Ch 23: It’s you. Isn’t it?

Ace opened his eyes to a black void.

In the absence of both light and matter, it was a deep, vacuous existence.

Like space, it stretched beyond infinity, carrying both its emptiness and tranquillity.

Though vast and overwhelming, here, Ace felt a sense of peace. Peace that he couldn’t attain when confined in flesh and bones.

“Welcome back,” The voice was sonorous, infinite like the void.

Another weird dream. What was his name again? Lazer broth or something, and his yapping about the end of the world.

“Am I…dead?”

“Death is but a transition, a miniature cog in the system’s cycle.”

Yeah whatever, man. No need to get so philosophical.

“You did experience death. But if you are referring to the death of your vessel, no, you are not dead.”

After being skewered in the head, I died, but I’m not dead?

“So why am I here?”

“Why ask when it is you who wished to enter?”

I wished to enter? I mean, I like space, and this place is kinda like space.

“I don’t remember making such a wish. Besides, you’re making no sense. Am I dead or not? There’s no way I could’ve survived that.”

“You’ve been cursed—a binding curse, anchoring you in the fourth dimension. Not long from now, you will wake up once again on the same day. As you repeat the days, the curse will drain all your aether, killing you in the process.”

Curse? I feel like everything, even coming to this world in the first place, was a curse.

“Can it be cured?”

“Well, it is possible.”

“And? You going to tell me how to save my life or not, Laser broth?”

“It’s Lazeroth, and it would be in your best interest to remember such a dignified name, you insolent mortal.”

“Yeah, whatever you say, magical voice that speaks in my dreams. Damn man, schizophrenia ain‘t no joke. Might have to get that shit checked.”

“You must not tell a soul.” The voice intensified, the infinite black void itself quaking as he spoke. “If you dare try, I will take matters into my own hands."

Ace felt the depths of his soul tremor from the threat.

Don’t tell anyone about the voice in my head. Yup. Got it.

“You have two more days until your aether runs dry.

The person who inflicted the curse must also be anchored in time and somewhere close by. Under the bindings of the curse, they can’t outright kill you.

Find them. Kill them. Before the curse kills you.

Good Luck, star-crossed mortal.”

                                                                          ***

A plain wooden ceiling.

Ace sat up, the stiff springs pressing into his behind and the white linen spilling onto the cold hardwood floor. He ran his hands around his head where the rustic, dull shears had pierced.

I’m alive. Without even a scratch left on my skin.

The warm sunlight was breaking through the gaps in the curtains. Morning had come once again, which meant that everything after it was coming, too.

With a new chance, the experience of the two previous loops, and now Lazeroth’s words of advice, Ace gathered his thoughts.

Two more days till the curse kills me. That means two more chances to find and kill the person who inflicted it.

Lazeroth said that they must also be looping in time and close by. Should I be searching for someone who’s been acting differently each loop? Who would have a reason to kill me?

Under the bindings of the curse, they can’t they can’t outright kill me.

That makes this a game of hide and seek. But they’re hiding in plain sight.

They can’t outright kill me. That means it can’t be Dr Hemlok.

The other large clue? The hint from the artifact—Be Wary Of The Liar.

So they must be a liar and close by, huh?

Hiro, Mira, Oden, Shell, Snow.

It could be any of them. I know the Syndicate is cautious. It’s very possible they wanted me disposed of, just as Hiro said. Oden seems more like the obvious choice, strictly upholding the Syndicate’s chain of order. Was it him?

But if it was, wouldn’t he have cursed Hiro? Why was Hiro not cursed like I was? Come to think of it, he was acting out of character after I brought it up with him.

He abandoned me. Shaking in fear as he ran out of the Tavern, in such a rush that he dropped his prized artifact that he always kept with him.

I thought that despite everything, fighting alongside each other over the past few weeks, we had become good friends. Yet when I brought it up with him, he dodged my questions, disappearing without a second thought—leaving me to slowly rot and die.

That’s it. It matches it; he’s been lying to me from the very beginning.

It's Hiro.

                                                                                    ***

“PLEASE HELP ME!”

“Where’s the doctor? My son, he’s gonna die!” she screamed, her voice filled with desperation.

Curious, Hiro crouched down to inspect the child. Without saying a word, Hiro’s eyebrows shot up, his gaze turning into a wide-eyed stare, interrupted by another person entering the room.

“I’m here, let’s have a look,” Mira said, her brown boots tapping against the wooden floorboards.

“You? Doctor? Are you kidding me?” Hiro said mockingly, but Mira paid no attention to his comment.

