Maya's eyes scanned the crowded streets as she drove to work, her mind numb to the familiar sights and sounds. She'd lost count of how many days had passed since she'd started seeing them – the countdowns, ticking away on every stranger's skin like a morbid metronome.
At first, it had been overwhelming, the constant barrage of numbers and timers. But Maya had learned to tune it out, to focus on the present moment rather than the impending doom that awaited everyone.
As she approached the intersection of Main and Elm, Maya's gaze fell upon a small, blonde-haired girl, no more than six years old, stepping off the curb. She was so little and cute, like a daughter Maya always desired. The countdown on the girl's wrist read 2:47. Maya's heart skipped a beat as she saw the truck barreling down the street, its driver oblivious to the child's presence.
Without hesitation, Maya swerved her car into the intersection, positioning it directly in the truck's path. The driver slammed on the brakes, and the truck screeched to a halt mere inches from Maya's car.
As Maya turned to check on the girl, a sense of relief washed over her. The child was lying on the ground, surrounded by concerned onlookers. But as Maya watched, the countdown on the girl's forehead reached zero.
The girl's body went limp, and she let out a soft sigh. Maya's eyes widened in horror as she realized that the girl hadn't been injured by the truck – she'd simply died, suffocated by some unseen force.
The onlookers gasped in shock, unsure of what had just happened. Maya, however, knew all too well. She'd seen it before, the inexplicable deaths that left no visible scars. The countdowns didn't just predict death – they seemed to be a part of it, a morbid symphony that only Maya could see.
As the crowd began to murmur and point, Maya knew she had to get out of there – fast. She put her car in gear and sped away, leaving behind the chaos and the haunting memory of the girl's countdown.
The rest of the drive to work was a blur. Maya's mind replayed the scene, her thoughts consumed by the endless questions. Why did she see these countdowns? What did they mean? And why did she feel so powerless to stop them?
As she pulled into the office parking lot, Maya trudged into the office, her mind still reeling from the events of the morning. She'd seen the countdown on the little girl's wrist, and it had left her shaken.
As she sat down at her desk, Maya noticed the countdown on her coworker's wrist. It read 1:45. Maya's heart sank, and she felt a wave of despair wash over her.
She tried to focus on her work, but her eyes kept drifting back to her coworker's wrist. Maya felt like she was the only one who knew the truth, like she was living in a world that wasn't quite real.
At lunchtime, Maya walked to the break room, feeling like she was in a daze. She poured herself a cup of coffee and stood by the window, staring out at the city.
John, her coworker, walked over to her. "Hey, Maya, how's it going?" he asked.
Maya forced a smile. "I'm good, thanks. Just a little tired."
John nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I know how that is. I've been putting in some long hours myself."
Maya nodded, feeling like she was pretending to be normal. She couldn't tell John the truth, couldn't tell him about the countdowns. It was a secret she had to keep to herself.
As the day wore on, Maya's feelings of desperation grew. She couldn't take it anymore.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. Maya got up from her desk and walked to the bathroom, locking herself in a stall.
She broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the weight of her gift. Maya couldn't take it anymore.
As she sat there, crying, Maya felt a sense of calm wash over her. She reached into her purse and pulled out a small bottle of pills.
But before she could take them, everything went black.
As Maya woke up, she felt a pair of piercing green eyes on her. She sat up, looking around in confusion, and that's when she saw him. Lucifer. Sitting in a chair beside the bed, watching her with an unnerving intensity.
"You're awake," he said, his voice low and husky. "Good."
Maya's eyes widened as Lucifer stood up and walked over to her. He reached out and took her wrist, his fingers tracing the pirate anchor tattoo.
"You can't take your life, Maya," he said, his voice blunt and unyielding. "We're bound. You're tied to me, and I'm tied to you. If you die, I die too."
Maya tried to pull her wrist free, but Lucifer's grip was like a vice. "Let me go," she spat, trying to keep her voice steady.
Lucifer chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "You don't get to make demands, Maya," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You've been mine since the day you were born."
Maya's eyes widened in shock as Lucifer's words hung in the air.
"You're my anchor, Maya," Lucifer explained, his voice firm. "My tether to the mortal realm. And as long as you're by my side, I'll make sure you stay in line."
Maya felt a shiver run down her spine as Lucifer's eyes seemed to bore into her soul.
"You'll do as I say, Maya," Lucifer said, his voice dripping with dominance. "And if you didn't... there will be consequences."
Maya's eyes fluttered closed as Lucifer's lips brushed against her forehead. It was a gentle, almost tender gesture, but it sent shivers down her spine.
"Don't defy me, Maya," Lucifer whispered, his breath dancing across her skin. "It's not safe."
But Maya's instincts refused to back down. She tried to push Lucifer away, but her body felt heavy, unresponsive. And then, everything went black. AGAIN