NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 7: Metro Subway
We stroll down the street, hand in hand, the rhythmic sound of our footsteps blending with the distant hum of the city.
The air is crisp, carrying the faint aroma of coffee and blooming flowers from a nearby shop.
But between us—an awkward silence lingers.
I open my mouth, about to say something, anything to break the quiet—
But she beats me to it.
"The date was amazing," Lizell says, her voice light yet sincere. She glances at me, her hazel eyes shimmering under the streetlights. "Unexpectedly… it might be the best one yet."
She pauses, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.
"Especially this new side of you—I didn't know you had it in you."
Her words hang in the air, laced with curiosity and something else I can't quite place.
I smirk, slipping my free hand into my pocket. "Just trying some new things… didn't know they'd work out this well."
Lizell tilts her head, amusement dancing in her hazel eyes. "Or maybe…" she muses, her voice soft yet pointed. "Something happened that changed you."
Her words linger in the cool evening air, wrapping around me like an unspoken challenge.
I glance at her, watching as she studies me—searching for something beneath the surface, something I'm not sure I want her to find.
I let out a quiet chuckle, shifting my gaze forward. "Maybe."
Because, deep down, I know she's right.
"I think you deserve a reward," Lizell says, her voice carrying a playful edge. "Close your eyes."
I hesitate for a moment before doing as she says.
My mind races. Is she going to do it?
My heartbeat quickens. She's going to kiss me?
Panic settles in my chest.
I need to stop this.
If she kisses me now, I might—No. I will—develop feelings for her.
God, please help me.
Anyone. Please.
"Hey, you two lovebirds over there!"
A loud voice cuts through the moment like a blade.
My eyes snap open to see an unfamiliar woman standing a few feet away, draped in a bohemian-style shawl, a deck of tarot cards in her hands. Her dark eyes gleam with curiosity.
"Want me to read your fate?" she calls out.
I blink. Then, I turn to Lizell—who is now fuming red, her expression a mix of embarrassment and frustration.
I exhale, relief washing over me like a tidal wave.
Saved.
"Come, come closer," the unknown woman beckons, her voice carrying a mysterious allure.
Lizell and I exchange glances before cautiously stepping toward her small setup—a table draped in deep violet cloth, a shimmering crystal orb resting at its center.
"Put your hand on the orb first, lady," she instructs.
Lizell hesitates, curiosity flickering in her hazel eyes. Then, slowly, she reaches out, pressing her palm against the cool, glassy surface. The orb shimmers faintly, swirling with a soft, ethereal glow.
The fortune-teller's eyes narrow slightly as she leans in. Then, in a low, deliberate voice, she speaks:
"A person will come into your life… and ruin your relationship. You must avoid them at all costs."
A chill runs down my spine.
Lizell's fingers twitch against the orb, her expression shifting from intrigue to unease.
"What…?" she murmurs.
The woman simply leans back, offering no further explanation.
Surprised by the eerie accuracy of the prediction, I feel an odd weight settle in my chest.
[System]: She's on point (ʘᗩʘ')
"Now I'm curious… what's my fate?"
The fortune teller's gaze lingers on me, as if peering through me rather than at me.
"You're next, boy."
I press my hand to the orb, hoping—no, expecting—something. A vision, a warning, anything to hint at what lies ahead.
.
.
.
Nothing.
The woman withdraws her hand, offering no prophecy, no cryptic words. Just an empty silence that settles deep in my chest.
"That's it?" I mutter under my breath, but she has already shifted her attention elsewhere.
I exhale, shaking off the unease, and turn to Lizell.
.
.
.
.
I escort her to a taxi, holding the door open as she steps in.
"Get home safe," I say, offering a small wave.
She hesitates, her hazel eyes flickering with something unreadable. Then, with a soft smile, she nods.
"You too."
The taxi pulls away, disappearing into the night.
I linger for a moment, waiting for… something. Some delayed revelation, a whisper of fate I had missed.
But nothing happens.
I scoff under my breath. I guess my fate is still the same.
Hands stuffed in my pockets, I turn and make my way to the Metro subway.
9:29 PM.
Right on time.
As I step closer to the entrance, a faint crackle fills the air.
Then—
"Swoosh. Crack. Ziiiiiing."
The air shreds open.
A bluish portal bursts into existence, warping the space around it. A glowing ring of swirling energy, its surface rippling like molten silver, crackling with erratic arcs of light.
A pulse of raw, unseen force washes over the station. The temperature drops.
And then—chaos.
People panic. Some stumble backward, eyes wide with terror. Others fumble for their phones, frantically calling the Raider's Agency.
The scent of ozone fills the air, but beneath it—a whisper of something darker. A chill that has nothing to do with the temperature.
A foreboding presence that should send shivers down my spine.
The scent of ozone thickens, sharp and electric. But beneath it—something darker.
A presence unseen yet felt, pressing against my skin like phantom fingertips. The air isn't just cold—it's drained.
A weight settles in my chest, a silent warning to turn back.
It should terrify me.
But instead…
All I feel is excitement.
The thrill of the unknown.
The anticipation of stepping into a world beyond the one I've only ever seen through a screen.
My blood pumps. My heartbeat quickens.
I take a step forward.
"Kid!" A gruff voice calls out, urgent. "Don't go near that thing! It's dangerous! Leave it to the professionals!"
I glance over to see an old man, his face lined with concern, his hand reaching toward me.
But his words are already lost to the wind.
Because I've already made up my mind.
I stride forward. The moment my fingertips touch the swirling energy—
I vanish.
The world around me blurs, bends, shatters.
And as I step through the unknown, only one thought solidifies in my mind—
Clearing this dungeon will change the course of fate.
Death is not an option.