Chapter 26: 24 | warning; a missing hand

The rapid knock that thudded against the door after the heavy night came ominously, startled Nora. She glanced at Rome, curled on the sofa as he peered curiously, cautious large eyes looking over.

“Mister… he had a key, right?”

She nodded. It was Lucas’ house, after all. Unless he’d forgotten the key…? Nora couldn’t help but feel like something was wrong.

Lucas’ apartment was old, and the door hadn’t been fixed with a peephole to check. However, if Lucas was the one waiting for her to open the door, she couldn’t simply not answer.

“…Lucas?” called the woman, slowly approaching the door.

No response.

She rested an unsteady hand on the handle, calling once more but receiving no reply. Crouching down, she peeked through the thin sliver under the door—a safety hazard she’d have to speak to Lucas about later.

Not much could be seen from the slit, except for the shadow that stretched over the lit up hallway. Somebody was undoubtedly there.

“I’m sorry, I think you may have the wrong house.”

Still no reply.

And then, a thud slumped against the door heavily, like a body that had collapsed and pressed up on a wall.

Was that Lucas? 

Had he been injured? His condition hadn’t been great when he left the building, so the possibility was high.

The uncertain woman waved a Rome to hide away, in which the boy stared, nodded slowly and scampered over to one of the empty kitchen cabinets. However, he didn’t close it completely.

He took large gulps of air, in case breathing became a risk later.

Nora unlocked the door.

Click.

She pushed open the door, feeling no resistance, before looking around in the hallway. Nothing in sight. Not even the whisper of a breath, or a patter of footsteps.

“…hello?”

A voice replied from behind her.

“Hello~”

She jerked her head back with wide, frightened eyes as a hand clamped over her mouth, roughly dragging her back inside despite her struggles.

A mess of brown curls, and a flash of deep green eyes.

Rome had closed the door the moment Nora had peeked her head outside, alarm bells ringing in his head. The child’s natural danger perception screamed, blaring loudly.

Squeezing his eyes closed, he listened carefully to the struggling sounds outside the cabinet. He was powerless. Scrawny arms, a small body that would likely die with one blow.

As he stood, he was nothing more than a liability.

Rome held his breath, restlessly listening against the thing door.

“Strange…” muttered a smooth youth’s voice, as the sound of a dragging body neared. “I thought she’d been speaking to somebody?”

The youth released Nora abruptly, who crumpled on the ground to catch her breath, hair messed up. Oddly enough, the young man looked genuinely confused as he looked around the empty room.

“Where is he? I could’ve sworn I watched him entire this apartment, and my memories don’t lie.”

Nora gasped. “…who?”

“Ah, damn, I don’t know his name.” said the intruder with a helpless sigh, shaking his head. “Hey, tell me Lady. Have you seen an expressionless man with the most wonderfully strange white eyes?”

Something changed in Nora’s expression, but she quickly masked it. “White eyes? I believe I would remember if… if I had.”

“Right! That’s true~ hm, I really don’t think I was wrong though…” He crouched down, grinning at Nora. However, chills ran up her spine at his threatening stare, curved crescents of warning. “Unless you’re lying to me?”

“It would be unwise of me to risk my life like that, if that were the case.” replied the woman as calmly as she could, her tone light and unhurried.

“Also very true, I guess. Hm…”

He tilted his head back, eyes settled onto the closed cabinet door in the kitchen. Recognition flickered over his gaze as a slow smile stretched out, ears listening for the small gasp of air, all so quiet.

“Would you keep lying if I threatened you properly?”

Nora flinched and lunged out, understanding the threat in his voice. 

The youth twisted around, flipping her over and knocking her down as she kicked out her legs, forcing him down to one knee.

She yanked out the gun at her belt, thrusting her arms up in the air.

“…hahaha, I’m in quite the dilemma.” Raising his hands into the air in surrender, he leaned back to sit down, shrugging. “I give up~”

“Who are you?”

“The name’s Elliot Hayes.” He looked around once more. “I’m a… friend of that white-eyed man who you definitely don’t know.”

She kept the gun poised, directed at the youth who sighed, casually sitting on the floor. Everything from this person radiated danger, from the nonchalant attitude to the way his eyes burned with crazy as he attacked with no regard for his own life.

What should she do? 

Lucas would inevitably return soon, and he’d be in danger the moment he stepped inside.

However, with Rome hidden in the kitchen, she couldn’t take her eyes off this person. She’d never intended to shoot if it could be prevented—Nora was yet to come to terms with the bloody reality of the apocalypse.

Even if she risked her life, she did not want to take somebody else’s.

"If you’re thinking such a thing, how can I be expected to stay down?”

She jerked her head, snapping out of her thoughts, but the youth was already on his feet, arms out. A deep red butterfly knife spun in his fingers, slicing towards her.

