The Zero Countdown

Chapter 6: What it takes

"Why are we running away from them again?" Elyon barely keeps his pace with Brina as they run along corridors and hallways in the hotel's premises.

She's taking the advantage that she knows the entire structure of the Silverfolsage Hotel, luring the two who are chasing them into the trap she had laid ahead of time.

"Without me, they could have caught you yesterday in your apartment! Now sprint faster or I'll let them catch you." Brina threatened to use him as bait so she can escape safely.

Though, she's aware Elyon's an integral part of her plans so leaving him is more trouble than it's worth the risk.

The couple was having a hard time tracking them down so they decided they'd split up and corner them once they found the two.

"I'll obstruct the main exit downstairs and keep them going outside. You can chase them as you're faster than me." The man said and the woman agreed with a nod.

"Alright. Just be safe always okay?" She was worried so she kissed his forehead before following Elyon and Brina's trail from where they stayed hidden.

The red-headed woman chose sunrise to track them down somehow because she perceived there aren't many people or employees walking around the hallways.

She strides faster and made herself look like she's in a hurry, yet under her coat is a 35 caliber pistol c****d and ready for subjugation.

Until she stood tall in front of a small storage room at the corner of the hallway, knocking on the door and turning the sealed knob. She fears no one and nothing that she'd do anything in her power to get what she wants.

"Come out now you two, don't be intimidated; we're just fooling around, my boyfriend and I hate bloodshed. A reasonable talk is always an option. I know you'd open the door, Fortune Teller."

The woman knew how to poke curiosity at Brina. She can see through them and can infer how she can manipulate them into coming with her.

"Tsk. What do you want from us? You can enter and we'll discuss things from here." Brina said. Her prey takes the bait.

"Fine."

The woman entered the storage room as Brina had told her. She casually walked in and closed the door, and once she turned around, Elyon and Brina were already pointing a g*n right on her face.

"So, where's the discussion?"

The red-headed woman was calmed that she can perch on an empty crate in the corner with her legs cross, smirking at how predictable they are despite their deviant abilities.

"Tell us the Fantasm of the man who's with you and yours. No one gets killed once you answer our modest concern."

Brina's hands were visibly shaking yet her face is as fierce as an eager predator. She's afraid her predictions were wrong since she can't determine the woman's ability in her recent peek at the new future.

Meanwhile, Elyon stayed hushed pointing the g*n at the woman, letting Brina do the talking because he had no idea how to react.

However, he noticed that the woman was also looking and reading something above their head. He found out that she's currently using her ability on them and whatever she's gazing at was something that could be used against them.

The woman chuckles patting her navel relaxed on her seat, further humiliating their way of acting based on their accompanying crisis.

"I came looking for copper, but I found diamond. Knowing you can see the future, I guess you saw that you never pulled the trigger?"

She pokes right at their weakness; that is knowing their Fantasm Ability, the thing Brina demanded from her that she can use at her disposal.

"How come you know? I told you, the future always changes so I can always kill you anytime I wish it be."

Brina showed she's not fooling around anymore by placing her index fingers on the trigger whilst she's slowly putting pressure on it.

"Wait! I'm joking, okay? You're no fun at all little girl. It's not like I came here not knowing you guys can kill me. Did you say so yourself we'll talk it out?" She waves her hands in a friendly manner, confiding them she means no harm even from the beginning of their encounter earlier ago.

"She must have already known our powers. What're we gonna do?" Elyon put his g*n down and elbowed Brina. He dragged her on the other side whispering about their next move.

"Hm... Knowledge rules the world far above the string weaver. She had seen this coming and played as well." She couldn't believe she was outsmarted even though she can see the future. Though she found a small clue as to why she and the man with her were hunting Elyon for their benefit.

"Then if you understand, why don't we have a nice long chat in our room? I mean, you two were right beside where we stay, probably going at it all night? Youth should be spent wildly so I ain't against a high school student making out with an uncle."

