Chapter 12: Trust

Vesper walked along the dimly lit road that seemed to stretch so far, his mind a whirl of strategies and scenarios. The Abyss loomed large in his thoughts—an opportunity and a threat all at once. His recent awakening had thrust him into a world where time itself was a weapon, one he intended to wield carefully.

"If I head into the Abyss after this job, I could stay there for at least three days, maybe more," Vesper calculated, his steps slowing as he considered the implications. The Abyss was a place where time moved three times faster than in the real world, a strange and disorienting environment that offered both danger and the chance to hone his skills.

But then, a pang of guilt struck him. His brother. He couldn't afford to disappear for days on end, not with his little brother waiting at home, relying on him for everything. Vesper sighed, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. "I can't leave him for that long… I have to be back every night. I can't be out of it for a whole day."

He knew he needed a plan. "The best way is to schedule it," Vesper muttered, impressed with his own idea. "Twelve hours in the Abyss in the afternoon if I don't have work, then eighteen hours at night."

He did the math quickly in his head. "That's four hours in the afternoon here and six hours at night… yeah, that should work." The thought brought him some comfort; at least he was making progress in managing this new, chaotic part of his life.

However, as he continued walking, the uneasy feeling that had been nagging at him since he left the building returned. It was subtle at first, just a faint awareness that something wasn't right. He'd felt it when he exited the building, a sense that someone's eyes were on him. He couldn't explain how he knew, but he did—something or someone was watching him.

Vesper's instincts sharpened. He had learned to trust them, especially now that his powers had awakened. He glanced around, scanning the shadows and the few passersby, but nothing seemed out of place. Still, the feeling persisted, growing stronger with each step he took. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as the presence seemed to close in on him.

He decided to test his suspicion. Slowing his pace, he casually sat down on a nearby bench, pretending to be interested in his surroundings. He kept his posture relaxed, but his senses were on high alert, searching for any sign of danger.

As he looked straight ahead, trying to identify where the gaze was coming from, he saw nothing. The street was quiet, just the usual traffic and a few pedestrians hurrying about their business. But Vesper wasn't fooled. Something was out there, hiding in plain sight.

His eyes caught a movement in his peripheral vision, and he froze, careful not to give away that he had noticed. There, in the shadow of a building, stood a figure. The man was tall and cloaked, the hood pulled low over his face, making it difficult to see his features. The cloak covered him from head to toe, blending into the darkness.

Vesper's mind raced. "I don't know if I can take this guy on," he thought, his heart pounding in his chest. His awakening had given him power, but he wasn't foolish enough to think he was invincible. The man's presence was unsettling, not just because of the way he moved but because Vesper could sense that this wasn't an ordinary person. He couldn't risk exposing his abilities to anyone, not until he understood more about this new world he had stumbled into.

Making a quick decision, Vesper stood up, careful not to let on that he had spotted the man. He straightened his back and resumed his walk to the port, forcing himself to act as though nothing was amiss. The gaze still lingered on him, a constant pressure at the back of his mind, but he ignored it, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

As he walked, he became increasingly aware that the man was following him, and not just from a distance. The pace quickened, the man drawing closer. Vesper's muscles tensed. He reached for his phone, planning to call his manager, but before he could dial, he felt the man rush toward him. Instinct kicked in, and Vesper ducked just in time to avoid a knife aimed at his upper body.

The attacker's concealment faltered, and Vesper turned to face him, his eyes locking onto the man's face. What he saw made his blood run cold. The man's features were twisted and scarred, an ugly patchwork of old wounds that seemed to tell a story of endless violence. But it wasn't just the scars that unnerved Vesper; it was the inhuman vibe the man gave off, a sense that he was facing something far more dangerous than a common thug.

The man's shock at Vesper's swift reaction was evident, but he quickly recovered, launching a barrage of attacks. Vesper dodged as best he could, but the man was fast—too fast. Each slash and thrust came closer to hitting its mark, and Vesper knew he couldn't keep this up for long. His face paled as the attacks intensified, the man relentless in his assault.

A searing pain shot through Vesper's shoulder as the knife finally found its target. He cried out, more in surprise than in agony, as the blade barely grazed his skin. The wound wasn't deep, but it hurt—a sharp, stinging reminder that he wasn't invincible. Vesper wasn't used to pain, and he had no intention of becoming accustomed to it.

He tried to counterattack, but the man was too experienced, too skilled. Vesper anticipated the man's reaction and slowed his swing, hoping to catch him off guard. He stepped to the left, aiming a kick at the man's groin—a dirty move, but one he hoped would end the fight quickly. However, the man dodged effortlessly, his speed far surpassing that of a normal human.

"Dammit," Vesper cursed under his breath. Without activating his mark, he was just slightly above average, and that wasn't enough. He had no choice now. If he wanted to survive, he needed to tap into his newfound power.

Vesper mustered all his strength and ran, putting some distance between himself and the attacker. Then, suddenly, he stopped and turned, activating his Phantom Mark. A surge of energy coursed through him, his speed and strength increased. He dashed toward the man, his fist connecting with the man's gut with a satisfying thud. Vesper followed up with a punch to the jaw and, driven by momentum, headbutted the man with all his might.

The man stumbled but didn't go down. Vesper landed, panting, but he didn't stop. He drove a powerful punch into the man's side, using every ounce of his awakened strength. This time, the man groaned, the sound low and guttural, before collapsing onto the cold pavement.

Vesper stood over him, breathing heavily, his body trembling from the exertion. He couldn't let anyone know what had happened—maybe his manager, if not anyone. He quickly retrieved the rope his manager had given him and tied the man up as tightly as possible, ensuring there was no chance of escape.

Pulling out his phone, Vesper called his manager. "I've got a situation," he said, keeping his voice steady. "I need you to come here personally. No one else."

His manager agreed without question, and Vesper hung up, taking a moment to collect himself. He sat down on the ground, exhaustion washing over him as he waited. The fight had taken more out of him than he cared to admit, and the adrenaline was starting to wear off, leaving him feeling drained.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his manager's car pulled up. The man stepped out, his eyes widening in shock as he took in the scene—Vesper, battered and bruised, sitting on the ground with a tied-up assailant beside him.

"Hi, mister," Vesper greeted, trying to inject some humor into his voice despite his weariness.

His manager stared at him, clearly taken aback by the sight. "Vesper… what happened?" he finally managed to ask, his voice laced with concern.

Vesper gave a tired smile. "Just another day on the job, I guess," he replied, though they both knew this was far from ordinary.

Then Vesper sighed and said "I have something important to tell you, mister. But first I need to know if I could trust you." Vesper walk towards his manager.

"Why? and.." with a long pause he continued "What happened here?" 

"Just tell me first, mister. I could trust you, right?" Vesper's look in his face was ominous.

"O-of course! I've been treating you like my own ever since, didn't you know that?!" The manager was saying that with a bit of fear in his eyes. 

"I knew I could trust you, mister. So.. Mister, I am a Carrier of the Curse of the Abyss. In short I am an awakened." Vesper looked straight at the managers eyes. 

"W-what? is that why you were gone for days?" 

Vesper just nods and pulled the rope that he was holding.

"And this guy was following me ever since I left the building, I Trust you with my secret, mister. Please make sure that no one else would know about it."