Narrowly, it slashed against her arm as a bright burst of crimson bled through her shirt.

Thud—!

Both man and woman turned to the front door, loudly kicked open. Lucas hunched over, leaning against Elias unwillingly as he gazed at the scene, dark bags making his appearance more exhausted.

Glaring, he eyed the room for Rome, but found nothing. The man gripped his head irritably, feeling the constant throb.

He’d tumbled out of Elias’ arms when they reached the hallway, having no interest in remaining within the man’s hold. However, who’d have expected more drama to unfold in his own home?

Lucas gritted his teeth. “What… the hell are you doing?”

“Ghost!” Elliot grinned wildly, sliding the knife away as he stepped closer. “We meet again.”

“Stay. Don’t move.”

Elliot stopped where he stood, waiting, watching. Elias chuckled to himself, helping the slumped man step inside before closing the door behind him. The lock clicked into place.

Lucas narrowed his eyes. “You… James…?”

“…that’s not my name.”

“Alex? Paul? Ivan?”

The man fell silent, then an indifferent look appeared in his gaze. “Then I don’t know who you are.”

“Hey, hey, don’t be mean! It’s Elliot! I even introduced myself to you!”

“You must not be memorable if I can’t remember you.” stated Lucas bluntly, even through his pained tone.

“……”

“I asked… what are you doing?” rasped Lucas.

“Really, it was a coincidence. What luck that you live in the area!”

“Why?”

“Because I ran into a troublesome fellow, and accidentally got cursed~” He raised his arm up, pointing to a black mark that circled his wrist. “I need to find the other owner of this mark within 7 days. The issue is, I met him in a Story and I don’t know where he is.”

“And?”

“And, I happened to see you leave that random Story, the one where you got the beluga after. Then, I saw you when you disappeared into that shady alley, and I read her thoughts when you returned here, escaping another Story.”

Lucas frowned, a little disturbed at the idea that the other was stalking him.

“I’m not stalking.” Elliot looked a little offended. “It really was a coincidence—I entered a nearby Story after you disappeared into the alley, and I’d been searching for food when you returned.”

“…alright. That doesn’t explain what you’re here for.”

“I need your help to release these invisible handcuffs. I really don’t like the idea of being stuck to that bothersome guy any longer.”

Lucas still didn’t understand, and his head was hurting increasingly more with every minute hat passed. “I can’t help you.”

Elliot took a step forward hurriedly. “I got marked two days ago, so it’s been 48 hours already. In 5 more days, I’ll lose my hand. That’s the consequence!”

“I still... I can’t do anything about that.”

“But you can. Because you should know the location of the other person?”

There was such confidence in the youth’s face, Lucas didn’t know how to respond. He pressed his lips together, growing increasingly confused.

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Elias glanced over at the man on the verge of fainting and looked at the youth. “Why do you think that is the case?”

Elliot stared back, tension spreading in his limbs. For a danger junkie who feared dying, he knew where the fine line between life and death was. The man before him simply seethed with death.

“Well~” said the youth slowly, hand sliding over the knife in his pocket. “Because his name is Lucas Silvius, isn’t it? I saw it in her mind.”

Nora watched cautiously, frowning. She’d already collected Rome from his hiding spot when Elias and Lucas entered, standing slightly in front of the little boy.

“That’s correct.” nodded Elias. “And your point is…?”

“The other person’s name is Kane.”

Lucas jolted, his grip tightening as he jerked his head out, wondering if he was hearing things. Elias glanced down at the fingers digging into his shirt, and the wide-eyed surprise so rare on the other.

“Kane Silvius.”

“I…” Lucas’ voice shattered, grasping at memories in the blur of thoughts. “Don’t know him.”

Elliot frowned, a slight panic draped over his expression. “You have to! I could’ve sworn… your last names are the same, aren’t they?”

“Many… people have the same last name.”

“Yeah, but having the same last name and looking similar? That’s not common. Hey Ghost, I know our last meeting wasn’t great but I seriously don’t want to lose my hand!”

“I don’t know!”

Everybody startled, surprised at the sudden increase in Lucas’ typically steady tone. Lucas huffed, face paling as he bent over more, dark strands of hair hiding his eyes.

Kane Silvius? 

He didn’t know! Related? Lucas… he didn’t remember having any family left. No, he was alone, wasn’t he?

Ever since the accident.

“Lucas.”

A relaxed voice broke him free of his thoughts, resting over his ringing ears. The knowing layers in the tone made Lucas look up, furrowed brows and gritted teeth.

Elias gazed at him calmly. “The protagonist of your novel. Did you name him after yourself? Create him similar to you?”

“I… that’s possible.”

Yes, that was right. The name of the character he was most familiar with, a man he’d shaped and created to become something he deeply admired.

Some authors created characters that resembled themselves, or a character they wished was real. Something akin to family, or a lover they’d only dream of, alive in the fantasy of words.

