Morning: The Grind Continues
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the kitchen. I sat at the table, scrolling through stock charts on Ren’s tablet while Hana flipped pancakes on the stove. The smell of bacon and coffee filled the air, and for a moment, it felt like a normal day. But I couldn’t shake the unease that had been gnawing at me since I arrived in the past.
“Alright, kid,” Ren said, leaning back in his chair. “We’ve got a plan. Today, we hit the casinos. With your little book of future knowledge, we’ll clean them out.”
I nodded, but my mind was elsewhere. I’d been so caught up in the excitement of winning lotteries and making money that I’d almost forgotten why I was here. Almost.
Hana placed a plate of pancakes in front of me, her smile warm but concerned. “You’ve been quiet this morning. Everything okay?”
I forced a smile. “Yeah, just... thinking.”
Ren raised an eyebrow. “Thinking? About what? How to spend all the money we’re about to make?”
I chuckled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Something like that.”
---
The Casino: A Temporary Escape
The casino was a whirlwind of lights, sounds, and adrenaline. Ren, Hana, and I moved through the crowd like a well-oiled machine. I placed bets with precision, my notebook of future knowledge guiding every move. Ren handled the logistics, cashing out chips and keeping an eye out for trouble. Hana played the role of the charming distraction, drawing attention away from my suspicious winning streak.
By the end of the day, we’d made millions. Ren was grinning from ear to ear, and even Hana looked impressed. But I felt... empty. The thrill of winning had faded, replaced by a growing sense of dread.
---
Night: The Nightmare
That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the day played over and over in my mind. I’d been so focused on making money, on building a fortune, that I’d almost forgotten the real reason I was here.
As sleep finally claimed me, the nightmare began.
---
The Dream:
I was back in the lab, standing in front of the time machine. Uncle Shizumori was there, his face pale and drawn. “Shinra,” he said, his voice trembling. “You have to go back. You have to save her.”
I nodded, stepping into the machine. But as the God Particle roared to life, something went wrong. The machine shook violently, and I felt my body being torn apart. I screamed, but no sound came out.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a dark, sterile room. Rows of people were strapped to metal chairs, their faces gaunt and hollow. Tubes snaked from their arms to machines that beeped rhythmically, like a morbid lullaby.
And then I saw her.
Mom.
She was strapped to a chair, her wrists and ankles bound by leather cuffs. Her hair was matted, her lips cracked, but her eyes—her eyes were the same. Kind. Gentle.
“Shinra,” she whispered, her voice raw. “Help me.”
I tried to move, to reach her, but my body wouldn’t obey. I was frozen, helpless, as a man in a white coat stepped forward. The man adjusted his gloves, his face obscured by a surgical mask.
“Subject 90475,” he said, his voice detached. “Prepare for Phase Three.”
Mom turned her head slightly, her eyes dull but defiant. The door creaked open, and two more figures entered—one holding a serrated blade, the other a blowtorch.
“Please,” Mom whispered. “My son...”
The man in the coat ignored her, nodding to the others.
“No!” I screamed, but no one heard me. The blade came down in a single, efficient motion, severing Mom’s pinky finger.
Her body jerked, a guttural scream tearing from her throat.
The machine beeped frantically—
PAIN LEVEL: 9.8.
The man in the coat watched the screen, scribbling notes.
“Fascinating,” he said. “The spike is sharper than previous subjects.”
The second figure pressed the blowtorch to the bleeding stump. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, acrid and sweet.
Mom’s scream died to a whimper, her vision blurring. They repeated the process with each finger, one by one, until her hand was a mangled, charred ruin.
“Hemostasis achieved,” the man said. “Proceed.”
They moved to her other hand. This time, she didn’t scream. She bit down on her tongue until copper flooded her mouth, her eyes locked on the ceiling.
For a moment, her mind drifted. She saw my face—my bright, curious eyes, my mischievous smile. She remembered the day I’d built my first radio, how proud I’d been when it crackled to life. She wished she could see me one last time, tell me how much she loved me.
“Shinra,” she thought.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
---
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The Wake-Up:
I woke with a gasp, my body drenched in sweat. I sat up, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was dark, but I could hear the faint sound of footsteps outside my door.
The door creaked open, and Hana peeked in, her face filled with concern. “Shinra? Are you okay?”
I didn’t answer, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Hana stepped inside, followed by Ren. They sat on the edge of the bed, their expressions a mix of worry and sadness.
“Bad dream?” Ren asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
I nodded, my hands trembling.
“I... I saw her. My mom. They were... they were hurting her.”
Hana placed a hand on my hair, brushing it back gently. “It’s okay, Shinra. You’re safe now. We’re here.”
Ren sighed, his usual gruff demeanor replaced by something softer. “Kid, you’ve been through hell. It’s okay to feel it. But don’t let it break you. You’ve got a mission, remember?”
I looked at them, my eyes filled with tears.
“I... I almost forgot. I got so caught up in making money, in having fun with you guys, that I almost forgot why I’m here.”
Hana smiled, her eyes glistening. “You didn’t forget, Shinra. You just needed a reminder. And that’s okay. We all do sometimes.”
