Chapter 3: THE OUTSIDER

"I don’t care if they beat you up, stitched you up, locked you up, or tucked you into bed and kissed your forehead, lil’ bro. I just need two hundred and fifty bucks."

I laughed weakly. Not because it was funny. Because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

The music got louder for a second and somebody shouted her name.

"Look, I’ve gotta go. Man up. Call the cops, I dunno. Just fix things."

The line went dead.

I kept the phone pressed against my ear for another few seconds before letting it slip from my hand and fall onto the carpet beside me. Somewhere across town, my sister was dancing, drinking, and having the time of her life with money I’d spent months scraping together for her. Meanwhile I was lying in a pool of my own blood, and the only thing she’d been worried about was whether the next payment was going to be late.

The dam didn’t just break; it vanished. Eighteen years of "please" and "thank you," eighteen years of working double shifts so my sister’s deadbeat husband could drink my paycheck, eighteen years of being the shoulder to cry on while I starved in the dark... it was all a lie. Being "good" hadn’t protected me. It had just made me a more convenient target.

Why the hell was I even alive? To keep feeding my sister’s useless husband? To exist as a fucking doormat for everyone else? I had nothing. No one. I was done.

A bright purple light suddenly flared behind me, near the couch.

I was too fucked up to turn my head.

Then I felt a soft, warm hand rest on my bloody shoulder. Someone leaned over me from behind. A woman. Her face appeared upside down above mine, long black hair cascading down like a dark waterfall. She was stunning, pale skin, glowing purple-pink eyes, and a small, playful smile.

She lowered her head and slowly licked a streak of blood from my cheek. Her tongue was warm and wet against my skin.

With an almost innocent, cute expression, she closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the taste.

"Chance Brooks," she purred, her voice like velvet and sin. "You and I... are gonna have so much fun."

Then everything went dark.

I passed out.

❤︎‬‪‪❤︎‬‪‪❤︎

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MAIN MENU

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NAME: Chance Brooks

LVL: 1 [0/100]

RANK: -

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[ CORE STATS ]

> CHA: 1

> END: 1

> PER: 1

> LCK: 1

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[ ENERGY ]

> LUST : 100/100

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[ ACTIVE PERKS ]

> [The Outsider]

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SIN POINTS: 0

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I opened my eyes, but everything was still a blur. Fuck, my head was killing me. Where was I? Every time I tried to focus, the headache grew worse. I was lying on the rough wooden floor, staring at something white.

Then it hit me. The dog owner... that fucking bastard.

With a loud groan, I forced myself up, using the couch as support. My blood was smeared everywhere. The door was still half-open, letting cold morning air rush inside.

"Ugh..."

The first light of dawn was filtering through the window. I stumbled forward and tried to close the door, but it was off its hinges and wouldn’t shut properly. I had to put my full weight against it until I heard a weak click. It still felt loose, but it would have to do for now.

"Ah, god..." I muttered, collapsing onto the couch. "Fuck..."

That’s when I remembered the cat. I quickly lifted the couch, worried I might have crushed her underneath. She wasn’t there. Good. She probably ran off. Staying away from me was the smartest thing she could’ve done.

"W-why is this door open?" a voice said from the hallway.

Grimacing in pain, I pulled the broken door back. My upstairs neighbor, Sarah Angi, was standing there.

She was a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties with an incredibly sexy, curvy figure. Her waitress uniform hugged her full breasts and wide hips, the white shirt slightly strained over her chest. Long wavy chestnut hair, full lips, and warm hazel eyes completed the package. Even in her work clothes, she looked hot.

"Oh my god," she gasped. "Chance? What the hell happened?"

I shook my head. "It’s..."

Then I saw it. A glowing blue box floating above her head.

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TARGET DETECTED

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NAME: Sarah Angi

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[ RELATIONSHIP ]

> Partner: [Hubert]

> Loyalty: 80% [Stable]

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[SYSTEM SYNC]

> Favor: 0%

> Threat: None

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> [ ! ] GRIEVANCE LOG

(Focus to Expand)

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"I..." I muttered. "Is that... a box?"

Sarah looked where I was pointing. "What box?"

She couldn’t see it.

"Nothing... I’m just messed up right now," I mumbled.

"What happened?" She asked, already pulling out her phone. "I’m gonna dial 911."

"No, no." I weakly raised my hand. "It’s fine... I’m good..."

"What do you mean good?" She peeked inside. "NO! Is that your blood on the ground? You’re bleeding everywhere!"

"I’m good..." I muttered, leaning on the couch. "You shouldn’t be late for work."

"But..."

"I’m good," I repeated, forcing a small smile. "Really."

The box was... telling me to do something? I focused on the Grievance Log. Another box immediately appeared.

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GRIEVANCE LOG

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Target: Sarah Angi

Subject: Husband

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> Forgets Anniversary

> Poor Hygiene

> Ignores her at dinner

> Dismisses her Feelings

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I knew Hubert was an asshole, but this was on another level. How the hell did this thing know all of that? Then a new window popped up.

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SYSTEM TUTORIAL

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TOPIC: THE WEDGE

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1. IDENTIFY [LOG]

Scan the target to see

what the partner lacks.

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2. FILL THE VOID

Perform actions that

address those specific

grievances.

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3. THE RESULT

Each "exploit" drains

LOYALTY and converts

it into FAVOR.

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[ ! ] REMEMBER:

Loyalty is the wall.

Favor is the door.

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"Come on," Sarah said, stepping inside. "We’re going to see a doctor."

I chuckled, then winced as pain shot through my ribs. "It’s funny how you think I have enough money to see a doctor."

"Doesn’t matter," she insisted, gently grabbing my arm. "Move, Chance."

"Ugh... okay... you’re right."

❤︎‬‪‪❤︎‬‪‪❤︎