TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN
ALM 92, August 2026
SHORT STORIES
Thirty-two minutes. That's how long I'd been fighting Chaos. Most people never have to fight themselves. Lucky them. I ducked as a blast of dark energy tore through the warehouse wall. Concrete exploded behind me, showering the floor with debris. Across the room, Chaos hovered several feet above the ground, a grin spread across his face.
"You know, this would be a lot easier if you stopped resisting," Chaos said.
I pushed myself back to my feet and wiped blood from my lip. "You first."
Chaos laughed. My laugh.
That's the problem with fighting your Alter-Half. Every bad decision you've never made is standing right in front of you. We shared the same face, the same voice, the same memories, and the same pain. The difference was choice. At least, that's what I kept telling myself. Another blast shot toward me. I raised a shield just in time. The impact shattered it and sent me sliding backward across the warehouse floor.
"Still playing the hero?" Chaos asked as he landed lightly on the cracked concrete.
"Still trying to destroy everything?" I shot back.
"Only the things holding us back," Chaos replied.
I shook my head. "There it is."
Chaos looked disgusted. "There what is?"
"The lie," I said, pointing at him. "You act like you're free, but you're just angry."
For a moment, Chaos said nothing. Then he launched forward. Not running. Flying. Dark energy erupted beneath him as he crossed the warehouse in an instant. I pushed off the ground and met him head-on. The collision shook the building and sent both of us rocketing upward. Steel beams snapped as we burst through the roof and into the stormy night sky. Rain pelted my face as we hovered above the city. Lights stretched beneath us in every direction.
"Look at us!" Chaos shouted over the wind. "Same face. Same power. Same everything!"
I steadied myself in the air. "No."
Chaos tilted his head. "No?"
"We had the same beginning," I said.
"And?" Chaos asked.
"We chose different endings." I said smugly.
Chaos smirked. "You really believe that?"
"Oh, I know it." I said.
He rushed me again, and we collided in midair. Every punch echoed through the clouds. Every energy blast lit up the night sky. As we fought, memories surfaced. There was a time when I was a lot more like him. Before the team. Before I trusted anyone. Before I believed I belonged anywhere.
"Remember who we used to be?" Chaos asked as he blocked one of my punches.
"Unfortunately, I do." I replied.
"You trusted nobody," Chaos said.
I remained silent.
"You pushed everyone away," Chaos continued. "You thought the whole world was against you."
This time I hesitated and one of Chaos' punches connected.
Chaos smiled. "See? You remember."
The truth was, I did. I remembered Chaos and I splitting into separate people. Next, I found myself sleeping in abandoned buildings because I didn't want help. I remembered walking away from people before they could walk away from me. I remembered believing I had to carry every burden alone. That’s when the team found me. They were on patrol and saw me. Sarah was the first. She was the leader who refused to give up on me. Marcus became my closest friend and training partner. Elena taught me that asking for help wasn't a weakness. Chaos remembered them too.
"They changed you," Chaos said.
"They helped me," I replied.
"They made you weak!" Chaos shouted.
I shook my head. "No. They made me better."
For the first time all night, Chaos looked frustrated. He slammed a punch into my chest, sending me crashing back through the warehouse roof. I hit the floor hard. A second later, Chaos landed nearby.
"You know what your real problem is?" Chaos asked.
I groaned. "Here comes the speech."
"You keep believing people will save you," Chaos said.
I looked him in the eye. "No."
Chaos smirked. "No?"
"I believe people will stand with me."
Chaos laughed. "You're still waiting for them?"
Before I could answer, a familiar voice echoed from above.
"Hey, Above you!" Sarah called, “Sorry we’re late.”
The roof exploded inward. Sarah landed first, followed by Marcus and Elena.
"Miss us?" Sarah asked.
I smiled despite the pain. "A little."
Marcus looked at me and winced. "Man, you look terrible."
"Good to see you too," I replied.
Elena tapped the device on her wrist. "The containment field is ready."
Chaos stared at them. "They really came."
"Of course we did," Sarah said as she stepped forward.
Marcus moved beside me and cracked his knuckles. "Nobody fights alone on this team."
Elena activated her device, and blue energy barriers ignited around the warehouse exits. Chaos immediately turned toward the nearest opening.
"Going somewhere?" Marcus asked.
Chaos fired a massive blast and shot toward the exit. I launched into the air and intercepted him.
"Move," Chaos growled.
"No," I said.
Sarah raised her hand. "Now!"
Energy restraints shot from Elena's containment system. Marcus grabbed Chaos's right arm while I secured the left.
Chaos struggled against the restraints.
"You can't hold me forever," Chaos said.
"Maybe not," I replied. "But we can hold you today."
The restraints tightened around his wrists.
Sarah stepped closer. "We've beaten you before."
Chaos looked at her and then back at me. "You may have beaten me before, but you've never convinced him I'm wrong."
I glanced at my teammates. The people who never stopped showing up. The people who refused to give up on me. The people who turned a lonely kid into a hero.
"Yeah," I said. "You are wrong."
Chaos had no response.
One hour after I'd entered the warehouse, the transport doors closed behind him. Chaos chose to stand alone. I chose to trust others. That was the difference between us. And tonight, it made all the difference.
Brandon Derriso is a media producer, podcaster, and aspiring author from Ohio. He enjoys creating stories that blend action, emotion, and meaningful themes, often exploring the power of hope, friendship, and personal growth. When he's not writing fiction, Brandon hosts The Content Playbook podcast and works in video production and digital media.
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