Chapter 1: Give or Take
Her smile, her curls, her laughter, her touch—these were the only things Jack saw when he closed his eyes. They were more than memories; they were the life he once knew, a life he'd do anything to return to. Her warmth, the way it filled a room, how her presence could soften even the hardest days—it was the one thing that had ever made him truly happy. But now, it slipped away from him, over and over again, like sand between his fingers.
That same moment replayed, haunting him like a cruel, broken reel of film that he couldn't turn off. Her laughter turning to silence. Her touch vanishing into cold air. And the pain—his heart sinking with the weight of everything he had lost. Jack Mayors, once a man full of hope and purpose, was now nothing more than a shadow, a ghost confined to a life he no longer understood. A man destined to be a loner, now punished to live in the past, replaying the worst day of his life in an endless loop.
The world he had known had perished right before his eyes.
A loud bang against the steel door echoed through the cell, but Jack barely flinched. It wasn't until the fourth or fifth hit that he bothered to turn his head. Ten minutes had passed, but time was a blur in this place. It didn't matter anymore.
He had nothing to give them. No answers. No pleas for mercy. Being confined in this cage was more than a prison—it was a place where hope went to die. He had no way to clear his name, no way to prove the innocence he held onto so tightly. And no way to ask her—the only person whose forgiveness he sought—for just one more chance.
The world outside had already decided who he was. A madman. A sociopath. A killer. A mass murderer. The headlines wrote the story before he ever had a chance to speak. His face was splashed across newspapers, television screens, and digital feeds, his name whispered with fear, contempt, and disgust.
Jack Mayors, the infamous hero framed for crimes he hadn't committed, was about to face his trial. The court would judge him, but the world had already made up its mind.
And yet, as he sat there, staring at the cold concrete walls of his cell, only one thought consumed him. Not the trial. Not the verdict. But her.
Days passed, and time was very less for him. Sun rose and set on the world that was against him. The sun shone on some people who never deserved it, but it never shined on him.
31st of August, 2023, was just 2 days away—the day of his verdict. With even people in the prison, were scared of him, none of them talked. But he was famous in prison for the acts he hadn't committed.
As Jack stared at the ceiling, security came. He brought in a dark atmosphere, he said, "Come out, Mayors…Looks like you got lucky, a*****e."
Handcuffed, Jack walked out of the cell. Two guards in front of him, and two behind him. He remained silent, knowing something was wrong. He maintained his calm. As he came out of the prison, he got into a black Mercedes G-Wagon. In front was a Range Rover. He got in.
The vehicle drove through a beautiful area. Trees and light shone on him. In a few hours, he reached a deserted area. A man stood, seeing the sun. Jack got out of the car. The guards asked him to move forward. As he moved forward he saw Tyler getting out of the car.
"Jack Mayors…dreamt to meet to face to face, a man like me standing in front of the ghost.", said the figure.
Standing next to him and facing the sun he remained silent, not speaking a word.
"The world hates you Jack" he continued, "a murderer, sociopath, a psycho…A lot of names you have, a bit of a hated legend don't you think??"
"Who are you??" asked Jack.
"Who I am you don't need to know, but what you need to know is that I am here to offer you a deal…a good one, something that you shouldn't turn down."
"What do you want??"
"The question is what do you want Jack, my gnarly boss is ready to get you out of prison for we both, including that man standing there" pointing at Rake "knows that you are inside that goddamn cell for the crimes that you haven't committed. But, in return you work for us…GIVE OR TAKE. We both know that you are a man capable of taking down a goddamn government."
"And what if I die?" Jack asked, his tone challenging.
"If you die, well, let's just say the whole effort has gone in vain. It's a risk worth taking, but we won't let you die that easily. We'll be watching you. No worries."
"I'm tired of being watched. You're wasting my time. I don't want to be a part of this."
As Jack turned to leave, the man called out, "Serah."
Jack froze.
"She died in your arms, didn't she? You'd reject this for her?" the mysterious man pressed.
Even though he was cuffed, Jack grabbed him by the collar, fire in his eyes. "Don't you ever say that name again."
"I'm not saying it to hurt you, Jack. It's an offer for redemption, for peace."
Jack walked away, blinking back tears that threatened to fall. "Tell your goddamn gnarly boss to give me a file on Maria C.S., ASAP."
It was just a matter of time before the sun shone on him again.
Location: CIA HQ, Langley, Virginia
An agent walked briskly through the stark corridors of the CIA headquarters, the muted sound of his footsteps echoing against the polished floors. He entered a room, shutting the door behind him with a soft click that cut off the noise from the bustling hallways. Inside, Cyrus stood, the haze of cigarette smoke curling around him like a shroud.
For a moment, the room was steeped in silence, the only sound the faint crackle of the cigarette as he took a long drag. Cyrus finally broke the stillness. "I need all eyes on Mayors. He must remain in prison until his verdict comes. If he gets out, shoot him on sight—no second chances. We can't allow him to see what's about to unfold in the coming days. If necessary, bring the asset from Guantanamo Bay. He's been waiting a long time for Jack's blood."
With a curt nod, the agent turned on his heel and strode out of the room, the weight of Cyrus's command heavy in the air behind him