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LOCATION: IDYLLIC ISLE OF LIGHT
CITY: SEYCHELLES
DATE: SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 | TIME: 12:00 PM
After several minutes of what can only be described as ugly, desperate crying, Gideon stood, brushed the sand off his trousers, and walked calmly toward the others.
When the men ran to the party deck, their wives and children had flocked to them.
Moira was standing on the edge of the throng, her hand raised to shield her vision from the bright sun, and looking toward the cove.
When she saw Gideon, she didn't run to him at first. But when he noticed her, his face lit up and he ran as fast as he could.
By the time he reached her, new tears streamed down his face.
"Moira," he said, "I'm so sorry, darling."
He kissed and hugged her. She was unsure what had brought this on, but she didn't question it.
She patted his head, which he had buried in her chest like a child.
"Okay," Moira said. "Why don't we head back to the house and talk about this."
It was then that Gideon realized what a spectacle he was creating. But he didn't care. He was unabashedly overjoyed to be back. And eager to prove that he was a changed man.
Moira took his hand and led him up the concrete path toward the main residence.
When they got inside, the door shut behind them, and the air conditioning cooling down the midday sun, she got two glasses of cold water and sat down at the kitchen table.
He followed her lead and sat down.
Gideon took a long drink of the refreshing water, set his glass down, and began telling her what he'd been through.
He'd spent his entire career shutting Moira out of his affairs. Even when he took the buyout from Blackwell Munitions, he didn't consult her first. He just did it and told her they'd gotten a massive payday.
Moira knew they were wealthy. She'd seen the articles in the business magazines like anyone else. But she had no idea how wealthy.
This time, though, Gideon left nothing out. He told her of the nightmare scenario that he woke to. Of the thousand times he died in all the gruesome and horrific ways. Of the varieties of twisted monsters from the ocean he had to fight.
And then he got to the important part: his path of self-reflection.
"It's time for me to make a change, Moira. I will not live like this anymore. I've been complicit in something terrible, and it's time I begin to make amends."
"What have you done?" she asked.
Gideon looked her in the eyes. He sighed. And then he started explaining exactly why everyone was on the island.
Again, he left nothing out. He was ashamed, of course, but his gaze never wavered from her eyes as he told her everything.
And Moira, to her credit, didn't yell. She didn't storm out. She knew that whatever this System was, it had taught Gideon a lesson so thorough that even he was humbled.
Nothing she said could top that.
She let him speak until he was done.
Evening had begun to set on the island. It was time for dinner.
She stood and pulled him into another hug.
"If you've truly changed," she said, "then show me. That's enough talk. This System has given you a clean slate, and I'm willing to do the same."
He nodded silently.
He'd been broken, but he had the look of a man who'd made it through a crucible, and was slowly beginning to regain his footing. Moira decided she would let him do so.
She would support him, but not help him. This was a path Gideon needed to figure out on his own.
"Come," she said, taking hold of his hand again, "it's time for dinner. Let's go spend time with our guests. Now that we're all back together again."
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LOCATION: NINA AND SIENNA'S BEACH HOUSE
CITY: VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA
DATE: SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 | TIME:12:00 PM
Brick was at Nina and Sienna's place. He decided to take his time cleaning up. No need to rush.
Aria had offered to help, but Brick insisted on doing the work himself. He started with the kitchen and living room. He'd do their bedrooms, the most personal part of the house, last.
After four hours, he decided to take a short break.
He sat on the couch. The same one the three of them had lounged on a hundred times, watching movies and TV series on Friday and Saturday nights.
He popped the top on a bottle of an IPA they had in the fridge and took a long pull. He enjoyed the light citrus notes along with the hoppy bitterness that's characteristic of a good India Pale Ale.
Brick closed his eyes, exhaled, and began crying.
He couldn't stop thinking about how much he missed them both. How easy it was to be around them. There was never any jealousy. No fights.
Just relaxation and joy in each other's company. And sexual tension, of course. That was always there.
Suddenly Brick felt a light vibration from his pocket. He reached for his phone, but it was silent.
No, it was the other pocket.
The one with the marbles.
He wiped his tears with his sleeve and set the beer down.
Then, he reached into his pocket and removed the marbles. It was amazing how warm they were in his hand. Not cold like you would expect a glass marble to be, but actually warm to the touch.
He rolled them around in his palm, and they vibrated again.
"I miss you two so much," he said aloud.
Another vibration.
It's actually responding to me…
"You don't mind if I take my time cleaning your house, right?"
He spoke aloud again.
Nina's marble jiggled a bit, and then he heard something in his mind.
"Of course not, as long as you keep the mortgage paid!"
In shock, Brick dropped the marbles into his lap.
He quickly picked them up again, and lifted Nina's to his eye. He tried peering into it, but could only see the faint swirl of energy like before.
"You can hear me?"
"Of course we can," Nina said in his mind, "we're always with you. And we miss you too."
Brick leaned back. He closed his hand around the marbles and held them to his chest.
"This changes everything," he muttered. "If you're really still here, it's time to start on this quest to fuck over those people who did this to you."
Both marbles vibrated in his hand in acknowledgement.
Brick picked up his phone and dialed Trevor Gant.
"Hey, Brick. How are you holding up?" Trevor asked.
"Actually, a little better than you'd think. Hey, are you free to meet me in Myrrindel tonight?"
"Not Grimwatch this time?"
"Remember, it's Dawnhollow now," Brick said, "but no. This time I've got something else in mind that I think you're going to enjoy. I'll see you at the Riverstone Hearth."