The air felt heavier outside. The city had changed in the few minutes since Lina and I met. Sirens echoed, cars abandoned in the streets, and people ran in every direction, some screaming, some crying.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUWg8aWQHh
I kept my eyes on my number: 25. One step lower than before. Lina’s was 12 now. The numbers were dropping faster than we could even comprehend.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYofAt0fqgS
“Come on,” Lina said, grabbing my hand. “We need to move. If this is counting down… the lower it goes, the closer—”
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqSJOBkp3f
I didn’t need her to finish. I already knew.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneecuCso3o
We ran down the narrow streets, dodging people who collapsed mid-step. Every second, someone else hit zero. And every time, the crowd froze—staring, screaming, then scattering.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqXijHXNFl
A young man fell nearby, his number blinking: 0. His eyes widened in disbelief before his body went limp. People around him screamed, but no one dared touch him.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxVUWr2YIm
My stomach churned. 25. 24. 23.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhMR2lDeG0
“Why are we still alive?” I gasped. “What does it mean? How do we stop it?”
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rsQYMaJu8
Lina shook her head, pulling me into a side alley. “I don’t know. But maybe… maybe we’re supposed to find the ones with the same number. Like the message said.”
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64cDcxdI9C
A cold wind blew, carrying screams from further down the street. We froze. My number ticked again: 22.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAOeff7Kdu
Then something caught my eye. A figure leaning against a wall, watching us. His number: 25. Same as mine.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZlFR021XH
Before I could react, he stepped forward. Calm. Confident. But his eyes… they weren’t friendly.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZCdbHYgwL
“You’re like me,” he said, voice low. “We don’t have much time.”
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AQmHVQJeH
“Who are you?” I asked, backing up.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtktdjizcwO
“Call me Eli,” he said. “And if you want to survive, follow me. Now.”
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlFdOeZl2n
I glanced at Lina. Her number: 11. She nodded. We had no choice.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35MNhaR629
As we ran after Eli, my mind raced. Why were some numbers higher? Why were some lower? Why were zeros killing instantly?
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnn8NBjeRa
And then I realized the worst part:
We weren’t just running from numbers.
We were running from everyone else.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuad5jt3Fd
Because anyone else… anyone with a lower number… could stop at nothing to survive.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CwAFY8aH8
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICMVD7FBWm
and then Add to home screen.