“He keeps having visions! PLEASE! Surely, as a member of the Phoenix Spearhead, you can help him? You know special magic, don’t you?”

“First of all, I need you to calm down. What did the other doctors say? Tell me all his symptoms.”

“Visions. He k-keeps having visions. Visions of d-death. All the other doctors they…” The woman stammered, her breaths quick and shallow. “T-they’re dead.”

Mira turned toward Ace and Hiro. “Thankfully, it doesn’t seem like Scourgenesis, but I can’t talk to her when she’s in a state of panic. I’m going to ask you two to give us some privacy.”

Ace nodded, while Hiro shot him a sideways glance. Walking past, words were whispered into Ace’s ear.

“The Pinewood Tavern, 7 pm.”

                                                                                  ***

The Phoenix Cradle - Central

The cacophony of voices scratched at his ears.

Walking through the khaki doorway, a woman with black hair extended her arm in front of him, holding a black card with a red, star-like symbol.

“Excuse me, sir would you like-“

“I’ll pass.” Ace sidestepped, a sudden breeze fluffing his cloak as he entered.

“If you change your mind, the old clocktower awaits.” She said, her voice blurring into the sea of hearty laughter and crackling conversation swirling around the room.

The heavy scent of booze rushed up Ace’s nose as his eyes scanned the tavern. Sitting right in front of the bartender, he saw someone he recognised, wearing his signature black and neon green trench coat.

Ace planted onto the stool next to him.

“Two Bocari Sweets, please,” Hiro said, gesturing to the bartender.

The bald, muscular man juggled the glasses before setting them down on the table with a clink.

“I didn’t expect you to be on time,” Hiro said, raising his cup.

“So what did you want to talk about?”

“That kid from this morning, he’s dead.”

Ace furrowed his brows as he drifted into thought.

“Didn’t we see him literally this morning?”

“There was no aether in his eyes. Soulless. All humans have aether flowing through them. It’s a miracle he was still standing this morning. Mira must’ve known that, but…that’s the strange thing. She didn’t say anything.”

Hiro reached into his left pocket, breathing a small sigh as he pulled out an empty box. Patting down his trench coat, he found another pack in a hidden zip on his right side. He pulled out two cigarettes—one for him and one for Ace.

As Hiro handed the cigarette, he motioned Ace to come closer, his voice fading to a whisper.

“I did some snooping around in the Syndicate’s database. Apparently, the kid’s father is some bigshot; his entire profile is classified. Not only that, but all previous doctors they’ve seen have died within three days, reporting the same symptoms. Being trapped in the same day over and over, before finally dying.”

Swirling the drink in his cup, Ace watched intently as the liquid sloshed around. Putting the cigarette to his lips, he nodded agreeingly to everything Hiro said.

“Hey, enough of this depressing mood,” Hiro said, patting Ace on his back. "Do you wanna take a look around the night markets?”

“Actually, there’s this place I’ve been wanting to check out. An old clock tower. It’s not too far, only a short walk.”

The pair stepped outside under the dark sky, yellow streetlights guiding their path.

Right now, Mira should be in the markets following Dr Hemlok. Without me and Hiro there, she should have no problem tailing him. That means that she can deal with him and I won't have to.

The old clock tower is deserted, Hiro will be distracted as he walks around, and that’s when I can strike—a bullet to the back of the head. Quick and easy.

Oden will show up soon after. After killing Hiro, I can explain everything to him. And worst-case scenario, if things go wrong, he’ll be able to clean up the mess.

It's a perfect plan. While I don’t know who to trust, this way, I’ll be able to see if anyone acts strangely—even using the locations and actions of people to my advantage. Knowing the future was a crazy, powerful ability.

                                                                              ***

The Phoenix Cradle — South Hill

“What are you waiting for? Scared?” Hiro said, with his usual grin.

“Ladies first,” Ace replied, giving Hiro a playful push.

Pressing against the splintered wooden door, it murmured as it creaked open, warning the pair to turn back around. The air was stale, striking the pair with an oppressive sense of loneliness. Bare and dark—the rooms were nothing but fractured walls and creaking floorboards, yet strangely, the layers of dust were unsettled.

Hiro stepped forward, causing the brittle floorboards to whimper with each step.

“I’m surprised you wanted to check out such a creepy place.” Hiro said, inspecting the hollow and worn wooden walls.

Suddenly, he felt the cold press of a gun’s barrel to the back of his head.

“It’s you. Isn’t it?”