Began

Atticus entered a completely surreal state. It was like a state of limbo where the entire world paused, and everything around him was darkness.

In this state, Atticus' thoughts roamed freely and without pause.

He had been foolish.

How could he have been so foolish?

This question kept repeating itself in his mind. He had just learned a lesson—a very big lesson that he felt he should have known from the very beginning.

It was a no brainer. Why the hell would he hold back in a life and death situation? Was his head filled with air!? Niall was stronger, faster, and trying to kill him. Why, just why, would he hold back!?

Atticus' eyes slowly flickered open, and his heart immediately froze. Niall loomed over him, his fist rocketing forward with intense momentum. If that punch landed on his head, it could only result in his skull imploding like a wrecking ball hitting a watermelon at high speed.