The man held both of Nova's hands with his left arm while placing the knife upon his neck with the right arm.
Nova couldn't help but scoff at the impractical setup, realizing the man was most likely an amateur. Despite encountering a situation in which even pissing one's pants would not be frowned upon, Nova was not frightened.
Instead, he was angry.
He couldn't explain the origin of such an emotion, yet he somehow yearned for the man's blood, as if he were a wild beast.
"What do you want?" The white-haired youth inquired, suppressing the urge to struggle as a method of escape, which would inevitably result in his untimely demise. Instead, he felt coming to a reasonable conclusion was better.
While Nova awaited an answer, he observed his surroundings.
The alley was approximately ten feet wide, with various pipes and the result of poor plumbing scattered across it. A tiny stream of dirty water ran through the crevices, and several trash bags lay in an organized manner.
A rather squalid scent permeated the surroundings, unpleasantly tickling Nova's nose.
But that was the least of his concerns at the moment.
"Your will," replied the cloaked man, causing Nova to scrunch his eyebrows in confusion. Conventionally, kidnappers would request ransom, yet this man seemed to be spouting incomprehensible words.
What did he mean by "Your will?"
"Seriously, what do you want?" Nova asked as a single bead of sweat trickled down his cheek, splashing upon the steel blade that rested merely an inch away from his Adam's Apple. If the man willed it, he would be dead.
'I don't wanna die so early in life…'
"You'll understand," said the man, tightening his grip on the youth. With clenched teeth, Nova followed the knife's movement with his rapid gaze and dilated pupils. At that moment, he realized he was about to die.
'I don't…'
The man didn't want a ransom. He merely wanted to commit murder.
A psychopath.
Nova gritted his teeth, veins bulging from his neck. It wasn't long before he realized remaining cooperative was out of the question. If he wanted the slightest chance of survival, the best option was to struggle to grab the opportunity.
He wasn't certain how much time passed. It seemed as if the world had slowed down, as if he were the only existence expelled from the cycle.
'Fuck this…'
Nova twisted his body, moving his leg upwards to disturb the man's balance. The adrenaline pumping in his veins didn't display signs of weakening, and only numbed his emotions further, overpowering them with a sense of excitement.
He'd never gotten into a fight before.
And, with his underdeveloped body, fighting a grown man was…
Exhilarating.
He felt like a Professional Fighter.
As his foot dug into the man's abdomen, a shriek escaped the latter's lips, weakening his grip over Nova's hands. The youth slipped his sweaty hands from their imaginary chains, swiftly pushing himself to the left.
'It's over…'
The knife was too close to avoid.
Nova's life had come to an abrupt end.
Finally, a sense of fear pushed deep within his mind re-surfaced, instilling itself once again in the youth's body. However, despite the overwhelming sensation and a racing heart that felt like exploding, Nova was not ready to die.
He would fight until the bitter end.
In a last-ditch effort, Nova brought his palms forward, clasping them and keeping a subtle eye on the man, who revealed a deranged smile. Shuddering, the youth felt a painful sensation originate from both of his palms, coursing across his entire body.
It was like an electronic shock.
Then, it was as if hot coffee were flowing down his hands; warm enough to feel, yet barely falling short of burning him.
However, instead of black, his coffee was a bright shade of scarlet.
Nova felt nothing but the intense heat oozing from the scarlet liquid. With his eyes glued on the knife, he clasped the hilt with his fingers, shaking it away from the man's grip.
With anger and annoyance coursing through his body, Nova clutched the knife but didn't take action. Watching the man gradually come to terms with what had occurred, he smiled faintly before raising his foot.
Crunch! Splash!
Digging his shoe into the man's groin area, he crushed his manhood. Nova wasn't certain what overcame him, but his emotions seemed to be amplified at that moment. He couldn't differentiate right from wrong.
As the man's face paled, he crumpled like a sheet of paper.
Nova suddenly glanced at the knife raked in crimson liquid, then at the man's neck. 'He did this to me…'
'If I had acted later, he would've killed me.'
'Then what? I would've been able to do nothing.'
'He wanted to end my life.'
'It's only fair if I do the same.'
At that moment, Nova came to terms with something important.
'Human life is cheap.'
'So what if a single grain of sand is removed from the pile?'
The sudden epiphany skewed Nova's sense of morality for a split second, allowing him to burst forward, his eyes containing murderous intent. His legs seemed to have lost their strength, yet he persevered.
The idea of killing someone…
It had never occurred to him how terrifying it could be.
The man's eyes widened, and despite his crushed genitals, he still attempted to put up a front. He swung his fist towards Nova's face, trying to halt the boy in his tracks.
Whoosh!
The wind brushed past Nova's face as he dodged, only fueling his adrenaline rush.
The knife felt like an extension of his body, his fingers naturally wrapping around its hilt. With an expression he couldn't describe, Nova swung the weapon.
Crack!
Nova felt as if the air in the surroundings disappeared. His body folded, suffering the brunt of the shadowed man's kick. However, despite the tiny setback, he didn't stop. Ignoring the man's shriek, he swung.
'My ribs cracked.'
Nova could only repeat these words in his mind.
At that moment, the sensation of slicing through soft flesh coursed through his arm. There were a few obstructions, such as veins and the hyoid bone, but eventually, he'd decapitated the man. As the head fell to the floor, Nova felt dark spots crowd his vision.
Before he knew it, he–too–had collapsed.