Countdown to Nothing

[Countdown: Two days left.]

"Let's start the action!

"Mission reminder: Take down the runaway head in the sand city, codenamed 'the Ghost'."

I was on edge.

I knew one wrong move could mean big trouble.

So far, Liam and his team were doing well, deep behind enemy lines.

However, out of nowhere, I got this really bad feeling.

Zzzt—

A sharp electrical noise filled the room, and suddenly, it was pitch black.

"She's here.

"Liam still has no idea that the Nightingale is his fiancee."

Someone held me down so tightly that I could barely breathe.

A high-pitched laugh echoed in the darkness.

"Will he save his fiancee or his girlfriend? This is going to be interesting!"

My vision went black before a bright light flashed.

[Countdown: One day left.]

I was completely cut off from Liam and the others.

In the stormy, sandy ruins of Sand City, they were stuck.

"How did they find the Nightingale?"

I had kept my identity a secret, never letting anyone know. Not even Liam.

No one thought I would get caught.

When I woke up, my head was spinning.

Through the burlap sack, I heard a weak cry.

"Let me go! Please...

"If you touch me, Liam will make you pay!"

It was Wendy, who had stubbornly come along!

They had given me some kind of shot, and I could not speak.

However, Wendy was not gagged.

Just then, the door burst open.

"It's the Ghost!" Liam sounded hurt.

A strong hand gripped my shoulder, and the Ghost laughed cruelly. "At last, you're here. You've kept my dilemma waiting too long.

"Liam, who will you choose?

“Your sweetheart, or your teammate, the Nightingale?

The Ghost's men had us surrounded.

Through the cameras, I could see Liam's eyes were red with fury.

Wendy was crying hard, screaming for help.

The hand on my shoulder was crushing me, and the pain was unbearable. However, I could not scream.

Liam held his gun tight, frozen and unable to decide.

The Ghost made the choice for him.

Wendy lay on the ground, her clothes torn apart. Marks from Liam's kisses were littered on her skin.

"Stop!" Liam's voice thundered.

"I choose her!"

The Ghost grinned wickedly, commanding Liam to shoot me.

I saw him shaking.

"I brought her here. It's my duty to look after her."

It sounded like he was explaining, but also begging.

"Nightingale, you understand.

"This is my final mission. Once it's done, we're no longer teammates."

The Ghost pressed him, growing impatient.

With the pressure mounting, Liam's hand moved, and the trigger was pulled.

At that moment, the Ghost's laughter echoed wildly.

He ripped the sack from my head and seized my hair.

"Look at what you've chosen, Liam."

His eyes widened in shock, and he screamed in disbelief, "No!"

While screams filled the air, a clear electronic voice announced: [The countdown is over.]

[Exiting the world...]