At precisely 1:10 PM, a knock echoed through the dimly lit room.
Orion Lee opened the door, casually leaning against the frame.
"Hey there," he greeted, eyeing the newcomer with a mix of curiosity and caution.
The visitor, a man named Eli, stood in the doorway, his posture tense.
He glanced over his shoulder, ensuring no one was lurking in the shadows, before stepping inside.
"What's going on?" Eli asked, his voice low, laced with apprehension.
Orion raised an eyebrow, sensing the urgency in Eli's tone.
"You wanted to talk about my comment earlier?" Orion replied, closing the door behind him.
"Yeah," Eli said, glancing around the room, as if expecting the walls to whisper secrets.
"You said something about becoming a 'reaper.' Are you planning on hunting one down?"
Orion didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he pulled out his phone and typed a quick email to the event organizer.
The cursor blinked expectantly as he hit send, and within moments, a reply appeared.
"Join the reaper's faction to gain advantages. Trust no one."
He sighed, inwardly criticizing the cryptic nature of the response.
"Great," he muttered under his breath.
"Are you even listening?" Eli's voice broke through his thoughts, sharper now.
"Are you seriously considering it? Using your ability to confront the reaper?"
Orion dragged a chair over and plopped down, stretching his legs out casually.
"Relax, Eli. You're getting worked up over nothing."
"Nothing?" Eli snapped, his discomfort evident.
"You're talking about confronting a killer. You don't even know what you're getting into."
"Does anyone really?" Orion leaned back, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"You should be more worried about yourself," he added, enjoying Eli's growing agitation.
"Do you even understand what I can do? I can transfer death once. It's not just a party trick!"
"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean I'm going to take on the reaper," Orion said dismissively.
"I'm just enjoying the sunlight right now."
Orion closed his eyes, letting the warmth wash over him, creating a cocoon of tranquility.
The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken thoughts and concerns.
But when he opened his eyes, the room felt different.
"Eli?" Orion called out, his voice echoing unnervingly in the stillness.
He was alone.
Panic surged through him as he sprang to his feet, scanning the empty room.
"Where the hell did you go?" he muttered, confusion settling in.
A sudden rustle pulled his attention, and a figure emerged from the wall, stepping into the room with an unsettling ease.
"Nice place you have here," the newcomer said, his voice smooth but laced with menace.
Orion narrowed his eyes.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Just someone with a unique ability," the figure replied, smirking.
"I can access parallel spaces, which is how I came to be here. Eli is… well, let's say he's in a bit of a tight spot right now."
"What are you talking about?" Orion shot back, crossing his arms defiantly.
"You think you can just waltz in here and threaten me?"
"Oh, I'm not threatening you," the newcomer said, taking a step forward.
"I'm just here to share some information. You see, there's a certain participant in that parallel space who's quite valuable. And I intend to eliminate both you and him."
Orion's heart raced as the pieces started to fall into place.
He recalled the newcomer's excitement during the morning's gathering, especially when another participant mentioned having connections.
"Why are you telling me this?" Orion asked, wariness creeping into his tone.
"Because," the newcomer replied, his smile widening.
"You're about to find out just how quickly alliances can shift in this game. Eli betrayed you, you know."
The revelation hit Orion like a punch to the gut.
"Betrayed me? How?"
The newcomer leaned against the wall, folding his arms casually.
"Oh, I can't reveal all my secrets just yet. But let's just say he had a plan. One that didn't involve sharing the spotlight with you."
Orion clenched his fists, trying to keep his composure.
"Why should I believe you?" he challenged, though doubt gnawed at the edges of his confidence.
"Because I have no reason to lie," the newcomer replied, his voice dripping with amusement.
"Unlike Eli, who's probably using your name to get ahead. You should be more concerned about him than me."
"Enough with the games," Orion snapped, forcing himself to stay calm.
"What do you want?"
"A simple exchange," the newcomer said, his eyes glinting.
"I'll give you Eli's whereabouts in return for something of value. Maybe your unique ability?"
Orion studied him, contemplating the offer.
"Why would I give you my power?"
"Because you're a fool if you think you can survive without making sacrifices. This game isn't about playing nice; it's about survival. And if I were you, I'd start thinking strategically."
"Is that your strategy? To eliminate me before I even have a chance to figure this out?" Orion asked, forcing back the fear that threatened to surface.
"Let's just say I'm an opportunist," the newcomer said nonchalantly.
"And right now, the opportunity lies in either partnering with you or taking you out of the equation."
"Why not just take me out?" Orion retorted, raising an eyebrow defiantly.
"Because I like a challenge," the newcomer said, stepping closer, his demeanor shifting from casual to predatory.
"And I think you're more useful alive. For now."
Orion felt the air grow thicker between them, a standoff simmering just below the surface.
He could feel the weight of the newcomer's intentions, the hidden layers of betrayal wrapped around them like a shroud.
"Tell me where Eli is," Orion demanded, voice steady despite the tension coiling inside him.
"First, I want your word that you won't come after me," the newcomer replied, a smirk on his face.
"You'll have to do better than that," Orion shot back, refusing to back down.
"Trust is a commodity in this game, and I'm not willing to waste it on someone I just met."
The newcomer chuckled, the sound echoing like a warning.
"Wise choice, but foolish too. The clock is ticking, Orion. Make a decision before it's too late."
A shiver ran down Orion's spine as he considered his options.
What if Eli had truly betrayed him?
What if he was left alone to face the dangers ahead?
In that moment, everything felt impossibly fragile, and the weight of the unknown pressed heavily on his chest.
"Do we have a deal or not?" the newcomer asked, impatience creeping into his voice.
Orion hesitated, staring into the man's eyes, searching for any sign of deception.
But all he saw was the glint of ambition.
"Fine," he finally said, voice low.
"I'll consider your offer. But I'm not promising anything."
The newcomer smiled, a cold, calculating expression that sent another shiver through Orion.
"Smart move," he said, stepping back into the shadows.
As the figure melted into the wall, Orion felt a sinking feeling in his gut.
What had he just agreed to?
And more importantly, where the hell was Eli?