The Zero Countdown

Chapter 31: Special Guest

The restaurant's crowded premises dilutes the cold ambiance being pumped by the AC units at the left and back corners. Elyon simply had entered the place but the lane on both the self-service kiosk and the regular cashier section were already crammed.

He sees no empty table, some just go out and leave the restaurant but the others as they are already in the line.

"What a mess... They also can't help it." Elyon shook his head and ponders over.

He remembers the specific burger fast-food restaurant he's currently in is the nearest available eatery around the entrance of the east commercial district, considering the rest of the restaurants are within outside the area's boundary, which is the reason people could go for the closest place than dine or have a take out in the commercial district itself.

But going back now for a tactical retreat is a complete waste. The moment he set foot in the restaurant's premises, the act had initially begun as their entire plan rests solely on his shoulders.

Looking around for empty seats or tables around the proximity, Elora reminded him twice that he should not look around looking for Samantha as she specifically said he should fall in line on the left-most cashier lane.

In that regard, Elyon stiffened his back and reclined his posterior. He also kept faking a sigh as if he's having a bad day to show that everything that's happening so far is a coincidence, without a shroud of scheme floating around his back.

He did his part so well the entire time he didn't know he's the next one in the line.

"Hm... Hello sir? Will you order something today? I'm sorry if I sounded rude, it's just the customers behind you are about to complain." The cashier said in a distance and articulation that only Elyon can hear.

Coming back to his senses from hearing the cashier's voice, Elyon instinctively looks at the menu and said the item that his eyes first laid on.

"I'm having a number 4 please, with large fries..." He panics but he's trying his best not to freak out.

At the edge of his sight lies a fine lady standing at a fair height, wearing the restaurant's regular work uniform and an apron with a tad of roundness around her hips. Elyon's looking at Samantha while avoiding eye contact to avoid any suspicions once he exhibits he isn't interested in her, making the situational believable that he's in that restaurant on that specific day to buy something he can snack on than a crazed Fantasm hunting her down.

"Take out or dine-in?" She asked.

"Dine in I guess." He answers while glancing around, still totally no empty tables and most of the customers choose a take-out order.

"That would be fifty-five and a cent. Due to the influx of patrons today, you'd wait for at least twenty minutes for an empty table. Would you still prefer a dine-in?" She wants him gone because she knows what's up to from that moment.

It's just a matter of time before Elyon gets caught so he goes all out in his pretense.

"It's fine I guess... It's not like there should be a place for me once I'm out." Elyon took out the wallet he received from Brina and handed out a hundred. He rubs his forehead, stroking his hair in disappointment, indicating he preferred to say because he had nowhere to go in the first place than be there for a completely different reason.

"Alright..." Samantha didn't reveal any strange reaction or hostility and instead guided him to stay on the left waiting spot while he waits for his order and an available empty table that won't come for a while.

However, Samantha had something in mind about how she will entertain her special guest.

From behind the cash register, she spoke to one of her fellow workers and Elyon had no idea what they were talking about, until the very same person Samantha was talking to approached him shortly.

"Are you Mister Elyon? Miss Samantha's relative?" He called his name, which he found strange that the crew member thought they are acquaintances, but he later realized what's arising and went according to the circumstances laid out.

"Ah, yes, it is me." He lied with a nod.

The crew member looked left and right and beckoned Elyon to come closer.

"Is that so? I do apologize that you came at such a busy hour. Miss Samantha told me you can have your lunch on the dining table behind the kitchen's room. She's also having her break time right now. I'll bring your order in a minute."

"Really? That's a big help." Elyon was genuinely amazed they'd gladly let a customer into the staff room, reckoning Samantha had a procedure of her own as well.

The crew member ushered Elyon to the back with no issues. They let him in the resting compartment for the staff members and it sure was vacant.

"Wait just a moment. I'll call Samantha for you." He said and Elyon politely nodded.

His eyes wander around the enclosed chamber, neatly clean and organized as spotless as it can get. The place compromises a set of rectangular tables in the middle, a desk on the left side, and stools gathered on the right next to a wardrobe and drawers for containing documents.

