PATH OF THE SYSTEM AWAKENED

Chapter 4: Unveiling the Past

Riley felt lost in his own mind. The fog around him thickened, making it hard to think. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice.

“Riley,” it called gently.

He opened his eyes to see Minn. Her kind face and outstretched hands filled him with warmth. “Come here,” she said, her voice soothing.

For a moment, he felt comforted, as if everything would be okay. But that peace shattered when he saw a younger version of himself. The eleven-year-old Riley stood before him, wide-eyed and curious.

“Is that really me?” he asked, confusion washing over him.

The younger Riley looked around, taking in the dream world. “What happened to you? Why do you look so tired?”

“I… I don’t know,” Riley admitted, a wave of nostalgia hitting him. “I’m trying to find my way.”

“Find your way?” the younger Riley echoed, tilting his head. “You always said you wanted to be a hero.”

“I wanted to,” Riley replied, sadness creeping into his voice. “But things are different now.”

“Different how?” the younger Riley pressed, his innocent gaze searching for answers.

“I let fear hold me back,” Riley said, feeling a weight in his chest. “I didn’t start my Awakener path when I should have.”

The younger version frowned, shaking his head. “You can still be a hero. You just have to believe.”

Riley felt a mix of nostalgia and confusion. “But what if I fail?”

“Then you try again,” the younger Riley insisted, a spark of determination in his eyes.

As the fog began to close in again, Riley took a deep breath. “I need to remember that,” he whispered, holding onto his younger self’s words.

Young Riley stood in the playground, tapping his foot impatiently. He grumbled to himself as he watched the other children play. “Why do I have to be here?” he muttered. “I should be training.”

He glanced at the swings, where kids laughed and shouted. “I wasted enough time already,” he complained. The memory of his father's death weighed heavily on him. He wanted to be stronger, but he felt left behind.

Riley looked up at the orphanage sign nearby. The letters were worn and faded. He frowned, feeling a strange sense of loss. “I don’t even remember coming here,” he said quietly.

Robotic overseers moved around the playground, keeping watch over the children. Riley felt uneasy under their gaze. “Why do they need those things?” he wondered aloud. “Can’t they just let us play?”

He shook his head, trying to focus. “These memories… they feel so distant. Did I really spend time here?” He tried to recall his past, but everything felt hazy.

“Maybe I should have made more friends... "

Minn knelt beside young Riley, her eyes filled with warmth. “Riley, you need to choose someone to care for. I can’t always be here for you,” she said gently.

Young Riley bristled at her words. “I don’t need anyone! I can handle everything alone,” he insisted, crossing his arms. “I will be the Savior!”

Minn sighed softly. “But even the strongest heroes need help sometimes. It’s okay to lean on others.”

Riley looked away, his frustration growing. “I don’t want help. I don’t need anyone!” he snapped.

As he reflected on his past behavior, he realized how lonely he had become. Since his mother failed to connect with him, he pushed everyone away. “Maybe… I shouldn’t have shut everyone out,” he thought.

He gazed at Minn, unsure. “Is this a memory? Or just a dream?” he wondered. The playground felt both familiar and strange, leaving him confused about what was real.

Minn touched his shoulder. “Riley, it’s important to let people in. You can still be strong and care for others.”

“I… I just don’t know,” he replied, feeling lost. The weight of his past settled heavily on his chest, and he wanted to believe her but found it hard.

“You can choose to change,” Minn said softly. “You don’t have to be alone.”

Riley hesitated, the truth of her words sinking in. “Maybe I could try…” he murmured, looking back at the children playing, wondering what it would be like to join them.

Young Riley stood near the swings, feeling a mix of curiosity and nervousness. He noticed a girl with golden eyes and short brown hair sitting alone. Something about her drew him in.

Taking a deep breath, he walked over. “Um, hi,” he said awkwardly. “I’m Riley. I want to protect you forever.” As soon as he said it, he cringed at his own cheesy words.

The girl looked up, surprised. “Really? That’s quite a promise,” she replied with a slight smile.

Riley felt his cheeks heat up. “I mean… it’s just what I want to do.” He fumbled for words, trying to engage her. “What’s your name?”

“Luna,” she said, her golden eyes sparkling. “Why do you want to protect me?”

“I don’t know,” Riley admitted. “You just seem… special. Like you understand what it’s like to be alone.”

Luna nodded slowly. “I do. Sometimes it’s hard here at the orphanage. But I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Riley said, feeling a strange wave of maturity wash over him. “But having someone to care for makes it easier.”

Luna smiled softly. “You might be right. It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”

Riley felt a connection with her. “Maybe we could look out for each other,” he suggested.

“Maybe we could,” Luna replied, her smile growing.

Riley’s heart raced. Despite his earlier awkwardness, he felt lighter, knowing he might not have to be alone anymore.

AAs their conversation deepened, young Riley looked at Luna earnestly. “I really need someone to support me,” he said. “I think my mom needed companionship too, but I just trained all the time.”

Luna tilted her head, curious. “You trained all the time? Why?”

“I want to be a great hero,” Riley replied with a grin. “One day, I’ll have titles like ‘Savior of the World’ and ‘Champion of Justice!’”

Luna burst out laughing. “Those are some big titles! You really think you can do all that?”

“Of course!” he said, puffing out his chest. “I’ll be strong enough to protect everyone, even you!”

Luna smiled, still giggling. “Well, if you’re going to be a hero, you’ll need to have my back too, you know.”

“Deal!” Riley said, trying to sound serious but unable to hide his smile. “We can resolve all our future conflicts together.”

“Right! We’ll be an unbeatable team,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Riley felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement as he listened to his younger self. He marveled at how sincere their promises sounded. “I hope I can keep that promise,” he thought, feeling a warmth in his chest.

Luna reached out and lightly punched him on the arm. “Just remember, heroes don’t give up! No matter what.”

“Yeah!” Riley exclaimed, his confidence soaring. “I’ll never give up!”

The girl smiled and said, “I’m Trish.”

Riley felt a jolt as her name hit him like a lightning bolt. “Trish? Like... my Trish?”

Just as he began to feel a strong connection with her, darkness closed in around him. When he opened his eyes, he found himself back in the real world. Jones and Maya stood nearby, looking worried.

“Riley, are you okay?” Maya asked, her voice filled with concern.

Riley blinked, confusion swirling in his mind. “Where am I? What happened?”

“You passed out,” Jones explained, looking relieved to see him awake. “We thought we lost you.”

Riley rubbed his temples, trying to piece things together. “I was just with Trish. We were talking, and...”

“What do you mean?” Maya asked, raising an eyebrow. “Who is Trish?”

“Trish... from the playground,” Riley replied, struggling to remember every detail. “But was it a dream or a memory?”

He recalled the orphanage’s name. “The name of the orphanage! I need to find out more about it. I have to know if I really knew her.”

Jones nodded. “That sounds important. We can help you look into it.”

Maya crossed her arms, a determined look on her face. “You won’t face this alone, Riley. We’ll figure it out together.”

Feeling a surge of hope, Riley nodded. “Thanks, guys. I need to understand my past and my connection to Trish. I can’t let this go.”