Bang!
The gun went off, the sound echoing through the hallway.
Axel gritted his teeth as he fell back, the flash of the gun's muzzle reflecting in his eye, the bullet emerging, spinning, approaching his chest.
Odd, Axel thought, his eyes trailing the bullet as it inched closer. The bullet's moving slower than usual… is this what it feels like before death?
Thud! He hit the ground, sprawled on the floor. Looking down at his chest, no blood. Axel's eyes narrowed, then widened as he looked up. The bullet was still spinning mid-air, slow and steady. The man was frozen in time, the gun still pointed out, its recoil crawling backward.
"What is this…did I awaken some sort of power?" He muttered with disbelief.
Then he noticed it, a green glint at his side, from his hand, looking down, the Katana's wheel-like hilt was glowing, green.
The katana? His eyes widened. Is it doing this? It has to be. It's either slowing time… or giving me superspeed. I can't tell.
Not like I have time to think about that, he smirked, pushing himself up. He's clearly not here for anything good.
He glanced at the man, frozen, or rather, moving extremely slow. Most likely for this, Axel thought, looking at the katana. But if that's the case… he did try to kill me.
Most likely for this, he looked at the katana.
But if that's the case… he did try to kill me.
He grinned. "That justifies this," he muttered, slashing the katana across the man's wrist. The blade sliced cleanly, without resistance.
He glanced at the man's neck and gulped. I can't do that. Let's incapacitate him instead. He shifted his gaze toward the man's other hand getting ready to slash, but the glow suddenly disappeared.
Crash! The man hit the ground. His severed hand — still clutching the pistol — flew aside as the bullet tore through the wall.
"F*ck!" the man screamed, clutching his wrist as blood spurted freely.
"Huh." Axel stood still, breathing heavily. Everything was back to normal. It was definitely the katana.
Axel looked down, his gaze locking with the man who just happened to look up at him, face contorted in pain, a terrified expression on his face, blood pooled beneath him.
Then the man's eyes darted to the gun. He lunged for it, grabbing it with his remaining hand — but Axel's leg met his face before he could use it, sending him flying out of the doorway.
Huh, Axel blinked. I work out, sure… but there's no way that's enough to send a grown man flying.
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, grazing Axel's abdomen.
He hissed, clutching his side, cursing at his arrogance, it seems it won't always save me huh? But at least I confirmed it isn't ordinary. He bolted the door shut.
He sprinted toward the stairs. I need to call the cops. The banging on the door drowning out his footsteps.
Then he froze — glancing at his monitor. More men were outside the door, filling the corridor. I can't afford to be trapped here.
I'll call them when I get out, he thought, stuffing his backpack.
Thud. A sound came from downstairs. They're in. He rushed to the window.
"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 muttered.
It's probably what they're after… but I can't be sure, and I'll need it to defend myself. Maybe what just happened bolstered his arrogance, tickled his sense of adventure, overriding what little logical thought he had left.
He glanced back. "And it's legally mine though. I paid for it." Whatever it took to justify his decision.
Axel climbed out the window, sat on the frame, eyed the garbage bin below, sighed and jumped.
Thump. He landed in trash.
Grimacing, his nose scrunched due to the smell, he scrambled out, lousily brushed himself off, grabbed the katana, and hurried out of the alley. Adjusting his bag, he peeked from the corner.
More of them, he thought, spotting two black cars outside the building — men in suits everywhere.
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. His heart hammered as he prayed not to be noticed. The next turn felt 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, time to call the cops, unfortunately the phone had not survived the fall, a crack running across the screen, totally scrambled.
He sighed and looked up — his breath catching.
There, standing a few meters away, was a man. Dark, messy hair fluttered in the wind. Amid the bustling street, Axel couldn't ignore him, it was like he was compelled to look at him, his deep black eyes like an abyss stared back. The man smiled faintly and began walking toward him.
Axel felt a chill travel down his spine, it was like his whole being was telling him to run, he shouldn't allow that man get near him, but he couldn't move, it was like he was rooted to a spot, his body refusing to listen to him to move, a dilemma, the man drew nearer — their eyes locked.
Then someone bumped into Axel, breaking his line of sight. "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 froze, something was off, he looked up, a dove was frozen midair, its wings motionless, frozen, the sound of cars and bustling of people disappeared, looking around everything was frozen in time, the cars, the people, everything.
The katana, he thought, looking at it, but there was no glow. The Katana looked as ordinary as normal.
Then — darkness.
Axel turned, gripping the sword. Nothing. No people. No street. Just a vast black void… and the faint smell of flowers.
He looked down, his reflection shimmered in shallow water. Ripples spread from where his shoes touched.
Then another ripple. Behind him. Footsteps.
He turned sharply. His breath caught, he staggered backward in fear, his body trembling, the man stood a few meters away.
Axel tensed as the man lifted a hand, then 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 spoke, 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, incredulous. "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 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 and Axel instantly raised a hand, 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."
Perhaps due to the laughter or the fact that the man looked harmless, Axel slowly lowered his hand.
He's in control here, Axel thought. And if that's true… this hand won't protect me anyway.
Oddly, the paralyzing fear was gone. He was still uneasy, but every breath of that faint floral scent calmed him further.
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, almost forgetting his fear.
"Why didn't you just give them the sword?"
"They didn't ask," Axel said simply.
The man frowned, then he sighed, "oh well, doesn't matter," He said, "as long as it doesn't get to Tihodol." He looked at Axel.
"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, shrugging.
"Why not?"
"A lot of reasons, actually. For one, I bought it. And secondly—" he gestured around them, "—this. 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, more curious, almost forgetting the fear, "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. And how can I trust he'd even let me go?
He smirked. "No."
The man sighed. "This always happens," he muttered. "Since you insist… I could just kill you and take it. Or you could leave it — that'd be easier for me."
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. "I tried. But it doesn't matter anyway."
From the water, dark poles emerged — one, two, then six, and more, bending and clawing their way out.
Axel's grin widened, "sh*t."
Bring it on, he thought. But I'm not backing down now.
He closed his eyes, I should 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. He held it, besides, I have this, his mind flashing back to the encounter at his apartment, and I know kenjutsu.
The man flinched for a second upon seeing the katana, then he simply looked up again.
Axel inhaled, taking a stance: feet shoulder-width apart, blade leveled at his chest. Nothing flashy — just ready.
He grinned — wild, reckless, alive.
Then paused, a dumbfounded expression on his face.
Because the first thing to rise from the water… was a stickman, something he wasn't expecting.
A literal stickman — like the one from those dumb internet games.