Swifi, a city just like any other in Kinerik. Though not a hub of information and tech like Hermisa, the capital city of Kinerik, Swifi still stood as one of the largest cities in Kinerik, resting at the central base of the tropical sides of the southern continent of Kinerik. And as such, the city was almost constantly abuzz with rapid footsteps and rushing as blurred streaks raced back and forth to work, home, and everywhere in between. The days its citizens were a silent haze seemed to pass almost as quickly as their fast legs. Passing by quietly and uneventfully.
But in the silence, there were spots, crevasses, and corners that moved slowly. Too slowly for the fast pace of anyone else to perceive, except for those who could not run and had nowhere to go.
Rushina made her way through what seemed to be a labyrinth of corners and alleyways. Taking one quiet step at a time, unsure of where she was going. Her surroundings having long dissolved into unfamiliar sights and scenes, she continued her trek down, following the strange man ahead of her with an even stranger limiter.
Through the open streets, they could still hear the rapid movements of Kinerikan footsteps as they raced past. But around the corner, peering through hidden lenses, were eyes hidden away in the darker corner that no one in Kinerik slows down long enough to notice.
They continued walking for hours, but to Kinerikan it might as well have felt like days, a steady, agonizing, painful, slow pace.
"Where in Kinerik are you taking me?" she yelled, wondering why she was even following the strange man.
"Be patient. You lived almost your entire life restricted, moving slowly in a world that just moves too fast for you to keep up. You'll have to bear moving at a slow pace if you want a chance at true freedom," said the man.
Rushina, having heard the man's words, paused for a moment before looking down at her limiter. Seeing the single digit still beeping.
A heavy sigh then left her lips as she continued the trek forward.
The man led her through a final alleyway where a single door lay at the end of the alley.
Rushina looked at the door ahead and felt a chill go down her spine.
The man then made his way to do with her, though hesitant, following from behind. Then, with a single knock from the man, it opened with an eerie exuding off it.
The man then stepped in, gesturing to her to follow.
Rushina just looked ahead, seeing nothing but darkness ahead. A lump then formed in her throat as she internally questioned herself.
'This is crazy. I mean, a strange man with a strange limiter just walks up to me, saying he could make me faster before landing here at this mysterious door in a shady side of town.
She looked at the door. Fear gripped hard on her heart.
'No, I can't do this. This is all just too crazy.'
She thought about leaving, just turning around and darting away, but then she looked down at her limiter.
Even if she ran, where exactly would she be running to? Her crummy job and apartment, to a family that wanted nothing to do with her.
She had nowhere to go.
She wasn't fast enough to have a life worth running back to.
She then raised her head. Staring in the open door and the darkness within it.
It was a gamble, and she knew once she stepped in, there was no going back, but then again…
She took in a deep breath and then stepped in.
…what was the point when she didn't really have anywhere to go?
She made her way through the dark hall that had just enough light inside for the walls to be faintly visible. Walking the straight path, she eventually found some light piercing through the darkness from up ahead.
Following it, she made her way into what appeared to be a small room, and in the center was a desk with a man who had a pair of goggles resting on his forehead, and right next to him was the strange man who led her there.
The googled man also had a strange limiter around his wrist, which flashed an X instead of a number, just like the strange man.
The googled man flashed a smile upon seeing Rushina.
"Welcome," he spoke with an almost juvenile tone in his voice.
"You can call me Breaker. And believe I fixed your little speed problem." His smile widened into a chilling grin.
Rushina felt a cold sweat fall upon her brow as she thought to herself.
'Just what on Kinerik have you gotten yourself into, Rushina?'