Chapter 10: Five minutes

" Are you alright? Layla? That's your name right? "

Benjamin remembered her name on her uniform's tag as Layla's mind is in somewhere else, surrounded by the fire, the ashes, the voices trying to save her, and the screams of her neighbors.

The voices that are killing her family.

" Please, not again. "

Layla mumbled as she sees John Salas lifting the blanks that fell over her taking her out before her house collapses

" My sister! Save my sister! "

Layla screamed looking at her sister and crawling towards her in pain as she couldn't see anything, she has no eyes.

Benjamin is looking at her pale face as if she saw a ghost.

" Layla! Everything is going to be alright. "

Benjamin took her in his big arms in a tight hug, that's what humans do in this kind of situation, right?

Which made Layla wakes up, feeling, the warm breaths on her neck.

She pushed Benjamin quickly staring at his face at the same time the elevator door got opened.

Layla left without thanking Benjamin.

" We're here sir, what happened? "

The worried workers asked their Director as Benjamin watches Layla leave.

" What does she mean? "

sighing as he ignored the workers leaving the elevator as well.

[ 1, 2, 3 ]

[ The System of souls is hungry ]

" I'm in my company right now, I can't feed you. "

Benjamin told himself as he was walking looking at the actors that were supposed to act in the play today.

[ What about Layla, she is rude, we can eat her.]

" She is a hard worker, It's not my type of people that I feed you. "

[ actually, I have a mission for you. ]

" A mission for me? "

[ If you can put Layla to act on stage today, I will let her live. ]

Benjamin was looking at the stage as he was thinking of his mission.

On the other hand, there was Layla who was searching for her mirror.

She headed to the stage that she was on yesterday, there are many people, they were holding cameras.

" Ouch. "

" Excuse me. "

Even someone hit her and ran.

" What is going on? "

She asked as she was stuck between the people, Layla saw Benjamin from the café yelling.

" The actress that is supposed to play Rosé is a mess, she just said one sentence, and Benjamin already loses his mind. "

Layla heard the gossip as one of the judges from yesterday looked at her, Layla tried to flee quickly.

" There's another contestant! She came here yesterday! "

They started to push Layla forward to get her on the stage.

" Hey! I'm not here to act, ouch! You told me to lea... "

She was about to continue but suddenly she is standing in front of Benjamin, so she thought he is sort of a big celebrity there. That's why he is so...

Bastard?

His anger vanished as she is standing before him, Layla looked like a mess if she knew she is there to act.

At least she would be in her flower dress.

" Oh, he is still angry. "

Layla still hearing the gossip as Benjamin is looking at her messy white shirt and big pants.

Benjamin's eyes raised to look at Layla again as he approached her, Layla decided to stand still, but she was afraid as hell, why is she so nervous?

He is not Salas.

He is not scary.

He is not the devil that is after her.

She felt his fingers on her shirt as Benjamin is fixing it, Layla gasped for some air to look into his eyes.

He is so focused as if he is panting on canvas.

Layla broke the eye-contact trying to breathe, she doesn't know when she stopped breathing.

He untied her hair and started to fix it on her shoulder.

Benjamin wants her to be ready for his mission.

His system mission or she would be eaten like the rest of the girls.

Benjamin doesn't know if she could act or know but he wishes in his heart that she can do it.

Layla can feel multiple eyes staring at her which gave her anxiety, she gathered her courage to look at his eyes again as his gaze is fixed on her eyes.

Her features were questioning him what the hell is he doing? But she kept the words to herself.

" Did you study your role? "

The words came from Benjamin's mouth as he suddenly showed his script to Layla to look at.

Layla didn't recall when he moved away.

Wait.

Role?

" What role? I came yesterday to sing The One song. "

Layla answered as she saw Benjamin's lips as a thin line.

He was terrified that she would be dead tonight.

" I supposed the scenario should be sent to all the contestants no exception. "

Benjamin glared somewhere behind Layla, she wanted to say that no one sent her anything but that will lead her nowhere.

But this is her chance!

It's her chance to sing, even if that means taking a role in a play.

" Five minutes. "

Layla said which made him focus on her again.

" Sorry? "

" Give me five minutes, I'll read the script! I'll do the role! "

Layla started to jump without knowing as Benjamin is staring at her idiocy, but instead of getting angry.

He just handed her the script that was in his hand.

" If you're this confident be my guest. "

He had hope that she lives.

The clock was ticking.

[ Tick tock ]

The system is hungry as it growled inside Benjamin, it gave him his revenge, his power.

It can take it back without lifting a finger, he desires his meals.

And he wants Layla.

If she missed up, she is done.

Layla sat down on her knees putting the script on the ground as she stares at the lines.

" What is she doing? "

" Oh my god, this girl, she is still crazy. "

" Yes remember her make-up technic, pfft. "

She ignored all the voices and blocked everything around her.

The lines.

They're so beautifully written.

Whoever wrote this play, they're a free soul.

A beautiful one.

She brushed Benjamin's notes softly, he is marking some lines as if he likes these parts.

Or unsure of these parts.

Somehow this play, if she said those words.

She could end up crying.

Or she remembers what happened to her, the people died because of her.

Layla tried to hang on more, she just studied two pages before.

[ Time to act. ]

The system said as Benjamin took the script away

" Time is up. "

He said with a soft smile, is he in a better mood already, or just want to see her success?

The role says that Layla suppose to be standing, while Benjamin is on his knees.

Layla stood up, making eye contact with Benjamin as if she dares him to get on his knees.

Revenge mode activated because of what he did to her in the café.

He isn't bothered, I guess he used to kneel for women.

Before taking their souls later.

He pointed to someone and suddenly the place is dark, Layla gasped as there was a spotlight focused on Benjamin as he sat on his knees with sad emotion.

Not an evil one.

" Rosé, please! Just give me a clue, where are you? "

He is looking around him, scared.

" Why did you leave me, lie to me? "

He continues as Layla slowly approaches him.

She touched his face which made him close his eyes while her fingers traces his eyes.

" I'm closer more than you think, My love. "

..............................

To be continued