Chapter 14: THE SECOND FACE
The system interface spread across my vision like a blueprint for deception.
[IDENTITY FABRICATION LV.2 AVAILABLE]
[CURRENT SLOTS: 2/2]
[CREATE NEW IDENTITY?]
I sat in Byron's leather chair, curtains drawn, door locked. The apartment was silent except for the distant hum of traffic and the soft pulse of the system waiting for input.
Creating an identity wasn't simple. The interface made that clear immediately—a cascade of options, requirements, consequences. Name. Backstory. Documentation tier. Maintenance schedule. Each choice carried weight.
I'd spent the past three days thinking about this. The Hartley case had connected to something larger—Adler's early movements, Keller's unexpected presence, a conspiracy that the show hadn't revealed until much later in its timeline. If I wanted to investigate without FBI oversight, I needed a face they didn't know.
James Thornton.
The name came from nowhere specific. James was common enough to be forgettable, Thornton carried old-money weight without screaming about it. A collector's name. Someone who attended auctions and appreciated fine things without making a spectacle.
[IDENTITY TEMPLATE: JAMES THORNTON]
[TIER: STANDARD (500 GC)]
[DOCUMENTATION: VERIFIABLE RECORDS, CREDIT HISTORY, SOCIAL PRESENCE]
[MAINTENANCE: 50 GC/WEEK]
[CONFIRM CREATION?]
I confirmed.
The system began building. Options cascaded—birthdate, birthplace, family history, education. I chose carefully. New England wealth, discreet and established. Yale for undergraduate work, art history focus. Parents deceased—no uncomfortable family questions. No siblings—simplified backstory. Current residence listed as a mail-forwarding service in Connecticut, appropriate for a man who traveled frequently.
The credit history was elegant. System-generated transactions spanning three years—gallery purchases, auction wins, the pattern of someone who collected seriously but quietly. A platinum card. A modest investment portfolio. The paper trail of legitimacy.
Six hours passed. My coffee went cold twice. I refilled it without really tasting it.
[IDENTITY CREATION: JAMES THORNTON]
[STATUS: COMPLETE]
[DOCUMENTATION: ACTIVE]
[AUTHENTICITY RATING: 87%]
[NOTE: RATING IMPROVES WITH SUCCESSFUL DEPLOYMENTS]
I stood, stretched muscles that had cramped from sitting too long. The identity existed now—a ghost in the system, waiting to be worn.
The closet held the wardrobe I'd assembled over the past week. Not thrift-store finds this time. Quality pieces, conservative cuts, the uniform of old money. A navy blazer that cost more than Marcus Webb had earned in a month. Shirts in cream and pale blue. A watch that whispered wealth instead of shouting it.
I dressed in front of the mirror. Same face. Different man.
James Thornton looked back at me—assured, established, the kind of person who'd never worried about where his next meal was coming from. He moved differently than Aron Dark. Slower. More deliberate. A man who'd never had to hurry because the world waited for him.
[IDENTITY ACTIVE: JAMES THORNTON]
[SOCIAL MODIFIERS: +15% ART WORLD CREDIBILITY]
[WARNING: MAINTAIN CHARACTER CONSISTENCY]
The test came immediately.
I pulled up listings for upcoming auctions. Sotheby's had a modern art sale next Friday. The preview was by invitation only—serious collectors and their representatives.
I dialed the gallery's number. Let the phone ring twice before they answered.
"Sotheby's New York, how may I direct your call?"
"Preview desk, please. This is James Thornton."
A pause. Transfer music. Then a new voice—warmer, more practiced in wealthy client management.
"Mr. Thornton? I don't believe we have you in our system."
"I've been collecting privately for some time. Based in Connecticut, primarily European pieces. I'm interested in expanding into modern American works."
The receptionist's tone shifted. More deferential. The magic of confident wealth.
"Of course, sir. Would you like to arrange a private preview?"
"Friday afternoon would suit. Two o'clock, if available."
"Let me check..." Keys clicking. "Yes, we can accommodate that. May I have a contact number and address for our records?"
I provided the mail-forwarding service, a burner phone number I'd set up that morning. Everything clean. Everything verifiable if someone checked, but not traceable to Aron Dark.
"Excellent, Mr. Thornton. We'll send confirmation to your address. Is there a particular artist or period you'd like highlighted?"
"Surprise me. I'm curious what you consider noteworthy."
"Of course, sir. We look forward to seeing you Friday."
I hung up. The conversation had lasted four minutes. In that time, James Thornton had become real—not just documentation, but a person with appointments and preferences and a reputation beginning to form.
[IDENTITY TEST: SUCCESSFUL]
[AUTHENTICITY RATING: 89% (+2)]
I returned to the mirror. Aron Dark stared back now—the blazer removed, the posture relaxed, the mask set aside.
How many people can one body hold?
The question surfaced unbidden. Marcus Webb had died in this skin. Aron Dark had been born from necessity. Now James Thornton existed—a shadow identity, a tool for infiltration.
Three people. Three sets of memories, mannerisms, motivations. The system helped maintain the boundaries, but the weight was mine to carry.
I thought about Neal, one floor above. He understood multiple identities—had lived them his entire career. Maybe we had more in common than either wanted to admit.
The tuxedo waited in my closet. Friday's auction would be James Thornton's debut. If it worked—if the identity held under serious scrutiny—I'd have access to circles Aron Dark could never enter.
The long con was taking shape. One face at a time.
MORE POWER STONES And REVIEWS== MORE CHAPTERS
To supporting Me in Pateron .
with exclusive access to more chapters (based on tiers more chapters for each tiers) on my Patreon, you get more chapters if you ask for more (in few days), plus new fanfic every week! Your support starting at just $6/month helps me keep crafting the stories you love across epic universes like [ In The Witcher With Avatar Powers,In The Vikings With Deja Vu System,Stranger Things Demogorgon Tamer ...].
By joining, you're not just getting more chapters—you're helping me bring new worlds, twists, and adventures to life. Every pledge makes a huge difference!
👉 Join now at patreon.com/TheFinex5 and start reading today!