The Heart System

I sipped my coffee and exhaled, staring out the window of Burney's. The place was nearly empty, the heavy rain pounding the city, keeping most people away. A few customers sat scattered, their umbrellas dripping by the door, clearly just here to escape the downpour that started ten minutes ago. I'd been lucky, getting here half an hour before the storm hit. Now I sat, thinking, my thumb hovering over Mendy's name on my phone. How the fuck was I supposed to say "I love you" and then play it off like, Oops, wrong number? Who'd buy that crap?

I took another sip, the coffee bitter but warm, and finally hit call. One ring, no answer. Two, still nothing. On the third, my mind wandered to Richard—Kayla's worry that he'd hurt himself. Richard? That coward? No way he'd…

"Evan?" Mendy's voice cut through.

"Hmm?" I said, distracted, my brain still on Richard. "Oh, hey, I love you."

╭─────────────╮

Quest Completed

Title: Say that again?

Reward: 30c

╰─────────────╯

I froze, phone in hand, my words sinking in like a brick. Before I could backtrack, another UI popped up, hovering in front of me.

╭───────────╮

EVENT

===============

Mendy's Interest +2

╰───────────╯

What the hell? I gained interest points from her because of that? No way. Had to be a glitch. My plan wasn't to charm her—just get the credits and bounce. I shook my head, clearing my throat, forcing a strained smile she couldn't see.

"Oh, hey, Mendy," I said, sighing. "I didn't realize you picked up. Sorry."

"Ah… y-yes. That's what I thought," she said, chuckling nervously.

╭───────────╮

EVENT

===============

Mendy's Interest -2

╰───────────╯

Fucking hell. Whatever. I didn't care about her interest points. The quest was done, and I had the 30 credits, pushing me to 185. I leaned back, exhaling, the rain drumming against the window.

╭────────────────────╮

- SHOP

==========================

• Aphrodisiac Drink (10c)

• Silk Lingerie Set (25c)

• Sensual Massage Oil (15c)

• Mystery Pleasure Toy (30c)

• Flirt Potion (20c)

• Hypnotic Perfume (40c)

• Time Stop (90c)

• 500 Dollars (50c)

• 1 Ability Point (150c)

==========================

- Credits: 185c

- Select item to purchase.

╰────────────────────╯

"I, uh, called to see how you were doing," I said, sipping my coffee to cover my nerves.

"I'm doing good. Penelope's helping a lot," Mendy said, her voice soft but shaky. "God… I can't believe I took those pills, Evan. I'm so miserable."

"You're not," I said, firm but gentle.

"Like… why did I do that? For Richard? That fucking pervert?" she said, her voice cracking. "I'm so glad you alerted Penelope. Really, Evan, thank you again."

"Least I could do," I said, shrugging even though she couldn't see.

"The least you could do was save my life?" she quipped, a hint of her old sarcasm breaking through. "Sheesh."

I chuckled, taking another sip of coffee, the warmth grounding me.

"So… you talked to Kayla too?" I asked.

"Yeah," Mendy said. "She apologized, like, a thousand times. Kept saying she knew what she did was wrong, over and over."

"You forgive her?"

She exhaled, long and heavy. "Maybe? I don't know, really. I'm still… a mess, as you can probably hear."

"Hey, this whole thing's a mess," I said, my voice calm. "It's normal. Trust me."

"Oh, shoot, I gotta go," Mendy said suddenly. "Mom's home with a ton of grocery bags. I need to help."

"Right. See you. Take care of yourself."

"You too," she said, her voice fading as she pulled the phone away. "Bye!"

I hung up, staring at the phone, the rain still hammering outside. Richard. Fuck, I still had to check on that bastard today for Kayla. He wasn't the type to hurt himself, but I'd promised.

"Fucking… ugh," I muttered as I got up, finishing my drink. "Now I gotta check up on you, huh…"

The rain was pattering down heavily, the sunny days we had were, of course, once again over. I swear, one week it was raining nonstop, the next few days we'd be stuck in the most scorching heat and sun. Like her people, the city's weather was unstable as fuck.

