Chapter One - Not Completely Back Home Yet

"Dear, why did you leave the money?" M’s.Rainold was on the verge of hysteria.

"I bought something with it, honey."

"With all of it?” She looked at her husband nodding calmly as they were walking back to their car.

She bet 10 million dollars and won. With the odds as they were, their winning totaled 300 million.

"What in god's name could cost 300 million?" She was almost running after her husband now.

"Stop rushing and answer me, what did you spend the money on?"

"On him." He pointed at their car that came into view.

M’s.Rainold stopped looking at her husband and followed his finger. Her hands shot up to her mouth to hold back a scream.

"Jon, I missed you so much." Mr.Rainold hugged the man covered in wolf blood.

"What are you doing? Get away from him." She would have pulled her husband back but she was too terrified of the same gray wolf she wanted to bet on.

"It's nice to see you again, Joshua."

Joshua Rainold looked shocked; the boy he remembered was gone, replaced by this emotionless man.

"Bring him something to wipe himself with!" he yelled to the driver.

"Don't worry. Used to this. Put something on your seat, it will get dirty." The dead look in his eyes never wavered.

Mr.Rainold motioned his wife to get in the car; he decided there will be enough time to think about all of this later.

"Don't worry about it, just get in, let's go home." His hand on Jon's shoulder he gently nudged him into the car, but Jon refused to move.

"What about him?"

"Who?"

He looked at his feet and Joshua followed the stare, reacting the same way his wife did.

"What is that?" he backed into the car.

"A wolf."

"I can see that! But why is it with you?"

"He wanted to come."

"We can't take him, send him away."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure! We can't fly a wolf into Greece."

"..."

Joshua wavered for a moment seeing for the first time, Jon’s expressionless face show a hint of emotion. As he got on one knee and took the wolf’s head in his hands he looked sad. But with a quick twist, the wolf fell to the floor motionless and Jon's face was again unreadable.

He stared at Jon with disbelief, he expected him to have changed after participating in the underground fights, but for him to kill an animal as if he were opening a bottle shocked him more than anything he had ever seen. The boy he had known would never harm an animal; he refused to swat a mosquito, let alone break a wolf's spine.

"It's better this way."

"Wha...Why…ehh how is it better?"

"They would have taken him back and made him fight again, at least I killed him painlessly."

He got in the car and asked where they were going.

"Home." Mr.Rainold said nothing until they got there.

"This isn't my home."

"No, it is not. I talked to Gorge and we decided it would be best if you lived here until we know more. No one will bother you here."

"Gorge? Will he be there?"

"Yes. He will take care of you just like when you were a kid."

A little smile appeared on Jon's face as he remembered his childhood.

"I wish dad were here too."

"We all do."

They were heading to an island not far from Greece. It was used as a vacation house for the heads of their company. However since Richard’s death it was always empty.

The island was covered with wild plants and was left as it had been, except for a small house not far from the beach. A boat was tied at the dock and Joshua maneuvered his yacht next to it.

"This must be Gorge's. Follow the path; I need to gather some things before I follow you."

Jon jumped off the deck and started walking up a dirt path.

Joshua was looking at him till he disappeared into the bush. He couldn't help but remember the old days, which put tears in his eyes.

Five years passed with them not hearing a word about Jon. He believed Jon was dead and seeing him alive and well, at least physically, was just too confusing. He didn't leave Jon's side from the moment they got in the car, and only now that he was alone did he finally come to terms with the fact.

-'Gorge knows what to do'- he thought to himself and sighed 'no need to hurry now'. He sat down on the ledge and looked at the horizon losing himself in his thoughts.

Jon didn't walk long when the house came into view. It was a three story cottage, made entirely out of wood. Trees surrounded it hiding it almost entirely out of view. Only the windows and the front porch protruding out of the foiledge were visible.

He walked lazily up the two steps that led onto the porch and looked at the front door blast open, hitting the wall with a load thump.

An old man ran out of the house and right at him. He was ready to fight back the moment the door opened but he lowered his defenses when he saw the old man was weeping.

