"Come to me," Zed looked around, trying to find out where that voice was coming from. His eyes
were then locked to the book that was somehow still untouched by the flames. He approached it, and the voice grew louder. "Take me somewhere safe." "Who are you?" Zed asked. The book did not reveal its identity or its author, but it was clearly Ancient writing. Zed lifted the book and found out that he, too, was untouched by the flames now. Now, if only he had some place to escape the fire. "The upstairs window." Zed ran upstairs, and seconds later, he dropped from the window, startling some people. Zed then puts the book on the floor.
"What are you doing?" the Ancient book asked. Zed replied, "I don't need you anymore."
"I just saved your life. Take me somewhere safe now!" the Ancient book yelled. Zed argues
"but aren't you already safe? You're a book." The Ancient book continues to yell. "If a
large piece of wood falls on me, I'm done!" Zed lifts the book again, but this time it was
heavier, and somehow it hurt. "ow ow ow!" That's what you get for thinking stupid, chud!"
Turning away from the scene, the vice president's gaze locked onto Zed. He had escaped the fire somehow, but he carried a book. His eyes burned with desperation, refusing to look back. Someone called his name, but Zed ignored it and kept running. The vice president barked at his classmates to report to Ezio, then wasted no time before chasing Zed.
(Sometime later, a few of the students burst through the office door to Ezio, who had just finished packing up everything in the room. He ordered them to wait outside as he straightened his tie, then hurried out to hear their report. They told Ezio there had been a fire, that someone named Zed had escaped, and that the vice president was chasing him. They spoke of the floating book, too, describing everything that had taken place. Ezio quickly called his vice president, but no one picked up. He rushed past the students and exited the school to discover what was really going on.)
Arriving at the scene, Ezio noticed the fire was almost out. It was then that he noticed his phone was ringing. Ezio's hand started to shake when he saw the terror unfold. A growing number of gang members surrounded the vice president. He tried to reach out or say something, but the video was muted. Ezio didn't need to watch the rest. In a fit of sorrow and rage, his phone dropped to the floor as he began transcending into the Ancient Reaper. Darkness surrounded him, and he couldn't control it. His sorrow turned to rage, rage
building to something far more dangerous. He knew this was no illusion or dream. The Reaper was real. Suddenly, Zed called Ezio's name, causing him to revert instantly. He hadn't completely transcended, but his eyes continued glowing. It hinted at something ancient. It surprised him to find Zed still nearby. He had just lost the vice president, and now he was at a loss for words. Memories of their last conversation slowly faded, and that was a haunting reminder of who he lost. He did not know what to say, especially to someone he had once called a friend. He began clenching his fists.
"Why are you still here?" Ezio asked.
"I'm heading home right now," Zed responded.
(His fists started trembling with rage; the weight of loss was starting to become too much. With a rising voice, he began speaking about how good a friend the Vice President had been. His loyalty, his dedication, but most of all his hardworking spirit.)
Ezio continued, "This is all too sudden. I was suspicious of you, but I told him to be cautious. How could something bad happen? At least now I know it wasn't you. I knew someone like you couldn't do something so bad. I was going to find you and reap."
Before Ezio could finish, Zed turned away and ran home without another word. Ezio stood in silence for a few seconds, stuck between dimensions, unsure of what he needed to do next. With his scythe equipped, the dimensions that he held control over began to tremble. It was time for him to finish the job. He found his way to the location where the vice president had last been seen. When he arrived, he saw that the Vice President was already dead on the floor. Yet a voice called to him, close by, and as Ezio got closer, the sound became clear and unmistakable. It was the vice
president, whispering his name.
"Ezio."