Late nights

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Harry made the first hit, Tom's nose started immediately bleeding. He didn't defend himself, he didn't fight back, he just took the punch and stood on the sidewalk with a bleeding nose. Harry gestured for others to join in. One hit after another, it was getting harder for Tom to keep standing, so he collapsed on the ground. The hit made Harry and his friends stop hitting him.

- That's right cowboy, stay on the ground. - Harry took the last kick.

- That was a bit harsh, wasn't it? - Olivia looked at Tom.

- I have never crossed a man that didn't deserve it. Alright, let's get out of here.

Tom waited for Harry, Olivia, and their friends to walk away. He stood up, even though it was hard to breathe - his ribs were hurting, his legs were quivering and it felt like his left eye was full of liquid. Tom looked around and saw a camera on the corner. "Score", he thought. He got home as fast as he could, which was slower than average. Tom took off his shirt, turned on the garage light, and took pictures of his whole body and face.

- Jesus Christ, what happened to you? - Toms mom asked, seeing him lock up the garage.

- Everything is fine mom.

- Clearly not. Who did this to you? You need to take action, you know. - She comfortably smiled.

- Who did this? - Tom asked himself. - My thralls, that's who. Anyway, I'm gonna go upstairs to my room and I'm gonna call my lawyer.

- You sound like a middle-aged man saying that you know? I love you boo, if you need any help, tell me. - Toms mom said as he was walking up the stairs.

- Yup, love you. - He closed his door.

Tom sat down on his bed in his small room and called his lawyer - he assumed he'd need one at some point. They had a calm and professional conversation over the phone. Tom's lawyer said he would take care of everything, and Tom was getting excited.

- I'm going to the police station mom, be right back. - Tom said and went out.

- It's late already... - She said, while Tom was already outside.

Tom, using all his will and power ran to the police station to make a report. He told the officers there all the information, everyone's names, he even pointed out the camera and let the police do their job.

The next morning his body was aching as it had never ached before. Emily was coming into the garage when she saw Tom.

- What the hell happened to you? - She ran to him.

- Nothing of concern.

- What do you mean by "nothing of concern"? You look like you were run over in a car.

- I have looked better, yes, but wounds heal and science is forever.

- So are you going to tell me what happened or will you leave me to figure that out by myself?

- Nothing serious. Harry and his goons just had some hunch, I guess. Worry not, my friend, as they will make us rich.

- Harry did this? - Emily started getting red, - I swear if he comes even close I will put my hands around his neck and make sure not a single piece of air reaches his lungs ever again.

- That was quite aggressive, but also passionate. You know, passion is very strong. Passionate creators can achieve a lot. Unfortunately, passionate destroyers also can achieve big things...A person is either a creator or a destroyer...And if a person is both - that's scary.

- You're trying to dodge the topic, I see what you're doing. I need to smoke. - Emily touched around her pockets.

- You don't. Your body doesn't require nicotine to survive. You want it, but you don't need it.

- Yeah, I know, I'm not dense. I've been trying to quit but it's not working.

- Addiction is quite serious, but go ahead, I'll be here.

Emily went to the backyard to smoke a cigarette, while Tom was organizing everything on his shelves. He wanted to get back to the non-fog glasses but instead decided to learn some chess and read some chess books.

- Chess, huh? - Emily grabbed some pieces.

- Yep, it's an interesting game. Also, you smell like cigarettes.

- Considering I just had one, I'd say that's not unlikely. Listen, I had a revenge plan, what if we somehow Olivia hate him?

- That won't work, - Tom moved some chess pieces, - because just like in chess, just because you lost the queen, doesn't mean you lost the game.

- So what do you suggest?

- Well, I had a thought yesterday. - Tom smiled.