The rain in District 7 was greasy, mixing with the city's soot to create a thin layer of grime on the pavement. Hanif adjusted the collar of his worn-out jacket, his stomach growling in a rhythmic protest. He had exactly three dollars in his pocket—enough for a cup of cheap coffee or a bus ride home. He chose the coffee.
He stared at the raindrops reflecting the blurred neon signs of the city. Being an orphan in a city like this was like being a ghost; nobody saw you unless you were in their way. His rent was three weeks overdue, and the landlord's threats were getting louder.
This cup of coffee wasn't just a drink; it was his last meal for perhaps the next twenty-four hours.
As he stood in the flickering neon light of a street-side cafe, it happened. A sharp, electric sting pierced his brain. Hanif groaned, clutching his forehead.
"Not now, not another migraine," he muttered. But when he opened his eyes, the world hadn't returned to normal.
In the middle of his vision, a semi-transparent blue window floated.
[Initialization Complete...]
[System Name: The Reaper's Eye]
[Host: Hanif]
[Level: 1]
"What the hell?" Hanif blinked rapidly. Was he losing his mind? Malnutrition could cause hallucinations, he had read that somewhere.
He squeezed his eyes shut, counting to ten, hoping the glowing blue box would vanish. But it stayed, anchored in his retinas like a permanent scar.
The word 'Reaper' sent a shiver through his bones. In folklore, the Reaper brought death. Was he now a servant of death?
He looked around the street. People were walking past him, oblivious. But then, his gaze landed on an old man sitting on a nearby bench, feeding pigeons.
Hanif's heart skipped a beat. Above the old man's head, glowing in a sickly, pulsating crimson red, was a countdown timer:
[00:14:22]
[Cause of Death: Sudden Cardiac Arrest / External Interference]
"Fourteen minutes?" Hanif whispered, his breath hitching. Suddenly, the blue screen in front of him flickered with a new notification:
[Mission Triggered: The First Rescue] [Objective: Save the victim from the upcoming 'Accident'.]
[Reward: 10 Stat Points & 100 Experience.] [Failure: Host's lifespan will be reduced by 10 days.]
Hanif felt a chill run down his spine. This wasn't a prank. The cold, mechanical voice in his head felt too real, too final. He looked at the old man again. He looked perfectly healthy, smiling at the birds. How could he die in fourteen minutes?
Hanif approached the bench, his palms sweating. "Excuse me, sir? Are you feeling alright?"
The old man looked up with kind, clouded eyes. "I'm fine, young man. Just enjoying the evening. You look troubled, son. The world carries enough weight without you adding to it," the man said, offering a small, trembling smile.
Hanif felt a lump in his throat. This man was about to die, yet he was the one offering comfort. He glanced at the red timer. [00:05:42].
Every tick felt like a hammer blow to Hanif's heart. He noticed a small locket around the man's neck—a photo of a young girl. A granddaughter? If Hanif didn't act, that girl would lose her grandfather tonight.
"Wait!" Hanif grabbed his arm. "Don't... don't cross the street yet."
"Why not?" The man frowned, pulling his arm away. "I have a bus to catch."
[00:02:45]
Hanif noticed something. A black SUV was parked across the street, its windows tinted dark. The engine was idling, a low hum that felt predatory.
The SUV didn't just feel like a car; it felt like a monster made of steel and shadows. Hanif noticed the driver's face through the tinted glass—the driver wore a black surgical mask, his eyes fixed on the old man with a cold focus. This wasn't a mechanical failure. This was an execution.
The SUV suddenly accelerated, not towards the road, but directly towards the sidewalk where the old man was standing. Hanif's adrenaline spiked. The world seemed to stretch like rubber. He saw the old man turn, his eyes widening in terror.
[00:00:05]
[00:00:04]
"MOVE!" Hanif screamed.
As Hanif lunged toward the old man, his muscles screamed in protest. He could hear the screech of the tires and the smell of burning rubber.
He grabbed the man's coat, pulling with every ounce of strength he didn't know he had.
"What are you—" the man began to shout, but his voice was drowned out by the roar of the engine.
CRASH!
The SUV slammed into the bench where the man had been sitting just a second ago. Splinters of wood flew everywhere. Hanif and the old man tumbled onto the wet asphalt, gasping for air.
The SUV didn't stop; it roared away into the darkness, its tires screeching against the wet pavement.
Before Hanif could even check if they were truly safe, a new golden screen flashed before his eyes:
[Mission Accomplished!]
[Calculating Rewards: 10 Stat Points & 100 EXP Received.]
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 2.]
Hanif lay on the cold ground, his heart drumming against his ribs. He had saved a life, but he had also made an enemy. And more importantly, the system was just getting started.
To be continuing.....