Seret

Chapter 6

Time stood still. There were whispers of fear lurking around. The entire world felt empty and deserted. The presence of the gun emitted a deathly tension.
'Stand up and put your hands where I can see them.' Commanded the man. Seret didn't even hear what he said. Her entire body felt stiff and her brain frozen. Her heavy breathing felt like agony. Her first instinct was to run. Just run as far away as possible. But she had picked up that she wouldn't ever be as fast as a bullet. So she just stayed crouched in that position, glaring petrifiedly at the muzzle. 'Up. Now!' He yelled. Seret figured that if he had enough confidence to make noise it meant that no one else could possibly be near by. By and by, she forced herself to stand even though her legs were quivering. She held out her arms like he had ordered. 'Uh,' she gulped, 'Wha- what do you want. If it's money, I- I don't have much, may- maybe you-'
'Cut the blabbering.' He interrupted, then cocked the gun.
'Hey Mr. P- please. You don't-'
He fired. The echo of the shot filled the alley with an ear ringing sound. Seret's scream followed while her hands wrapped around her head as her eyes pinched closed. She soon realized that no bullet touched her; but when she looked back at the ground there was a slight smoke trail coming from her phone which now had a hole in it. She looked in shock at the man, his face still hidden.
'Gotta get rid of any casualties next.' He cocked the gun again and pointed it at Seret. 'Just one question before I kill you. Who told you about the fire that you got so interested as to reveal yourself into the open world?'
'Wha-what do you mean "reveal myself"? Who are you, just tell me what you want?'
'Interesting. What I want is beyond your comprehension child. Any last words, girly?'
'Just stop this alright! Please, if anything happens to me, you'll definitely be caught, so don't even try anything. Let me go now and I'll forget this ever happened.' She was on the verge of being consumed by terror. She dropped to her knees and began to beg, 'Please, please, please. I'm begging you to let me go. Please.' Tears rolled down her cheek.
He laughed in a psychotic tone. 'You think your "insurance" will save you. You must be talking about that backpack that you left in the library. What was it again, cubicle 4 under the table?'
With those words every ounce of hope she had left was destroyed. She looked up at him stunned. How did he know the exact location of her insurance? She thought her plan had been fool proof.
'Hah.' He laughed demonically again. 'You're weak and naive. You wouldn't survive long out here either way.'
She closed her eyes tightly once more and fastened herself steadily to the ground, she waited foolishly to accept her fate. As another round was fired, her whole body went numb and she fell flat on her back.

