Jackim_Ochieng

Elias Stone, an 18-year-old student from a humble background, is constantly mocked, abandoned, and heartbroken due to his poverty. Living in a world where beauty, status, and wealth dominate, he endures pain and betrayal from those closest to him. His life takes a sudden turn when he stumbles upon a mysterious watch that grants him tasks, each tied to a unique reward but also a hidden cost. As Elias navigates the treacherous waters of student life—full of parties, peer pressure, drugs, competition, lust, and heartache—he discovers a darker side to the world he inhabits. With every task, he gains power, but the price for his growing strength might just be his soul. In a world full of fake love, secret romances, and corruption, Elias must decide whether to use the power of the watch for revenge or redemption, all while facing the ultimate test: does true love exist, or is it just another illusion in a world built on deception?

THE WATCH

The cab weaved through the chaotic streets like a bullet, and Joyce was clearly a woman who didn't believe in speed limits—or turn signals.

Elias clutched the soda she had tossed him, the fizziness barely distracting him from the storm raging inside his mind.

How deep does this rabbit hole go?"

Joyce's dark eyes flicked to him in the rearview mirror.

"He was trouble," she said with a fond, almost sad smile. "But the good kind of trouble."

Joyce pulled into an abandoned gas station, killing the headlights.

Outside, the city was alive with noise—sirens, shouting, the low rumble of life grinding on.

Elias felt a lump form in his throat.

Life had ripped it away before he could even live it.

And now everyone else seemed to know more about his father than he ever would.

Joyce rummaged through a giant duffel bag in her back seat and pulled out a tattered notebook.

"This," she said dramatically, "is The Big Book of Surviving the Apocalypse, Written by Yours Truly."

Elias blinked. "Wait, you... actually wrote that?"

"Self-published on Amazon," she said proudly. "Zero sales. But you'll be glad I did."

Rule #42: Trust No One Who Wears Sunglasses at Night.

Joyce winked. "Told ya, I'm a professional."

Elias couldn't help it—a laugh escaped him.

Maybe for the first time in weeks, he didn't feel so alone.

Reward: Expert Driving Ability + Minor Car Repair Knowledge.

Elias stared at the Watch, then at Joyce.

"You know... it just gave me a task. To learn how to drive."

Joyce leaned over the seat, grinning wickedly.

"Good thing you're with the best, kid. Buckle up."

First attempt: Elias mistook the gas pedal for the brake and almost launched them into a trashcan.

Second attempt: He forgot to check mirrors and nearly flattened a crossing cat.

Third attempt: He confidently parallel parked... into a mailbox.

"At least you hit something! Improvement!"

As the clock ticked down and the Watch buzzed again, a rush of knowledge surged into Elias' mind.

Suddenly he knew how to drift, how to hotwire a car in an emergency, how to fix a flat tire with duct tape and stubbornness.

It was mastery—forced into him by the mysterious technology on his wrist.

After hours of practice, Elias slumped against the hood of the cab, exhausted.

"How am I supposed to live a normal life?" he whispered. "I'm just... a kid."

Joyce joined him, pulling out a battered cigarette she didn't light—just chewed.

"There is no normal, kid. Just different levels of crazy. Yours is just... more obvious now."

Just surviving one crazy day at a time.

As they rested, a shadowy figure across the street watched them through binoculars.

Profession: Unknown (Suspected Mercenary)

Appearance: Pale skin, icy gray eyes, angular jaw, always dressed in black suits

Personality: Cold, calculating, methodical

Flaws: Underestimates emotional bonds, overconfident

Skills: Tactical tracking, firearms, hand-to-hand combat expert

A distorted voice crackled in reply:

Chapter 58: A Dead Man’s Favors