3: Avery’s POV

Everything feels so heavy.

My eyelids, my chest and my heart. But the worst part has to be the pain and pressure in my head.

I felt like I was experiencing the migraines of five overworked accountants.

There’s a steady beeping somewhere near my ear, and distant voices—blurred, muffled, like I’m underwater.

Where was I?

What was going on?

“Avery… sweetheart? Avery, can you hear me?”

Dad.

His voice is tight with worry. I force my eyes open.

The hospital room swims into view. I shut my eyes briefly. The whole room is bright, and too white.

My father sits on the edge of the bed, clutching my hand with both of his.

I had not seen him this stressed out since my mother was ill.

Poor dad, he must be so mentally exhausted. He even looked like he aged a few years. How long was I out?

Claudia and Emilia stand near the door, arms crossed like they’re watching something mildly interesting on TV.

A doctor stands near my chart.

I try to speak, but my throat burns.

“Where…?”

“You were in a car accident,” the doctor says gently. “You’re lucky to be alive.”

Car accident? It takes a brief moment for me to remember. Of course. I recall it all now.

I had left Elias’ house and I was crying and driving and there was a bright light and tires screeching.

I hold my head and force myself to take deep breaths. The doctor said that I was lucky to be alive.

Funny. I didn’t feel lucky at all.

Before I can process anything, something flickers above my face.

A blue glow. Soft but unmistakable.

What the hell is that? Is that a floating… screen?

That’s not possible. Is it?

I blink hard.

It’s still there.

Clear. Bright. Hovering inches above me.

<< SYSTEM INITIALIZING… >>

<< HELLO, AVERY MANE. WELCOME TO THE UPGRADE>>

My body goes cold. What am I looking at right now and how does it know my name?

“Dad,” I whisper. “Do you see that?”

“See what, honey?” He squeezes my hand.

The doctor steps closer. “Avery, do you see something?”

“Yes” I whisper.

“Tell me. What exactly do you see?”

“That.” I point weakly. “The… the screen. It’s right there.”

Claudia mutters under her breath,

“Well, it seems She hit her head harder than we thought.”

Emilia snickers softly.

The doctor gives a practiced smile. You know, the kind doctors give when they think you’re confused.

“It’s normal after head trauma. You might be experiencing temporary hallucinations.”

But I know what I’m seeing. Because the screen brightens again, ignoring all of them.

{TASK: SIT UPRIGHT}

{REWARD: $1000}

My heart lurches.

“What the hell……”

My father looks at me, concerned. “Avery? What’s wrong?”

Before I can answer, bold red numbers flash:

{TIMER BEGINS}

{20}

{19}

{18}

Panic rises inside me.

“What is happening?” I whisper.

The screen flashes again, this time with sharp, urgent text:

{DO WELL TO COMPLETE TASK. NOW!}

My breath catches. I had no idea what was happening but I didn’t want to find out what would happen if that timer hit zero.

The doctor must be sure that I am seeing things but whatever this is looks and feels utterly real.

I grip the sheets and force myself upright.

Pain screams through my ribs and my arms shake, but I push, push, push—

Dad gasps.

“Avery! You shouldn’t move—”

The doctor tries to stop me from getting up but I push harder before he gets the chance to stop me.

I reach a sitting position just as the timer hits:

{0}

The screen freezes then another text appears.

{TASK COMPLETE: REWARD GRANTED}

My phone buzzes on the bedside tray.

The sound echoes through the room.

I reach for it with trembling fingers. A bank alert lights up the screen:

“Deposit: $1,000.00

Available balance: $1,236.14”

I stare at the amount.

That’s real money. That’s money in my actual bank account. Did I just get a thousand dollars just by sitting up?

My breath stutters.

The doctor frowns. “Are you okay?”

I nod mechanically, even though nothing makes sense. And I don’t think anything was going to make sense for a little while longer.

The blue screen flickers again.

{ ADDITIONAL REWARD GRANTED: ~LIE DETECTION}

I blink. Lie detection?

What does that even mean?

Claudia’s voice slices through the room.

“Oh thank heavens you’re awake, darling Avery” she says sweetly. “We’ve been so worried. I could hardly get any sleep. I’m so happy you’re out of the coma and back to us”

She placed a hand on my fathers shoulder and he kissed it.

Ugh. Open your eyes, Dad.

A cold tingling shoots through my head. It feels so sudden, sharp, instinctive.

{LIE }

The word isn’t spoken. At least not out loud but I hear it in my head and I can somehow feel it as well.

Of course I didn’t need the screen to tell me that Claudia was a lying snake.

She’s lying.

Emilia, my step sister steps forward, fake concern plastered on her face.

“We thought we were going to lose you, Avery. I was so scared that you weren’t going to wake up. My friends and I prayed for you everyday”

Another jolt.

{ LIE}

My stomach twists. Oh she and her friends prayed alright. Prayed that I never woke up again

Then Dad speaks.

“We’re just glad you’re safe, I love you so much my princess” he whispers, eyes wet.

Warmth spreads through my chest.

{TRUTH}

My father loves me. He just didn’t see who he married or how they truly felt about me.

He also doesn’t see an invisible blue screen that jus gave me a thousand dollars and the ability to detect lies.

My hands tremble on the sheets.

The system pulses above me again—slow, like a heartbeat.

I don’t know what this thing is but I know that it’s something new, something powerful and I’m the only one who can see it.