When The Sandglass Stops

***When The Sandglass Stops*** tells the story of a freelance model named Irving who lives in the bustling port town of Sunbridge. After an intimate photography session with enigmatic yet attractive photographer Adrian, his life took a turn for the worse as he suddenly finds himself being pursued by a dangerous cult.

## Story

### Setting

*When The Sandglass Stops* is set in Sunbridge, a fictional port town located at the coastal areas of Kimanis, Sabah. It is a relatively new settlement with only a decade's worth of history, yet it thrives as one of the most important ports in the West Coast Division. Sunbridge has a land area of 11 square kilometres, and plans to extend its urban area further into the sea. Sunbridge is divided into four smaller areas by function: forty five percent are covered by industrial areas, twenty five by agricultural lands. The urban area, which consists of residential and commercial buildings, cover the remaining thirty, and are located in the north.

The story takes place in the year 2027.

### Plot

Irving, an accountant for a private company who moonlights as a freelance model receives a modeling job. Accepting the offer, he meets Adrian, the photographer assigned to him, and the two proceed with the photography session at Irving's studio in his apartment. Depending on the player's choices, the session may or may not develop into physical intimacy. If the two characters share an intimate moment, Adrian will stay at Irving's place. If not, Adrian will leave Irving's place.

In the morning, Irving notices a strange black mark on the upper right side of his back, which he does not remember tattooing. He also starts to feel his body becoming gradually hotter, wondering if he is sick. On the way back from the pharmacy after rationing medicinal supplies, he encounters a strange man eyeing on him from the sidewalk. He quickly walks off, enters his apartment, and locks the door, at which point the heat in his body intensifies, which prompts him to take a shower. After taking a shower, which slightly abates his body heat, he hears a knock on the door. Peering through the peephole, he is surprised and opens the door, revealing Adrian, who enters the studio. As the two about to converse, they hear someone entering through the window, which shocks Irving, claiming it is impossible. Adrian immediately tells Irving to run, claiming "The Spider" is here. He gives Irving an address on written a paper, telling him to wait for him there. Before Irving leaves, he also gives him a retractable staff. When they hear the sound of a broken window, Irving rushes out of the house.

Out of the building, Irving is ambushed by two men, one of them being the man he met earlier. As he fights them, the strange man stabs him with a knife, causing Irving to collapse. His mind is instantly brought to a dark space, but he sees a glowing light. As he reaches for the light, he feels his entire body assailed by intense heat, and he regains consciousness in the real world. As the strange man's partner approaches him, Irving raises his hand. Suddenly, the man was immolated to death, shocking Irving and the strange man. Irving and the strange man engages in battle once more, this time, he prevails and successfully causes the strange man to combust.

The heat in his body subsides and his injuries are completely healed. Irving, with fear and confusion, continues to press forward and head to the address on the note. He ventures into the darkness of the night, knowing not of what will happen to him in the future. Suddenly, hears the sound of sand, as if flowing in a sandglass.

### Characters

**Irving** -

**Adrian** -