The Zero Countdown

Chapter 12: Time

"Who might be that special person? I can guess preferences if you tell me who you're going to give it to. I'm good at figuring out preferences."

The woman acted gentle and nice, she strokes her long blonde hair, beaming just like how anyone who has to take of a job behind a desk would do.

"I'm a little embarrassed, but I'm giving it to my daughter who's waiting for me outside. It might get the surprise out of the box, though I still wanted to give her something because her graduation's coming up."

Elyon completely made an entirely different story and told it to the lady so he can at least get on her good side. Even so, he's blatantly lying and at the same time, it was something he should commit. He acted what someone who has a daughter could and brought her facade believably true.

"Oh, you're a father then? I can't believe such a young man is already married. I'm glad you picked my shop for a lovely gift." She started glancing across the myriad of flowers she has for sale, complimenting Elyon as a customer like any saleswoman's commendation.

"You flatter me hehe... I'm getting old for sure."

Elyon had self-deprecated, scratching the back of his head up his scalp. He still maintains his attention to the remaining customers at the corner of his eyes, scanning each and every movement they performed while keeping contact with the woman for the possibility she's the Fantasm Brina pertains.

Humming from shelves to shelves containing the budding sunflower seeds, she tiptoed from the corner presenting the exquisite lavender thriving in a clay pot hanging beside the bonsai shrubs.

"Well, if it's a gift for someone young, the strong color of the lavender as well as its sweet fragrance might be the perfect present. I recommend getting—"

The woman halted her words when abruptly, an endearing little girl the height of her knees grabbed her legs attaching herself to the woman's leg. She has a pretty small bunny stuff toy clung in her arms, embracing her plaything as if it was her best friend.

"I and Dionsy wanna play outside pwease...." The girl's articulation was a bit off as she persuades the woman to let her go out and play like the other kids frolicking in the streets.

What the adorable child got wasn't permission, instead, the woman shook her head and ushered her to the side door near the counter saying, "Not today, Madela. Lots of bad guys are out there, who knows what might happen to you? I'll let you play tomorrow okay?"

"But that's what you said yesterday! I wanna play with my friends... Hmph!" The little girl named Madela pout, her arms crossed yet she still stepped into the other room as the woman had told her.

"We'll take a walk in the park tomorrow then? Is that fine?" The woman negotiates.

"Hm... Okay. Dionsy at least agrees, isn't that right?" Madela says. She turned around and put up her bunny stuff toy above her head, listening like the good girl she is.

"Yeah right! We'll play lots tomorrow hehe." Shaking her cotton bunny as she lowers her voice to pretend her toy was talking, she then giggled and went in wearing a wide beaming grin before going to the other room by herself.

"Is she your daughter? You two share the same smile." Elyon told merely the truth.

"I'm so sorry for that! Madela is my daughter and she likes going out with her doll she had named Dionsy. Though, lately, as you heard the news, crimes skyrocketed out of nowhere. Streets are no longer safe so I'm worried she might get hurt." The woman stated in distress. She places her hand on her chest, concerned about what future their city could come to as well.

"That's true... Who knows what tomorrow would bring?" A melancholic touch could be heard from Elyon's wavering voice. He remembered the family he lost because he wasn't there for them, regretting the decisions he had taken that led him into his utter sorrow clenching his broken heart.

"You're right... But again, I do apologize for the scene my daughter made!" The woman bowed down showing her sincerity. Elyon panics, he had no idea what to say or reach.

"Ah, it's fine really. By the way... I'll take that lavender herb just as you suggested. Isn't there anything you'd recommend?" He somehow scoots over their awkward conversation without any problem.

Still, at the back of his head, he thought to himself he wouldn't have to find a needle in a haystack if Elora was there in the scene since she can identify the Fantasm currently present in the flower shop.

And then again, he's already there and the thing he can execute at that moment is the job he has of finding the real player amongst the three; all the while keeping his guard considering the fact he's searching for his target when the possibility his prey might have reached above his wits.

He kept his conversation open and free with the woman, gathering as much as data he can get and they even chatted regarding the recent outbreak of crime in the city and how it affects their livelihood.

