When I woke up, it was already the late afternoon, and when I checked my phone I saw that Ashley texted me.
Ashley: [Hey dad! I know you must be really tired, so I didn't want to wake you. I took the bus to school, but I'll be back around 4 PM. Feel free to not pick me up, I'll just take the bus. Hope you have a good day!]
I smiled looking at the text. I would try and pick her up if I had the time, but I was worried since I might be too busy dealing with Brad. I went to my laptop, and checked what he did last night. It seemed that he didn't go into the Tower, as I saw he was actually at some night club.
"My ex wife is such a stupid bitch... She's getting cheated on by the guy she thinks she is cheating on, and neither of them has a clue..."
It was good news for me, to say the least. It means he didn't improve his strength at all, so I was confident to beat him. I quickly got up, ate some food, and got into my car after eating.
I GPS'd my way Brad's house. Today was the last day he would live.
****
My name is Brad Hensley, and I'm a 44 year old guy who had a good job. I had been tired of my boring life for a long time now, ever since things with my side chick started getting annoying. At first it was just something fun, since I heard she had some money, but that was from some divorce she had. Since then the money ran out and now I was just providing for her and her shit head daughter.
Speaking of, her daughter usually had an attitude, but I normally put up with it. However things were different now.
A few days ago, I had gotten really drunk at a bar, and was stumbling home when I suddenly disappeared. I appeared in a cave the next thing I knew. I wasn't sure what was going on, but there was some little midget thing holding a big stick.
It tried to hit me with the stick, but even if I was drunk I wasn't blind. So I just avoided it, and punched the midget in the face. I realized it wasn't a human, so I just started hitting it over and over.
I didn't know exactly when, but at some point I had an epiphany.
'This.. feels good!'
So I began to hit the little monster with more fervor. It eventually died and I got sent back. There were a bunch of different message things that appeared before me, but my head hurt so much I didn't even bother reading them. So I headed home and went to bed.
The next day that bitch's daughter tried talking back to me, and this time I put her in her place. I hit her and told her next time I would actually hit her. She cried and ran out of the house.
I simply laughed, and played went out to a club. Although I was in my 40s, I was feeling real good. That night when I came back, I went to look for her mother to have a bit of fun but she was already deep asleep. When I tried touching her, she threw a huge fit which pissed me off...
It was while I walking to the couch that I had a thought...
I walked to the little bitch's room, and opened the door quietly. I peered inside, but I didn't see anyone in the room. I swung the door open completely, and confirmed she wasn't home.
"I guess she hasn't come home yet... Whatever, she doesn't have any friends and I heard she hates her useless father. When she comes home.. Maybe I'll have some fun with her."
I licked my lips at that thought.
I spent the night on the couch, and when I woke up the next day I looked through the little messages I got. It was like some computer program or something, but all I knew was that it made me faster, and I had some points to buy more strength, so I did.
I then spent the day indulging in my new found vigor, and went to the club again. I met some chick and decided to spend the night at her place. We got drunk and intertwined our bodies a few times.
By the time I woke up, and got home the next day, it was already 3 PM. I opened the door, and found the house was still quiet. It seems that little bitch still hadn't come home.
"I guess I can just fuck her mom and tell her tell her daughter to come home. Then I can fuck them both. Hehehe..." I said, feeling myself get hard.
"I was right."
I stopped in place and looked around the living room that I thought was empty.
"Who's there fucker?! This is my house, and I WILL fuck you up!"
I then heard the voice again, this time I was paying attention and walked towards the window. It was then, as I was stalking forward, that I saw a pair of shoes sticking out from under the curtains.
"I'm Ashely's dad. You really shouldn't have touched her, but even that would only really prompt a beating... But you said you were going to rape my daughter? My 16 year old daughter? No... Now you have to die."
I had gotten close enough, that I activated the new ability I had gotten from the cave, and quickly grabbed the curtains. I was ready to throw a punch, but there were just a pair of empty shoes on the ground.
"Dumb fuck."
Was the last thing I heard before I suddenly saw a giant flashing light, followed by a searing pain and a loud sound.