All of them ceased the idea of using their guns and went out of the storage room as if nothing happened. They followed her and came back, the woman's boyfriend was already waiting at their room's front.

That's Elyon and Brina somehow figured out the two had some communication device somewhere hidden under their clothes allowing them to be in two different places at once.

They entered the said room one by one, and as Elyon was the last, he locked the door himself but then he notices the bin beside the shoe rack full of tissues and questionable contraceptions hanging on the lid.

And he recalled their room was right beside the red-headed woman's lodging and remembered the wild foreplay they were hearing was actually them.

"Why don't we acquaint ourselves with each other since we are all aware that everyone here is the same. I'm going first, I am Elora Daelle, a gymnast. Nice to meet you!"

The red-headed woman introduced herself politely while fishing out something they can drink from the fridge. She's polite and kind, opposite of her daunting impression.

Elyon hesitated sitting on the sofa because he sees a set of white and dark lingerie lying around beside Brina who obviously saw the same embarrassing thing but didn't care anyway.

"Hm. The name's Ruther Malova and Elora's mine. Try touching my woman, I'll snap your neck in half."

Ruther threatened him but he still handed out a cup for him and for Brina, which Elora approaches him and pours a non-alcoholic orange juice, and she fills Brina's glass with a chocolate drink.

"Are you serious? I'm not a kid but either way, I'm Brina Faelyn, a high school student." She took the glass of chocolate down it to the brim since her mouth was getting dry.

"Ah... I am Elyon Maverick. Brina and I are not related or anything. She forced me into following her and there's nothing I can do about it." Elyon merely stated honesty.

"Is that so? Let me get straight to the point–we're here to propose we temporarily join as a club or a team whatever you want to call it and eliminate the rest of the Fantasms." Elora wastes no effort nor time; she's going for her desire and none could go against her.

"Really? It's a tempting offer, though why specifically choose us out of the hundred?" Brina took the pitcher from the table and served herself a nice, cold chocolate drink once more.

"Ability to see future, ability to determine when someone will die; isn't that the perfect survival Fantasm Abilities at this rigged game?" Elora understood her enemies well, for she believe today's foe might be a friend tomorrow.

"How come you know what ability we have?" Elyon had an idea what Elora's ability was now that she somehow uncovered their capabilities.

Taking a bottle of beer early in the morning, her boyfriend slapped her hand deterring her from taking even a sip of intoxication she so seeks.

"Ouch... Just a teeny-tiny cup!" Elora pleads, blinking seductively at her lover to get her favor.

"No means no. I'd reckon you'd go for the entire bottle once you're on my back." Ruther strictly prohibited her from drinking any alcohol and took the battle and kept them on the fridge where they should go.

"Hm... I think you better not touch any alcohol as Mister Ruther had decided. Just a feeble warning from someone who can see ahead of the time." Brina was stating bluff.

In truth, she found out in the future that Elora's annoying when drunk and naturally, she'd hate handling a woman like her before she sobers up.

"Oh... If you say so, then I'll reveal my Fantasm Ability... It's called Truth Foresight; the ability to determine Fantasms and understand their ability. The closer I am to them, the more details I can extract popping out above their head."

Elora never hesitated to lay out the cards she's saving up because she finally secure what she's chasing for.

"So that's the reason you went for Elyon as well? Except, I found him first. My ability matches with him and we're fine just as we are. We need not the like of you and your lover."

Brina made it clear that she won't get anything out of them forming a team of four; primarily because the more people join in, the more entanglement and possibilities of the future which will then strain her brain harder than it should.

"Yeah right? We also don't need someone who can see the future yet we can't determine how the Zero Countdown will play out. All we needed is Elyon."

The tension between them became stiffening, surging them from showing a slight hostility against their disapproval and fatal differences.

But there is one thing the two sides coincide; they needed Elyon's power. And his ability will decide who has what it takes to climb to the top and beyond the mortal realm.