In a world where humanity's survival is orchestrated by the dealers of hell, Ariyan stood in the middle of the street, his classmates flanking him, along with a handful of strangers. The group was surrounded by a team of officers clad in sleek uniforms patterned with cold blue designs. Their high-tech weapons, gleaming with ominous energy, were raised and aimed with unyielding precision.
"We are from the Security Department," one of the officers announced, his voice sharp and devoid of emotion. "Hands up. Do not move. Cooperate, and no one gets hurt."
Tension rippled through the group. One of the strangers, a young man with a defiant air, broke the silence, his voice dripping with arrogance. "This is nonsense! You don't know who I am! I have contacts in high—"
Before he could finish, he took a bold step out of the marked zone established by the robots. An officer reacted instantly, his weapon firing a focused beam of laser light. The shot hit the man squarely, and he crumpled to the ground, paralyzed in an instant.
The officer's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Did anyone know who he was?" he sneered, his words dripping with disdain.
Aki and Ariyan stood frozen, their expressions carefully neutral. However, Amelia's resolve faltered, her eyes wide with shock. Beside her, Sophie's gaze was cold and unwavering, as if fueled by a deep-seated hatred or perhaps a personal history with these enforcers.
Amelia, unable to contain her outrage, stepped forward and shouted, "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Before she could say more, Sophie grabbed her hand, her grip firm. She shook her head, her voice low and tense. "No. Don't."
Aki stepped in quickly, raising his hands in a gesture of compliance. "Okay! We'll do as you say," he said, his voice steady despite the mounting pressure.
The officer nodded, satisfied. "Check everyone's Chronolinks."
From their gear, another officer retrieved a small device and began scanning the Chronolinks one by one. The device was sleek and compact, but its purpose was far from benign. The Chronolink, worn by everyone like a watch, served as an all-encompassing ID. It carried every detail about its wearer—age, identity, health records, and even real-time data about bodily conditions. If a Chronolink detected signs of a deadly virus, it would alert the Security Department immediately. Not wearing one was an unpardonable crime, punishable by swift and brutal enforcement.
Ariyan's gaze shifted to the officers, his eyes narrowing slightly, a glimmer of cold calculation flickering within them. His lips curved into a faint smile, and his voice carried a playful undertone. "By the way, Officer, you said you're from the Security Department, right?"
The officer's eyes flicked toward him, wary. "What's it to you?"
Ariyan's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, just curious. Which squad are you from? And what's all this about?"
The officer's expression remained guarded. "Why do you need to know?"
"Just for info," Ariyan replied, his tone disarming yet laced with subtle defiance.
Before the officer could respond, another voice rang out from the group conducting the scans. "I've found it!" one of the technicians shouted.
The commanding officer turned sharply. "Get him under control."
Without hesitation, another officer fired his weapon. The beam struck its target, rendering the man immobile. He was quickly placed into a cubic, high-tech container—a device that resembled a futuristic coffin. The smooth, metallic surface of the box gleamed ominously as it sealed shut, locking its occupant away.
The officer in charge turned back to Ariyan, his voice sharp and authoritative. "It's a virus. Our sensors detected signs of a deadly contagion in his system."
He pressed his fingers to his earpiece and issued rapid commands. "Trace his movements. Find every place he visited and everyone he came into contact with. Check the entire area."
The scanning continued, meticulous and unyielding, as each person within the marked zone was checked. When the process finally ended, Amelia let out a shaky breath, her relief palpable. "Thank God," she murmured.
Ariyan remained silent, his expression inscrutable. As the officers packed up their equipment and the tension began to dissipate, one thought lingered in his mind. Beneath the veneer of order and control, this world was a fragile construct held together by fear and oppression. The perfect system, it seemed, was always teetering on the brink of collapse.
As the officers prepared to leave, Ariyan remained motionless, standing as if frozen in place. But his gaze seemed distant, his consciousness slipping into a void—a place far beyond this world. His breathing grew shallow, and for a brief moment, it was as if time itself paused around him. Then, without warning, his body gave out, collapsing to the ground before the stunned onlookers.