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.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW3ITibVid
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.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHADetkEWK
“Come on,” Lina said, grabbing my hand. “We need to move. If this is counting down… the lower it goes, the closer—”
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmN0KIcehu
I didn’t need her to finish. I already knew.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fjBKBoiAn
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.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pgHCdAemf
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.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZHMAQR7lF
My stomach churned. 25. 24. 23.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLIOtkHQhm
“Why are we still alive?” I gasped. “What does it mean? How do we stop it?”
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl6T9XyFUi
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.”
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFFJLpHj3P
A cold wind blew, carrying screams from further down the street. We froze. My number ticked again: 22.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDC0fAzmL3
Then something caught my eye. A figure leaning against a wall, watching us. His number: 25. Same as mine.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0diPRwtHNg
Before I could react, he stepped forward. Calm. Confident. But his eyes… they weren’t friendly.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c1Zb1glrg
“You’re like me,” he said, voice low. “We don’t have much time.”
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvQaVlnoIl
“Who are you?” I asked, backing up.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9OFxzRDKG
“Call me Eli,” he said. “And if you want to survive, follow me. Now.”
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgjQMDcqPo
I glanced at Lina. Her number: 11. She nodded. We had no choice.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiU9zY66n5
As we ran after Eli, my mind raced. Why were some numbers higher? Why were some lower? Why were zeros killing instantly?
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoOjMJw1zu
And then I realized the worst part:
We weren’t just running from numbers.
We were running from everyone else.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKSTg3oGTe
Because anyone else… anyone with a lower number… could stop at nothing to survive.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpVTmzh1iQ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB6iBJwu8H
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.