Juan Harrison's Arc

Chapter 1 of 9

Juan Harrison stood in the shadows across from Mercury Solutions, watching the lights glow in the third-floor windows. His gray fedora sat low on his head. The company had taken everything from him—his invention, his savings, his future. They had smiled and shaken his hand while their lawyers buried him in paperwork he couldn't afford to fight. Now he wanted to watch it all burn. He pulled his gaze from the building and started walking. Mercury Solutions wasn't his target tonight. That would come later. First, he needed to understand what he was really capable of doing. His hands shook as he moved down the sidewalk, not from fear but from anger that still burned hot after three years. The Liquor Hut sat ahead, its bright sign cutting through the darkness. The small store had wide windows and colorful displays of bottles inside. This place meant nothing to him. No memories. No history. It would be his test run, a way to see if he could actually go through with the plan forming in his mind. He stopped at the corner and stared at the cheerful storefront. If he could do this, he could do anything. Juan walked past The Liquor Hut without going inside. His feet kept moving down the block until he reached a strip mall. A large shop window caught his eye. Metal display cases behind the glass held business cards and flyers. He scanned the notices—yard sales, guitar lessons, missing cats. His eyes stopped on a small advertisement for The Liquor Hut. Grand opening three months ago. Family owned. He touched the cold glass with his fingertips. A family business. People depending on it. Juan stepped back from the window. He turned and looked down the empty street. The Liquor Hut's bright sign still glowed in the distance. He couldn't do it. Not to them. But Mercury Solutions was different. They had destroyed him on purpose, with lawyers and lies. That fire would burn exactly where it needed to. He needed a place to prepare. Somewhere hidden where he could gather what he needed without questions. Juan walked through the quiet streets until he found a bungalow with an open garage door. He glanced around, then stepped inside. The concrete floor showed cracks near the back wall. He knelt and ran his fingers along the edges until he found a loose section. Below it, darkness opened into the old tunnels beneath Killead. Perfect. He could store everything down there until he was ready. Mercury Solutions had stolen three years of his life. Soon they would pay for every single day.