Hero snaps awake in his car. He stretches as he wonder aloud, "What time is it anyways?'

Hero takes out his phone and looks at the time, finding it to be an hour later.

"Better get home before it gets any later," Hero sighs before spotting a text on his phone from Joey.

"Hey dude there's a concert downtown near the hospital," the text reads, "I've got a spare ticket if you want to tag along."

"Beats going home now," Hero concedes solemnly.

"I'm game I'll see you there," he texts back.

Hero heads to the concert hall where he meets up with Joey, who waves from him in the line wearing a jacket.

"Yo Henry!" He calls.

Hero rushes over to greet Joey, "Howdy dude!"

"You into rock?" Joey inquires.

"I was in middle school," Hero replies, "I prefer jazz. You?"

"Pop is actually my cup of tea but I enjoy some rock," Joey replies, "I love how upbeat pop is."

"I love as soothing jazz is," Hero replies, "But the upbeat energy of pop is pretty good and-"

Hero overhears from two shady men that walk by. "You got the crack?"

Hero discreetly records the two with his phone, knowing something is up.

"Yeah come on the customer called about withdraws," the other replies, "And keep your voice down the cops might hear."

"They're on our payroll they may as well be deaf," the first laughs.

"This guy is a big buyer isn't he?" The second inquires.

"Yeah dude can't sing if he doesn't get this he gets withdraws," the first adds, "We got him hooked on cocaine years ago been milking him ever since."

"I've gotta go I'll be right back," Hero explains.

"You OK?" Joey inquires.

"Just have to do everything myself and something came up," Hero bitterly replies attempting to hide it, "It'll be just a moment."

Hero runs to his car and open the trunk, grabbing a jacket and a frying pan. He pulls it over his face to hide his identity and follows the two men down an alley leading backstage where one takes out a brick of cocaine. Hero films as they discuss, "How is this worth several thousand dollars?" The younger asks the more experienced, whom was the first to speak when Hero first saw them.

"Cocaine is pricy," the man replies, "You learn that pretty quick in this business. Even worth a life... You fucking rat. Come out!"

Hero reveals himself, smirking, "I've filmed everything. You lose."

"What do we do?" The younger asks.

"Ice em," the older explains, "Dump his body, and break his phone to destory the evidence. Who are you?"

"Apparently the only one enforcing the law in this darn town," Hero smiles madly, "My friends hide a murderer and the cops hide the drug trade. I have to save everyone myself! You know who I am!?!"

Hero grips his frying pan, "I'm the Hero."

Hero's delusional state grows as the two approach him, out of the corner of his eye he swears he sees Brokenheart before they attack.

"Make it quick," the older demands, "Cops will turn a blind eye anyways."

Hero strikes the younger one with his frying pan first, dealing a heavy blow to the ribs. The man cries out in pain.

"You foolish brat!" the older one exclaims, "I'll teach you to mess with the cartel. We OWN this town!"

The older goon stabs Hero. A sharp pain spreads from his abdomen through his whole body, warm liquid drippin down his stomach.

"You fucking idiot!" A voice yells from behind. Hero tells to see Joey rushing in, his face hidden under his jacket, and anger in his eyes as he drop kicks the older goon, knocking him unconscious. "You can't just go into a fight, let alone outmanned!"

Hero is bleeding heavily but manages o gather the strength to strike the younger goon again. However, Joey is faster than Hero, kicking the goon in the head, knocking him unconscious.

'Thanks," Her replies catching his breath, "I-"

Joey decks Hero in the face, yelling, "What is wrong with you!?!"

 "That hurt!" Hero retorts.

"That was reckless!" Joey proceeds, "You could have died! What would that have done to your family? To your friends? To me?"

"It's not like anyone else was gonna enforce the law!" Hero retorts, "Look!"

Hero hands his phone to Joey who watches the video and demands, "And then what!?! If what they say is true we can't show this to the police!"

Hero thinks for a moment before replying, "The news."

"What?" 

"We leak it to the press," Hero replies, "The police at least have to look like they care. We leak this to the press and use that to pressure the cops into action to maintain the façade."

"OK," Joey sighs, "I guess. Lemme patch you up I got some gauze in my car."

The two walk towards Hero's car. where Hero sits in the passenger seat as Joey explains, "You need to think about your friends."

Hero hears the back door open and spots Brokenheart sitting in the back. He rubs his eyes, asking, "Sorry could you repeat that?"

He still looks at Brokenheart, wondering if he's lost it. He thinks about what he did. He acted without thinking. He has to do this, right? Who else is going to? His friends aren't gonna expose Mari's murder, the cops are corrupt apparently, and so far the only one around him who's done anything is him. It's been like this for years, even when Mari was around he took care of the group and his family, so why would that change? Now he just ahs to do more, go bigger. No one's gonna help him he's supposed to help everyone else... right?

"I'm sorry," Hero sighs.

"Your wound should be fine," Joey sighs, "But Hero, seriously, what's gotten into you?"

"I just let my emotions get the better of me," Hero chuckles, downplaying the issue. What is he gonna do, say "my mind is rapidly decaying and I think I'm hallucinating. I have to do everything myself and can't ask for help cause everyone expects me to be the one who helps." Of course not, he is expected to help and how can he help is everyone is trying to help him? Besides, now that he thinks about it, he doesn't wanna turn Sunny in either, or rather, eh represses this desire into The Culprit within his dreams. It was his sister, he has suffered far more and he can't to that to Sunny.

"OK," Joey sighs, "Just, talk to me if you need to. I'm no snitch if you wanna keep it on the down low."

"Thanks," Hero replies.

Yeah that's not happening. he's Hero, he has to do everything himself. He has this under control.

Or so he believes.

For the record, he does not.

"Cya later man," Hero replies getting out of the car, "And I'm sorry I dragged you into this."

"You'd do the same for me," Joey responds.

Yeah, he would, cause he helps everyone. In letting Joey help him, he failed Joey in his own eyes. 

"Sweet dreams dude," Joey responds.

With that Hero gets in his car, looking in his rear view mirror, "Get it together man. Joey is right, if you get hurt you hurt everyone around you just like Mari's death did. Yet, I have to do this, who else is gonna, I have to take care of the group like before, I have to handle the law cause cops are out I guess, and I should have handled that without Joey. I'm Hero, I help everyone, even..."

The Culprit flashes in the passenger seat for a split second. 

"I'll make sure the others are OK," Hero replies, "I should check on Sunny. But... no his sister died. I should just... bury the thoughts..."

Darkness gathers around Hero as he hyperventilates, The Culprit flashing once more in the seat by him, "Repress the anger. He's suffered more. I don't get to feel this way. I'm Hero... I'm the Hero..."

Hero is consumed by darkness, light returning in his bedroom. He is confused for a moment. When did he get here? He checks his phone.

"When did I leak the files to the news?" He mutters to himself, "I... don't remember..."

He decides to bursh it off. "I'm OK. I've got this. I just need some sleep and I'll be fine."

He lays down and goes to sleep...

Welcome to Red Space.

You have to avenge Mari.