Jason finds himself surrounded by books in a small corner of the library. It wasn't hard to find a small nook away from everyone. The library might be half full but from its size he found a place perfect for some solitude. A small worn out grey couch torn on the edges was squished between two columns of shelves. Each was filled with city newspapers and historical materials dating back to its founding.
He doesn't care for it much and dives into the books he has.
He grabbed 10 books in total, some to read now and some tomorrow. His journal sits next to him to jot down notes and follow the memorization tricks he's studied. He decided that following them continuously would let him improve it up even faster.
He has about 4 more hours before he needs to head home and with his current reading speed that only allows him to read under 2 books.
'Fuck that. Lets just read 4 and I can re-read them later.'
Time drifts.
The first book: an introduction into hacking. It had little to do with actual programming. The chapters had more to do with levels of security and forms of 'hacking'; social engineering, data mining, and using programs to overload security programs. The information he gets from it is slightly dissapointing. He was hoping to hear something more like the movies. It was just painfully realistic. It even has a whole chapter dedicated to ethical hacking. Jason makes a mental note to get another book on programming, but for now that would do.
The second book: Persuasion and Communication. The first half of the book was a lot of theory. It was how the brain is persuaded, different concepts of bias and cognitive dissonance. The second half is where he really starts seeing actionable tips. Chapters dedicated on how to communicate in a way to be likeable, how to communicate different ideas and get them accepted. Finally how to persuade others to your side of view. Ethical techniques to unethical.
The third book: Beginners guide to self defense. It was so many pictures he was able to read through it twice. Jason picked this book to test whether the system can change his body aswell to fit the skill. He already plans to start excercising along with this book but he is interested in seeing how effective the system is at shifting it.
The fourth book: Beginning Programming, 7 books in one. He couldn't even get close to finishing. 800 pages. So many programming languages. So much. This book drained Jason in a way the others couldn't come close to. The hacking one got him almost tired, but this one would kill him.
Jason slowly stands up. The life drained from his face. He would get through it tomorrow, but today.. anything but that today. Programming is too much right now, his brain hurts and his ego was deflated. He couldn't even imagine when he starts going through mathematics what that would do to him. He begged that the system would lump it all together so he didn't have to study that one too hard.
The library had gotten even more packed with the influx of students from neighboring schools. His steps slow down as he takes in all the people. So many people. For a moment he imagines what his life would have been like if he was as studious as them, maybe his parent's would have listened to him. He sighs. Everything reminds him of them.
As he leaves he looks for Vivian. Hoping he might redeem himself, but she is no where to be seen. He would run into her again, if not tomorrow, soon.
Jason walks home in silence. Thoughts of his family and the system running through his mind. He makes it home right after them as if he never skipped school. Kyle and Ana don't mention anything. Jason sighs in relief glad that Carry was able to protect him. 'I should find a way to thank her.' He thinks to himself
Jason spends the rest of the afternoon relaxing. Watching TV and talking with his sister and brother. They do their best not to make it known they are happy with the subtle changes Jason is making, but he can tell. They smile more, laugh more and for once a hole inside him fills just lightly. He wonders if it really is this easy to change your life. Even without the system maybe trying actually gets you somewhere. Sure he could be lazy and just wait and let time pass and the system would give it to him, but actually trying and fighting; It's showing him there is more to life.
His family is right beside him. Carry is too and he even met someone today. He is so grateful that things are different and they will continue to be different.
Jason, Kyle and Ana all sit together on their small couch in their small living room. Making the best of a terrible situation. They continue to fight slowly but surely. A movie to end a long day seems perfect for them.
Ana picks of course. She usually does. They love the movies she picks out even if they are a little childish. By the time they set everything up and get the popcorn ready; they are all bundled up.
It is 8'oclock.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
There is a knock at the door.
The laughter stops. The smiles fade.
It's too late for it to be solicitor. Too late for any package that none of them ordered.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
The knock is louder. Kyle gets up first and Jason guides Ana to her room. She protests at first, but the fear in Jason's eyes urges her on. "Please Ana."
Ana locks the door and Jason grabs a knife. All he learned from the self defense book was to aim for weak points, groin, juggular, eyes, ears and throat. He hopes that will help.
Kyle looks back at him. "Stay right there." Kyle makes sure the door is latched and locked. He doesn't open it. Peaking through the rusted peep hole. Kyle can't see through it.
"Who is there?" He calls out to them.
A resounding laugh is heard through the wall.
"Kyle, I thought we were on better terms than that. Who else would it be?" The gruff voice was familiar. Jason hadn't heard it in so long.
He sets the knife down. Why were they panicking? They had already paid and they still had a week.
"Uncle Tony? Is that you? It's been years!" Kyle said.
They both hear their uncle sigh," Yeah just got back to the states. I'm sorry it took me so long even after.." He pauses, his voice getting soft. "I never wanted to stop seeing you guys and I wanted to come back but business was bad."
Kyle looks down, Jason can't imagine the thoughts running through his head. They hadn't seen their uncle in a long time. Their Dad never told them why he went away, just said something about business but they remember all the good times they shared when he was still here.