The old man collided into Jon and hugged him with all his strength. He was crying now into Jon's chest yet Jon's hands stayed firm at his side.

"I can't believe it's you." It was hard to understand him with all the weeping. "I've missed you so much young master, oh so much." The tears kept on falling.

Jon kept quiet. He recognized Gorge now, but simply didn't know what to say. So he said nothing, as there was nothing better to say.

Gorge was still crying. There seemed to be no end to the tears, so they stood there until Jon finally decided to speak.

"Don't cry." was all that came out. He wanted to say more, but nothing came out. To Gorge it was more than enough, it was the same voice he heard so long ago.

"Let us go inside, I've prepared some food." The tears stopped and a smile covered his face now, making him look thirty years younger.

They sat at the dining table, Jon stuffing himself not even chewing the food, Gorge wiping away a tear every other minute when Mr.Rainold came in. He nodded at Gorge a stood next to him keeping silent as well.

"I'm tired." He said it so suddenly the two other men in the room looked around to see if there was someone else with them.

"Yes, I'm sure you are… go up and choose yourself a room you like, I need to speak to Joshua. I will wake you up for breakfast tomorrow."

Jon stood up, but not before stuffing his mouth with some more food, and walked up the stairs.

"Good night," said Mr.Rainold.

"Sleep tight," said Gorge.

They waited until they heard the sound of the door upstairs shut close.

"Gorge, I…" He was interrupted by Gorge who hugged him.

"I do not care Joshua, not today. You have already told me the important parts over the phone, the rest can wait. I will not judge you and I 'm not going to ask what it was that you were doing there." He looked at Mr.Rainold sympathetically.

"I am forever grateful to you. You have proven yourself a true friend and a trusted man. Lord knows there aren't many like you among the other board directors."

Mr.Rainold sat put two glasses on the table and poured in whisky from the bottle he brought with him.

"I can use a drink, Gorge, the past couple of days were very long."

Gorge sat down and downed the glass in one go. A drink was something he needed as well.

He extended his glass to Mr.Rainold for a refill.

"Hits the spot doesn't it?" He laughed. They both did.

"Sit down Joshua; we have a long night ahead of us."

"You are right, I have to return tomorrow, with you here my workload will triple." He sat down and sipped his drink.

"Do not worry about the work; I can take care of it from here," he sighed. "The problem is not in that… what do we do now? He's not himself… It's like he doesn't even remember me at all."

"He does. Gorge. He smiled when I told him that it's you who will be taking care of him."

"He did." Tears appeared at the edges of his eyes again. "That's good. I was afraid he lost his feelings completely. He just looked bored. Bored when he met me, bored while he ate and bored when he finished eating. Like he wasn't even there…"

"Give him time, Gorge, that’s all he needs now. Time with someone he knows and who loves him."

"We have to keep him a secret," he suddenly looked afraid, "who knows what they will do if they find out he is alive. They might kill him; we have to keep him hidden."

"It's okay, Gorge, leave it to me, I'll make sure they’ll never find out about him, not until we want them to, at least, I'm quite good at these things." He smiled and poured himself another drink.

"As long as we are careful around Yo, we have nothing to worry about. He's the only one who's still aggressively trying to take the control over the company, the rest seem to have already accepted you."

"I know that, I'm just afraid they'll try to get rid of him. Even if he doesn't decide to lead the company, he still owns the majority of the shares… He can overrule their every decision. They aren't going to stand by and let him be."

"Don't worry, I'm on your side, and while it seems otherwise, there are still many who remember and respect his father. They will stand by us, I'm certain of that."

"Oh, Joshua, what will we do with him, we need to get him help."

"It's fine, listen; he's not as far gone as you seem to think. I kept my eyes on him closely while we traveled, he's just distant. Who knows what he went through these five years. We don't need to hurry. All we need to do is…"

The first rays of sunshine hit the dew gathered in the night. If someone looked out of the window at that time he would see an already beautiful island turn into a paradise. The whole island shone as if covered by thousands of gems.

A scene lost, with none to look at. Out of the only three men on the island, one was asleep and the other two were too occupied, to take the time to look outside.

