After Cater's gang finally left the basketball court, the tension slowly drained from the neighborhood.
Tom and Lucy walked in silence for a while, their footsteps echoing along the quiet Hilo City streets. Lucy seemed relaxed again, but Tom's mind was still active.
Not on his phone.
Not on any device.
On the signals themselves.
Tom didn't need screens anymore. Technology answered him directly — like invisible waves he could sense and shape with thought alone.
Earlier, when Cater confronted them, Tom hadn't touched his phone at all. While pretending to stretch, he simply focused.
He felt the phones nearby.
The wireless networks.
Cameras watching the court.
And then he slipped into Cater's device using nothing but his mind.
A silent digital whisper.
A message forming inside Cater's phone:
YOU ARE BEING WATCHED.
Cater spun instantly, searching for the sender.
But Tom had already looked away.
Just another guy standing beside Lucy.
Invisible.
Lucy glanced at him now. "You're quiet."
Tom shrugged. "Just tired."
They turned onto her street, warm house lights glowing ahead. Everything felt normal again.
Safe.
Lucy unlocked her gate. "You really didn't need to walk me home."
Tom shook his head. "I wanted to make sure you got back safe."
She smiled. "See? Nothing happened."
Tom scanned the area instinctively, sensing nearby devices — home cameras, car systems, Wi-Fi routers.
No threats.
No watchers.
"She's safe," he thought.
Lucy waved and went inside, closing the gate.
Tom waited outside for a moment longer, just to be sure.
Then he turned and walked away.
Halfway down the street, a strange pressure brushed against his mind.
Like someone knocking on a digital door.
Tom stopped.
Somewhere in the city, Cater was trying to trace whoever invaded his system.
Trying to follow the signal.
But Tom had already erased his trail.
He smirked slightly.
Cater didn't know.
And that made Tom more dangerous than Cater realized.
Tom walked into the night, unseen currents of technology flowing around him.
The game had started.
And Cater was already losing.
The next morning, Tom sat alone in his room, eyes closed, breathing slowly.
To anyone else, it looked like he was sleeping. But inside his mind, he was fully awake, moving through streams of data flowing across the city.
Phones lit up like fireflies in his awareness. Traffic cameras blinked. Satellite feeds shifted overhead. Messages traveled through towers in invisible waves.
And Tom followed them all.
He tracked Cater's gang through their devices, watching locations change, conversations pass, movements repeat. Every careless text, every call, every social media check-in exposed them.
Then, a knock at the door snapped his focus.
Tom opened his eyes.
Voices echoed from the hallway.
Their landlord.
And his aunt, Nana
"…rent has been overdue," the landlord was saying. "I really need payment today."
Tom frowned. He hadn't realized they were behind again.
Nana sounded apologetic. "Please, give us more time. I promise—"
Tom sighed quietly and focused.
He didn't touch his phone.
He simply reached out mentally, finding the landlord's payment system, the banking network, the transaction portals humming through servers.
A few silent commands later, money transferred.
Instant.
In the hallway, the landlord suddenly gasped.
"Oh! I—I'm sorry," she stammered. "The payment just came through. Full rent paid. My mistake."
Anunas sounded confused. "Paid? Already?"
"Yes, yes… apologies for disturbing you."
Footsteps retreated.
Tom leaned back, relieved.
Problem solved.
Later that afternoon, he went to Lucy's place to check on her. She opened the door with a bright smile, clearly excited to see him.
They talked for a long time about school, random gossip, and small things that almost made life feel normal again.
Then Lucy asked, "You're coming to the party tonight, right?"
Tom hesitated. "Not sure."
She pouted. "Go for me at least. I don't want to show up alone."
After a moment, Tom nodded. "Fine. I'll go."
That night, music pounded through the crowded house party. Lights flashed while people danced and shouted over the noise.
Tom wasn't enjoying himself.
His eyes stayed locked on Cater across the room.
Watching.
Analyzing.
Cater eventually noticed and walked over.
"What's your problem?" he snapped. "You got an issue with me?"
Tension rose instantly. Daniel and his friends quickly stepped between them, dragging Tom outside before things escalated.
Outside, Daniel rounded on him. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why start trouble?"
Tom hesitated, then finally spoke.
"Amy's death… Cater's people were behind it."
Daniel froze.
Shock flickered across his face, then hardened into frustration.
"Listen to yourself," Daniel snapped. "If you know what's good for you, forget it. She's gone, Tom. Move on."
Tom's fists clenched. "How can you say that?"
They nearly fought before Daniel shouted, voice cracking, "I'm trying to protect you! Cater is dangerous. You don't mess with people like him."
Silence hung between them.
Then Daniel turned and walked away, leaving Tom alone outside.
After a long moment, Tom stared at the glowing party windows.
Then he made his decision.
He turned back and walked inside.
The night was far from over.