Axel's breath stilled.
The sound of traffic, the chattering of people, all of it disappeared into a faint whistle.
With so many people between them and the man standing across the street, the chances of their gazes meeting was extremely low.
Yet as Axel looked up his eyes locked straight onto the man.
It was like he was compelled to look at him. Deep black eyes like an abyss, staring back at him. The man's coat flapping in the wind.
He smiled faintly as if seeing an old friend and began walking toward him.
Axel felt a chill travel down his spine, his entire body started trembling.
His whole being was telling him to run.
He shouldn't allow that man get near him no matter what.
But he couldn't move, it was like he was rooted to a spot, his body refusing to listen to him.
He clenched his jaw, this familiar feeling of helplessness. The one thing he hated with all his being.
Yet his body didn't magically move, it stayed rooting, staring as the man drew nearer.
Then Axel stumbled as someone bumped into his back. His gaze breaking from the man.
"Sorry!" the stranger muttered. "You okay?"
Axel didn't respond. He turned and moved, weaving through the crowd, heart pounding.
Don't look back. Just move.
"Keep moving," he whispered under his breath, forcing his way forward.
Then… silence.
Axel stopped, something was off, his eyes flickering around, scanning.
A dove was frozen midair, its wings motionless, frozen.
Cars suddenly stopped, not due to brakes, but something else.
People all around him freezing mid step.
Everything had stopped, except for him.
The katana, his eyes moved to its hilt, but there was no glow. He frowned.
Then…darkness fell from the sky, like a bucket of ink was poured over the world. It swallowed up everything.
Axel turned, gripping the sword.
Nothing. No people. No street. Just a vast black void… He sniffed.
And a faint floral scent.
He looked down, his reflection shimmered in shallow water. Ripples spread from where his shoes touched.
Then another ripple. Behind him, footsteps approaching.
He turned sharply. Eyes widened, breath caught, he staggered backward in fear.
There a few meters away was the man, standing, hands within his coat.
Axel tensed as the man removed his hands from his pockets.
He yawned and stretched before sitting casually on the water. His coat spread beneath him as if the surface were solid.
"You don't look like much," the man said, voice thick with disappointment.
"Why'd you run?" The man continued, his voice groggy.
"You should have just given them the sword, or followed, yet… you ran," the man paused and leaned back, "why?"
Axel's throat tightened. "Where am I?" he asked, voice trembling.
The man tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"I said, where am I!" Axel repeated louder.
The man blinked. "You don't know who I am?"
"Am I supposed to?" Axel shot back, bolder now.
"Interesting…" the man murmured, rubbing his chin. He muttered something to himself, too low to catch.
Axel's unease grew.
He studied him, purple pajamas, green rubber crocs, a black coat thrown carelessly over them.
Most of his face was hidden by hair, but Axel caught glimpses of sharp features and a stubble-lined jaw. Harmless-looking… yet deeply wrong.
"Who are you?" Axel asked.
The man looked up, eyes meeting Axel's, whose hands jerked upward, shielding his eyes.
The man blinked in confusion, then burst into laughter. "Relax, kid," he said between laughs. "That was just a one-time thing."
He's in control here, Axel thought slowly, lowering his hand. And if that's true… this hand won't protect me anyway.
But still, his eyes kept darting around, avoiding direct contact with the man.
Oddly, the paralyzing fear was subsiding. At this point he was no longer trembling.
He was still uneasy, but every breath of that faint floral scent calmed him.
Could I be dead? The thought came and went. No. My bag's still here. And this… He looked at the sheathed katana.
The man stopped laughing, "My domain," he said.
"What?"
"Where we are," the man clarified. "And you're not dead, in case you were wondering."
"You mean like in an anime?" Axel asked.
"What's that?" the man frowned.
"Doesn't matter. I'm curious, why did you run?"
"Would you stay, if someone tries to kill you." Axel asked, getting increasingly bolder.
"Why didn't you just give them the sword?"
"They didn't ask."
The man frowned, then he sighed, "oh well, it doesn't matter, as long as it doesn't get to Tihodol."
"What?" Axel asked, brow raised.
Silence. Then, another sigh.
The man's gaze lingered on the katana. "Can you give it to me?" he asked softly. "Please."
"Well, no," Axel replied, shaking his head.
"Why not?"
"A lot of reasons, actually. For one, I bought it. And secondly…" he gestured around them, "I'm a curious person."
"Look, kid," the man said tiredly. "This is bigger than you. I'm guessing there was a mistake here. Just give me the katana, and I'll let you go. Whatever you're thinking is just an extra effect."
Extra effect? Axel's eyes narrowed, is that what it was, he was suddenly feeling bolder. He could feel an adrenaline rush.
His eyes flickered to his hands, they were no longer trembling.
"Extra effect?" He repeated.
"Just forget it," the man shrugged the question off, "give me the katana."
Axel looked at the katana, then at the dark expanse around them.
Who'd have thought something like this existed? I'd be crazy to let go of this chance for something special. And how can I trust he'd even let me go?
He smirked. "No."
The man sighed. "This always happens."
"Since you insist… I could just kill you and take it. Or you could leave it, that'd be easier for me," He explained lazily.
Axel's grip tightened. A reckless smile crossed his face.
It was crazy but he wasn't feeling fear anymore… just really pumped. Something was off …definitely off, but he didn't care.
The man shook his head, almost disappointed. "I tried."
A ripple spread from the water, followed by a thump, like a heartbeat.
Then dark poles emerged one, two, then six, and more, bending and clawing their way out.
"Sh*t." Axel cursed but his grin widened.
Bring it on. But I'm not backing down now.
Just give him the katana, the thought flashed in his mind, vanishing as quickly as it came, snuffed out like a dying flame in winter.
He unsheathed the katana. The silver blade gleamed faintly.
Besides, I have this. Recalling his encounter at the apartment.
The man flinched for a second upon seeing the katana, then he simply looked up with practiced nonchalance.
And I know kenjutsu.
Axel inhaled, taking a stance: feet shoulder-width apart, blade leveled at his chest. Nothing flashy… just ready.
He grinned, the edge of mania in his smile.
But as he looked up, he paused, a dumbfounded expression on his face.
Because the first thing to rise from the water… wasn't a monster, a shadow or anything terrifying, it was a stickman.
A literal stickman… with lines as its body and limbs. Its head a big circle, two dots and one line scribbled on, representing mouth and eyes.