"I should get back." Said one of them,

"Stay for breakfast, at least." The other man stood up slowly.

"Can't. I have a plane to catch."

"I see. Well, it's goodbye then."

"It is. Gorge… good luck." He extended his hand forward.

"Thank you, the same to you." He shook his hand and ended it with a fatherly embrace.

"Don't forget to make him bathe. He won't do it unless you tell him to."

"I'll make sure to tell him."

Both man sighed out loud and smiled at each other.

"See ya."

"Good bye."

Mr.Rainold left and Gorge entered the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He heard the sound of the yachts engine start up right as the water in the pot started to boil. He turned off the gas and headed upstairs to wake up Jon.

There was no trouble finding the room he chose, with dirty foot marks leading to it. He opened the door slowly and froze in place. He swallowed hard, trying to swallow a sudden fear that hit up him. The pair of eyes looking at him from the corner of the dark room seemed more beast than man’s.

He reminded himself that it was only Jon, yet the goose bumps refused to disappear from his skin. "It's me, Jon." He said with a chocked voice.

"Why are sitting in the corner like that? Didn't you like the bed?" He tried to smile.

Jon continued to stare silently.

-'Just continue talking to him, Joshua said it will make a difference eventually."-

"Come on, Jon, on your feet now."

Jon stood up obediently, still staring from his corner.

"Did you sleep well?"

"…"

"You look rested."

"…"

"I've made breakfast." Jon's eyes relaxed at the sound of this, "Let's go eat it together." He smiled and motioned to the door.

Jon moved cautiously towards the door, passing Gorge carefully. Gorge followed him closely downstairs.

"Go, wash up while I set the table. The bathroom is to the left."

"…"

Gorge smiled to himself, reminding himself it will all be fine in the end.

They ate together, although Gorge talked more than he ate. He spoke to Jon about everything and anything, trying to vary the topics as much as he could. He wanted to get some response out of Jon but it was no use. Jon listened, but didn't say anything back.

For more than an hour they sat at the table and Jon only uttered one word.

"More".

Gorge made more food and Jon said no more.

He was cleaning the table when the phone rang.

"Yes."

"I see…" he looked at Jon, who sat and stared at the space.

"Forward it to me, I'll take care of it."

"Ok."

"Jon…" He closed he phone, "I need to take care of some work will you be okay."

"…" Jon looked at him or more like through him.

"Do you have anything you want to do?"

"…"

"There's always the T.V if you don't feel like doing anything." He felt like he was speaking to the air. But Jon stood up, and walked to the living room where he sat and turned on the T.V.

A Greek news show was airing and Jon didn't bother to change the channel. He just sat there staring at the T.V, Gorge doubted he even saw it.

-'Well at least I don't need to worry about him going anywhere.'- Gorge relaxed and left to the workroom hoping to finish as fast as possible.

It was the usual work, approving this, changing that. His secretary had already taken care of most of it, he just had to give his final approval on the matter.

It was going smooth, he finished most of the work after two hours, and he decided to go down and check on Jon.

He could hear the sound of the T.V, it was still on the same news channel. He entered the living room and freaked out when he couldn't see Jon.

He ran to the middle of the room almost stepping on Jon who was lying on the floor.

"What are you doing?" he yelled, "Why are you on the floor?" he was slowly regaining his calm.

"Training," he said, and began doing push-ups.

Only now did Gorge notice that Jon was covered in sweat.

"Why?" he sat down on the sofa.

"…"

"Jon! Listen to me, what are you training for?"

"…"

"Jon, you don't need to do this anymore, you will never need to fight again. It is fine you are safe now."

Jon continued to lift himself up and down from the floor.

"Jon…" Gorge felt desperate, he pulled Jon up from the floor and tried to sit him down on the sofa, but Jon resisted.

"Jon, stop it!" He was yelling again, however, Jon looked unaffected. "You will never have to fight again."

"I know." Jon was looking him in the eyes.

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"Then why are you doing this?"

