Maya sat on a broken crate in the back of the grocery store, wrapped in a blanket someone had given her. Her hands were still trembling. Every few seconds, she looked around like she expected something to jump out of the shadows.
Kai stood a few steps away, pretending to check the doors while secretly staring at the glowing text above her head.
MAYA REEDLEVEL: 1 – HEALERFATE: DIES IN 3 DAYS
Three days.
No matter what he did, no matter how many times he changed things… the clock was still ticking.
He clenched his fists.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
Maya nodded. "I think so. My head hurts… and everything feels unreal. One second I was stocking shelves and the next—" She stopped, swallowing. "People were dying."
Kai looked away.
"This world ended today," he said quietly. "We're just living in the ruins."
She stared at him. "You sound like you already knew."
Kai hesitated.
He couldn't tell her the truth. Not yet.
If she knew he could see her death, she'd break.
Outside, more survivors had gathered. Some had glowing weapons. Some had blood on their hands. Some were crying. A few were smiling in a way that made Kai uneasy.
Above them:
Will betray the group.Will die first.Will become a hero.
So many futures. So many lies.
A tall man with a blue spear walked over.
"Hey," he said. "We're forming a group. Players and non-Players together. Safety in numbers."
Above his head:
FATE: ABANDONS THEM WHEN IT GETS HARD
Kai didn't trust him.
But Maya needed protection.
"We'll join," Kai said.
The man nodded. "We're heading toward the metro. There's supposed to be a safe zone there."
Kai saw it.
FATE: METRO COLLAPSES
His jaw tightened.
"Actually," Kai said, "we should head north. Toward the bridge."
"Why?" the man asked.
"Because I said so."
The man frowned. "You don't have a system. Why should we listen to you?"
Kai stepped closer.
"Because if you go to the metro, half of you die."
The group went silent.
Maya stared at him.
"Kai… how do you know that?"
He met her eyes.
"I just do."
Something shifted in the air.
They all felt it.
And deep inside, the System marked Kai as something it did not understand.
The survivors stared at Kai like he had just spoken a forbidden truth.
Some looked scared.Some looked angry.Some looked… interested.
The man with the blue spear crossed his arms. "You don't get to make decisions for everyone."
Above his head:
FATE: WILL PUSH SOMEONE INTO A MONSTER
Kai ignored it.
"I'm not forcing anyone," Kai said calmly. "I'm telling you what happens. The metro tunnel collapses. A boss monster spawns. People die."
A woman in a torn hoodie whispered, "How many?"
Kai looked at the glowing text above their heads.
Dies crushed.Eaten alive.Bleeds out.
"Seven," he said.
Silence.
Maya gripped Kai's sleeve. "Please tell me you're wrong."
"I wish I was."
A low rumble rolled through the ground.
Far away, something heavy moved underground.
The group panicked.
"Okay, okay!" someone shouted. "North! Let's go north!"
The man with the spear cursed but followed.
Kai led them toward the bridge, walking at the front, his eyes constantly scanning the glowing futures around him.
And that's when he saw it.
MAYA REED – FATE UPDATED: DIES SAVING KAI
His breath caught.
"So that's the price…" he whispered.
No matter how many times he cheated death…
It always wanted something back.
And this time…
It wanted her.