17. Run 2

In a secluded area almost a perfect spot for every sniper, the young assassin gave a grin the moment he missed his target. He pulled the CHEYTAC M200 Intervention sniper once again.

Bang!

The bullet traveled right behind Clara's ear like a speeding bug then the bullet plunged through the floor instantly. The sniper didn't wait, he fired his bullet the second time. Luckily for Clara she sat down just as the bullet was about to hit her.

"F**k … I missed" The sniper angrily punched the wall. " Because of that insolent boy, I killed another guy. "

Benjamin watched the bullet holes on the ground that were meant to hit him. He squatted near the walls and touched the textures with his fingers. Then he traced the direction of the bullets, peeking through the window he saw that tall building near the park. As he continued looking, the assassin had left his current position moving downstairs.

Just a few minutes ago Clara and Benjamin were feeling relieved. They thought all their problems were finally over and everything was just going to be normal and Just before they could plan on how to live their lives, fate brought another problem on them.

Clara glanced at the unmoving body of the shop owner once again. Unbelievable that the body used to be lively and strong just a few seconds ago, but now there's just a huge dent up in his scalp while blood gushed from the empty dark hole. She kept on gazing at the dead body, almost similar to how her parents died. Blood was oozing from him like waterfall.

" Clara! We have to leave!!" Benjamin tapped, but Clara was not responding to what she just heard from Benjamin she was busy thinking.

She had watched five people die brutally just within this week. She felt like her mind might break down. Until when will the people she ever loved keep on dying?

Clara kept on staring at it.

" Clara!" Benjamin shoke her this time " we can't stay here!"

" Huh " She realized she had been standing there a lot more than she could tell. " What is happening?" She looked around.

"Let's leave!" Benjamin pulled her through the back exit and to their disappointment the sky had already turned mauve.

"What?" Yelled Benjamin.

They had been at the shop when it was noon. And it has been several hours since they got here and it is almost seven!

" It's night already! Since when did this happen?" Clara wondered.

They walked around, the noise was long gone. Nobody was around the park and the only thing left was the breezing of the wind and their own breaths.

" Hello, are you there? Benjamin held his head hoping to hear the inhuman voice he heard back then but heard nothing. It was all silent inside his mind.

" Come on. I need you."

[So now that you need me is exactly when you are in trouble? Well sort that one on your own. ]

And ofcorse it was part of Co-nian's plan, he wanted Benjamin to feel more useless without him and that was exactly what he was doing.

Clara locked eyes with Benjamin who was busy trying to talk to himself. "What has gotten into you? I am right here and suddenly you are talking to someone inside your head? I expected much from you. My apologies" She snapped.

" Hello! Listen to me you parasite?" He said pacing back and forth holding his head.

Benjamin was trying to activate the "system" so at least the "system" could just show him a way out of this but He had talked to Co-nian on several occasions but never got a response. " I guess I have to do this all by myself then"

As they were about to walk to the streets, they heard large footsteps coming their way.

Without any thinking they rushed out passing the back door, then straight through the park that led to the woods. The wind breeze made their eyes watery while they ran through the woods. With each step they took, behind them was a guy following them and he didn't run. Instead he was just walking but his walk was as fast as they were. The only option left for them was to hide somewhere so the he will pass them.

"Is he gone?" Clara asked when they hid behind a tree.

"Shhhhhh, He is here " Benjamin covered her mouth.

While the man passed them, there was something Benjamin noticed, it was that same guy that shot his leg. " I will kill that monster!" He raised his Hands trying to punch him in the back but a sudden voice stopped him.

[You can't fight him. Just hide]

Hearing this, he sat there glaring at the man. In his mind he was biting his nose off.

" Fenty, any Good news. I hope by now you are done with your mission." a voice sounded inside Fenty's ears.

" No sir, I underestimated those two a bit to much. But do not worry sir, I will bring them back " Fenty scratched his head.

" I don't have time, just finish the mission quickly. I have another mission for you. You will be traveling off world to a new realm. Hurry up." He ended the call.

They remained mute untill Fenty left before they made their way out then making sure their every step landed on a surface that wouldn't produce sounds, they began sprinting again but this time they have come far too deep inside the woods they didn't know where they were heading to.

As it went on, Benjamin started thinking until eventually he recalled the good times he used to swim with Vanessa around the Siren Kingdom. Deep down Benjamin missed her every second that passed. And every time he looked at Clara, she always reminded him of her and for a moment Benjamin thought it was Vanessa.

His mind did a number on him without him knowing. He was starting to recall moments he had with Vanessa, the funny moments, the most stupid moments, all her jokes, their romanc… He stopped.

Her favorite joke was about one guy who got dumped on his wedding night and at the same time got kidnapped to Turkey, but when he escaped his wife was pregnant with her seventh baby.

Benjamin laughed remembering the happy moments of his life but what he didn't know was, all his happiness was always accompanied with disaster.

