"I-Is there something wrong?" Second is puzzled.
"Don't trust him."
She frowned for a moment as she stared into the eyes of the cashier man in front of her.
"Please listen to me."
She can hear First's voice, but this man's deep stare prevailed in her eyes. Gradually, his eyes turned dark red, which further grabbed her attention, and she continued to stare. Why are his eyes like this? Why is he so close to her? What is he doing?
"Second, get out of that store, now."
H-Huh?
She blinked for a moment.
"Do you need anything?" asked the cashier because she was already stunned that she could not take her eyes off him.
The man in front of her grinned. She is confused about how he behaved. She was surprised when he touched her chin with his left hand, and then he smirked. Now that they're this close, she recognizes his good-looking facial attributes.
"Listen to me, Second. That guy is dangerous! Now, get out of there!"
Did she hear that right? First shouted at her?
"Don't listen to him, listen to me, is that clear?" the cashier remarked in a voice that seemed captivating.
She neither agreed nor nodded. He brought his face even closer to hers. He smells good, and she could feel the warmth of his breath. When she blinked, she jolted when she slapped him without realizing it. She knows she didn't do that willingly. What does that mean? She thought of only one possibility. Is First already controlling her? However, if there is only an enemy attack that First will be able to control her. The cashier's eyes widened after what she did to him. She was about to apologize when...
"Second, run! That guy is Zarod!" First warned her.
When she heard what First said... she came back to her senses.
Z-Zarod? In front of me, the cashier? Whaaa!
That's what her mind is screaming for, but they kept staring at each other. Their faces parted as he rubbed his left cheek that she had slapped—that First had slapped. He grinned for a moment and laughed demonically. She's had goosebumps. What's with this guy? She needs to get out of here! She doesn't even know how First could have revealed he was Zarod, but getting herself out of here is a good idea to be sure. She got up from sitting and started running. She pulled the handle of the glass door, but... it is locked!
"You can't get out of here. You might die from freezing outside. Why not stay here for the night?" the cashier suggested mischievously.
"Get me out of here!" she tried to pull the door one more time, but she was just wasting her time and energy. What are they going to do?
He slowly approached her, so she backed away. As she stepped backward, she got cornered. He wrapped her in his arms and brought his face close to hers again.
I-I'm scared.
He gives off a vibe that someone shouldn't mess with him.
First, where are you?
This can be considered as an enemy attack, so First could have controlled her.
"You're Heavien, right?"
She did not answer him, and she avoided his scrutinizing gaze.
"Haha, your partner isn't answering you?"
She clenched her fist. "Pathetic"
He knows who she is, and he also knows about the game. Is he an accomplice of Author? She just noticed that, since her memories came back, she feels like she's getting weak. Is this because this is the real her in the real world? She shouldn't have fully relied on First, but to be left behind by her partner is a bad feeling.
"Just… shut up," she murmured nervously. She still can't look at him directly, but she knows he's staring at her.
"Why won't my charm work on you?" He sounds irritated. "Tch, what a nuisance," his tone is now twisted.
Second raised her head and stared into his deep, bright red eyes, which were fascinating. She has never seen eyes like that until now.
"Why are your eyes like that?" She averted her eyes in a flash.
"What do you want?" She found the courage to compose herself.
"First, where are you?" she secretly called the other line with a soft whisper in the air, but she heard nothing. She's just entertaining this cashier, Zarod, to buy some time.
He glared at her. "When I stare at someone, after seeing my deadly eyes, they are supposed to die."
"H-Huh?" She was about to stare at him, but what he just said stupefied her. "What do you want from me?!"
Why does this man want to kill her by staring at her with his transformed eyes?
He's really frustrating, but First is even more frustrating! Is this not yet a sign of an enemy attack? If First communicates with her, why can't he control her as the character in-game?
"Y-You're going to die before you do that to me. Since you're already here at least, I'll finish you to finish this game," she stated boldly.
If this guy really is Zarod as First claimed earlier, then he is a murderer. She needs to protect herself or else…
"You're challenging me, huh? All right, I'll give it to you," he smirked. He removed her confinement in his arms and closed his eyes for a moment.
She was stunned and confused at the same time when the cashier got a little smaller. He became only five inches taller than her, because a while ago he was about fifteen inches taller than her. His appearance and physique changed. From a mature face and body, he became younger. His eyes became even redder staring at her. He completely turned into someone else!
"How-"
"The one you talked to earlier, I killed him. He's the real staff here. I have the ability to imitate the look of someone I killed. And you're next," he smirked with a murderous look in his eyes. He's wrong because she's not going to die!
He looks smaller now, but still taller than her. The real cashier man… He imitated his face and body, looked like he was in his late 20s, and his real appearance seemed like he was just her age.