Ding!Jason checked the notification on his phone thinking that it was Timothy’s email but instead, it was a message from Christopher Christopher: Brother please can we meet up tomorrow, it's urgent.Jason audibly chuckled at the message. Brother? Christopher had never referred to Jason as his brother, not even when they were little. What the hell was he on?He discarded the message and continued to wait for Timorhy’s list and the flight confirmation.Ding!Another notification. He thought for sure that this time it was from Timothy, but a scowl was etched on his face when he saw that it was Christopher once againChristopher: It's about my mom.Jason’s heart leaped out of his chest and then sunk into the bottom of his stomach. His eyes fixed on the screen, a mix of concern and curiosity etched on his face. What about Elizabeth? He wondered.Elizabeth Mathews was Christopher's mom who was also like a mother to Jason. One of his last memories of his mom was her entrusting Elizabeth wi

“Mom?” Jason’s voice trembled as he called out, her name hanging in the air like a whisper. In the surreal and unfamiliar landscape, his mother, Abigail, stood before him.She was beautiful as ever; her brunette tresses cascaded down her back in bouncy curls, perfectly framing her ivory face.Desperation seized him as he chased after her, the dream shifting and twisting with each step. Amidst the laughter of distant children, she remained elusive, running away in a dreamlike ballet. “Wait, Mom!” he called, the park transforming into a maze of memories.A muted groan came out of Jason’s lips as he blinked his eyes open. His body felt heavy, and when he tried to move it, he felt strangely confined. Then the realization struck him like a harsh blow: he was tied to a chair.The rough texture of the rope pressed into his wrists. As his gaze flickered around the room, he was disturbed to find that it had an unsettling resemblance to his childhood bedroom.The bed, draped with faded sheets, s

“Shadow, could you give Christopher and me a moment?" Jason’s voice cut through the air, and the room fell into silence as Shadow nodded and exited without a word.Silence fell between the two for a moment; the tension was palpable. Christopher was the one to break it. "Jason, I went too far. I can't believe what I tried to do. What I did-“Christopher’s words lingered in the air. Before he could finish his sentence, Jason’s fist collided with Christopher’s face, the sound bouncing off the walls like a gunshot.Christopher staggered backward, caught off guard by the sudden blow. His hand instinctively flew to his throbbing cheek, and his eyes went wide with shock and pain.Jason stared at him with an unreadable expression on his face. “All day I've listened to you talk; now it’s your turn to listen,” Jason said coldly. It took everything in him to restrain himself from punching him repeatedly.“You obviously have some unresolved issues when it comes to your childhood, and that’s totall

Shadow had always been inquisitive and curious. That was one of the things that Jason liked about him. It was Shadow’s curiosity that saved Jason’s life. The warden who found Jason’s almost lifeless body in prison was only able to do so because Shadow was insistent on hearing noises like someone was being tortured.No other inmates dared to speak because they knew that Rosco, the kingpin of the prison, was the one beating Jason. But Shadow insisted, and eventually, the warden decided to inspect the area. That's why Jason credits Shadow with saving his life, not the warden.Shadow had also stayed with Jason until he fully recovered. He asked him so many questions during that time, and even though Jason was slightly annoyed at first, he later enjoyed it and liked the fact that Shadow was so interested.Shadow’s eyes would always have an inquisitive glint in them when he was about to ask a series of questions. Jason knew it well; it was currently in his eyes.Jason didn't know what Shadow

It had been two hours since Jason and Shadow had their conversation in the living room. Now both men were getting ready to head out to give the money to the Steel Consortium.Jason grabbed the keys to the Mercedes and walked out of his room. He stood in the living room, waiting for Shadow, while he absentmindedly fiddled with the keys in his hands.Nearly twenty minutes had passed, but his friend still hadn't come out. He sighed before putting the keys in his pocket and knocking on the door of the room that Shadow was in."Buddy, we have to go soon.” His voice came out in a raised tone.No answer.Jason knocked again. There was silence for a few seconds till Shadow said, “Come in.”Jason opened the door and walked into the room to find his friend fully dressed but sitting on the bed as if he had nowhere to be.With a brow raised in confusion, Jason said, “You're already dressed; why didn't you come out?” “Jason… I haven't told you the whole truth about what happened between the Consor