The Past Should Remain In The Past.

Sebastian 

I literally watched the system deduct one hour from my time because I was talking to this asshole who wouldn't stop trying to make life all about him.

“Who are you talking to?” John asked with raised brows, but I quickly brushed past him, making my way out of the house. “Sebastian! What has come over you?”

He didn't stop following me even as I tried to avoid him and when I finally hit the streets, he grabbed my hand, making me groan in frustration.

“Talk to me—”

"God damn it, John! Leave me alone! You're literally getting me killed!” I snapped, yanking my hand out of his grip, and my heart sank when the timer changed once again.

21:45:34

I lost two hours and it wasn't even my fault!

“Sebastian!” He called out as I got into a sprint, running away from him as fast as I could. 

He should have left me alone after cutting off our friendship at his stupid birthday party. 

“You have 21 hours to complete your mission. Remember, failure will not be accepted.” The system said and I scoffed, slowing down when I saw he wasn't following me anymore.

“You literally deducted two hours from my timer! I didn't even want to talk to him.” I muttered in frustration, running my hand through my hair.

“The past should remain in the past, Sebastian. They should not exist anywhere you are.” Buis responded and I let out a sigh. 

It wasn't like I asked him to show up out of nowhere.

“How do I get to The Core? They won't even let me through the gates.” I muttered and the screen changed into a map with a little figure representing where I was standing currently.

“You have two routes that can get you into The Core. The normal path with the military guarding the gates.” It explained as the screen showed a red lane that led to the building I was going to. “The second path however, is what you should choose. It is shorter and safer.”

On the same map was another blue lane that led to the building marked as X, but it looked like it was covered in trees and traps.

“I can't believe I'm doing this.” I muttered with a shake of my head as I started to follow the lane the system had set.

Whenever I went off track, it would warn me, and I had to get back on track, or it would deduct my timer once again.

It got darker as I walked deeper into the woods and the screen lit up the way so I wouldn't trip and fall. My steps slowed when I heard sounds coming from in front of me.

“Buis, will you at least look out for traps?” I asked softly, looking around warily and it remained silent. 

This darn system.

“You should have just left me to die.” Hissing in frustration, I kept going. I suddenly stepped on something and froze when I heard something click.

I moved before I even heard the sound. Just as I crashed to the ground and rolled to the side, an arrow whooshed past me, piercing the tree behind me.

“Shit.” I whispered as my heart kept beating fast in my chest. I was right to know there were traps everywhere and this moment reminded me of how I tried to survive my first mission hours ago.

“Buis, a little help?”

No answer.

I was absolutely on my own right now. I got back on my feet, keeping my eyes fixed on the ground instead to avoid stepping on another trap.

That was another impossible attempt as I stepped on what looked like normal ground but was actually a trap. I gasped as I looked around, realizing that I was now surrounded by lasers.

Any wrong steps and who knew what would happen to me?

“Buis. Now will be a good time for a plan B.” I whispered, looking around in panic. “Say something! You can't just bring me here and disappear now that I'm in trouble!”

My breathing quickened as I swallowed the lump in my throat. I was 100% sure that the military would have been alerted by my presence.

Just when I thought it couldn't be worse, the lasers started to assemble, all coming to one spot. The middle. Exactly where I was standing.

“Buis!” I called out in panic, my breathing heavy as the lasers drew even closer, and only then did the screen in front of me change.

It looked like codes were being rewritten on it and I let out a shaky breath of fear as I could feel the heat of the lasers closing in on me.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself for what was going to happen next. I was going to die again.

“All Trap Control systems had been neutralized. You have ten minutes till it comes back up.” I heard the system's voice say and I opened my eyes in shock to see that all the lasers had disappeared.

“Christ, you almost had me killed there! Thank you, Buis.” I said in relief as I started to run. 

Since the system had been neutralized, I was free to do whatever I wanted without getting hit by something out of nowhere.

The X mark drew closer, and the ten minutes were almost over. I moved faster, my lungs burning from needing oxygen but I knew I couldn't stop.

Just like when the dog chased me earlier. 

My eyes widened when I saw a door, and without thinking, I threw myself into it just as the ten-minute timer ran out.

My eyes widened as I collapsed to the ground and saw that the lasers were back up and arrows were flying around aimlessly. I made it. I actually made it.

I let out a shaky breath as I closed the door behind me and looked around. It looked like I was in a weird barn except there were no animals.

But actually humans.

Different people were locked up in cages and when they saw me, they banged on it, begging for help.

What were these people up to? Why cage so many people?

I wanted to save them. To let them all out.

But a warning appeared on the screen and I froze.

“Do not attempt to do anything other than the mission at hand. You will be terminated.” Buis said and my heart sank.

I wanted to save them.

“Do not attempt it. Save the boys and leave.”

“But… They're innocent. Why are two boys more important than these people? What is—”

“Mission compromised. Punishment: deduction of hours.” Buis said loudly and I let out a gasp as I watched the timer run down like it was being chased.

21:13:45

20:48:20

18:17:52

15:09:33

10:41:12

05:03:01

01:24:50

00:30:00

To my freaking horror, twenty hours turned into thirty minutes.

“What… I just…”

“Any more questions will have you terminated immediately, Sebastian. Save the boys and leave. If the timer runs out you will be terminated.”

I was terrified. 

“Where are the boys?” I asked shakily as I stumbled forward, the fear and panic making me move before I could stop myself.

I managed to find them after Buis pointed them out and shakily broke the lock, making them look at me with wide eyes.

“Have you come to kill us? Stay away from us!” One of them yelled, protecting the other and I immediately brought my fingers to shut them up.

“I'm here to get you out.” I whispered and their eyes widened.

Before they could respond, my ears picked up slow, steady footsteps coming towards the barn and my blood ran cold.