Kai just stared. His eyes were like lasers, checking me out like I was some puzzle he wasn't expecting.
"Talk?" he repeated, stepping closer. His boots clicked on the floor – seriously creepy. "Think you got something I wanna hear?"
I stayed put, trying to breathe normally. My brain was on overdrive. This guy was supposed to kill me. And yet… here I am. Still breathing.
Why?
I had to find out. And I had to survive.
Then, that voice in my head, buzzing again:
[System Alert]
Begin Tutorial Mission: Escape the Killer.
Objective: Identify escape routes and hidden threats.
Available Skill: Clue Scan.
Suddenly, this see-through thing popped up in my vision. A glow traced the whole room – furniture, walls, even the floorboards. Then it stopped, highlighting the window behind Kai, the door, and… a smudge on the doorknob.
Blood.
Seriously?
It wasn't much, but it was enough.
"You're not here to kill me," I said slowly, testing the waters. "If you were, I'd be toast."
Kai's smirk cracked for a second. "Clever girl."
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "But you're still in my hands. What makes you think I won't finish the job?"
I stood up, keeping my distance. "Because you haven't already. And because you're curious."
His eyes narrowed. "Curious about what?"
"Why I'm still alive," I said. "And why I'm not screaming my head off."
Silence. Awkward, tense silence.
Then Kai laughed – a low, gravelly sound. "You're not what I expected."
I took a step closer, cautiously. "And you're not just some run-of-the-mill killer."
His face got dark. "Don't flatter yourself."
The system beeped again:
[Clue Scan Complete]
Detected blood residue on doorknob (traces of previous victim).
Window lock is rusted—can be forced open.
Faint tire tracks visible outside window—vehicle parked for over 12 hours.
Okay, I got this. There's a way out. But I wasn't ready yet. I needed more info.
"Let me go," I said, watching his reaction. "Or kill me. But don't waste my time pretending this is just a job."
Kai pushed off the wall, walking toward me. He stopped inches away. I could see the gold flecks in his eyes. Too close for comfort.
"I like you," he said, his voice low. "That's a problem."
Then he turned and walked to the door. "You've got five minutes. Try to run, and I won't be so nice next time."
He left.
The second the door clicked shut, I was moving. I scanned the room again, memorizing everything. The rusty window lock, the bloody doorknob, the tire tracks.
I wasn't just escaping.
I was surviving.
And maybe, just maybe, I'd figure out how to use this crazy system before it was too late.