I walked toward the double doors and stepped out, the rain soaking me instantly. I pulled my hood up and started moving, keeping close to the buildings' awnings for cover. People hurried past, some sprinting for their apartments, others ducking into shops for shelter. Man, I could've stayed at Burney's, sipping my coffee lazily, waiting for the rain to slow down…

"Damn you, man. What kind of idiot are you?" I muttered, turning left, my shoes splashing in shallow puddles. "Threatening to kill yourself? Fucking low."

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I fished it out, glancing at the screen. Nala. I cocked an eyebrow, keeping my pace, and answered it.

"Hey?" I said, dodging a guy who didn't look up from his phone.

"Evan," she began, her voice tight, hurried. "I thought I knew the safe's password, but I don't. He's changed it."

"Changed it how?" I asked, my mind racing, the rain dripping off my hood.

"The safe—it's upgraded," she said. "Now it's smart, works via Wi-Fi or something. One app tap, and he can open or lock it remotely."

"What if there's no electricity?" I pressed, weaving around a couple huddled under a single umbrella.

"I researched the model he's using," she explained, her voice steady despite the strain. "The default code is 131413… if he hasn't changed that part."

"We have to be sure before we act," I said, my jaw tightening. "Can't risk setting off an alarm. Can't you just slip into his room and test it?"

"We have two maids in the house," she said, her tone bitter. "And his room is always locked. No one gets in. The maids wouldn't let me near it, either."

"Shit," I muttered, turning another corner, Richard's apartment building coming into view. "Okay… thanks for the info, Nala."

"No problem," she said. "I'll call if anything comes up."

"Do that."

"Bye."

"Bye."

That meant I had to use Time Stop when he was home. Take his phone, use his fingerprint, open the safe and take whatever was inside. This route was a little bit riskier, but I had no choice.

I turned another corner and kept walking. There it was—Richard's apartment, a squat brick building with flickering lights in the windows. I exhaled, staring up at it, the rain soaking my shoulders. His bedroom light was off, but shadows moved behind the curtains, someone pacing or shifting.

"Shit…" I muttered. "Let's go, Evan."

I crossed the street as the light turned green for pedestrians and stood in front of the building's entrance. I punched in the door code—0000, same as always—and pushed it open. An old woman was leaving, so I held the door for her, getting a mumbled "thanks" before she shuffled into the rain.

Didn't feel like climbing stairs, so I hopped into the elevator and hit the second floor. A few seconds later, the doors dinged open, and I stepped out into the dim hallway. There was his door, labeled "R.R.R." in peeling stickers. I walked up, took a deep breath, and knocked hard with my knuckles.

"Richard," I called out, my voice echoing slightly. "Open it."

I realized the door was already cracked open. I froze for a second, then eased it wider and stepped inside. The only sound was an open window banging against the wall with every gust of rain-laced wind. The living room was dim, shadows jittering across the walls from the streetlights outside. No TV, no music, nothing.

A low, rhythmic thumping came from the bedroom. I knew the layout from the few times I'd been here—straight down the short hallway, second door on the right. My boots creaked on the warped floorboards as I moved closer.

The bedroom door hung wide open.

There he was. Richard. The guy who'd sworn to Kayla he was going to end it all. Buried balls-deep in some prostitute's ass. She was on all fours, back arched, fake tits swinging, bleached-blonde hair plastered to her sweaty neck. Richard's hands dug into her hips like he was trying to split her in half.

My eyes snagged on something green on the floor beside the bed—panties. Not the prostitute's; hers were still on, just shoved to the side. These were lacy, emerald, definitely not cheap.

"Fucking hell," I muttered. "What are you doing, Richard…"

He didn't even glance over—just kept pounding away, grunting with every thrust. The woman lifted her head, mascara already smudged, and gave me a lazy, lipstick-smeared grin.

"Didn't know we'd have an audience, dear," she purred.

"Shut up, slut," Richard snapped, slamming in harder.

I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Heard you threatened Kayla you were gonna off yourself. Real classy move."

"I was," he said between thrusts, smirking at the woman's ass. "Then I changed my mind. Why waste the night on those two bitches when I can spend it here?"

"Stop bothering them, then."

"How'd you get in?" he asked, finally flicking a glance my way.

"Your door was wide open, genius."

"Close it on your way out," he said, not missing a beat. "I'm busy."

Sick bastard.

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