They were conversing as if they have known each other for a long time until the male customer left without buying anything at all, and the teenage girl meekly handed a few dollars and ended up taking a rose from the counter. She was too shy that she darted towards the entrance and bumped into the door and left the premises ashamed, which means the only one under his radar is none other than the woman itself.

Thinking of asking her name for personal questions, Elyon kinda flinched when the woman patted her back and she says, "You're a nice guy indeed... I'm Saya Madden, may I know you at least?"

"Uh... Should I call you Mrs. Madden? The name's Elyon." He introduces himself in reciprocation.

"No, no. You can just call me Saya. I'm a widow anyways so drop the formality." Saya winks, Elyon was clueless on what has gotten into her.

"Is that so? I'll call you Saya." Elyon tried his best not to crook his grin.

From his years of working in a tedious office environment, he realized at that moment that he can't properly hold a conversation unless he's being formal. Although, it didn't hinder him from finding out whether Saya is a Fantasm or not, yet at the same time, he's oblivious of how he can expose the truth other than to keep expressing it with her.

"That's good, Elyon. Anyways, are you up for a tea together with me now? You're a decent guy I'm sure of it."

He wasn't sure why but he noticed Saya changed behavior from reticent to a noticeable suggestive woman. Whatever she pertains to, Elyon must assume the worst and thought he should be ready to kill her once she confirms she's a Fantasm, after all, if she was part of the game and she discovers his identity, things would go downhill in a matter of seconds.

"I should really spend my time with my daughter so I'll humbly decline." He thought it was a trap so he obviously refused.

"Really? What about tonight?" Saya kept convincing him. She puts the clay pot containing the lavender on a paper bag since it's small and can be carried around anywhere.

"I think I might have some time. I'll try visiting you later. Just don't get disappointed if I don't show up haha!" Elyon jokes around, receiving the lavender herb he bought.

He had no intention of entertaining her yet he must find out the truth because he still has more problems he should solve on his own.

Nevertheless, he went out as Saya waved both her hands, beaming as she did earlier when they first met.

As soon as Elyon went out, Brina stares at him while she perches on the wooden bench. He sat beside her carrying a herb in hand, silent and reserved since he wordlessly concedes he found no vital information from his reconnaissance.

"What you got? Is flirting with a mature woman who owns the flower shop really good? Horn dog." Brina massages her temple, the migraine is still hitting her head like a truck.

"Look here, they all kinda look normal to me. What made you think that one of them is a Fantasm anyways?" Elyon told what he scrutinized. The high probable Fantasm he thought was Saya but after their long close-talk, he removes her from the list.

"Because in my memories of the future... Someone in that shop will die. I know gathering information is bland and tiresome, the only way you can unveil the Fantasm hiding in that shop, whether it's a customer or that woman, is for you to go here tonight and see it for yourself." Brina dared him to truth her guts.

All of a sudden, they became detectives who will witness a murder before it even happens. Whoever gets killed and whoever did the crime was the reason why the risk was higher than their first-ever encounter against a Fantasm back then.

"Are you sure there is no third-party Fantasm who will join the fray tonight?" Elyon wanted clarification. He's intently looking above Brina's head, sweating from what he just saw.

"The possibilities might be infinite, but my memories never lie. It's fine for you to back down now if you can't handle your first counter-aggression. It's either we strike, or they kill us both."

With their combined efforts and abilities, they have escaped death countless times and even managed to survive acting uncourageous, hiding in a hotel room while the other Fantasm duke it out using their powers between life and death.

However, Elyon knew they can't win the game without putting up a fight. He decided to take the risk and share a tea with Saya just as Brina had predicted, except, there was one fatal problem that hinders their plan to move forward.

"I hate to break it to you now and I'm not running away anymore..."

"Spit it out." Brina glares.

"It's just... How am I gonna say this? It's just that I converted the remaining seconds you have... And my power states you're gonna die 12 midnight."

As the circumstances drastically changed, Brina finally learned they messed up; for the enemy face possesses a power that completely negates both their ability to predict death and time.

"He who holds dominion over cosmic time... The Time Keeper finally settles the first strike."