Bang!
The sound thundered through the hallway as the gun recoiled.
Axel gritted his teeth as he fell back, the flash of the gun's muzzle reflecting in his eye, smoke slowly curling upward as the bullet emerged, spinning, approaching his chest.
Odd, Axel thought, his eyes trailing the bullet as it inched closer.
The bullet's slow…Is this the before death time glitch.
Thud!
He hit the ground. Heart thundering beneath his ribs. He quickly looked down at his chest, no blood, no pain.
Axel's eyes narrowed, then went round as he looked up. The bullet was still spinning, crawling through air, slow and steady.
His gaze shifted to the man frozen mid fall. The gun still pointed out, its recoil crawling backward slowly, too slow.
"What is this…did I awaken some sort of power?"
A green glint caught the periphery of his vision. His eyes flickered to his right hand, the katana, its hilt glowing green.
His eyes widened. It's doing this? It has to be right.
Not like he had time to think about that.
His lips twisted, forming a small smirk.
Pushing himself up, his gaze settled on the bald man's scrunched face, frozen in time.
He's clearly not here for anything good. Probably the katana, but he did try to kill me.
He frowned. "That justifies this."
The katana dropped, cutting through the man's frozen wrist—the hand holding the gun.
The blade sliced through flesh, bone and ligament like it was butter.
Yet the hand didn't fall, it stayed mid air, as if still linked to the remaining arm.
He glanced at the man's neck and gulped.
I can't do that. He shook his head.
I still have questions.
He shifted his gaze toward the man's right hand.
Raised the katana, getting ready to slash. But before it dropped, the glow suddenly disappeared.
Crash!
The man hit the ground. His severed hand flew aside, still clutching the pistol.
The bullet finally accelerated, tearing through a wall, embedding itself.
"F*ck!" the man screamed, clutching his wrist as blood spurted freely.
"Huh." Axel stood still, breathing heavily, he staggered back for a second.
He looked towards the katana, no glow.
That confirms it.
Axel turned his gaze locking with the man, whose face was contorted in pain, terror written all over it, blood pooling beneath him.
The man tore his gaze away, to the gun. He lunged for it, grabbing it with his remaining hand.
But as he looked up, getting ready to use it.
Axel's leg slammed into his face, sending him flying out of the door.
Axel blinked.
I work out, sure… but that was not my normal strength.
While he was processing that, the man sat up, gun raised.
Axel noticed a flicker of motion and kicked the door shut.
Bang!
A hole tore through the wood, bullet grazing Axel's abdomen.
He hissed, clutching his side, cursing at his arrogance. It seems it won't always aid me. But at least I confirmed it isn't ordinary.
Bolting the door shut, he sprinted towards the stairs.
I need to call the cops.
He froze as he entered his room, his gaze lingering on the monitor.
More men outside the door, filling the corridor. I can't afford to be trapped here.
I'll call them when I get out, he quickly stuffed his backpack.
Thud!
The sound of something crashing came from downstairs. They're in. He rushed to the window and looked down.
"A trash can, huh…" He winced, rubbing his shoulder.
"Never thought I'd be doing something like this, but I don't have a choice."
He sheathed the katana and tossed it out the window.
"What am I doing," he watched as the katana crashed down.
It would have been better to leave it here wouldn't it. After all that's what they're after but…
He scratched his head. Too late for regrets, he heard footsteps rushing up the stairs.
And I believe after cutting their friend's hand, they won't be keen on talking.
He glanced back. "Additionally it's legally mine. I paid for it."
Axel climbed out the window, sat on the frame.
Eying the garbage bin below, he sighed and jumped.
Thump. He landed in trash.
Grimacing, his nose scrunched due to the putrid smell, he scrambled out.
Hastily brushing himself off, he grabbed the katana, and hurried out of the alley.
Adjusting his bag, he peeked from the corner.
More of them.
He spotted two black cars outside the building, men in suits waiting.
Seriously?All these people… for you? His gaze dropped to the katana. What are you?
He lowered his head as one of the men looked his way, then turned calmly and walked the other way.
His heart hammered as he prayed not to be noticed, the next turn feeling like a mile away.
Fortunately, he reached it, no incident.
He exhaled sharply, not realizing he'd been holding his breath. "Safe," he muttered.
He reached for his phone to call the cops, only to see cracks, webbed along the screen which flickered with static
That's done for.
He sighed and looked up, his breath caught.