"…"

Gorge released Jon and backed away from the living room. Before he even exited the room Jon was already on the floor again, pushing himself up from it repeatedly. Gorge felt helpless and powerless. He stood there, watching over Jon, contemplating on how to deal with him.

He made up his mind and decided to start immediately. Jon seemed to do what he was told even if he kept silent, so he will use that to his advantage.

"Jon!"

"…"

"Jon are you listening?"

"…"

"Jon, answer me!" He said with a commanding tone, "Are you listening?"

"Yes."

"Good." It worked, "From now on whenever I ask you something you will answer me. Do you understand?"

Jon stood up and looked him in the eyes. For a second Gorge regretted speaking this way, but he steeled his will and continued.

"Do you understand Jon?"

"I do."

"Very good. Now answer me, why are exercising?"

Jon didn't answer immediately this time, he looked as if he were searching for the right words.

"I…"

"I…eh… I"

"It's okay Jon. You can tell me." Gorge felt the muscles of his face relaxing as his heart went out to the poor boy.

"I'm bored."

Gorge couldn't stop himself from laughing. That was all, boredom? He imagined such horrible things and all it was, was boredom.

"It's no wonder you're bored, you've been watching the news for the past two hours and you can't even understand a word."

Jon looked at the television screen and then fixed his eyes back at Gorge. He looked as if he were waiting for something.

"Jon, tell me, why didn't you change the channel?"

"You said watch T.V."

"Yes, I did. But why didn't you change the channel if you wanted to?"

"…"

Jon looked confused; he kept throwing his gaze from Gorge to the television screen. He looked like he was sweating more than a minute ago. Gorge was about to ask him the same question again when it finally hit him.

-'He does exactly what I tell him! He's waiting for permission! I didn't state he was allowed to change the channel and so he didn't.'-

"Jon, look at me."

"You can watch whichever channel you want, do you understand? Change it as much as you want until you find something you like. Ok?"

"Ok."

Jon sat down on the sofa, the bored expression back on his face again.

Gorge felt better, he felt like he understood what the real problem was now, or at least the first problem he needed to solve.

-'It will take some time.'- Gorge decided. He turned to head back to his work when he remembered Mr.Rainold's words right before he left.

"Jon, go take a shower before you start channel surfing."

Jon stood up and went towards the bathroom.

"Jon, I can't know if you heard me if you don't say anything."

Jon stopped in his tracks.

"Where are you going?"

"Shower."

"Good. I put some spare clothes in your room. Put some on when you're done showering and throw what you're wearing in the trash. Once you're done you can go back to watching television."

"Oh, and you can change the channel how many times you want. You got all that?"

"Yes."

Gorge sat down at his desk feeling much relieved and continued his work. It was late in the afternoon when he finally finished. He checked the time and saw that they should've already eaten. He checked on Jon to see if everything was ok, and assured that it was he went into the kitchen to prepare lunch.

"Jon, food’s ready, come join me at the table." Gorge was finishing setting the table when Jon came and sat down. Jon immediately started to pile food on his plate.

"Say, thank you, Jon."

"Thank you."

"Bonapetit" Gorge sat down and started eating as well.

"So Jon, did you find anything you liked?" he asked when Jon was busy taking seconds.

"Yes."

"Really? Will you tell me about it?"

"…" he seemed to be too preoccupied with stuffing food in his mouth to bother with answering.

"I thought we had an agreement, Jon. Please, answer me when I'm asking you something. What did you watch?" He finished eating and was now watching Jon trying to swallow large chunks of meat without chewing.

"Aphagme"

"Chew you food properly, it's not going to run away from you."

"A game." He said again once he swallowed.

"What game?"

"Video game."

"A video game? And they were showing it on television?"

"Yes."

"Must be one hell of a game then. What is it called?"

"Royal Road."

"What is it about?" he was trying to make Jon continue talking and the game was as good as a topic as any.

"…"

-'I need to be more specific with him.'- He took a moment to think and rephrased his question.

"What did you like about the game?"

"Not boring."

"Hah" he laughed, "Would you like to play Royal Road as well, Jon?"

