Against the Clock

Episode 04.

The air was thick with tension as I drove through the winding streets of San Gimignano, my mind racing with memories that felt both distant and achingly close. I pulled into a quiet alley behind a nondescript café, the shadows deepening as dusk settled over the town. This was where it had all happened—where I had crossed a line I could never uncross.

Alessandra had been a bright light in a dark world, but the brightness had become blinding. The night of her disappearance, I had gone to confront her. She was tangled in a web of secrets that threatened to ensnare me, and I couldn't let that happen.

As I parked the car, I recalled the chill of that evening, the way the moon hung low, casting an eerie glow. I had arrived early, heart pounding with anticipation and dread. The plan was simple: confront her, find out what she knew, and then eliminate the threat once and for all.

The café had been empty when I walked in, save for a few scattered patrons absorbed in their own worlds. I spotted Alessandra at a corner table, her expression unreadable as she fiddled with her phone. I took a deep breath and approached her, my heart a steady drumbeat of resolve.

"Mind if I join you?" I asked, feigning casualness, though my pulse quickened.

"Sure," she replied, glancing up with a mix of curiosity and caution. "What's going on?"

"I wanted to talk," I said, leaning in slightly, lowering my voice. "About the people you've been hanging out with."

Her brow furrowed, and I could see the gears turning in her mind. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. The rumors. The things people say about you. I need to know if it's true."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied, the bravado in her voice faltering slightly.

But I could sense her fear; it pulsed between us like a living thing. "You've been digging into things you shouldn't. You need to stop, Alessandra."

"What are you threatening me?" she shot back, her eyes flashing.

"No. I'm trying to protect you," I said, my voice steady. "You're getting too close to dangerous people. You need to back off before it's too late."

"I can handle myself," she replied defiantly. "You don't know anything about me."

A flicker of rage ignited in my chest. How dare she underestimate me? How dare she act like she had any control over her fate? "You're playing a dangerous game, and I can't let you put me at risk," I said, my tone cold and deliberate.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice trembling now.

I leaned closer, my heart pounding. "I'm talking about the fact that you know too much. And if you won't listen, then I'll have to make you."

In a flash, the café melted away, and it was just the two of us in that moment—the stakes tangible, electric. I knew what I had to do.

I reached into my bag, my hand brushing over the cold metal of the small knife I'd brought with me. I had planned this meticulously. No one would know. No one would see.

Before I could hesitate, I plunged the knife into the table between us, a final warning. "You have one chance. Walk away from this."

Her eyes widened in shock, the realization dawning on her that I was dead serious. "You're insane!" she gasped, her breath hitching.

"Maybe. But I'm also determined."

As I leaned back, I watched her face shift from fear to understanding, the weight of the moment settling over us. "You don't have to do this, Hana. We can figure this out. Just tell me what you want!"

But I knew there was no turning back. The moment I had made my choice, everything else fell away. "You need to leave this town and forget about everything. Or I'll make you regret it."

"Please, just let me go!" she begged, the defiance draining from her voice.

I leaned closer, whispering, "You think you can just walk away after everything? You've put me in danger, and I can't let that happen."

Her panic was palpable now, but there was a spark of defiance still flickering in her eyes. "You'll never get away with this."

"Watch me," I replied, feeling a chilling calm settle over me.

In that moment, I moved. I struck without hesitation, the blade slicing through the air with a precision that surprised even me. Her eyes widened in shock as the knife found its mark, plunging into her side.

She gasped, her hand instinctively reaching for the wound. "Hana! What have you done?"

"I did what I had to do," I said, my voice void of emotion.

Panic surged as she tried to push herself away from the table, but it was too late. I leaned in closer, feeling the heat of her blood against my skin as I gripped her wrist. "Just relax. It'll be over soon."

Her breathing became ragged, panic overtaking her. "Help! Someone—"

I pressed my hand over her mouth, silencing her pleas. In that moment, I felt untouchable—cold and calculated, the power surging through me. "No one's coming, Alessandra. You made sure of that."

With one final push, I watched as life slipped from her eyes, the light fading into an empty abyss. The reality of what I'd done crashed over me, but I felt strangely liberated—a sense of control that had eluded me for so long.

I wiped the knife clean with a cloth from my bag, stashing it away as if it were nothing more than a forgotten tool. I stood, glancing around the café, the world spinning back into focus. The patrons were too engrossed in their own lives to notice what had just happened, unaware of the dark choice I had made.

As I slipped out into the night, I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I was no longer just a girl; I was a predator, and I had claimed my first victim.

The cold night air hit my face as I stepped outside, clarity washing over me. I had crossed a threshold, and there was no going back. The game was on, and I was ready to play.