****
I was looking down at Brad, who's legs had been badly mangled by my lightning trap. I didn't know how much mana to put into it, but I put in 80 of my mana just in case. I felt that it was a good idea too.
[50 damage dealt.]
I didn't know how much health he had, but most likely it was only 100 as that was what I started out with. I stood up from behind the kitchen counter, where I was hiding. I had placed a speaker I found in the house, by the curtains, and put my shoes peaking out from under the curtains. I didn't think it would work that well, but he was really cocky. Who the fuck would hide behind a curtain and talk aloud?
I then picked up all the knives I could find, and walked over to the couch. Brad was collapsed on the ground, passed out from the pain, so I was just waiting for him to wake up.
****
"Ugh... What the fuck happened... I-"
*whoosh*
*squelch*
"AHHHH!"
Brad was on the ground screaming, as I had just thrown a kitchen knife into his thigh using my new skill telekinesis.
He quickly looked from the knife to me, as he just realized I was here. I looked coldly at him, as I was prepared to kill him already. I was incredibly upset from the comment he made earlier.
I knew I was right to kill him. I just didn't know it was this bad.
"W-wa-wait! I-I didn't know what I was thinking when I said those things about your daughter! I must have lost my damn mind! But think about it! You shouldn't kill me, you'll be a murderer! What will your daughter think when you get caught and go to jail! Y-you don't want to go to court again do you! What will your daughter feel!"
"Are you done rambling?" I interrupted.
This cause his expression to change, and he now wore an expression of disbelief.
"You know, if it was a few days ago... I would have listened to you... But now.."
I looked him in the eyes.
"Now I have the Tower."
I the lifted another knife with telekinesis, and shot it towards his shoulder.
*whoosh*
*squelch*
"AHHH!!! NO PLEASE NO I CAN HELP YOU!!! DO YOU WANT MY GOLD? I'LL GIVE IT ALL TO YOU! PLEASE NO!" Brad begged, crying and pissing his pants.
I simply lifted another knife.
"You should have never touched my daughter."
*whoosh*
*squelch*
*whoosh*
*squelch*
*whoosh*
*squelch*
*whoosh*
*squelch*
****
I was sitting on this couch, staring at Brad's dead corpse. I was taking a moment to fully accept what I had just done. Thankfully, I was not unaccustomed to the instantaneous feeling of guilt after killing something, but it was definitely different from the Tower.
In the Tower... I was fighting for my life, but now.. I felt like I was the monster that was doing the hunting.
As I was wrestling with my guilt, I saw something strange. Brad's dead body began to glow, and disintegrate into dust. The blood disappeared almost as if it were never there.
"I guess that solves my problem of having to clean the scene. How mysterious though, so after we die we just... Disappear from the world? That's morbid."
I was just commenting on it before I dusted off my pants and got up from the couch. I walked to the window, slid on my shoes, and walked out of the house.
I looked at the clock in the car, and thought to myself, that if I hurried I could pick up Ashley from school.
****
"This sushi is soooooo good, here Dad try this one!"
Ashley was holding a piece of sushi in front of me, and so I grabbed it with my chopsticks. I put it into my mouth and chewed slowly, enjoying the meal good food. We were at a high end sushi place, where there were seasoned sushi chefs with decades of experience, hand crafting each bite.
While I had dealt with some of my immediate cash problems, I was worried about the long run. I needed to start spending time to study technology, and improving upon them.
I would spend the next few days focusing on that, to make sure I had enough money to pay off my debts, and to take care of Ashley until she becomes independent.
I was thinking of future plans, while I controlled a small butter knife underneath the table, and watching Ashley experience a roller coaster of emotion while enjoying her food. I ordered pieces here and there, but I was mostly enjoying the tea. I didn't really drink tea before, as I was busy I drank a lot of coffee, but perhaps my old age was helping me appreciate the warm drink.
I decided to use my phone to order a tea set for my home.
"Hey, don't use your phone during dinner, didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude." Ashley said playfully.
"Okay okay, I'm sorry." I smiled, raising my hands in surrender before putting my phone back into my pocket.
