Han stopped in front of his old apartment complex, honking a few times hoping his sister would come down.
After a minute, he pushed open the doors of the car then hurried upstairs into the building. At his apartment door—nothing. "Maria?" he called."
He leaned against the wall, exhausted, wanting to continue sleeping. The timer was now at fifteen minutes.
What is the punishment even about? Is a thought he didn't want to look into, through the silent dark staircase hall a burst of wind came from upstairs.
He remembered the rooftop open area, frequently used for barbeques or just relaxing in general. It wasn't as if he thought she could be there, but still he climbed upstairs.
As he climbed his heart started beating, for one reason or another he couldn't relax. Either out of exhaustion or something else.
Then he heard a soft, gentle yet at times stern voice of his sister. She sat at the center of the rooftop swing, lighted only by a yellow blinking light, her deep dark hair spilling like ink across the ground.
Yet her voice, soft and steady, carried a warmth that eased the night. "Really? Me too… seriously." she laughed softly, leaning back.
Her head was turned away from the entrance doors towards another figure sitting calmly on the swing, covered in a dark rugged cloak.
"Maria!" Han yelled out, she noticed him.
Maria turned her head, standing up with elegant grace, the swing flung back as her deep dark long hair fell to the ground ignoring her long frame, almost as if falling into the darkness itself.
Her eyes were unlike any others—red, sharp, almost predatory—yet the warmth in her presence softened them, turning menace into compassion. "Han!"
Maria stepped closer and gave Han a soft punch on the arm, her pout exaggerated. "Where have you been all day?"
Han smiled, though the timer at the edge of his vision kept ticking down. "It's a long story. But for now—we need to hurry."
"Hurry?" she echoed. "To where? Our apartment's just downstairs…"
She paused, gasping as something clicked. "Oh! We really need to make a copy of the keys. Do you know how hot it was today? I nearly melted while waiting outside!"
Han shook his head, urgency sharpening his tone. "No time for that." He raised a hand, pressing a finger against her warm red glossy lips, clearly from cheap lipstick–stopping her mid-sentence. "I'll explain on the way. But seriously, Maria—we have to move."
He'd read about them in novels, and in history records alike: daring hunter-adventurers, the ones who survived punishment by turning it into a calling.
Crossing continents, braving dungeons, chasing legends. But Han knew—he wasn't one of them. Not yet. He wasn't willing to become yet either, especially not by a punishment.
Seeing the seriousness in her brother's eyes Maria nodded, "Alright.. I'll take my things first, oh and–" She turned back towards the swing, "Let me introduce you to?" She stopped.
Han's gaze followed Maria's, settling on the empty swing. He'd already suspected her companion was nothing ordinary, but now—gone.
A dark cloak, maybe hiding nearby. Sketchy, sure, but he didn't have time to linger.
Maria, though, was calm, smiling faintly, her posture steady. Nothing seemed wrong.
Two years younger, yet already stronger—born with a system, a path set her apart—not only from her brother, but from most others as well.
Most in the post apocalypse world waited for guild assignment after graduation, but Maria was a prodigy.
Already scouted a year ago she could skip the guilds entirely and submit directly to a clan, where Gods resided and destinies were forged.
"Where in the world…?" she murmured, stepping closer. She lifted her white backpack from the swing and glanced around the rooftop. "We were talking almost all day," she said softly. "And then—nothing. Not even goodbye."
Han, despite knowing his sister was a genius, sighed with relief. It was a girl, good. "Shy probably? Come on, if the Gods will, I'm sure you'll meet soon again."
She nodded, and they descended the stairs. "So who was it anyway? Not like you have any friends to begin with, Mari…" Han teased.
"Ehhh! I have one or two," she shot back, shrugging in mock annoyance. "And don't act like I'm not popular! They're just too scared to say hi. Not my fault they're all small fries!"
Han grinned. "Oh, forgive me—I didn't realize I was walking beside the great, popular prodigy!"
They both laughed it off, the sound echoing down the stairwell they just descended. Being in front of the glass doors, Maria's eyes shined towards the red Porsche, dazzling under the night lighting.
Han noticed, he opened the building's doors for her with a smile. "What's with that creepy smile? Hey so anyway, where are we going? We're finally kicked out or something..?"
Her voice softened, gaze lingering on the Porsche as they stepped into the night.
"Just you wait, elder brother… I'll grow up, join the Blue Mirage clan, the red coats unit, become a hero and make us filthy rich!"
Han chuckled, following after her as the doors closed behind them. "Really now?"
Maria nodded, eyes locked on the car. To her, it was a dream, a promise, a future she thought she had to chase.
She didn't know it was already theirs—parked right in front of her, gleaming under the lights. Her future, waiting.
Click
Han clicked the button on the keys, the car's engines roared and its lights fired up. Maria turned her eyes, seeing the keys in her brother's hands then at the car. "W-Wait what?"
Han grinned, dangling the keys casually. "Surprise. Guess your elder brother isn't as hopeless as you thought."
Maria's jaw dropped, laughter bubbling out despite herself. "You mean… this is ours?!"
Han shrugged, stepping toward the car. "Well, technically mine. But you'll be riding shotgun, prodigy."
Her eyes shined brighter than the headlights, ambition mixing with joy. "But how?" For the first time, the dream didn't feel so far away—it was right there, waiting in the driver's seat.
"A system." He opened the car's doors for her, "Come on, watch ya head tho. I already hit mine earlier."
Her eyes widened at the word. 'System? How?'
Han opened his mouth excited to explain, but the timer flashed red across his vision accompanied by a sharp buzz.
[ Warning: Time left until mission failure - 10 minutes. ]
[ Warning: Time left until mission failure - 10 minutes. ]
[ Warning: Time left until mission failure - 10 minutes. ]
It flashed in front of his eyes three times, bringing pain and warning.