A minute passed, maybe two, but she didn't feel any different. She slowly opened her eyes and found herself still in the alley. She sat up. Infront of her was the man, now laying still on the tarmac. She was glad that she was alive, but also a mix of shock and confusement flowed through her.
'Get back.' An unfamiliar voice said. Seret looked behind her at the entrance of the alley and saw another figure holding a firearm, blocking the way. 'Get back, now.' He repeated, but not in a commanding manner, his tone was rather subtle and to the point. She hurriedly stood up and moved as far away as she could. He approached the man laying on the ground and felt his wrist. Seret figured he might be checking for pulse. He then gave a sigh of relief and began searching the man. He took out the man's cell phone and managed to unlock it in under 30 seconds. Seret just stood behind him and watched astonished. He then opened the contacts and sent a text to a number saved as 'Boss', MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. He then threw the phone on the ground, crushed it with his black army boot and turned to Seret.
'Are you okay? Hurt?' He said in a low voice. All Seret did was stare at the sight around her, even though the area wasn't well lit she could see more than enough. She just felt like someone needed to pinch her really hard so that she could wake up from this unbelievable nightmare. She looked at him again in the moonlight. He was covered head to toe in black. His face was masked, except for his eyes which were guarded by sunglasses. 'We better get out of here before anyone else shows up.' He made his way out the alley and signaled Seret to follow him. She hesitated at first, but then figured that she had no where else to go so she quickly caught up.
The street was truly abandoned just like she had predicted. She was grateful that it was at least well light; escaping that darkness seemed to calm down her anxiety. She cautiously followed him as they both briskly walked on the pathway.
'Um, excuse me, but could you just stop for a second.' She asked eventually after walking for a while. They had made it far from the alley by now and yet the area still seemed so empty. Seret wondered where everyone had been.
'No time to stop. We're still not far enough.' He replied.
'Uh, well could I at least get some answers then?'
'Go ahead, ask whatever you'd like.'
'Okay then. Firstly, who in the world are you? And secondly, where are we going? And who was that other guy back there? Why was I almost killed?'
He didn't answer. He just started running. Seret looked at him bewildered. Who was this guy? What was he doing? 'Hey, you haven't answered my questions.' She screamed as she started running after him. It was tough for her to keep up. He moved very fast and was swift in his motions. She just barely kept him in sight. After many cuts through corners and in between shops, Seret saw him stop outside a tiny Café on the ground level of an apartment building. He entered the Café and Seret followed.
The inside was very squashed. There was a small desk at the entrance with a cash register on it that was left unattended. There were 3 small tables, each with two chairs layed out. There was a door marked Employees only and an old man seated at one of the tables. The whole room was lit with a yellow light coming from a single bulb. The place reminded Seret of an old shop from the 60's. Seret entered the crammed space and stood for a while catching her breath.
'Can I help yer young lassie?' Spoke the old man in a Scottish accent. He looked very fragile even though he was dressed to fit into the twenty-first century. He wore a black printed tee and worn out baggy denim jeans as well as the classic sneaker. Seret tried hard to catch her breath before speaking. 'Uh,' she panted, 'Uh, I'm looking for someone. He entered here just a moment ago.'
The old man stared at her blankly. 'I don't know what you're talking about Miss.'
'But, he just entered this shop not so long ago. He's about this tall,' she gestured with her hand about 20cm above her head, 'wearing all black, face covered?'
The old man shrugged his shoulders.
'Haven't seen him. Now, if you're not here to enjoy me Cafés fine dining, best you be leaving.'
'Are you certain he didn't come here? May I please just have a look around?' Seret insisted.
'Leave now miss. I don't want to have to call up the cops now do I?' He threatened.
'What, no! Please I'm just looking for someone.' Seret walked forward.
The old man stood up and pointed his cane at her. He looked frail, but he had strength. 'Leave now, lassie.'
Seret didn't feel very threatened but something about his behavior made her question why she even followed that guy. As she turned to leave, the same unfamiliar voice from earlier spoke, 'It's okay, Douglas. I led her here.' Seret saw him standing in the doorway of what she now knew was the kitchen. The old man, Douglas, lowered his cane and made his way to a staircase hidden in the corner.
'My shifts over now. Do me a favor and close up shop will ya?' Requested Douglas as he slowly began ascending the stairs.
'Sure.' Replied the boy. Seret and him both watched as Douglas crept up the stairs and disappeared.
'You still haven't answered my questions. Who are you?' Asked Seret.
He pulled the firearm out from its holder and set it on a nearby table. 'What about a different question like, who are you?'
'Why?'
'For confirmation. I can't tell you who I am without knowing who you are.' He said sarcastically.
'Should there be a reason why you're so wary of telling your name?'
'Maybe, maybe not. Now, name?'
'What is my name? Amanda.'
'You're horrible at lying. Real name, now.'
Seret was surprised, but also not shocked. That other guy from earlier knew her name, so she gave in. 'Fine. My name is Seret. Is that enough confirmation for you?' She tried to sound confident but the sight of the firearm was very intimidating.
'Hmm.' Seret could imagine him grinning under his mask. 'Well, nice to meet you.' He sat down at a table and offered her a seat as well. She accepted, only because if she stood any longer she might fall. He then pulled off his hood revealing ashen white, choppy short hair that hung on his forehead. He took of the mask and sunglasses and then looked at Seret. Seret stared flabbergasted into his eyes which were strangely violet in color with a natural slight shimmer. She then noticed how pale his skin was, just like hers. 'It's rude to stare, Seret.' He said bluntly. She quickly stopped, but still wondered how it was possible that his eyes were, well, purple. 'Sorry. It's just-'
'I'm different. So are you. And the name's Aiden.'
'Hmm. Different.'
He then took notice of Seret's necklace. She had decided earlier to keep it, after all it could maybe help her find her parents.
'May I see that please?' He asked.
'What? No. This is mine. It's very valuable.' She defended.
'Right you are about that.' He nodded and then took of his glove. On his wrist was some twine. He unraveled it and showed it to Seret. It was a kelly green stone, the same shape as Seret's blue one. 'So is mine. Amazing how well crafted they will make it into.' He gazed at his stone.
'What do you mean by "will"?' She asked.
'Oh no. No one has told you. I'm so sorry to have to be the one. I had assumed you knew.'
'About what?'
His eyes filled with deep sincerity.
'You see, this isn't your time, Seret. This isn't our time.'
'Time for what?' She asked. He spoke in a calm and comforting tone, trying to reassure her, 'Seret, you're from the future.'