Ethan- The Rise Of A Villain Or A Hero?

system and choices

At first, I thought that it was my delusional state before accepting my death, but I heard it again. This time it was loud and clear.

“Do you want to save them?”

Among the chaos on the street, hearing this clear voice was impossible. I didn’t know if I was still alive or I was somewhere between life and death, but suddenly everything went silent.

But I felt the intensity and power of that voice. It felt as if it is coming from inside me.

Iris and Walter appeared in front of me again, holding each other while looking around in despair, tears staining their faces completely.

The urge to stand up and run in their direction to save them blasted in my chest.

“Yes.” I choked on my voice, but tasted blood in my mouth.

“Please, help me. Please save them.” I pleaded in a choking voice, looking at the still picture of my siblings hanging in front of my closed eyes.

There was nothing but darkness in front of me. Their picture was the only thing that I could see clearly.

Suddenly the ringing in my ears stopped as if it weren’t there at any time.

“Then choose.” The voice coming from deep inside my chest asked me calmly.

I was tired, but still desperate to save my siblings.

“Choose what?” I asked weakly.

“Time or truth.” The next question confused me.

A crushing pressure built inside my chest. It was deeper than both wound and pain.

“I don’t understand. Please…… help them.” I pleaded again, trying to bear the pain, but coughed blood this time.

“If you choose time….you may return.”

RETURN….

The word echoed in my mind.

“If you choose truth… you will see.”

“See what?” I asked, but a strange fear crawled up into my spine.

The voice didn’t answer, and it increased my anxiety. Iris and Walter probably wouldn’t have this much time where I can play this game of choosing.

“What will happen if I choose both?” I asked, losing my consciousness by now.

“You will suffer.” The voice chuckled, a dark, humorous chuckle.

A faint and broken laugh escaped my lips.

“I am already suffering.”

“What’s more I can suffer.”

“Still you need to choose.” The voice insisted, but now it felt coming from far away.

“I….. I choose both.” I whispered, slipping into an abyss.

“Very well then. Remember this moment. Because everything begins…………………here.”

My heart stopped before I could register what the voice said.

Darkness swallowed everything, but my soul was still in despair.

My existence vanished from the world, but I didn’t want to believe it.

“I am sorry.” I whispered to my siblings before resigning to my fate.

Then……

My heart suddenly slammed violently against my ribs. I gasped aloud in pain, snapping my eyes open as the air rushed into my lungs like fire.

“Broooo….. save me!”

I snapped my head in the direction of the yell and my whole body froze.

My eyes widened in shock when I saw Walter running in circle, and Iris running behind her with a broom in her hands.

For a second, I couldn’t believe that I was seeing them alive again.

I immediately looked down at my hands and held my breath.

The pen was still in my hand, still at the same place where I left it writing before standing up to save Walter.

How did this happen?

Did I just dream about everything that happened earlier, or did I actually come back?

I heard Walter screaming again. The scene was just like earlier.

Overwhelmed by all the emotions that flooded my heart like a storm, I stood up abruptly, sending the chair to the ground with a loud crash.

Both of them stopped at the places and looked at me in confusion.

“Ethan? What’s wrong with.”

“Inside now,” I yelled at them, cutting off Iris midsentence.

Both were startled by my tone. It was cold, sharp, something unfamiliar to them.

“Both of you. Inside now.” I commanded them coldly, freezing them in the process.

I knew that they were confused and scared of me now, but I knew what was coming next.

I ran towards the back door and closed it hurriedly.

No, I didn’t dream. That was real. We were really killed in that clash.

“E….th…an. Y… ou a… re s.. caring us.” Iris mumbled fearfully, but I had no time to comfort her.

I ran towards the windows and started closing each of them, and locked them properly.

Then I ran in their direction and grabbed their arms one by one, making them scream in fear in the process.

I dragged them towards the far corner of the wall where, I guess, they would be safe.

“Stay here, and don’t move until I say so, okay? You wi.” I couldn’t even complete my instructions when the gunshot rang outside.

Both of them grabbed me in fear, their bodies trembling hard in fear.

I also looked in the direction of the backyard street; my heart thudded hard against my ribcage.

It started…. Right on time.

“E….than.” Both Walter and Iris cried fearfully.

I immediately controlled my emotions and looked at them.

“Listen to me carefully, kiddos,” I spoke to them firmly while looking straight into their fearful eyes.

“No matter what happens or what you hear. You will not leave this spot until I come back.” I gave them a knowing look, and they immediately bobbed their heads.

I pressed them down, making them sit on the ground. Walter pulled Iris in his embrace, just like he held her between those two cars on the street.

“You will not leave her at any cost, Walter, okay?” I warned her with a command. He bobbed her head again, and I took a deep breath.

I stood up and walked towards the window from where I could see the street clearly.

The chaos, the screams, people running away, hurdling inside their homes in fear….

Everything was the same.

I clenched my fists tightly. For the first time, there was no fear inside my heart, but something cold, sharp, and unbreakable settled inside my heart.

“If time wants to play a game with me….. then I’ll play better,” I spoke with determination while looking at the chaos outside.

A faint, dangerous resolve formed in my chest.

“This ends………………….. today.”

Suddenly, a transparent screen with running codes appeared in front of my eyes.

[Task to finish: Survive this chaos with your siblings without getting injured.

Obstacle: More attacks are approaching, each more brutal than the previous one.

Reward for success: A safe place to hide with your siblings and $1 million cash reward.

Cost paid by you: %5 reduction in your emotional state.

Punishment if fail: One of the siblings of your choice will lose a limb]

My whole body shuddered hard in fear when I read the last line.

What the f**k is that?