- Advent Of Time

BONG.

Hyunji opened her eyes.

The clock was gone, the presence had disappeared. Maybe it had been a dream? No, it couldn't have been.

She heard gasping. Glancing over, she saw Cassandra kneeling on the ground, holding her chest.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

The grandfather clock was gone, but Hyunji could still hear the seconds clicking by in her head. Like a timer.

Cassandra looked up at her, fury burning in her eyes. "What…what was that? I couldn't move…I couldn't breathe. What did you do to me?"

"I didn't do anything," Hyunji said defensively.

Cassandra pointed. "There. You were there just a second ago. You disappeared for a moment and now you're behind me. Teleportation? Where did you learn it?"

Hyunji shook her head. "You're losing your mind, Cass. Now, are we finished?"

Tick. Tick. Tick.

"No! No we aren't finished. You're still bound by those handcuffs. I'm taking you with me and we're going to find your brother. And I'm going to get my money."

Hyunji looked down at the bar clamped around her wrists. Then she began to pull. "You think I'm bound?"

The bar snapped in half.

"You won't be getting anywhere near my brother," she said, shaking the blood back into her hands.

Tick. Tick.

Hyunji felt uneasy. Time was running out.

Cassandra flexed her hands. "I didn't want to do this, Hyunji. But…I will destroy you. Not kill you, I could never. But I will break every bone in your body if I have to."

Hyunji cocked her head. "Really? Let's see what you've got."

Tick.

Cassandra stood from the ground and ran, a swarm of metal following close behind her, pulled by her silver hands.

Hyunji raised her fists, ready to fight.

Bong!

The world around her slowed down, but Hyunji felt faster than ever.

Charging forward, she began pushing through the slow moving metal projectiles.

Cassandra still moved, clearly struggling against the slow moving time around her.

Hyunji kicked her in the legs, once, twice, three times. Then, she let loose a barrage of punches on Cassandra's face, until blood began to spew from her nose and mouth, floating slowly to the ground.

Her mentor collapsed in real time, gasping for air. Her blood splattered on the ground as she groaned in pain.

A serrated knife clattered next to Hyunji's foot. She bent and picked it up.

Cassandra pushed herself away. "Get away from me, you fucking demon. Get away!"

Stepping over Cassandra's back, Hyunji grabbed her by the hair and pulled her face up. Putting her lips next to Cassandra's ear, Hyunji whispered: "You fucked with me. You lost. You betrayed my trust and gave me scars I'll bear for the rest of my life. Now, here's one in return."

Cassandra screamed as Hyunji pulled the knife across her cheek, through her eye, to the top of her hairline. The skin separated, revealing the bloody red flesh underneath.

Hyunji stood, letting the bloody knife fall to the ground. "Enjoy, Cass. I'm going to find my brother."

She stepped away from the scene. The figures that had resided in the shadows were gone now. Hyunji turned to the Consortium. The building had thankfully remained untouched throughout the battle. If any damages had occurred, they would've paid dearly, Hyunji knew.

The boy, she remembered. He had run off. Was he still alive? It didn't matter. Her use for him had passed.

Hyunji began limping through the streets. She had won, but her body felt defeated. The screws were still puncturing her skin, and her head pounded from the hits she had taken.

But none of that mattered. It was over. And she was going home.