one kingpin.

Back then... that kingpin had been him.

"I see," Max muttered. "So in the end... Ko is the one I need to go after."

Then his tone changed slightly. "One more thing. Do any of these names mean anything to you?"

He didn't wait for an answer. Max began listing off the names—the names from the video. The ones the original Max Stern had blamed. He went down the list, watching Joe's eyes, until—

"Stop!" Joe shouted. "I know one... the one you said before. Dipter Carl. I know who that is."

It was the last name Max had mentioned, and he was grateful he'd finally hit something—a second name from the list. Finally, someone other than Ko.

"He's the one Ko answers to," Joe confirmed. "The leader of this whole school."

Max could understand if one bully had it out for someone. Schools were breeding grounds for people looking to feel powerful—whether to vent frustration, inflate their ego, or compensate for their miserable lives. But that kind of bullying usually stayed within a classroom, within a clique.

Dipter wasn't even in the same class. There was no real reason for him to be involved. And yet, he was. He was the top guy in the school, and he'd taken interest in Max?

'Why would someone like that target you?' Max wondered. 'And why would so many people... people who barely even know you... all have it out for you?'

Technically, Max had already lost his life once. And now, he had a growing suspicion that the other Max—the one whose body he now inhabited, had nearly lost his as well.