Jon stopped eating and looked up at Gorge. He swallowed slowly and said with a begging voice, "Yes!"

"Very well then. I will give my secretary a call and ask her to send you a copy."

"Have you finished eating?"

"Yes."

"Ok. You can do whatever you want until dinner."

Jon stood up and walked back to the living room.

"Jon," Gorge followed, "if you feel hungry you can take what you like from the refrigerator, ok?"

"Ok." His eyes were already glued to the screen.

"Ok." Gorge smiled and left him alone.

"Silia." He phoned his secretary from the office.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"I need you to get me something."

"A game."

"Don't worry, I'll find the time."

"No, keep forwarding the work here."

"Royal Road."

"Make sure it gets here by tomorrow, understood?"

"Very well."

"Yes."

"Goodbye."

He hung up.

-'Might as well call Jushua too.'- He said Mr.Rainold's name to the phone and waited.

"How are you doing, Gorge?"

"Better than expected, Joshua. Much better in fact."

"That's good to hear."

"Yes, he doesn't talk much, but he answers when I ask him something. However, the answer must be simple or else he keeps his mouth shut."

"I see."

"Listen, I'm calling to say, that I'll be trying something with him."

"Already?"

"Nothing dangerous, do not worry. He saw a game called Royal Road on the television and said he liked it. I told him he could play it."

"I don't think that was wise Gorge. I know the game, he's already out of touch with the real world, I think the game will make it even worse."

"I don't care about that at the moment Joshua. He refuses to talk in full sentences. We can't begin to understand what he has been through unless he tells us about it, and we can not force him too.

"So you want him to play the game so he has something to talk about?"

"Exactly. A common interest so to say. I’d like him to want to talk to me and the game might be just what we needed."

"I still think it's a bad idea, Gorge."

"It'll be fine. If worst comes worst, all we have to do is take the game away."

"Gorge, do you know what the game’s about?"

"I do not."

"I thought as much, learn about it a little and call me after if you change your mind."

"Agreed."

"Later then."

"Goodbye."

Gorge did just that. He read all he could find about Royal Road up to the point where he fell asleep by the computer screen. The ringing of the phone woke him up.

"…"

It was his secretary. He looked at the clock and saw that it was almost noon already. He straightened up and shook his head to wake up.

"Yes, Silia, I am listening."

"Very good."

"I know, I know, don't worry. I'll let them in."

"Already here? Why didn't you call earlier."

"Damn it, you should've tried harder."

He hung up in a hurry, he had to find Jon. They can't be allowed to see him. Even his secretary was clueless about his existence.

There were no sounds from down stairs so he ran to Jon's room, blasting the door open and stumbling into the room. Jon was there alright. But not where Gorge expected to find him.

Gorge was lying on the floor and Jon was sitting on top off him with a hand around his neck.

"It me."

Jon let go him and stood up. Gorge lay there shaking.

"People are coming to set up the game we talked about yesterday. I need you to stay in your room and be quiet. Do you understand Jon?"

"Yes." He was sitting in the corner of the room again.

Gorge got up, his whole body sore. He kept thinking how badly it could've all ended.

"You can sleep on the bed if like, Jon, you will get sick if you keep sleeping on the floor like that."

Jon just looked at him as if nothing had happened.

"I'll call you when they are gone." He left Jon and went to meet Silia and the workers on the beach.

"You don't look well," said Silia as they entered the house.

"I did not sleep very well."

"Sir, are you sure you want to play this game?"

"I do. I want to feel young again." He smiled to her casually.

"Sir, I'm worried about you. You decide to go on a vacation out of the blue like that and you don't even say when you'll be back. The board directors are worried, I'm worried. Did anything happen?"

"Nothing dear, things are better than ever. All I need is a good night's sleep."

"Are you doing okay? Are you sure you don't want me to hire a maid?"

"Dear, you are forgetting I myself have more experience as a maid. I've served the Doe family for 50 years. Whether as a butler or as the C.E.O is of little importance to me. I will continue to serve them until I am dead and no sooner."

"Sir…"

"That is enough, I have made my decision and it is your job to accommodate it."