---
Morning: A New Resolve
The next morning, I woke with a renewed sense of purpose. The nightmare had shaken me, but it had also reminded me of what was at stake. I couldn’t afford to lose focus. Not now. Not ever.
As I sat at the breakfast table, Hana placed a plate of pancakes in front of me. “Feeling better?” she asked.
I nodded, my expression determined. “Yeah. I’m ready to get back to work.”
Ren grinned, clapping me on the back. “That’s the spirit, kid. Let’s go save the world.”
---
The Discovery: Karen
Ren and I hit the streets early, our mission clear: make more money, fast. The lotteries and casinos had been a goldmine so far, but we couldn’t afford to slow down. Every dollar we earned was another step closer to saving the world.
As we walked, Ren pulled out his phone and made a few calls. “Hey, it’s me,” he said, his tone serious.
“I need you to look into something for me. Ever heard of a group called Prometheus?”
I glanced at him, curious. He was talking to his old army buddies, the ones he trusted most. But from the look on his face, it didn’t seem like they had any answers.
“Nothing? You’re sure?” Ren frowned. “Alright, thanks anyway.”
He hung up and turned to me. “Strange. No one’s heard of Prometheus. Not even a whisper. How does a group rise to power overnight without anyone noticing?”
I shrugged, though the question nagged at me too. “Maybe they’re just really good at staying hidden.”
Ren nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. “Maybe. But something about this just doesn’t add up.”
He glanced at his watch. “I need to make a few more calls. Stay here, okay? Don’t wander off.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a kid, Ren.”
He smirked. “Could’ve fooled me.”
---
The Discovery: Karen
I waited at the lottery shop, scrolling through my notebook of future knowledge. But as I stood there, something caught my eye. A small, sleek device sitting on the counter. It looked... familiar.
I picked it up, my heart skipping a beat. It was Karen. The same AI companion Uncle Shizumori and I had built when I was just a kid. But how? Karen shouldn’t exist in this timeline. Not yet.
I looked around, my mind racing. How did it get here? Who put it here? The questions swirled in my head, but there were no answers. Just Karen, sitting in my hand like a ghost from the past.
---
Lost and Found
Before I could process what was happening, I realized I’d wandered away from the lottery shop. The crowds had swallowed me up, and now I had no idea where I was. Panic started to set in, but I forced myself to stay calm.
I approached a passerby, a middle-aged man with a kind face. “Excuse me, do you know where the lottery shop is? I think I got lost.”
The man smiled. “Sure, kid. It’s just a few blocks that way. I’ll take you.”
As we walked, I kept glancing at Karen, my mind still reeling. How was this possible? Who could have sent it? The only person who knew about Karen was Uncle Shizumori. But he was... gone. Wasn’t he?
Just as we turned a corner, I spotted Ren. He was pacing back and forth, his face a mix of relief and annoyance.
“There you are!” he said, rushing over. “I told you not to wander off!”
The stranger looked at Ren, then at me, clearly confused. Ren, ever the joker, decided to have some fun.
“Thanks for finding my grandson,” Ren said, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “This kid’s always getting lost.”
The stranger blinked, looking Ren up and down. “Your... grandson? But you’re not even—”
Ren burst out laughing. “Relax, I’m just messing with you. He’s my nephew.”
The stranger gave him a skeptical look. “You don’t look old enough to have a nephew his age.”
Ren shrugged, still grinning. “What can I say? My family’s full of surprises.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, though the word “nephew” stuck in my mind. It reminded me of something... something important. But before I could figure it out, Ren grabbed my arm.
“Come on, kid. Let’s get you a phone so this doesn’t happen again.”
---
The Phone and the App
Ren dragged me to a tech shop and bought me a phone, a new SIM card, and even installed a tracking app. “This is something my buddies and I built back in the day,” he explained. “It’ll let us keep tabs on each other in case of emergencies. Hana’s already on it.”
I nodded, still distracted by Karen. But Ren didn’t seem to notice. He was too busy setting up the phone and saving his and Hana’s contacts.
---
Breaking the Ice
When we got home, Hana was in the living room, scrolling through a list of names on her laptop. “There you two are,” she said, looking up. “How’d it go?”
Ren grinned. “We made a killing. But this one”—he jerked a thumb at me—“decided to take a little detour.”
I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t decide to get lost. It just... happened.”
Hana raised an eyebrow. “What happened?”
I hesitated, then pulled Karen out of my pocket.
“I found this. At the lottery shop.”
Hana and Ren stared at the device, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity.
“What is it?” Hana asked.
“It’s Karen,” I said. “An AI companion Uncle Shizumori and I built when I was a kid. But it shouldn’t exist here yet... I'm the one who built this device for Karen. It even has my name engraved at the bottom.”
Ren frowned. “So how’d it get there?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. But the only person who could’ve sent it is Uncle Shizumori.”
Hana’s eyes widened. “You think he’s... still out there?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t know. But one thing was clear: Uncle Shizumori was watching me. And he wanted me to know it.
End of Chapter 6
To be Continued