"Faster, you fucker! Paddle like your life depends on it, because it does!"
Adrian barked, half a squeal escaping as he clung to Ansh's shoulders, fingers digging in like talons.
"I'm trying, but this isn't a motorbike, idiot!"
Ansh shot back, breathless and panicked.
The cycle creaked in protest, wobbling as he stood up to push with everything he had.
The sky above them, once streaked with fading orange, had now become a shifting sea of darkened tendrils creeping across the heavens, inching ever closer to sealing the town beneath an ominous shroud.
"Don't you dare stop, or else the observable sky will—"
Adrian grumbled, glancing toward the red sky that threatened to overtake them.
But suddenly, a wind howled.
Carrying with it the faintest echo of a laugh.
Cold. Spine-chilling.
They were done for.
"D-Did you hear that?"
Adrian's eyes darted nervously as he looked around the streets.
Nothing was out there.
No doors open.
No people standing in sight.
Only them.
"Oh God, that's her laugh! She's coming!"
"I know! Stop screaming and let me focus!"
Ansh grunted, daring not to look back as he focused on paddling as fast as he could.
Adrian twisted his body again to look back.
"The sky is all red now, Ansh. It's over! She's here!"
His voice pitched higher, trembling.
Ansh's face hardened.
"Then shut up and hold tighter if you don't want to die!"
He surged forward, their street finally in sight.
"It's all your fault! We're going to die because of your high score!"
Ansh yelled, panic in his voice as he glanced up.
The sky's transformation was nearly complete; only a silver hue remained.
"My high score? You're the one who wanted to follow that girl to ask for her Instagram!"
Adrian retorted.
Ansh went silent for a second, then mumbled.
"S-she's looking, Adrian. I can feel her eyes."
"If we don't make it—"
"Don't say that!"
Ansh barked, his feet slipping on the pedal for a moment, and they lurched sideways.
Adrian yelled, almost falling off, but Ansh steadied them just in time.
"You almost killed us!"
Adrian gasped, wide-eyed.
"...Better me than her," Ansh retorted through gritted teeth.
"Left! Take a hard left!"
Adrian yelled, pointing frantically.
The hairs on his neck stood up as a frail, feminine voice echoed through every corner of the town.
"Hehehe... who dares break the rules tonight?"
The voice was dark.
It was omnipresent.
"I know, I know!"
Ansh yelled.
He swung the cycle around, the wheels skidding dangerously close to a gutter.
The laughter in the wind grew louder.
Crueler.
Like it was savoring their fear.
"Ansh, s-she is above us? Isn't she?"
"Shut up!"
Ansh growled.
Sweat poured down his face.
He could see their house now, the heavy iron gate looming like a beacon.
"Get ready to jump."
Ansh said, eyes locked on the gate.
"What? Have you finally gone crazy?!"
Adrian sputtered.
"Now!"
Ansh yelled.
They both leapt from the cycle.
It crashed into the gate, metal clanging as they tumbled over each other.
Ansh scrambled to his feet.
His fingers were shaking.
He grabbed the key, jamming it into the lock.
"Hurry, Ansh!"
Adrian's voice cracked as he glanced up.
Dayan's colossal form hovered above them, her torso and head emerging from an ominous cloud.
Her skin was red.
Her eyes blazed like twin suns as she reached out.
Her fingers, talon-like, stretched toward them.
"It's stuck!"
Ansh shrieked.
He tried to turn the key with both hands.
"Move!"
Adrian shoved him aside.
He twisted the key.
The lock finally gave way with a loud click.
But it was too late.
A shadow loomed over them.
The laughter was deafening now, a thunderous roar that sent shockwaves through the air.
Before either could react, Ansh felt an iron grip clamp around his chest.
Lifting him off the ground.
"Hey, Ansh!"
Adrian screamed.
His eyes wide with horror as he saw Dayan's massive hand pulling Ansh skyward.
The last thing Ansh saw clearly was Adrian rushing inside the house.
He locked the doors while Dayan stared at him for what felt like an eternity.
It was really over for them—no, perhaps only for him.
Silence fell over the street.
The scarlet glow in the sky dimmed as her laughter faded.
His body lay twisted on the ground.
Life slowly vanished from his eyes.
Was it really his end?
Maybe.
But why?
Was it all a lie?
Had they really been lying to themselves all this time?
Or...
Was it just the fear of dying?
A weak chuckle escaped his lips.
"Idiot... Adrian... you fucking coward."
He didn't know.
His eyes shut.
And then—
Smack!
A sharp sting burned across his cheek, snapping his mind back into awareness.
His eyes fluttered open, blurry at first, but soon, a new sight filled his vision.
