Countdown Novels & Stories

She was not one of them. The mama then motioned for her and the other young lady to follow to the etiquette test. There she met with the rest of the ladies and there were only 20 ladies left from the original 50. More than a half of the ladies were eliminated in this test. A straight line was made with white sand and three pieces of jadeite were put on her shoulder and her head. “Walk the entire length of this white sand line. Those who drop their jadeite first will be eliminated.”

Chapter 8 Hannah's POV The news of the annual corporate party hit the 12th floor like a lightning strike. In a building made of glass and cold calculations, the "Cromwell Legacy Gala" was the only night where the hierarchy supposedly blurred—though everyone knew it was just a more expensive stage for the same power plays. The announcement appeared on every monitor in the building at exactly 9:00 AM. A sleek, animated invitation in gold and black: A Legacy of Excellence. Join us at the Grand Ballroom for the Annual Corporate Gala.

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And you are never alone" and I nod at him. He gives me a big hug and I melt in it. And with that he left for some place in the world taking the heart of a 12-year-old girl. After 9 years. "Oh, hell no" I claimed as I keep the book in the shelf. "C'mon Iris" I rolled my eyes as I walk over to the counter and go behind it. "You have zero sex life, at least get a vibrator or dildo" I groaned as I bang my head in embarrassment.

... The app's icon was stark: a black square with a blood-red hourglass, twisted and ominous. I tapped it, and the screen filled with a chilling black-and-red interface, radiating menace. Riccardo stared, his pupils shrinking. At the top, a countdown pulsed: 69 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, 42 seconds. Targets of Misfortune Transfer was the head. Below were the 100 IDs I'd chosen: KeyboardFury, NetJudge, GossipLover...

The lady called out one more time and made her way to begin the final countdown to the start of the game. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, Five Four Three Two One The game begins.

Please think this damn cake is empty and just leave it back in the back room so I can just run away far from here. “Maybe our surprise didn’t hear us. Guys, let’s all count together—louder this time!” the countdown guy said, and I kept holding my breath, silently praying I could get out of here soon. “Let’s do this, now all together!” he called out for the males in the room and they all started to count louder this time. “5… 4… 3… 2… 1!!!” There was a moment of anticipation, and I heard another set of cheers go out.

For now. As I drove home, my phone buzzed. Another text: "Tomorrow. My jet. Pack light." Excitement mixed with that dark edge. I was addicted. To him. To the risk. He had me, body and soul.

Countdown: 3 seconds. The sound of the waves suddenly grew distant, like the world was bowing out. Countdown: 1 second. "Goodbye." Time hit zero. [The End]

When I finally ran out of desperate words, he steepled his fingers and studied me like a piece of meat on the cutting board. “I can give you the time off,” he said slowly. “Paid. Plus extra for the missed shifts. But nothing’s free anymore, little girl. You know that.” Relief and dread crashed into each other inside my chest. I nodded quickly. “Whatever you want. Just… please.” He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a small black box. Inside was a sleek, teardrop-shaped silicone plug, slightly curved, with a flared base and a wireless remote beside it. It wasn’t huge, but it looked heavy. Sinister.