Zaco was hanging out with a few of his friends and their table was filled with empty bottles of expensive drinks; a proof their show-off lifestyle. One of his friends was going to another city to continue his academic career in a different university on transfer. So they had the party to say farewell to him."I like these gatherings and I will miss all these as I leave for Texas.""Why must you even go anyway?" Zaco asked. "Having you here was beautiful and we did a whole lot together, especially bullying those foolish junior students.""Oh…definitely!" Mark added and they all burst into laughter, their wickedness filling their faces."I enjoyed giving Max the maximum bully skills I have," Zaco said with confidence."Well, until he began to expand in wealth and power and suddenly became your match," Eddy replied sarcastically.His response irritated Zaco as he hated hearing that Max was matching up to him in anyway."Max isn't and can never be equal to me!" He yelled and slammed his f
"Me?" Eddy asked with a widened gaze at Max. His heart was racing and his chest rose and fell speedily with the fear he felt. "What do you want with me? I swear Max, I have nothing to do with Irrisia's accident and disappearance. I promise you I have no information."His voice shook with fear and trembling. Max could see the panic etched on his face. It was interesting to him and though he was going to do as instructed by the system, he enjoyed berating Eddy and making him feel less of himself just like they used to make him feel."Why are you running from the Police? What do they have on you?" Max asked, with a smirk on his face. Eddy moved farther away from Max in a gentle steps and placed his hand on the stair rail."I have a beep that could go off and the police will be here in no time. By the way, where you are standing, a tracker was implanted. You cannot run away." The sternness on Max's face caused Eddy to look down and move back to where he was previously standing.Max smile
"Come with me then. We have to get going before the police intensify their search for you. Did you hurt him so badly that he may die?""I am not even sure… I just remember I hit his head with a chair and then he slumped to the floor onto his pool of blood before I ran out of the bar.""Huh? You went that far?" Max asked with shock in his eyes. "Why did you fight so violently defending me? We don't even talk?"Eddy nodded, "Because I feel we have a lot in common. I really should not have been mean to you those days.""We have nothing in common," Max replied sharply. "You come from a rich background and I am from the poor. Just that I suddenly became rich. How are we alike?" Eddy took a deep breath, "Max, I am also an orphan.""What?" Max asked with shock in his eyes.The two men said nothing else to each other as Max drove through the busy streets to the address the system gave to him.****** ****** ****** ****** ******The night air filled Irrisia's lungs as she walked in gentle step
The echoes of Dino's menacing threats lingered in the air as Irrisia sat on the floor, her mind swirling with fear and despair. The room felt stifling, suffocating her with memories of a past she desperately tried to escape. She curled up and sat down on the bare floor as her mind drifted back to how she had Trembling, Irrisia reached cell phone, the image Dino had sent still burned into her mind. As her fingers dialed the emergency number, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was trapped in a nightmare with no escape. She kept looking at the picture she had seen on her phone.The dispatcher's voice on the other end offered a lifeline, a beacon of hope in the darkness. Irrisia poured out her tale of terror, recounting the history of abuse, the escape, and the relentless pursuit by the haunting figure of Dino. Within moments, the dispatcher assured her that help was on the way. The distant wail of sirens became her newfound song of hope. However, as the sound approached, panic set
The weight of Max's questions hung in the air, the tension looked visible about unresolved mysteries about Irrisia. As Max anxiously awaited an explanation, Irrisia grappled with the decision laid before her by the cryptic messages from the system. She knew she had to find a way out by lying to Max. The fear of having to lie to him was visible on her face. " Can you at least try and give me an explanation for this?" Max asked staring at Irrisia's face"I... I don't know where to begin," Irrisia stammered, her eyes darting between Max's concerned gaze and the insistent message on her screen. She took a deep breath, attempting to steady the whirlwind of emotions within her. "Max, there's something I need to tell you, but you have to promise me that you'll stay calm and listen," she said looking at Max Max nodded, a mix of curiosity and worry etched across his face. He gestured for her to continue, his hand still extended in a supportive manner. He thought Irrisia still needed help with
The wailing siren of the ambulance grew louder, cutting through the chaotic atmosphere of the bar. People were visibly seen hovering over Zaco's body and some people from in to catch a glimpse of what was going on. Zaco's friends, panic-stricken, rushed to call for emergency medical help. Jason quickly dialed 911 while Mark and Drew attempted to keep Zaco conscious. " Stay with me pal," Drew shouted at Zaco, trying not to make him sleep."Stay with us, Zaco! Help is on the way," Mark urged, his hands applying pressure to the wound.As the ambulance screeched to a halt outside the bar, paramedics rushed in with a stretcher. Zaco's unconscious body was carefully placed on it, and the paramedics efficiently began their life-saving procedures. One of Zaco's friends followed the ambulance while the rest followed behind the wailing ambulance.Meanwhile, news of the altercation had spread, and the bar had transformed into a scene of disorder. The other customers were agitated, exchanging hus
Irrisia's brows furrowed as she processed the information. "Why would the system want you to investigate Zaco? And why such a significant amount? That way too much just to investigate someone. " irrisia said aloud.Max shook his head, grappling with the complexity of the situation. "I don't know, Iris. But if we want to unravel the mysteries surrounding us, we might have to take this task seriously. Besides, It just wants me to investigate him at the hospital, nothing more, nothing less. That I can do." Max said. Irrisia nodded, a mix of determination and worry in her eyes. "We can't ignore it, Max. If Zaco is involved in all of this, we need to find out why. Or do you want me to tag along? I can just wait for you in the car while you go into the hospital." irrisia added.Max pocketed his device, a sense of urgency settling in. "I'll head to the hospital right away. You stay here, Iris. I'll keep you updated. We don't know if Dino is still out there. It might be dangerous for you."
Max silently trailed Zico through the hospital corridors, navigating the hospital structure with caution. The rhythmic hum of fluorescent lights above echoed his footsteps as he followed Zico, who seemed preoccupied with his thoughts. Max couldn't shake the feeling that Zico held crucial information relating to his business with Zaco and he wondered who the man behind the mask was. Both men walked in silence then suddenly Zico made a sharp bending and he was out of Max's sight. " Oh my God. Where the hell is he?" Max said silently, walking to a dead end.Zico came out of the dark and looked at Max," What do you want? Do I know you?" Zico asked with a cold voice.Max looked at the image before him and he looked exactly like Zaco. He took some steps and started walking towards Zico. Zico became frightened, he didn't want Max to find out that Zaco was a doppelganger. As Max came closer, Zico quickly launched an attack at him and Max landed heavily on the floor. He stood up and both men e