Chapter Five: The Delivery That Never Arrives

5. After the deadline, remaining distance will be paid with the rider's lifespan. [THIRD-NIGHT SCENARIO: THE FINAL DELIVERY.] [COMPLETE OR CANCEL THE ORDER.] [ESTIMATED DISTANCE: TWENTY-THREE YEARS.] “It doesn't want delivery,” Lin Wan said. “It wants you to become the rider. Once you accept, the hospital will never get closer.” Zhou Ran put on the helmet. “If I don't, that thing outside her room will collect a relative instead.” On the rider line, he wrote MIDNIGHT ZERO PIZZERIA. He signed only as acting manager. The system hesitated, then accepted. Beyond the elevator lay a different city. Streets stretched like endless strips of black film. Every sign read THERE IS STILL TIME.