Running on Borrowed Time
Damn… huff… huff…
My lungs burned like fire. Every step sent a jolt of pain through my legs, but I couldn't stop—not now. Not when those bastards were still on my tail.
The alley twisted ahead, dim streetlights casting long, flickering shadows. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out everything but my ragged breaths.
"Shit, when will these fools stop chasing me?"
A quick glance behind confirmed my worst fear. Three figures, their faces masked by darkness, were gaining fast. Their heavy footsteps pounded against the pavement, echoing through the empty streets.
Not good.
I veered sharply at the next corner, my sneakers skidding on the damp ground. My hands scrambled for anything—loose bricks, broken bottles, even trash. Without looking, I hurled them behind me. A satisfying clatter of debris followed, buying me a second. Maybe two.
Not enough.
"Stop right there, Max!"
"Boss, he's getting away!"
"Do I look blind to you, idiot?! You and Tom go left. I'll take him head-on."
"Yes, boss!" (×2)
My body screamed for rest, but I pushed harder. Just a little more. Just—
A sudden wave of dizziness slammed into me like a truck. My vision blurred, my knees buckled—
Thud.
The ground rushed up to meet me, the impact rattling through my bones. Pain flared in my side, knocking the breath from my lungs. The world spun.
Then, nothing.
A Strange Awakening
When I came to, my body felt… heavy. Like I was trapped under a mountain of lead.
Cold air bit at my skin. The stench of damp trash and rotting filth clawed at my nose.
Where… am I?
I pushed myself up, my hands trembling under the pale glow of the moon. That's when I noticed it.
My hands—
They were small. Smooth. Unscarred.
A chill ran down my spine.
No… this can't be right.
The last thing I remembered was—
Dying.
A hollow chuckle slipped past my lips. It was quiet, almost lost in the night air.
"So, I really died, huh?"
Not that it was surprising. There was no way I could've survived that attack. I was the weakest link in my squad. The expendable one.
I clenched my fists. The sensation of smooth skin against my palm sent a shudder through me.
But if I was dead…
Why am I here?
My thoughts screeched to a halt as approaching footsteps shattered the silence.
"There you are, Max! Boss, we found him!"
I looked up.
Two guys stood at the alley's mouth, metal pipes clenched tightly in their hands.
Behind me, another figure stepped from the shadows.
Blond-haired with a punchable smug grin.
I tilted my head slightly, studying him.
"Who the hell are these guys?"
The blond crouched before me, his smirk widening.
"Looks like your luck's finally run out, huh, Maxwell Scott?"
His voice triggered something. A distant memory, a fragment from a life long gone.
My face went blank.
Then, recognition sparked in my eyes.
His voice sent an eerie sense of déjà vu crawling down my spine.
This exact situation… I've seen it before.
The dark alley. The people. The trash scattered on the ground. Even the stray black cat slinking by at this precise moment—
It was all the same.
Exactly like it was 30 years ago.
I exhaled slowly, the corner of my lips twitching upward.
"I see… So i've returned to my past self."
The Game Has Changed
Edward's words finally cut through my thoughts, laced with the same arrogance I had long since forgotten.
Edward Hills.
One of the most loyal lapdogs of our so-called school prince.
Back then, I had been nothing—a pushover, a loser. Just another idiot admiring Hannah Griffin, the school belle, from a distance.
That alone had been enough to paint a target on my back.
Enough to get my balls crushed by these bastards.
My gaze dropped to my hands again, staring at the smooth, unblemished skin.
But that was the old me.
Now?
I looked up at Edward's smug face, then at the two goons flanking him.
A different emotion stirred within me.
Not anxiety.
Not fear.
But excitement.
Even though this body was weaker than my future self, it was still mine.
And that meant—
"I can fight back."
A slow grin spread across my face.
Time to flip the script
Edward's gaze flickered with amusement as he looked down at me—the same loser from before. Nothing had changed, or so he thought.
I stood there, my head slightly lowered, my expression unreadable. Something in my demeanor must have shifted, but Edward didn't give it much thought.
He smirked, taking a step forward. "Well, today, prepare to—"
"Just shut the fuck up, Edward."
His words died in his throat. Silence filled the alley, save for the distant honks of passing cars.
Edward's eyes narrowed. "...What did you just say?"
I lifted my gaze, locking eyes with him. My voice came out calm, almost indifferent. "I always thought you were an asshole, but now I get it. You're just a loyal lapdog, licking your master's feet at the sound of a whistle."
