Perfectionist

It's All Just a Game of Chess

'Beep...beep...'

A faint beeping sound registers in my head as I wake up groggily.

The smell of antiseptic and floor cleaner make for a repulsive scent that attacks my nose.

My eyes blink rapidly as they try to adjust to the golden shards pouring from the slits in the window panels.

My mind is filled with muddled memories and my body feels strangely numb.

[Host has woken up from a week long comatose state. The system has stabilised the host's condition. The cause is a weak immune system.]

"Ngh..." I moan as I try to take control of my body.

At this point, I noticed Theo sleeping next to me on a chair, his arms crossed and eyes closed in worry.

"How long has he been there?"

[He has been there since the host has been admitted to the hospital and only leaves to eat and shower at home when the host's parents and grandparents come over.]

A sense of warmth fills me as I see Theo sleeping there, a small frown on his face.

Suddenly, his eyes flutter and he opens them and stares straight at me.

"I must dreaming." Theo rubs the sleep away from his eyes and stares at me again.

His eyes are blank for a moment as he pinches himself.

"I'm not dreaming. I'm not dreaming!" Theo shouts as he hugs me,"Oh my god, you're awake! You're really awake!"

I close my eyes as I feel his love.

This unconditional love I had never truly felt before.

This thing called innocent love from a family.

It was something a family from Earth could never hope to replicate with virtual reality or through formulas.

It was a emotion that had cheered me up in an instant and lulled me into a sense of security.

"I'm awake Theo. Sorry for worrying you." I answer in a quiet voice.

"Y-yesh." His voice is muffled by his relieved sobbing, all his pent up emotions over the past few days exploding outwards,"You're awake...Don't scare your brother like that again!"

I chuckle, wondering who the adult was in this situation.

After a while of cooing and calming Theo down, he leaves my embrace and wipes away stray tears,"Right, I have to inform dad and everyone else."

———

Half an hour later.

As they arrived, I was greeted with hugs and tears.

After a bit of a sad moment, my dad breaks and asks the question that had been weighing on everyone's mind ever since the new research team found out some things.

"Al...The doctor says that the condition flares up when one experiences extreme stress in a single moment...What happened?" My dad asks in a worries tone.

My memories flood back and I remember what happened.

I close my eyes and debate whether to tell the truth or not.

I decided to.

They were family.

After seeing them treat me so dearly, how could I heartlessly lie to their faces?

"Do you have my phone?" I ask with a shallow breath.

Theo walks to the cabinet where the dress I wore before hung alongside my belongings.

He passes me my phone.

I opened it up and said,"They people you're about to hear are the friends I've made the few months I've been at school."

They nod and listen intently, as if they didn't want to miss a single detail.

I play the audio.

By the time the audio finishes playing, a murderous aura had already swelled up in the room.

Tension was so high that a person would be scared shitless if they entered at that moment.

"What are their names?" My dad asks me with murderous intent.

"Don't do anything rash, dad." I say with caution,"We aren't all powerful."

"I can call in a few friends from the mafia who owe me." Gramps stands up and says with a deadpan voice.

"Grandpa!" I shout,"There is no need for violence! We can't stoop that low!"

"Al's right, Charles. Calm down and think rationally." Grandma cools grandpa down and he sits back with a snort,"Those bastards think they can take advantage of us that easily? Rest assured Alexis, your grandfather will get revenge for you or my surname is not Niko!" Grandpa was fuming this time.

Hurting a family member of his, especially his treasured and heavily doted on granddaughter?

That was crossing the line by of no return.

All decorum had been thrown out the window.

"Who sent you this, darling?" My mum asks.

"..." I hesitate before answering,"A member of the Giovanni family. Antonio Giovanni. He came to recruit me after finding out my identity but I managed to threaten me into silence. He sent me this as goodwill."

My grandfather nodded,"What a good Giovanni family! To think that old bastard has such a good son who knows when to show goodwill! I, Charles Dean Niko will remember this kindness and repay it! But we must deal with the maggots first!"

"Actually...I feel a little tired. Could we talk tomorrow...I'd like to rest." I say.

They all froze for a moment before realising that I was still recovering.

Everyone wished me well and left, leaving me to my own thoughts.

After making sure they had left, I made a call.

"Hello?"

"It's me, Alexis."

"Ah, hello."

"Listen...My grandfather is happy with your help. He says he owes you guys one."

"Really?" Disbelief colours his voice,"I...I..."

"As for the collaboration...I'll have to pass."

"What? Why? Are you not happy with the Giovanni family? Have we offended you before that first occasion?"

"Let me finish talking." I snapped,"I can't help you take down Multi-Media Inc. due to some circumstances. But...I need your help."

"My help?"

"Taylor Krishnan, daughter to Surin Mohammad Ishmael Krishnan, one of the richest men in Malaysia, and CEO of UniBank, Malaysia's largest local bank with the estimated value being in the billions. Jonah Miles, son and future successor to Arnold Miles, successful movie star and voice actor and most famously known as a body builder. And one Harry Skyler, successor to Gemlite Co's business. I want revenge. If we can deal with them, We'll split 60:40."

Silence.

"Hello? Are you there?" I ask, thinking the line had gone dead?

"Huh? Ah! Yes! Absolutely yes! It's a deal!"

I had a perfect plan in mind as my mind worked like clockwork.

I had visualised this like a chessboard.

This was all just a complex game of chess with many, many more variables.

Of course, if you could exploit some variables then...Victory could be guaranteed.

Mission: Vengeance is sweet.

Get your revenge on Harry Skyler, Jonah Miles and Taylor Krishnan for attempting to harm your family and double-crossing you. Make them an example and show the world that you, Alexis Niko, are not to be messed with.

Reward: 100,000 Points; Charmful Accessories set piece.

Failure: 10,000,000 Points will be deducted.