The streets of the city had a cruel kind of glitter at night—reflections off puddles, glass storefronts, and car headlights slicing through fog. Lina walked with her hood drawn up, soaked shoes squelching, her breath misting in the air.
[Task Progress: 0% — Shelter not secured]
The System display hovered faintly in her vision like a transparent lens overlay. She could blink it away, but somehow, its quiet presence grounded her.
"Okay. Think, Lina," she muttered. "Not begging. Not compromising. Just… somewhere dry."
The first place she checked was a fast food joint. Open 24/7, bright, and anonymous. But the moment she stepped inside, a weary-eyed employee gave her a look that needed no words. She wasn't "clean" enough. Not welcome.
Strike one.
She tried a closed co-working space next, slipping into the vestibule when someone exited. There was warmth. Vending machines. Charging stations. Hope.
Ten minutes later, security escorted her out with apologies and firm hands.
Strike two.
Back on the street, the rain was easing into a mist, but the cold felt deeper. Lina paused near a closed bookstore, crouching in its recessed entrance.
She felt her stomach growl angrily.
"You doing okay, miss?"
The voice startled her.
She looked up to see a man in his forties, kind-looking, holding an umbrella and pushing a cart filled with boxes.
"I—I'm fine," Lina replied too quickly.
He gave her a slow nod. "My sister runs a place down on 14th. She helps girls who need a break. No strings. You might try there."
Lina hesitated. Her instincts didn't raise alarms.
"Thanks," she said quietly, hugging her arms tighter. "I'll check it out."
---
[Task Progress: 78% — Shelter Located]
[ETA: 12 minutes walking distance]
---
The place turned out to be a discreet rowhouse tucked between a nail salon and an old church. A flickering sign by the door read Second Light Center.
Lina rang the buzzer.
A moment later, a warm female voice crackled through the intercom. "Yes?"
"I… was told you offer temporary shelter," Lina said, forcing her voice steady.
"Name?"
"…Lina Vale."
A pause. Then the door buzzed.
Inside, the warmth hit her like a wave. Wooden floors. Soft lighting. Clean air. The woman who greeted her wore a cardigan and tired eyes, but her smile felt real.
"Come in. Just one night for now, until we can assess. You okay with that?"
"Yes. Thank you."
[Task Complete.]
[+2 Confidence | +$30 Added to Digital Account | 'Situational Awareness' Passive Skill Unlocked]
[New Passive Skill: Situational Awareness – Increases threat detection, body language reading, and subtle cues recognition by 25% in unfamiliar environments.]
As she stepped into a small private room with a twin bed and clean towels, Lina couldn't stop staring.
She hadn't seen a safe space in weeks. Hadn't felt it in years.
And for the first time in what felt like forever… she didn't feel invisible.
---
Meanwhile…
A black luxury sedan waited at the end of the block, its engine humming softly.
Inside, the man in the passenger seat leaned forward, watching the building through tinted glass.
"She went in?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," replied the driver, checking his tablet. "The girl from earlier. Name confirmed: Lina Vale. Twenty years old. No criminal record. No family."
The man didn't speak for a long time.
Then, almost too softly to hear: "Set up quiet monitoring. I want full behavioral profiling—but no contact. Not yet."
"Yes, Mr. Kael."
---
Back at Second Light Center…
Lina sat cross-legged on the mattress, towel-drying her hair, when the System flickered to life again.
[System Note: First milestone reached. Mental stability improving.]
[Would you like to receive your next Main Task?]
"…Yeah," she said aloud, still feeling dazed. "What's next?"
[MAIN TASK 002: Rebuild Financial Foundation]
Objective: Secure a source of legal, flexible income that aligns with your core talents. Minimum earnings: $250 in first 5 days.
Reward: +5 Confidence | +1 Skill Point | Unlock 'Personal Stats' Tab | Bonus Perk Based on Task Method
Optional Guidance: Scan past aptitudes and suggest potential gigs? Y/N
Lina hesitated. She'd done so many things trying to survive—waitressing, cleaning, a little amateur design. Nothing had ever lasted.
"…Yes. Give me suggestions."
[Processing… Matching with verified platforms… Filters: Safety, Flexibility, No Personal Data Exposure]
Top Options:
1. Remote Digital Assistant (English + Basic Design Skills)
2. Anonymous Freelance Voiceover Work
3. Transcription/Captioning for International Media
4. Short-form Storytelling Platform (Anonymized Creator ID)
She blinked. "Wait. Storytelling? You mean… writing?"
[Detected creative potential. You've written over 300,000 words in childhood notebooks. Hidden folder: 'My Secret World'.]
Lina flushed. "You looked into that?!"
[System Note: Only what's necessary for recovery. Your voice matters.]
She exhaled, heart thudding.
Maybe… maybe she could try.
---
Outside, rain misted across the windows.
Kael leaned back in the car seat, silent, reviewing a report.
His assistant asked, "Should we intervene if she tries anything risky?"
Kael's gaze remained fixed on the screen.
"…No," he said. "Let her climb first. I want to see how far she can go on her own."
He said nothing about the feeling that tugged at his chest when he saw her face again. The stubbornness in her posture. The hint of brokenness in her eyes.
No one in this world knew it yet.
But she had just stepped onto the board—and he had every intention of watching her next move.
Closely.
---
End of Chapter 2
---