Endless Vertex

"Sync. I wonder who he is? He must be an incredibly cool and handsome man."

"I know your jealous Atlas. Number 1 on Dexter Billboard! It would be an honour to meet him!" Hugh balled his fist in excitement.

A ray of sunlight spilled into the room. The warm ball of flame in the sky has risen from its sleep.

"It's already the second day huh. Oh shoot! I'm late for my job!" Atlas ran for the elevator. Before leaving, he eyed Hugh as he wore his ocean-blue earphones, "Don't even ask about my job. Mind your own business."

"Finally, I've lined up for one hour already!" With trembling arms, a plump man with barely visible eyes drooled greedily as he reached towards the steaming hot truffle cheese hotdog. A gust of air whizzed pass him and he felt a soft nudge on his palm.

"No! My sausage is gone! It was the last one." The plump man knelt down, yelling in anguish. Passersby threw the man who was clenching something between his legs weird looks and picked up their pace.

"Wait what? It transformed to 100 RMB." He took a deep breath of the cash that has replaced the sausage. A little comfort for an empty stomach. Munching on the juicy hotdog he'd just traded for, Atlas weaved through the passerby on the street, taking rhythmic steps while bobbing his head, hastily enclosing on his destination. Upon his arrival, a gentle-looking girl in a pink boat-neck dress was already waiting under the shades of a saucer magnolia tree. Ravish magnolia petals perched atop her finger tips.

Beautiful face. Check. Amiable presence. Check. No drooling or signs of stains. Atlas wiped his face. Check. He was good to go.

"Pardon me. Are you Miss Kristine?" Atlas bowed like a gentle man, asking politely. A good first impression is key to...

"Sorry. I think you've got the wrong person." She smiled apologetically, "My Uber has just arrived. So..."

"Oh, em, yeah." Stuttering awkwardly, Atlas watched as she entered a Honda car that just arrived.

"Don't even think about asking her number. It'll be an useless attempt." The driver lowered his dark green cap, showing a meek grin, a scarlet dot under his lip.

"Yew hew! Handsome!" A deep, female voice traveled from a distant away. A gigantic meatball 'rolled' towards Atlas, thick nasty makeup smeared all over its dumpling like face. "I'm Kristine." She displayed a interested look, fanning her hand sloppily, Blinking in slow motion, her fake eyelash reminded Atlas of sea urchin shell.

"What the father..." Atlas's face twitched, peering left and right. He recalled the photo of Kristine. This was like an after and before comparison of a major plastic surgery. Did she mutate? Did she have a break up or something? People do stress eat, but this massive weight gain right here was destroying his mind.


Something wasn't right. The timing was too exact. His instincts told him. Also, Kristine's eyes are clear caramel brown. This blob's aren't. He backed off with caution.

Something is definitely off.

"Having a nice day Kristine Summer?"

"Yes, pretty cool weather today." She stared out the window with boredom, answering in a calm tone, "Perfect for daylight kidnapping right?"

The unassuming young man licked his lip. "I am genuinely sympathetic. Being raised in your family is a blessing, at the same time, a curse. You're strong. Others may be crying and whining in your situation. Aren't you scared?"

"Can't say I'm not. Gotta take risks."

"Risks?"

Bam! Rubber screeched like chalk on a board. The mobile shifted one hundred eighty degrees at incredibly high speed, slamming down a Stop sign before maneuvering into the road's side henge, flipping midair as it capsized into a bush. A spine-chilling footprint was imprinted onto the door of the driver's seat. The driver has stopped breathing, streams of blood flowing out his mouth and nose from internal organ damage. Pale hue hovered over Kristine, shielding her from the sharp shards of glass that could have left a mark on her delicate skin.

"Always wear a seatbelt. Saves your life." A blue wire dangled outside the window and Atlas's head popped out upside down in Kristine's vision, a mischievous smirk hanged from his cheeks despite the unsightly wreck and repulsive body of the kidnapper.