One of the goons tensed, his face twisting with fury. "Boss, let me—"
Edward raised a hand, stopping him. He chuckled, shaking his head as he stared at me. "I see… you have a death wish. And I'll personally grant it."
He moved.
A fist came hurtling toward my face. Fast.
But I was already dropping low.
The wind rushed over my head as his punch sailed past, slamming into the brick wall behind me. A sickening crack rang out.
"FUCK!" Edward yelped, staggering back, clutching his hand. Blood dripped from his knuckles.
His goons exchanged glances. Then, without hesitation, they rushed me, metal pipes raised high.
I barely had time to react.
The first guy swung down hard. I twisted my body, barely dodging, but my movements were sluggish—this body was still too weak, too slow.
The second goon didn't hesitate. His pipe came from the side, a blur of rusted metal aimed straight for my ribs.
Shit—!
Pain exploded in my side as the pipe connected. A sharp, white-hot agony that knocked the air from my lungs.
I staggered, coughing, the metallic taste of blood creeping into my mouth.
No time to dwell on it.
I crouched low, sweeping my hand across the ground, grabbing a fistful of dirt and debris. Then, without warning, I flung it straight into the second goon's face.
"Huh—ARGHH! MY EYES!!"
He reeled back, clawing at his face.
I didn't waste the opening.
Pushing through the pain, I lunged forward, driving my elbow into the back of his neck. His body went limp, crumpling to the ground.
"Oi! What the fuck are you guys doing?!" Edward's voice snapped, his confidence wavering.
I ignored him, reaching down to snatch the fallen pipe from the ground.
Not as good as a greatsword, but it'll do.
I spun it once, feeling its weight settle in my grip.
Then I wiped the blood from my lips, spitting to the side before turning my gaze back to Edward.
"Now that I have a weapon… let's see how tough you really are."
Edward took an unconscious step back.
His bravado cracked.
———
Edward's mind raced.
"What the hell?! Since when did this guy know how to fight?! Wasn't he supposed to be weak? A pushover?"
It's three against one—this should've been easy!
Panic set in.
"Shit. I need to get out of here."
Tom, the last goon, seemed to have the same thought. His grip on the pipe tightened, and without hesitation, he lunged forward, swinging at my legs.
I jumped.
The pipe whooshed beneath me, missing by inches.
Before Tom could recover, I twisted mid-air, bringing my own pipe down—
CRACK.
A howl of agony tore through the alley as Tom collapsed, clutching his knee.
"AAAAAAAARGH!!"
Edward froze.
And in that moment—
BAM.
My fist crashed into his face.
He stumbled backward, tasting blood.
"NGHHH!!"
"Max, you fucker! You're gonna regret this!" he snarled, wiping his mouth.
I tilted my head, smirking.
"Hmm… I don't think so."
A Glimpse of the Future
Max took a step forward, the pipe resting casually on his shoulder. His cold, calculating gaze bore into Edward, stripping away any illusion of control the other boy still clung to.
"You see, Edward… soon, the rules of this world won't matter anymore," Max murmured, his voice steady, almost casual. "With what's coming, no one will give a damn about what happened here tonight."
A shiver ran down Edward's spine.
That look in Max's eyes—calm, unwavering—made his stomach twist.
Max wasn't bluffing.
For the first time, Edward felt something he had never associated with this loser before.
Dread.
Max tilted his head slightly, watching the subtle shift in Edward's expression with quiet amusement. "For now, sure, you might try to make my life difficult. But after that?"
His gaze flickered toward the sky, where the moon hung high, cold and indifferent.
"Everything will descend into chaos."
Edward swallowed hard.
What the hell is he talking about? His mind raced, trying to make sense of those cryptic words. What's coming?
But before he could ask, Max bent down, grabbing the second pipe from the ground. The motion was slow and deliberate.
Then he gave a slight smile.
"But don't worry…"
His voice dropped to a chilling whisper.
"Before the real chaos begins… I'll take care of the trash first.
Edward's breath hitched.
His instincts screamed at him to run.
YOU—!!"
"MAX, DON'T—!!!"
———
Under the pale moonlight, deep in a dark alley, screams tore through the night.
A stray dog lifted its head at the sound, ears twitching. It listened for a moment.
Then—silence.
Minutes later, a lone figure stepped out of the shadows, dusting himself off.
If anyone had been close enough, they might have heard him mutter under his breath:
"Man… what a pain in the ass."