The Zero Countdown

Chapter 3: Start

Holding a serrated kitchen knife hidden right under her skirt attached to a belt on her thigh, Brina threw the sharp blade over Elyon to which he caught mid-air.

"So you know my ability... Where are you now? You can run, but you surely can't hide!"

The beggar took a few steps backward before he randomly points his finger g*n around in front of him, cautious that his target suddenly disappeared from his alternative vision.

In his reluctant approach, Elyon ascertained the accuracy of Brina's prediction. Just as she stated, the beggar's Fantasm had enabled him to track down his target by seeing the image of their head, and his ability to shoot them with precise accuracy was the extension of his supernatural power.

However, since he's blind, the beggar can't navigate when the target's head is obstructed by any object. Even the thin layer of transparent plastic bag covering their heads could be enough to hide them away from the gaze of their foe.

Tiptoeing near the wall and making sure his footsteps never make any noise, Elyon paved away under the beggar's blindspot and kept getting closer whilst Brina was making distracting sounds nearby the trash bins.

Getting closer and closer to his target like a slithering snake sneaking into his target; the perfect chance is within his grasp and so he tumbled over under the beggar's shade and quickly crept himself on someone's door living in the alley.

"Ha! I know you're behind me!" He yelled and kept firing his finger g*n point-blank exactly at his rear, bullets shooting out penetrating the ground and the walls all over.

Reluctant he'd be killed for his recklessness, Elyon saw the beggar's time above his head turned to ten seconds so he took the hardest risk he can get and removed the plastic covering his head, turning himself to a perfect target and distraction at once.

"I'm here!"

His legs were shaking yet he closed his eyes and fell over the threshold upon detecting the beggar's finger g*n pointing at his forehead and thus—loud gunfire prevailed in the silence of the alley across the commercial district, putting an end to a miserable life he had lived.

In an unexpected outcome he could not foresee except the beholder of the future, Elyon slowly opened his eyes and couldn't believe he's still alive.

"What is..."

He went silent as the beggar fell on the edge of the residence's threshold–his head and face was deformed and blood sprayed all over the place; his death was a mess as Brina was on the other side holding the g*n he fired to kill the Fantasm.

Elyon could come to hate himself now that Brina had taken the sin of murder on her shoulders. The action of taking someone's life means it's no different than the craving of a bloodthirsty killer who bears no emotion of his crime.

"How could you... You shouldn't sully your hands with the mortal sin of murder! I will confiscate that g*n and—"

He was going to take the g*n out of her grip but Brina c****d Elyon's weapon at him, threatening him not to get closer even a step.

"And what? Is that how you thank who saved your life? It's either you live... Or get killed. That's how simple life is so how can you not understand?!" Brina flicked the pistol's safety and hid the firearm under her skirt.

"I..." As Elyon couldn't say a word or two, they heard footsteps coming closer so both of them scurried out of the crime leaving the dead body of the beggar they killed.

Somewhere near the crime scene in the alleyway, a woman saddled on a motorbike along with a man on her rear were patiently waiting at the end of the road.

"Hm... We are pretty late, but we can meet them tomorrow instead."

A fine elegant woman removed her protective bullet-proof helmet, her long velvet hair painting the cold blow of the wind smirking at the kiss of the man on her cheek.

Both hands are covered with a pair of flexible alloy gloves, tied over his forearms. He held the woman on her navel and caresses her down her thighs.

"I already told you we should have spent our time messing in a hotel than chasing someone we barely even know. Are you up for a wild play?"

He initiated getting physical with his woman that the walking civilians nearby purposely walk on the opposite sidewalk not to disturb their business.

"Stop that... Even I get embarrassed but whatever. I'm in the mood anyway so let's set aside our problem and have a nice steamy night."

And then the woman gave him a smack on his forehead. She starts the motorbike's engine clasping the throttles as she pulls the clutches, heading towards the red-light district with dirty thoughts in mind.