"Very well sir." She straightened up and assumed a business attitude.

"Let me explain how to operate the capsule." She walked up to what looked like a large silver refrigerator and began talking.

"Jon, you can come down now." Gorge was sitting at the dining table waiting for Jon to join him for launch.

While Jon was eating, Gorge told him the games basics. He explained about leveling, skills stats, quests and professions. He intentionally didn't go into details. He wanted Jon to inquire for more information on his own in the hope hat Jon will come to him for help.

He showed Jon the capsule and repeated what Silia had told him earlier about operating it.

"Do you have anything you don't understand?" He asked, hoping for a reaction.

"No."

Jon got into the capsule and got comfortable. Before closing the lid Gorge decided to give Jon one last advice.

"When you level up, make sure you put all your stat points into Dexterity at first, it will make you faster. Your combat experience and fighting prowess will mean nothing if you can't hit your opponent. You can overcome the difference in strength with your knowledge of fighting and speed."

A small smile appeared on Jon's face and just as Gorge closed the lid he heard Jon’s murmur: "Thank you".

He backed away from the capsule as that began to tilt backwards until it was horizontal to the floor. The sound of processors spinning filled the room and Gorge was left with nothing to do but wait.

"Might as well get some work done." He said to himself and left to the office.

"He's not here yet?" Said Si as he joined Vi at the town square.

"You're surprised? It's Ron we’re talking about…" he stood up and greeted his friend.

"Ready?"

"Hah, I've been waiting a month for this day."

"I leveled up yesterday."

"Congratz, man."

"Yeah. I finished a quest for some merchant and my level rose to four."

"Nice, I'm still stuck at three. We mages waste too much time reading books in the mages guild; I hardly had any time for anything but that."

"You know, I was talking to Ron on the phone yesterday and he said he's already level six."

"Lucky bustard. How the fuck did he land a job at the blacksmith stand?"

"Here he comes, you can ask him yourself."

Ron was running towards them while waving something over his head.

"Look what I got."

"Wow," Si and Vi said at the same time.

Ron was holding a brand new Iron mace and he looked ecstatic.

"The blacksmith I worked for gave this to me as a present when I told him today I was going hunting outside the city walls for the first time."

"Damn, that’s nice. Do you think he will give us something too?"

"Maybe, man, I'll ask him later."

"Let's go, guys; I can't wait to finally fight some monsters." Vi was shaking with excitement.

"Relax, man! Were too weak to fight anything cool, we'll probably be killing rabbits until were at least level ten!."

"Yeah! The best we can manage is a fox if we gang up on him, even that if we’re lucky."

"Hey Ron I'm not like you, one spell and I can take down a wolf! You probably can't even swing that huge metal ball of yours."

"A wolf? In your dreams! You'll be lucky to kill a rabbit with how weak your noob spells. With this mace I can kill both you guys with one hit."

"Oh yeah? You wanna try swinging that thing at me, ah? Ah?."

"Relax guys, relax. None of us ever fought before, lets see how we deal with a rabbit and we'll see where we go from there." Si Spoke with the voice of reason.

"Ok, men, yeah, let’s get going."

"Wait!" Ron suddenly spoke quietly," You wanna know if I can swing, I'll show you. You see that newbie over there?"

They turned to the direction Ron was looking at.

"Yeah what about him?"

"I'm going to scare him a little."

"Don't, man, what if he fights back?"

"Don't worry, man, I'm not gonna kill him or anything, I'm just gonna scare him a little. You know, give him a friendly welcome into the game. And if he fights, what of it? I'm level six and the guy just logged in for the first time." A smirk appeared on Ron's face.

"I don't like it, Ron, we better just go hunting like we planned." Si tried to calm things down again.

"Relax, Si, look at the way he's moving. We did the same on our first time, remember Ron? Man, that weird feeling of not knowing if what you’re seeing and feeling is real or fake. Do it Ron, he won't touch you even if he tried."

"Yeah." He started walking slowly, trying to get as close as possible without his target noticing.

"We've got your back worry."

"This is going to end badly, I just know it."