But Kyle. He was so much closer to him then Jason and Ana were. Jason and Ana were little kids but Kyle was almost a teenager. Kyle was really close to his uncle back then.
"Yeah, I really missed you uncle." Kyle leans closer to the door.
"I missed you too kid and as much as I love the drama of talking from this hallway. Could you let me in so we can catch up? Hard to have a real reunion through a door." Tony laughs again.
Jason moves away from the kitchen counter, closer to the door and Kyle begins to unlatch it.
The door swings open to their uncle's smiling face. His eyes barely open from the wide grin. For a second they take him in. He seems like a light in a real dark tunnel. He was the only other family they knew and suddenly he's back after so much pain. Kyle and Jason both move closer to go for a hug. Their arms outstretched toward him.
"Grab them."
Before they can register what is going on. Two other men with suits outside of the door frame flow into the apartment and pin Kyle and Jason down to the ground. Jason feels his knees bruise as they smack the floor. Any hope and nostalgia leaving his eyes and heart. All he can feel now is the rough sting of the carpet against his face.
Jason tries to pull his face up to look at his uncle before the man ontop of him pushes his face down again.
"Hey now. That's my nephew let's not be too rough. He is family after all." Tony's condescending tone is clear in every word but the man still lets up.
Jason looks into his uncle's eyes, seething in anger.
A scar hangs right above Tony's left eye. He looked so much like their father it almost made Jason want to cry. His soft amber eyes and speckled beard. His emerald green pinstripped suit gives him the energy of an old school gangster and that's exactly what he is. He sports a solid gold cane and a signet ring with an engraved T on it's surface. Jason doesn't remember him like this. Nothing about him seems the same.
"I won't bother looking for poor little Ana-"
"What the fuck do you want!?" Kyle barks out before being slammed to the ground.
"Kyle, is that how you talk to family," Tony lifts Kyle's chin up with his cane, "but i'll indulge in your question. Money of course. It's always about money."
Tony paces around the room looking over everything. His eyes filled with disgust at everything they owned. "Pathetic. This is how your father, sorry, my older brother decided to spend his life. All because of some low life woman."
"Don't you talk about our mother!" Kyle shouts again.
BAM!
Tony smacks Kyle in the face with his cane without hesitation.
Ana screams in the other room from the sound. She is shivering in fear and confusion at everything unfolding. She was too young to remember Tony but the stories she heard weren't like this. 'Jason. Kyle. Please be safe. Don't do anything stupid please.' She whispers to herself.
"I'm getting impatient with your groans. Just listen." Tony demands.
"I am here for money. Your father borrowed from us. You are slowly, very slowly paying it back and I want you to know why. I am not as patient as my father, nor as forgiving. You have had a year to slowly pay us back. A year!" Each word Tony's cool facade fades, replaced with an unyielding anger.
"You will have a year to pay back the rest. How much was it again?" He chuckles. "500,000 dollars?"
Jason's mouth drops. They can't pay that back. They don't have that much. It couldn't have been that much. Experimental surgeries or not Jason knows thats a lie. Kyle rustles around trying to fight, but no matter how built he is. He doesn't compare to them.
"You fucking liar, it wasn't that much." Kyle says.
"Call it interest, my vocal nephew."
"What happens if we can't pay?" Jason asks. He knows what happened to his parents. He can't have that happen again. He can't burry more of his family.
Tony feins shock and looks at him.
"Now aren't you asking the right questions. Simple. We will sell you. Human trafficking, drug mules.." A twisted grin spreads across his face. "Prostitution."
Jason's stomach lurches.
"You son of a bitch!" Kyle shouts again.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
"HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES DO I HAVE TO WARN YOU!" Tony wails into Kyle with his cane. His mouth and face spewing blood. Kyle's face swells as his blood splatters across the carpet. The bristles soaking up his blood until he passes out.
"Finally some fucking quiet." Tony sighs in satisfaction. "Disrespectful shit."
Ana bursts out of the room with tears in her eyes. Hobbling over to Kyle on the ground moving her crutches as fast as she can. Jason tries to move closer to Kyle but the man on top of him is too strong.
"Kyle!" Ana shouts as she falls to his side. The man holding Kyle now standing obediently behind Tony.
'System please, if I put in to self defense would it do any good? Just once please tell me.' HE begs
[No. You are just too weak. Things taketime.]
'I don't have fucking time!' Jason shouts in his head. He tries to fight to get closer to Kyle.
"Oh little Ana, you decided to come out. Look at all the good that surgery did for you. How does it feel to be the cause of all this pain?" Tony laughs and laughs. He looks down at Jason
"Jason, tell your brother when he is awake we will stop by in a month. You know, to check on progress of course. Remember I am not a patient man." Tony eyes his men to go. They all leave as if nothing of magnitude had just occured.
Jason rushes to clean Kyle's wounds. His face is terrible.
'Please don't die. Please.' Jason reaches for his phone and types in the first thing he can think of.
Tears well in Jason's eyes. He holds the phone to his ear.
His hands shaking with every ring and he begs silently. "Please"
"Hello?" A familiar voice softly rings in his head.
"Carry.. Please I need help. Can you please come here?"