The deafening silence bore Elyon as if time had stopped, but a sudden footstep and opening of the door resounds; the girl who arranged their fateful encounter and confrontation had arrived.

"Ah... You're the girl who set a table here for me? It's a mistake if you thought I'm am a distant relative of yours. I'm a random freeloader but I appreciate-"

As Elyon sets the stool he grabbed from below, he unexpectedly restrained the nerves all over him when the ballpoint pen placed on the desk flew towards his face in a blink of an eye.

His next step should blind him from the incoming projectiles faster than the speed of sound, though the Bearer of Psychic Insight halted the pen, for she has her agenda on taking over the lead.

"Cease your tomfoolery, Elyon Maverick! You cannot hide your identity, not your location. The punishment is what you deserve for killing an innocent child and her mother!" Samantha retorted, blaming Elyon for the spreading grief in their world.

The sharp objects shattered debris, knives, cutter, and a blade that are hidden in the storages, racks, trash bins all synchronously hovered in the air aiming around Elyon's head.

One wrong move and he'd disappear without a trace.

He had never seen how psychic ability works. He's tripping that inanimate object floats around with the hymn of Samantha's hands commanding the very spell of supernatural sovereignty.

However, he retained his act and heightened his senses. Elyon can't let the adversary's threat bring him down begging for his life when he clearly has the upper hand circling his palm.

After all, human intention isn't meant to kill. He's taking advantage of goodwill Samantha still left alit within her.

"So you must be a Fantasm then? Guess my fate has finally come?" Elyon acted just the way he should do if he's cornered, disappointment drew over his face.

"What... You aren't here to target me or anything?" Samantha stepped back and lowered the floating object she's controlling through her mind a little bit.

"It's what I expected. The punishment should put me out of the cold even though my crime is self-defense. I just thought I'd exist the same way I did for the last time." Elyon never indicated hostility or resentment. He just sat on the stool acting as if he's pondering over the life decisions that led him to that point.

"You are aware I can instantly kill you right now right?" She compelled him to tell the truth, but Elyon stayed his ground and never faltered for a second.

"Right... Please bring me painless death. It's the last wish I yearn before my fateful demise." Elyon raised his hands, a sharp object slit the skin on his lower wrist; he steeled his resolve and did not convulse, readying himself for the inevitable end.

The moment Samantha hesitated decapacitating his neck, she had already taken the bait.

"So you are a man who naturally would accept death... Then tell me; what is your Fantasm Ability?" Samantha gripped her hands as the hovering sharp objects came closer, coercing him to answer whether he like it or not.

"I can see exactly when a person will die. Though the time is displayed in seconds so kinda have to convert it." Elyon merely offered honesty. He's bringing everything he has out to get on his enemy's side.

He knew he conquered a do or die dilemma when the floating objects flew back to where they belonged, except one of the halted ballpoint pen midways was about to pierce his left eye.

The maiden of psychic insight personally held the pen, slightly scraping the point to his neck and marking a cross on his nape.

"I'm Samantha Madden... So Elyon, how will you fare if I urge you to sign a contract between you and me? The reward should be your life, and the latter advantage is basically our survival. But I'm telling you now that you can't say no as I'm assessing whether decisions you take are of the truest than forced."

The Bearer of Psychic Insight leaves him no options, but the assertion she presents is the opportunity he was aiming for from the start.

"I'll gladly sign anything if you choose to spare me, of course. Whatever impact comes is the result of the consequences I should have considered. It's too late to turn around and retract my choice."

As Elyon demonstrated his resolve and lack of fear to her, Samantha flicked her fingers and did strange hands gestures, to which a paper from the storage box landed on the table, and the ballpoint pen magically wrote an entire contract right on the spot stating their allegiance and agreement.

"Sign that paper. Prove your worth." She handed out another pen using her mind, Elyon had taken the lead.

"Alright..." At the lower left of the document is his name, and he stamped his signature right above it thinking he already did his part.

Little did he realize, Elyon signed the contract of the devil; for the contract of the Psychic Insight cannot be changed.