"It's a bridge! Be careful" Clara's voice echoed behind him. He almost forgotten he was in the middle of the woods. "Benjamin get your eyes on the bridge!" She yelled the second time. It was then Benjamin snapped into real life.

It was a thin woody bridge that had been covered in the fogs that kept on evaporating from the river.

They went on but as they stepped on the bridge, they heard creaks, but then that was expected. Then they continued along, the wood seemed to be making slight noises on every step they took. Suddenly a rail to their right snapped, then the boards beneath their feet gave way, emitting angry cracking noises.

They slide down boards into the huge opening below. The crack was wide and Everytime Benjamin tried to avoid going into the water, his struggle widened the opening even more, making them splash into the water.

Once they were in the river, Fear gnawed at Clara compelling her to panic and began thrashing her body. She was warped in an awkward posture; her torso was arched forward, and her limbs were flowing backward.

She started gazing straight up, although she couldn't register anything because her sight were blurred by the water, She did her best by screaming hard while some of the water rushed inside her mouth.

"I can't swim!!" The later part managed to get out of her mouth. "I can't." She got pulled inside. "I can't swim!!!"

The fall had ended both of them at different locations due to the strong pull in the river. Benjamin had been able to swim almost reaching the land but when he turned around he saw Clara drowning!

"I can't swim!!" Benjamin heard an echo of her scream coming just not far ahead.

He looked again but couldn't register anything in his sight. It was suddenly dark everywhere.

He had no choice but to do the last thing he wanted to do.

"System! I need you"

[Say the magic words]

"What magic words? Gush why are so annoying!"

[ I won't help you unless you let me do this all by myself]

"what are you suggesting?" asked Benjamin.

[let me take control]

After deep thinking he decided to let the system take control. " Fine take over"

After the had said those words everything darkened then his body twisted a bit then the eyes opened again.

[ I am out again!] A big grin appeared on Conan's face.

"Get your ass ready and save my friend." For the first time in the History of systems. The host was now couching.

[I thought you were gone Benjamin]

"I am. Just that I can see everything you are seeing. Don't ruin my body" Benjamin replied in the dark space.

[Okay but I don't think it will last longer because I am finally going to be the Trigon…] He paused. [ I mean the Beast!]

He dipped his head under the cold flowing river. He opened his mouth wide and pulled in water into his lungs. When his body had received enough water the blood within his veins raced faster. Blood came rushing into his abdomen making arbs appear on his green skin. As the transformation continued, the once-human features of the boy became almost unrecognizable.

After the first phase of the transformation, the second part was just pain

He screamed as Scales begun to appear across his chest, like shimmering armor that reflected light back into the darkness. Then he tore through his own body then his limbs elongated into powerful claws, strong enough to break bones or rend flesh with ease. Sleek fins sprouted within his forearms like a duck.

The bones within his feet started coiling around causing him to scream even more. The feet lengthened and widened, revealing another set of fins that run the length of his calves.

After having a clear view, he dashed his way towards her. A good 5 meters turned to mere centimeters in seconds.

Co-nian was able to detect the current condition of Clara.

She was dying in the water.

Conian swam near her instantly but he couldn't hear her heart beating. Co-nian took her on his shoulders and brought her back to the land.

The wind howled around the beautiful trees as the beautiful moon glimmered in the dark knight. Co-nian had tried all his best to save her before her heart suddenly stopped running. All his actions so far contributed nothing to her safety.

She had sunk into the water for almost 5 minutes. Co-nian was afraid her chest would crash right in front of him if he tried to force her chest to give out the water. Because his hands were now on the next level.

Co-nian was stuck it this point.

[Hello Benjamin, Need a little help."

Benjamin was about to fall captive to the big darkness that sounded him but a voice called him.

" Wait you need my help. Thought you are the system. Almighty, all-knowing, all wisdom?"

[I am not all-knowing. Just help me..or I will do everything myself.]

" If you could why did you call me in the first place?" Benjamin replied.

While Co-nian's was busy talking with Benjamin in his mind, he forgot Clara was even lying there almost dying.

The fighting continued.

"I don't even know why you call yourself a system"

"Better accept it kid"

Strangely, the water content inside her lungs started coming out on its own, her difficulty in breathing stopped. As well as the pain she felt in her body.

Lying there of unknown amount of time, Clara eyes finally swung opened.

"Monster!!"

She screamed at the sight of a six feet figure that enveloped above her.

***

Fenty on the surface somehow managed to stand on the other end of the broken bridge. He noticed movement in the river and stood there waiting for the boy or the girl to come out but what he saw made him sweat buckets. The creature he saw was the same that killed his clone.

"Sir, I think the boy and the creature have something to do in common." He reported immediately.

"I am sorry what?"

" Yes boss," Fenty responded

" Report back and begin with your next mission. I will talk with Mr Damian and see if we can join forces to find that boy."