“If that’s the case, then isn’t he the person you’re looking for?”

“That—“

Ding.

A phone notification sounded from the counter, loud in the tension. All heads turned, and Nora slowly reached out before glancing and Lucas cautiously.

“I believe this is yours, Lucas?”

Lucas parted his lips, stretching out a hand. “Bring it closer… I can’t see.”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

Elias looked at him curiously. “You can’t see?”

“I’m a little nearsighted.”

“Where are your glasses, fool?”

“Annoying to wear.”

Nora coughed, suppressing a light laugh. The small, pointless conversation broke through the heavy atmosphere, and she handed over the phone.

However, the text that printed neatly under the time made Lucas’ expression turn cold again.

[Kane: It has been a while. Are you alright?]

He swallowed, unlocking the phone as he scrolled through the history of text messages between them. It was brief, but Lucas quickly came to several conclusions.

If Lucas had reached out first, then it was a number he knew well, considering this wasn’t his own phone. He vaguely remembered sending the texts, but his memory was unclear.

He texted in a manner so unlike himself because he wanted to create a different persona, to hide his identity.

Elliot’s fast sight saw a glimpse of the name, and he almost leaped out. “Hey! You do know him, don’t you?”

Lucas stared at the phone in hand, rubbing his temple with the other. “Shut up.”

He pushed away from Elias, who released him without a word, watching in silent curiosity. Stumbling, he made his way to the single closed door, glancing back.

“If you cause any trouble, I won’t give you any answers.”

With the final warning, the door slammed shut, and the others were left outside to wonder. Elias looked around before walking over to the couch and sinking back into the soft, old fabric, making himself comfortable.

Nora remained alert with Rome by her side, as frustration filled Elliot’s expression, but he didn’t dare to make a scene.

Lucas collapsed on his bed as soon as the door shut, mind as foggy as his vision.

The lit phone shone brightly in the man’s glazed white eyes, a message still waiting for a response.

The sender was likely the protagonist he was searching for. Scrolling up, it seemed that Kane was unwilling to share his location, or any personal information. However, Elliot’s sudden request made it more necessary to seek that man.

Not particularly because Lucas wanted to help that crazy youth who’d nearly killed everybody during the Cinderella story, but because if a curse had been cast on Elliot, then the same one had likely been cast on Kane.

Kane would lose his hand if he didn’t find the other party—Elliot.

In cases like this, it was best to be straight-forward. Too often, people conjured up complicated methods to solve simple problems.

He decided to continue texting as he did before, despite having vague memories of the exact reason.

[L: I… I’m doing fine! ^^ I was in a Story, so I couldn’t message you! Ah, but…]

An instant reply.

[Kane: What is it?]

[L: I’ve met a person under a curse, and I feel really bad for them! They’ll lose their hand in a few days if they don’t find the other person with the matching curse. I want to help them.]

[Kane: …what is their name?]

Lucas hesitated. 

Wait… what was it again? His memory when it came to names was selective to those who he heard the name of multiple times, or those who left a certain impression.

While the youth had certainly left a distinct impression, it wasn’t really a good one, and more of an irritating one he wanted to forget.

[L: It’s Elliot.]

That was it… right?

[Kane: It seems that fate has a strange way of doing things. I am the other recipient of the mark, and also must find him in order to remove it.]

Lucas wrote out a sentence, and then deleted it, leaning against the wall of his dull room, his shadow stretching out at the edges of the phone’s glow. 

A soft breath left him as he closed his eyes.

Why was he panicked, nervous? Of course, speaking to a character that should exist only in fantasy was strange and unlikely.

Naturally, a person would feel conflicted, seeing that their favourite character had come to life.

Yet for Lucas Silvius, who at times felt far too much, and at others felt far too little, he felt both blank and nauseous at once. Perhaps he feared what his involvement with that man might bring.

He couldn’t really understand his unnatural admiration for a fictional person, either.

Well, there was nothing wrong with fear. To live was to fear, and to cower was to not live at all.

[L: Do you want my location?]

[Kane: It is… a little inconvenient for me to travel. How long would it take you to travel to Washington? More specifically, Seattle?]

[L: Under a day.]

Lucas deliberated his plans. In three days, the Starfall would end and the Ranking would begin. Wren’s revenge needed to wait for the latter even to occur, otherwise, his promise to her would be broken.

If he could work out the planning tonight, and begin the search for the heinous ex-lover of hers the following two days, before carrying out the last act on the first day of the Ranking…

He’d have 24 hours to rush to Seattle.

That would make for four days, one day before the deadline to remove the mark. That allowed some room in case something went wrong.

“What’re you thinking about, all alone and emo-like, my lovely link?”

Lucas snapped the phone off in an instant, glaring at the indent weighed down at the end of his mattress, sitting beside him.

“Wren.”

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