"I don't understand Gramps... What's happening?" I ask with a trembling chin. My grandfather gives me a sad look but just shakes his head and hangs it low.. blocking me out. I look back to the man in charge, pleading with my eyes but he only gives me a cruel smile. "Please.." I beg in a small voice but no one seems to care.
The other man with red hair hands the small black box to the older man in charge. When he opens it, he smiles with triumph. "Wrap things up boys...oh and about the girl, show the poor dear some mercy." With that, the older man turns around and leaves me alone with the other men remaining in the house.
I'm shaking all over as the man holding me pulls me up to my feet. He makes me stand in front of my Grandfather as he places a heavy gun in my hand. He keeps his much larger hand over mine while staying in perfect control of the gun. "This is how it will happen... You were sick of your dear old Gramps always nagging and keeping you from doing the things you wanted to do, so you snap and kill him."
I begin sobbing as I beg him over and over. "Please... Please just take what you want.. we won't say anything.. we won't say anything I promise, Please!" I'm crying so hard I can hardly see. I try with all my might to pull my hand away from the man but he's just too strong. I was left pointing at the only person I had left in this world... The one man who loved me more than himself.
"Maya.. my sweet Maya... It's okay my dear. I am old... I'm tired. This isn't your fault.. it's.." BANG!! the gun in my hand goes off hitting him right in the chest as I scream. I pull with everything I have but this time, the man lets me go. I reach out and catch my Grandfather as he falls forward. "No, no, no... please no... I'm so, so sorry. Please, Gramps.. please."
I beg him with everything in me but he can no longer say anything. Blood was now pouring out of his chest and his mouth as he gasps for air. The sound will forever haunt my dreams...
"What are you doing up?" Chip asks as he pops up on the glass of the fish tank in front of me. Chip's voice instantly pulls me out of my horrible dreams. I turn to look at him and give him a strained smile.
He knew why... he monitors everything about me. Chip is an AI I created when I got out of jail. I had nothing and no one so after sleeping at airports and saunas, I started collecting trash for petty money. I then used that money to use computers at internet cafes. There, I did the first bad thing... I hacked into my first Judge's bank account and wiped it clean.
I instantly had over a hundred grand in my hands. I quickly bounced the money around from one account to another before putting it into a safe account. That very night, I rented a nice hotel room and began my plans. The only reason I did that to my first Judge was that he was bought by the very men that killed my grandfather. So if anything... he got off light.
I went to prison for ten years before my case was handed over to someone new and when reviewed.. nothing held. I was out and a free woman but the damage was already done. I can't say it was all bad.. I met all kinds of different people and the women in there were street smart.. something I was not.
I got my ass kicked more times than I can count but each time I grew a little stronger.. a little smarter.. and a little faster. Before long, I was able to hold my own. Now, I have Chip and my own home.. hidden from the outside world. All while sitting on a pile of wealth. Well, not really but I do have more money than I know what to do with so I end up donating to some of the local orphanages and food banks.
The rest of the money is kept for tools and weapons. I need to survive in this new world that I now live in... and I need to take down the scum living in this world. I still haven't found the ones responsible for my Grandfather's death, but when I do.. they'll wish they had killed me that night as well.
Leaving me alive was the worst mistake they could have made. I turn to the kitchen to grab something to drink "Chip.. pull up today's news and have you finished what I asked you to do last night?" Chip appears on my fridge and says "Yes, the report is on your laptop." Soon after, the news begins to play as I enjoy my orange juice.