From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Step, then another step.

Tommy walked out of the shadows, baseball bat in hand, swaying and staggering, as if walking a cat's walk. He didn't avoid or dodge, but started his advance head-on.

In the silent night, the subtle sound of the baseball bat scraping against the dirt rippled through the air. It wasn't loud, but it made the skin crawl little by little.

Closer, and closer still.

Evan refused to compromise. He protected Keller behind him, raising his right hand to try and stop Tommy. When facing a mad dog, keeping your distance was the right approach.

"Stay away from us, you freak."

Ha.

Tommy smiled.

From the moment he appeared, Tommy hadn't even uttered a single word, yet he easily ratcheted up the tension to its peak. Watching Evan and Keller's expressions as if facing a formidable enemy, and Evan's action of protecting Keller, Tommy found it all absurd.

"Oh. What's this bullshit about 'us'?"

"Us" equated to Evan and Keller, but clearly, Tommy didn't think they should be bundled together.

"As if I would hurt my own dear sister."

Tommy tilted his head, sizing up Evan, his face full of hurt. The baseball bat in his left hand idly drew circles on the ground as he protested in a calm voice.

No roaring, no threats, no movements, no attacks.

However.

The dangerous signals radiating from him formed an immense pressure, causing Evan and Keller to retreat further, trying to maintain a safe distance.

Such movements, in Tommy's eyes, became increasingly infuriating and ironic. His heavy body, dragging the baseball bat, seemed like it could collapse at any moment, but his eyes remained fixed on Evan, only occasionally, almost imperceptibly, glancing towards Keller.

"You really do treat yourself well, Evan."

"You have the perfect life, you have the perfect friends, not to mention, you even got together with my sister."

"She's not bad looking, I'll admit that."

Pressing closer step by step, aggressively逼人 (bī rén - forcing).

At this point, one could notice Tommy's words accelerating, his steps quickening, as if the sound of anger gradually boiling in his blood could be heard.

Tommy was displeased, making a face at Keller, "Please, I'm complimenting you!"

Evan gently shook his head, "Tommy, what are you doing?"

Tommy, suddenly stopped—

The air, froze.

Tommy stood in place, tilting his head and carefully scrutinizing Evan and Keller. In the dim night, his eyes and expression couldn't be seen clearly, but within the calmness, one could feel a beast's power stirring.

Finally, it transformed into a smile.

A sad and bitter smile, an angry and desperate smile.

"Ha."

"The whole world loving you still isn't enough. You just had to snatch away the only person in this world who doesn't treat me like a piece of dog shit?"

Evan raised his hands, making a stopping gesture, trying to calm Tommy down.

But Keller preempted him, "Tommy, you know I love you."

Evan, "And no one treats you like a piece of dog shit."

"Heh heh." Tommy laughed, his face clear and bright. "Wait, really? What did you just call me? Let me think."

Tommy really looked up at the sky, striking a pose of serious recollection—

For a brief moment, it seemed as if they were engaging in friendly conversation; but it was only for a brief moment.

"Oh, I believe it was…"

"Freak."

One word, one sentence, even before the lips and teeth collided, Tommy's face had already changed, a gentle breeze transforming into a fierce demon, instantly enraged.

Bang!

The silver baseball bat swept and struck. Tommy switched the baseball bat from his left hand to his right, taking the opportunity to strike Evan's shinbone hard.

Evan: Ugh.

A muffled groan.

The cry of pain was suppressed heavily in his chest, because it was too painful, too sudden, he didn't even have time to shout out. The intense pain instantly devoured his brain like a tsunami.

Everything went black before his eyes.

He heard Keller's panicked voice, "Tommy! Don't, Tommy!"

However.

Keller's words were a kind of stimulus. Tommy clenched his teeth tightly. The baseball bat seemed to respond to Keller—

Once. Arm.

Once. Waist.

Once more. Shin.

A clean and swift three-stage heavy strike, like a gust of wind and a rainstorm, gave Evan no chance to breathe.

Then, Evan fell to the ground.

When the pain reached its peak, the brain was unable to function at all, completely defenseless. Evan curled up, only to encounter continuous heavy blows.

"Stop!"

Bang.

Once. Back. Baseball bat.

"Tommy, stop!"

Bang.

Once. Abdomen, kick.

Keller's heart-wrenching roar, filled with sobs, pleaded bitterly, but still couldn't stop Tommy, instead stimulating Tommy to become even more insane.

Buzz.

Evan's brain was filled with a roar, as if he could hear the sound of reason snapping. After a crisp "pop," he could no longer feel the pain.

A chaotic mass, a vast expanse.

His whole body had no strength, as if the tendon of his spine had been pulled out, the bones all over his body slowly scattering piece by piece.

However, the beating still didn't stop, only he could no longer distinguish clearly what was a punch, what was a kick, and what was the hammer of the baseball bat.

Keller had fallen into despair, "No, God, no…"

Finally!

The storm, seemed to have stopped.

Evan was completely curled up like a cooked shrimp, barely maintaining the last bit of clarity. There was only one thought in his brain:

Breathe. Evan, breathe.

"Heh heh."

Tommy, panting heavily, revealed a ferocious smile.

Seeing Evan struggling and trying to stand up, Tommy aimed at Evan's right shoulder and stomped down hard, stomping Evan back into the dirt.

Tommy circled around Evan like a hunter displaying his prey, spitting hard to the side; however, although the prey was clearly Evan, his gaze remained fixed on Keller. This was a show of force and a threat.

Keller watched this scene, unable to believe her eyes, tears streaming down her face, her heart as dead as ashes.

"No, Tommy. Stop."

Not a roar, not a scream, but a powerless plea.

Keller didn't want to see this scene, it was to protect Evan, and also to protect Tommy—

She couldn't watch Tommy just beat Evan to death like this, she didn't want Tommy to make a mistake.

Watching Evan lying motionless on the ground, Keller fell into despair.

However.

Tommy noticed that Keller's desperate and sad gaze was looking at Evan.

Heh heh.

Even now, Keller's eyes only contained Evan, wholeheartedly protecting Evan.

"Ah."

Tommy went crazy.

"Ah ah ah!"

Shouting and laughing, crying and laughing.

"Ah!"

Tommy completely lost his mind, roaring with all his strength. The bitterness and despair in each cry, mixed with anger, burned fiercely.

Although Keller was still constantly calling his name, she could no longer call Tommy's soul back.

"Ha, hahaha."

Tommy looked up to the sky and howled, raising the baseball bat high, turning his head to take a deep look at Keller—

Tommy looked at Keller, tears streaming down his face.

Keller also looked at Tommy, her eyes filled with tears.

In that brief moment of eye contact, both of them were stunned, their emotions and souls freezing into ice in their pupils, but both rejected the other.

Then, aiming at Evan's head, Tommy swung the silver baseball bat, with all his might, without reservation.