Dylan: "You saw it as well?"
Ethan: "Yaaa. Unfortunately."
He stared at the countdown floating before him.
Ethan: (If Dylan can see it, does that mean it's a global message?)
Ethan: "What does yours say?"
Dylan: "Next merger in 29 hours and 58 minutes."
Ethan: "Same."
The lights suddenly flickered. Emanating a harsh glow replacing the darkness.
Now that the lights are back on, the store really looked bigger from the inside.
A moment later, Elin came rushing out from between the rows of shelves
Elin: "Sorry there was a bit of a problem..."
She looked at the brothers's stares
Elin: "Is... everything alright?"
Dylan: "Elin, do you see anything in front of you?"
Elin: (In front of me? Is this a trick question?)
Elin: "Umm Nooooo?"
Ethan and Dylan: (No?!)
Elin: (Did I get it right?)
Elin: "Why'd you ask?"
Ethan: "Cause there's a countdown in front of us."
Elin: "In front of you? Like the system is displaying it?"
Ethan: "Ya."
Elin: "And both of you have it?"
Dylan: "Also yes. It says a merger will occur in 30 hours."
Elin: (Merger?)
Ethan: "I thought this was a countdown for the next wave, but since you can't see it so it's gotta be something that only affects the two of us."
Elin: "What does the description say?"
Ethan clicked on the notification a few times but nothing seemed to happen.
Ethan: "No description."
Elin: "Maybe it's a software update."
Ethan: "The system called it a merger so I doubt it's an update but then again the system is pretty shit with explaining stuff."
Elin: "Ya. But my main question is why is it that only the both of you can see it? Is there a certain trigger condition?"
Ethan: "I doubt it's level or it would've appeared an hour ago. Maybe the condition is time, since the both of us acquired the system around the same moment."
Elin: "Well there is still plenty time right now so make yourself at home."
Ethan: (Another mystery to figure out, as if all the others weren't enough.)
Elin: "Tell me if you feel any changes."
Ethan: "K."
Elin walked away, slowly fading amongst the rows of shelves.
Ethan: (Maybe I am looking at this the wrong way, the system has always helped us till now.)
He glanced at Dylan.
Ethan: (Maybe this is the miracle we were looking for?)
Ethan: "So, are you hungry?"
Dylan: "I think.. I've seen this before."
Ethan: "What? Like on a laptop or a sign board?"
Dylan: "No I mean this one, the one before me. I think I have encountered it somewhere before. It feels familiar."
Ethan: "What does that mean?"
Dylan: "Just give me a minute to figure it out."
Ethan decided to stay and see how this played out. It felt absurd, but the situation wasn't exactly common to begin with and Dylan's intuition was almost always on point.
Dylan continued staring. It felt like the answers to everything and more were at the tip of his tongue but he couldn't understand why, why was he getting this feeling?
His mind sank deeper and deeper, the shelves felt distant, the lights felt dim, seconds felt like minutes. The only thing stood out was the countdown before him.
Ethan: "You good?"
Ethan's concern grew ever so slightly. He tensed up as he knew this wasn't normal.
Dylan didn't answer he couldn't even get his eyes off. A flurry of voices rung in his mind but seemed too muffled to make out. Except one.
???: "I will never leave you~"
A soft yet taunting voice became clear, something that would come from a child. It felt someone unfamiliar yet strangely familiar at the same time, like 'something' was sitting right beside him.
Dylan instinctively swipped his bat with full force his body moving before his mind could, hitting someone. He turned realising that 'someone' was Ethan.
Ethan: "AHHHHHH! The fuck was THAT FOR??!"
He laid between the fallen cans, grabbing onto his arm, twisted a clean ninety degrees.
Dylan stared at the fallen Ethan for a few seconds before finally snapping out of his trance.
Dylan: "Sorry! I thought you were–"
With the sound of falling cartons Elin quickly came rushing back, gun raised.
Her eyes fell upon Ethan.
Elin: "What happened over here?"
She swiftly sheathed her gun.
Dylan: "I–"
Ethan: "Shut up and DO SOMETHING!"
Dylan moved closer to Ethan and picked up his arm.
Dylan: "Do you want me to..."
Ethan: (l don't want to cripple my arm but with the system, I think I can take it.)
Ethan: "Yes."
Dylan: "It will be painful."
Ethan: "YES!"
Dylan: "You sure?"
Ethan: "Oh god just fucking DO IT!"
Dylan nodded.
Ethan took a deep breath and closed his eyes awaiting the pain.
Dylan: "Elin! Put the gun away and hold down his body, make sure he doesn't injure himself."
Elin: "Are we?"
Dylan: "Yes. I am fixing this."
Elin: "Have even you done this before?"
Dylan: "I've been on the receiving end."
Elin sighed. She carefully took off Ethan's jacket and folded it behind his neck. She then held his limbs firmly in place.
Dylan pulled out a wallet and placed it between Ethan's teeth.
Dylan: "Ready."
Elin: (Should we really do this?)
Dylan: "5. 4. 3. 2!"
*Crack*
Dylan in one swift motion forced the twist pieces into place.
Ethan: "Ahhhhhh."
He bit down hard on the wallet, the sound muffled through the leather but still reverberated throughout the store.
Elin's grip loosened from the shock. She scrambled to hold down Ethan's flailing limbs.
Dylan: "Hold him still!"
Elin: "I'm trying."
She tightened her grip as Ethan struggled against the pain.
Slowly his movements weakened and his limbs went still.