DEATH PLAYBACK

CHAPTER 5: THE BINDING

The warehouse door clicked shut behind them. Total darkness lasted for half a second, then the lights came on. Bright, harsh fluorescent lights that made Jaxon squint.

He could see everything now. The warehouse was empty except for three chairs in the middle. Two with his ex-wife and daughter tied to them. The third empty. Waiting for him.

The blonde woman was standing in front of them, smiling. Morrison and Miller were behind Jaxon, guns pointed at his back.

"Don't hurt them," Jaxon said. His voice was hoarse. "They have nothing to do with this."

"Of course they don't," the woman said. She walked around the chairs, slow, casual, like she was admiring a painting. "But they're very useful, aren't they? I knew you'd behave if they were here. You always were soft, Jaxon. That's why Marcus died. That's why you lost everything. You care too much."

Jaxon froze. "How do you know about Marcus?"

The woman laughed. A soft, musical sound. "I know everything about you, Jaxon Reid. I've been watching you for a long time. Waiting for you to get the system. Waiting for you to survive the binding. Most people die, you know. Their brains can't handle it. They explode. Or go insane. But you? You're strong. You survived. That's why I need you."

She stopped in front of him, less than a foot away. She smelled like expensive perfume.

"My name is Victoria," she said. "And I'm going to take that system out of your head. And then I'm going to use it to become God."

Jaxon stared at her. "You're insane."

"Maybe," Victoria said, smiling. "But I'm right. Now. Kneel."

Behind him, Morrison pushed the barrel of his gun into Jaxon's back. "You heard her. Kneel."

【HEY JAXON. REMEMBER THAT REWARD YOU GOT FOR SURVIVING UNTIL TOMORROW? THE +10 STRENGTH AND +10 AGILITY?】

"Yeah?" Jaxon thought.

【YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE THAT NOW.】

【NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: ADRENALINE BURST】

【EFFECT: 30 SECONDS OF SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH AND SPEED】

【COOLDOWN: 24 HOURS】

【WARNING: YOU WILL FEEL LIKE s**t AFTERWARDS. LIKE REALLY SHIT.】

Jaxon smiled.

"What are you smiling about?" Victoria said. She looked confused for the first time.

"Nothing," Jaxon said. "Just thinking about how much I'm going to enjoy this."

He moved.

It was like the world slowed down. He could see every detail. The drop of rain rolling down Morrison's cheek. Miller's finger tightening on the trigger. The gun coming up.

Jaxon spun around before Morrison could react. He grabbed the gun out of Morrison's hand, twisted his arm, and heard a sickening c***k. Morrison screamed.

Miller fired. The bullet went right past Jaxon's ear, so close he could feel the wind. Jaxon punched him in the face. Hard. Miller went down like a sack of potatoes.

Thirty seconds. He had thirty seconds.

He turned to Victoria.

She was standing there, not even scared. Just smiling.

"Nice," she said. "Very nice. I knew you were special."

She reached into her jacket and pulled out a gun.

Jaxon ran. He grabbed Lily first, ripped the ropes off her. Then his ex-wife.

"Run," he said. "Go out the back. I'll meet you there."

His ex-wife didn't argue. She grabbed Lily and ran.

Jaxon turned back to Victoria.

She was gone.

The thirty seconds ran out. Jaxon's legs gave out. He collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. Every muscle in his body was screaming. He felt like he was going to throw up.

【TOLD YOU YOU'D FEEL LIKE s**t. TOLD YOU. BUT HEY! WE SURVIVED! AND WE SAVED YOUR FAMILY! THAT'S A WIN!】

【NEW MISSION: GET THE f**k OUT OF HERE BEFORE MORE BAD GUYS SHOW UP】

【REWARD: NOT DYING.】

Jaxon dragged himself to his feet. He grabbed the gun Morrison had dropped. He looked around the warehouse. Victoria was gone. Morrison and Miller were unconscious on the floor.

He ran out the back door. His ex-wife and daughter were waiting by the car, huddled under a overhang, out of the rain.

Lily ran to him and hugged him tight. "Daddy," she said, crying.

"I got you," Jaxon said. He picked her up. "I got you. You're safe now."

He put her in the back seat of the car. His ex-wife got in the front.

"Where are we going?" she said. She was shaking.

"Somewhere safe," Jaxon said. He started the car. "Somewhere no one will find us."

He pulled out of the alley. He looked in the rearview mirror.

No one was following them. Not yet.

But he knew. Victoria wasn't done. She'd be back.

And next time, she wouldn't come alone.

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