Gideon smiled broadly, a sense of wonder washing over him as he explored the beautiful, spacious one-floor home, now truly his in this new life.
Once he realized he'd gained Ban as his first template, Gideon quickly bounced off his bed. His initial urge was to explore his new home, holding off on testing his newly gained powers for a later time.
The bedroom door opened directly into a warm, inviting living room. A single leather couch sat on a soft, cream-colored rug, which also centered an oak coffee table. Across from these, a fireplace was built into the wall, with a large flatscreen TV mounted just above it.
All through the living room, tasteful and unique paintings decorated the walls, and several potted plants were carefully placed, adding a touch of life and color. Multiple large windows lined the entire home, inviting the outside in.
To the right of the living room, a high-end kitchen waited. It came fully equipped with top-tier appliances, counters that looked like marble, and a kitchen island perfect for preparing food and washing dishes.
Moving through the living room and then the kitchen, he found a back door.
Opening it, Gideon stood amazed at the modern home gym. Machines filled the space, ranging from simple free weights to bench presses, squat racks, and leg presses. The weights themselves were heavier than any standard equipment he'd known, their numbers climbing far beyond the usual. He also spotted multiple humanoid punching bags, clearly reinforced and built to withstand a brutal pounding.
"What a beautiful place!" Gideon exclaimed, his eyes alight with joy. "This should be a perfect way to train and increase my sync rate."
Leaving the gym, Gideon walked back through the kitchen and into the living room, settling quickly onto the couch. His gaze landed on the coffee table, or more precisely, the items resting there.
A brown leather wallet lay next to a Blackberry mobile phone, and a single piece of paper rested to the side.
Picking up the paper, Gideon quickly scanned its contents.
{Dear Gideon,
I bet you weren't expecting another message from me so soon, but this is just a simple one.
You'll find on the coffee table a wallet and mobile phone. The wallet contains your ID and your bank card.
The Blackberry is the latest model for the current year you're in, preloaded with your own account and unlimited calls, texts, and internet.
You probably won't hear from me for a while, but I suggest you check your bank account.
Your backstory is simple. No parents, raised in an orphanage. You left the foster system at sixteen and used the money you had saved throughout your teenage life to start investing in stocks.
Find the login details below.
Regards, Your friendly OG.}
Snorting in amusement, Gideon folded the note and placed it back on the table. Picking up the phone and turning it on, Gideon quickly found the internet browser and the bookmark for the bank website. Swiftly entering his details, Gideon gave a dramatic cough as his eyes widened in astonishment.
"You said you'd leave me a couple gifts, not become my sugar daddy!"
Counting the zeros, Gideon's arms trembled as he set the phone down. "Two hundred and fifty million dollars," he whispered, the words feeling utterly unreal.
Gideon had not expected anything like this. Sure, he was completely and utterly thankful for a second chance at life. He'd been almost driven to tears when he was granted a system. But now? Now he was given complete and utter financial independence.
His past life had been a tiresome grind of low-wage work, where he was merely a cog in a corporate machine. Growing up in poverty had forced him into work earlier than most, even making him leave school just to ensure food on the table. Though he didn't have much, he was content with the life he had built for himself.
Exhaling a shuddering breath, Gideon slapped his face, a sharp sting meant to cut off the flood of past memories.
"Don't be a pussy. New life now. Can't afford to get emotional thirty minutes in." The sharp sting of the slap instantly brought his spiraling thoughts to a halt.
Standing up, Gideon walked slowly toward the front door. Opening it, he quickly squinted as sunlight broke through the surrounding treeline and hit his eyes.
After a moment to adjust, he turned his head to inspect his home from the outside.
The house was a deep, dark grey, almost black, beneath a sharply angled roof. Its entire front wall was composed of large, clear windows that stretched high to the roof's peak. On the natural rock ground outside, a comfortable seating area with light, creamy white cushions was arranged around a fireplace, while a separate set of dark outdoor chairs and a table stood nearby.
Tall green trees surrounded the house, lending a sense of privacy and and connection to the landscape.
Gideon's eyes widened as he stared at the sleek machine parked to the side of his home. The 2005 Porsche 911 Turbo was painted in a gunmetal grey, its body gleaming as sunlight played across its surface.
'Okay, beautiful home? Check. Dream car? Check.' Walking towards the car he'd always wanted, Gideon spotted a pair of keys resting on the driver's seat.
Opening the door, he picked them up, his gaze sweeping over the rich leather seating and sleek interior. He let out a low whistle, then slid into the driver's seat. Turning the key, he grinned widely as the engine rumbled to life, a powerful, quiet purr.
Pulling out of the parking spot, Gideon slowly guided the car away from the house and down the driveway, his attention on his surroundings.
A thick line of trees, leading into the deeper forest, surrounded the driveway on either side. The gravel crunched softly under the tires, feeling almost freshly laid as he glided along. His slow drive eventually led him to the main road ahead.
Unsure which way to go, he took a chance and turned right, hoping for a sign that would lead him to a main road.
Turning on the radio, Gideon leaned further into his seat as his mind wandered.
'So, what now? I don't really have any objective in this life. I've got money and a home, two things I would have had to focus on. I don't know the exact point in time I've been sent, or even if this is the same version of Twilight I know about.'
The thought of landing in some messed-up alternate universe made Gideon shiver with concern. A highway sign then appeared, confirming he'd chosen the right direction, and he continued on.
'I'm too old to go to Forks High School, that's for sure. I doubt I'd even want to go if I was that age though. It's wild how the Cullens spend their lives in high school. I don't really need a job, but I need a way to interact with the town more than just going grocery shopping once a week.'
Gideon's mind whirled with questions he simply couldn't answer without spending more time in Forks. Following the sign, he turned left down the forked road and noticed the first signs of life since he began driving twenty minutes ago.
Forks was a dreary town, known as the coldest and wettest place in the continental US. It held a population of less than three thousand people, most having lived there since childhood. The town had no concept of commercialization: no fast food, just one gas station, a single grocery store, and a handful of family-owned shops.
Fortunately, it was a four-hour drive from Seattle, the closest city. Most residents had a slight aversion to big city life, so they usually drove north to Port Angeles, only an hour away.
At the first red light Gideon encountered, he glanced outside, realizing he was at the entrance to the town's main strip. His high-end car stood out, surrounded by pickup trucks and simple family cars, drawing curious glances.
Humming along to the radio, Gideon smiled at the people stopped next to him. The woman driving returned the smile, with a gentle one of her own.
'At least they don't seem to mind tourists or new people, if this lady's response is anything to go by.'
A glance at the car's clock made him click his tongue, a thought sparking in his mind. Cruising slowly through the main strip, Gideon kept an eye out for a particular destination he'd considered. A few minutes of slow driving later, his eyebrows lifted in victory.
'Carver Cafe! I can grab a meal and people-watch for a bit.'
Taking a left into the driveway, Gideon found a spare parking spot and turned off his engine before stepping out and locking the car. Looking down at his clothing, he let out a defeated sigh as he realized he hadn't changed into more appropriate attire.
Shaking his head and taking a step forward, Gideon paused as he watched two people exit a car.
'That answers my question about my arrival time,' he thought, his eyes focusing on Charlie and Bella Swan as they stepped out of a cruiser.
-------------
Drop a follow, leave a comment or donate some stones! <3