"Blossom, I want you to get this straight," Hazel said, his voice sincere. "I don't care about anything else in this world except you. That's how it's going to be."
Blossom turned away, unable to meet his gaze, her emotions in turmoil.
"Let's move on, okay?" Hazel said, and Blossom nodded without looking at him, still lost in thought about the hug.
As darkness began to fall, Hazel said, "We need to find a place to sleep before it gets completely dark."
"There should be a hotel close by. It's probably empty," Blossom suggested.
"Ahhhhhhh!" A scream pierced the night air.
"Someone needs help! Where is it coming from?" Hazel exclaimed, his urgency clear.
"It's coming from that building over there," Blossom pointed.
Surprisingly, the building was Hazel's old school, the place he had attended before his heart disease confined him to the hospital. He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the cry for help. His memories of school weren't good, except for his friend Oscar, who had visited him in the hospital until his parents forbade it.
As they approached the school, the screaming stopped. It seemed the person was dead.
Hazel and Blossom decided to split up to cover more ground quickly.
"They called him the strongest... I can't believe he fell for that," a voice sneered from the top of the stairs Hazel was heading towards.
He reached the landing and saw four figures laughing as a fifth person was being devoured by a large, serpent-like creature in a pit below, a pit that seemed impossible to climb out of.
"Did you do that?" Hazel asked, his anger rising, a familiar squeezing sensation in his chest.
"Who the hell is this guy?" one of the figures said.
"Did you do this?" Hazel repeated, his voice tight with fury.
"What do we care? Can't have a witness. Just throw him in with the idiot," another one said callously.
"So you did do this," Hazel stated, his tone dangerous, a mixture of grief and rage.
What seemed impossible happened. Hazel suddenly appeared in front of one of the figures and snapped his neck with brutal efficiency.
The others panicked and tried to flee, but Hazel moved with impossible speed, appearing in front of the third person and delivering the same fatal blow.
The remaining figure stammered, "Is he disappearing? How is he doing that? Is that his skill? I'll use mine when he gets close."
Hazel killed the second person, leaving only one. The last guy ran, sensing Hazel's deadly intent closing in. He clapped his hands twice, activating his skill. Time seemed to slow down drastically around him, while he moved at normal speed. He glanced back, seeing Hazel walking towards him, yet even at this slowed pace, Hazel was still gaining on him.
He's walking, yet he's this fast even when I slowed time? And he's not even using his full speed! Just how strong is this guy?
The last guy ran desperately as the slow-time effect was about to wear off. He looked back, relieved, thinking he had lost Hazel.
Suddenly, he collided with someone. The slow-time effect vanished, and to his horror, the person he had bumped into was Hazel.
Pure, unadulterated anger blazed in Hazel's eyes.
"Bro, what do you want? I'll give you anything! Please don't kill me!" the guy begged, his voice trembling.
"What did that guy do to you that you had to push him in there?" Hazel demanded, his voice a monstrous growl, his emotions a volatile mix.
"Look, we were just jealous, that's all! He was stronger and smarter, and we couldn't accept it! Please forgive me! I'll never do it again!" he pleaded, his fear palpable.
Hazel ignored his pleas and summoned his scythe.
"No, please don't kill me! Please! Someone help!" the guy screamed, but no one came.
Hazel let the scythe fall, the sharp point piercing the guy's leg. "What the fuck is your problem?!" the guy shrieked.