A girl stood before him, emerald eyes burning with anger and tears streaking down her face.
"What the hell?"
Before he could process anything, she raised her hand again—
Smack!
"Why... why would you do this, Kai?!" she sobbed.
But the pain in his cheek was nothing compared to the storm raging inside his head.
"You are the biggest jerk I've ever wasted my time on!"
From the looks of it, she was still in her teenage years.
She wore a flowing satin gown with lace-trimmed net sleeves, a corset bodice, and golden embroidery, exuding noble elegance.
She was unfathomably beautiful.
But he couldn't care less about her as a distant memory stirred within him.
Yep.
He had seen this girl before.
Or it would be right to say that he was...
Transmigrated into a novel he read.
"But why is she fucking crying? Wait, wait, wait... By any chance, am I her brother or... boyfriend?"
"Why won't you answer me, Kai?... Oh, well, you don't have any excuses left to give, right?"
The girl standing before me rebuked, and suddenly, her voice trailed off.
A forced smile played on her face.
Meanwhile, my mind rushed with a surge of new memories.
Images and sensations flooded in as I pressed my lips together to prevent myself from screaming in response to the pain.
Shortly after, the pain eased, though my thoughts were in frantic disarray, tumbling over one another.
"Kai Nirvana Cruz... so that's who I am now, but I still can't recall this character. Anyway, I can at least talk to this annoying girl now."
"Yahvi, that girl was the one who forced me to sle—"
"I don't want to listen anymore!" Yahvi cut me off, her voice trembling. "I would have forgiven you if it was the first time you did this, but you... you have done this countless times!"
I grumbled, but my words were abruptly cut off by Yahvi, her glare intensifying.
'So it really is a cheating case... All hail me, huh, whatever. Now, what can I do to comfort her? Oh right!'
"Well... If you're so desperate, I can sleep with you too."
I confided, gliding my hand through my hair in the process.
Yahvi instantly stopped crying as she deliberately closed her eyes.
'Rizzed her up with a few words. Guess that part didn't change for me even after dying.'
Slipping one of my hands into my pocket, I praised myself internally.
"Is that so..."
Yahvi whimpered. After a brief pause, she continued.
"Then your sister must have forced you to sleep with her. I got into a relationship with you even after knowing you fucking tried to rape your sister like a mad dog."
"Your family tossed you out because of that... and you haven't even inherited a Syndrome, even at this age, or it would be right to say you are congenitally impaired."
"Yahv—"
"I pay the rent for this luxury mansion you're living in and cover all your other expenses, which cost me millions of Neams."
"Yet, I still chose you over thousands of rich and powerful boys out there who fantasize about me!"
She screamed, her voice shaking with rage, only to be met with dead silence in response.
'I surrender. The previous owner of this body was really... a fucking playboy, I think?'
I thought, unable to find anything to say in response after hearing everything she said.
However, I couldn't recall any memories concerning my sister or my family.
The previous owner of this body must have been thrilled to leave me in a situation like this.
Shrugging my thoughts aside, I focused on Yahvi, who kept reciting the feats I'd done until now.
They weren't anything great at all.
"Will sorry work?"
"I'm done with you now. I'm breaking up with you right at this moment. Let's see how you survive without me this month and beyond."
She declared before turning her back toward me, walking toward the exit.
"You are not physically fit for any job out there, and you cannot enroll in the Academy. Survive if you can."
She spoke loudly without looking at me, slamming the exit door shut.
My jaw hung agape as the door slammed in front of me.
"Is this... how transmigration feels?"
I couldn't help but question myself.
Even five minutes had passed since I transmigrated, and already, it felt like I was the most useless piece of shit ever born.
No family.
No money.
Girlfriend broke up.
---
Ring. Ring. Ring.
---
A sudden vibration broke the silence.
I retrieved a phone from my pocket, only to see an incoming call.
Curious, I picked up the phone.
Although the incoming call was from an unknown number, it wasn't saved in my contacts.
- Hello. Kai here.
- Hello.
- Yes, what do you want?
- Sir, I want to inform you that today is the last day of the deadline for you to deposit the rent for the mansion.
If you fail, for any x, y, z reason, it's your fault. You may leave the mansion if you are unable to pay the rent. Many other people are ready to rent the apartment and pay in advance.
- Wait—
CUT.
I knew I had a good idea to get rid of all those problems.
Suddenly, I rushed toward the kitchen, panting heavily due to the energy I used to run.
From the dining table, I grabbed a knife and directed it toward my throat.
However, I couldn't even do that as a certain voice echoed in my ears.
Lowering the knife, I threw it aside, dragged a chair nearby, and sat on it, rushing toward the bathroom.