On the other hand, pacing with Brina running across the road and streets, Elyon felt conflicted yet he still followed her as if he couldn't survive the game without her.

They eventually arrived at a red-light district but Elyon was so stressed out he can't think straight that he's mindlessly tailing the girl who saved his life.

Stopping in front of a five-star hotel around the busiest corner of the area, Brina just dragged Elyon to the hotel and she showed a glassy gold card over the reception table and for some reason, the receptionist's tone somewhat became mild and respectful towards her.

Elyon find it strange and it was the second he realized where they are.

"The Silverfolsage Hotel warmly welcomes you, Miss Faelyn. Please request anything through the phone when you need anything." The lady need not further verification; she simply needs one look on her uniquely customized golden card and Brina has gained access to the hotel's facility and fine lounge.

"Okay." Brina nodded in response and casually took the key.

The fancy lady behind the reception table addresses Brina in high regard. Having access over the building, she and Elyon casually walked into the elevator and went up the sixth floor.

Striding across the spacious hallways of the Silverfolsage Hotel, Brina opened the door at the sixty-fourth room, the intoxicating aroma was what greeted them along with the neatly cleaned unwinding space for two.

A scented candle on the glass table near the queen-sized spring mattress was the sweet whiff they smelled. A huge mirror is placed over the wall next to the abstract paintings. Their room is luxurious, equipped with toiletries and essentials they wouldn't usually find any higher rating hotels.

As Elyon slouches on the sofa, his senses suddenly awoken. He realizes a high school girl who somehow has a gold card just took him to a five-star hotel in a red-light district.

He actually had no idea what he should say nor what reaction he'd show other than utter awkward silence.

"Why are we here?" Elyon asked, utterly confused about the unbearable atmosphere between him and her.

Brina locked the room and started undressing. She removed her top, not wearing a brassiere with her not-so-brightly developed bosom.

Of course, Elyon was already uncomfortable, and seeing a high school girl's bareness forces him on sticking his face on the wall, his eyes are pressed closed.

Except, Brina got on top of him and pulled his face over her chest. But instead of seducing him as Elyon had imagined, she offered him a big slap on the face and got off his lap, looking at him disgusted.

"What do you think we'll do here? We'll wait until the number of Fantasms dwindles at a count we handle." She casually pick a bottle of shampoo on a drawer beside the shelves as if she already had been in that room more than once.

"Aw, my cheek stings... Are you telling me there's more of those people who gained ability like us?" Elyon couldn't possibly imagine rivaling others with terrifying supernatural powers.

His ability might predict the impending death of his enemies though he can't see his own time, which means he's as vulnerable as his targets. Besides, the fact Brina's time decreased and now it increased more than a few days from a few minutes indicates he can change the future; hence the reason he's a Fate Weaver.

"Precisely, there are 100 Fantasms who participated in the Zero Countdown. Right now, those players who gained Fantasm Ability think they became powerful like how that beggar we eliminated was driven by his pride."

Brina further explains the details of the game. Apparently, she stated there are a total of 100 Fantasm and the Unknown Entity gives an update over their count to the remaining survivors every twelve-midnight.

"We stay here and come out when it's safe? Now that I remember, are you gonna pay for our stay here in the Silverfolsage Hotel?" Elyon's worried about their expenses, remembering he forgot his wallet that contains his license and bank card in his apartment.

"Money isn't our problem. I probably have more than what you gain in your monotonous office work. For now, we wait until midnight and we can relax without stumbling upon another Fantasm."

Brina said and she goes into the shower room, never bothered that an adult can see her exposed as if she's used to it.

"Alright, if you say so..."

Up to that point, Elyon can't even distinguish what is strange and normal. He's just glad he somehow lived in an encounter against another Fantasm.

But he thought that if the blind beggar's ability was already troublesome, and his own supernatural power is substantial in a sense, he could hardly imagine what kind of Fantasm Ability other players had taken ahold of in the game.

For the foe they faced is just the beginning, their mountainous ordeal had just started.