While I chatted with my daughter, I failed to notice someone walking up to our table.
"Alexander?"
I was surprised lost my concentration on the butter knife, which clanked on the ground. I looked up at the person who came up to our table, and it was someone I knew.
Amelia Dunham was someone I knew from my years in college, when I was still an energetic youth who was passionate about learning and meeting new people. She was someone I had a bit of a thing with. However it never worked out, because in the end I fell for my ex wife, someone from the same class as us.
We then naturally drifted apart because I was spending all my time with my ex, and she was still pursuing her dreams of being an artist.
"Amelia." I replied, smiling lightly. The feeling of nostalgia was very strong.
"This is my daughter, Ashley. We are just here having dinner together, how about you?"
"Ah, I'm here for a business meeting actually, so I can't stay but I hope we can talk another time?"
I smiled, and exchanged numbers with her. She bid us goodbye and walked away. While she walked away, I happened to lose myself for a moment and let my eyes linger on her departing figure just a little too much.
"Dad... You dog." I heard Ashley comment.
*Cough*
"I got lost in my thoughts for a moment.. That's all.. Besides, she is just an old friend of mine, we haven't spoken for years. Not since before you were born." I said, trying to defend myself.
Ashley simply rolled her eyes and went back to eating. We spent another half an hour there before we left.
As we were driving home, I let Ashley practice her driving a bit. Her mother didn't have a car so this was the only time she could try it out. We shared laughs as she was doing her best not to crash, and safely arrived at home.
When we got home, I opened my laptop in the living room, and began to learn more about different types of technology. I first learned about electronics, chips and wiring. I spent the rest of the night studying, and was getting some really good results.
It was almost 10 PM when I heard my phone buzz. I walked over, and looked at it. I knew who it was, since I only had two contacts, and one of them was sitting on the couch near my watching TV.
Amelia: [Hey! Sorry its so late, I just got done with my business meeting.]
Alexander: [Nothing to apologize for, I hope it went well, since it took so long?]
Amelia: [Yes, I was talking to a research hospital and we were negotiating how much creative freedom I had when painting murals for their wards.]
Alexander: [So I guess it's safe to assume you ended up fulfilling your dream of becoming an artist? I'm really happy to hear that.]
Amelia: [Thanks!]
Amelia: [I heard about what happened a few years ago... Both sides of the story. I just wanted to say... It was a really hard position to be in, but I don't think you were entirely in the wrong..]
I paused, reading the texts. I felt... Good that some people cared about how I was doing, and didn't vilify me entirely, although I do deserve most of the blame. What I did to Ryan... Still really ate at me.
Alexander: [I... Appreciate that you thought of me during those times where it was hard to care about the bad guy. However, I am now just trying to pay for my past actions, and provide for my daughter.]
Amelia: [You must be doing pretty good then! That place is not cheap! I took a look at the menu and almost fainted. What do you do for work now?]
Alexander: [Haha, I am trying to start a tech company. Currently I'm the only employee, but I think given a bit of time I'll produce some good results.]
Amelia: [Bahhhh! You know I'm no good with technology, so don't even start with explaining anything! Here, look at this though.]
Amelia : *Picture*
I took a moment to stare at the picture she had drawn. It was an image of someone walking along a cliffside road. The person was vague.. Was it a man, a woman? A child or an adult? None of it was clear. However that was why I liked the picture. It was almost as if you got so caught up looking at the beautiful background, that you missed this tiny person.
It made me feel.. Small.
In a good way.
Alexander: [It's very beautiful. I like it a lot. I assume you drew it?]
Amelia: [Why yes I did. Hehe. You should come over sometime... To appreciate it in person.]
Alexander: [I would really like that. Let me know when you're free.]
Amelia: [I will remember to do that! I'll check my schedule tomorrow, but I have to go now. Early morning at the hospital.]
Alexander: [I understand. Have a good night.]
Amelia: [Good niiight.]
With that my late night conversation ended, but I was feeling refreshed. I went back to my laptop and began to read a little about prosthetics.
I was thinking of different ways to improve my strength, and this was in a direction of such improvement.