The Balancing Point Chapter 3

"They took advantage of you J."

Opening my eyes revealed another figure standing where Riley had been moments before. He stood chest out and shoulders back in pride, just as he always did when he was alive.

"Grant…"

I moaned in guilt. Grant was here now. Probably to remind me of how I couldn't save him. How I had to leave his body behind as I escaped. How he will never be buried with the rest of his army buddies like he wanted. Rubbing my eyes tiredly, I readied myself for the onslaught.

"Citra used you."

He stated bluntly, our eyes meeting. He gave me a brotherly chastising look but other than that said nothing. I was confused. Citra? But how did he know about Citra? He was killed before we got out of Vaas' encampment.

"H-how do you…"

He cut me off and reached out to me, his hand resting in the air in front of him as if he was patting a shoulder.

"You probably didn't have a lot of other options, right? You thought 'two birds with one stone'? It's okay J. You were always quick to learn. How to skate, swim, skydive…"

He chuckled at this as if it was some sort of amusing joke. After a few seconds he composed himself. Grant gave me a serious look. His blue eyes shining with an emotion I didn't recognise.

"…Surviving and killing are just another skill to be learned. They taught us how to in the army. They taught us how to fight for what we believe in and protect those we care about. But I never protected you like I promised."

He looked away as if in shame. My stomach twisted in knots at his words. Taking a step towards the edge, I got as close to my older brother as I could. But I just couldn't seem to get close enough to reach out and touch him. It wasn't fair, I just wanted nothing more than to cling to my brother and never let go. But it seems even that was taken away from me here, wherever I was. Grant eyed me curiously.

"No Grant. It was my fault. We shouldn't have taken that trip. We should have headed back home like Liza wanted. The skydiving was my idea and look where it got us? You were killed and me? Fuck, I don't even know what's happening to me. Maybe I'm dead too."

Grant shook his head slowly at me and gave me a peaceful smile.

"There's no point in passing blame. It wouldn't change anything anyways. I just wanted to see you one more time. J, you really have changed since I last saw you."

His image flickered with those last words and unlike the other times where I was left alone. The sides of the pathway seemed to fill with dozens of people. Some I recognized, but most I didn't. They were standing along the trail, yelling and crying at me. Some were flipping me off and screaming obscenities at me. Whatever was going on, it was apparently not good for me. I could feel it in the crowd. Almost everything being said was negative and worst of all, it was being directed at me.

"You never fuckin' cared, did you? Don't try and say otherwise you fuckin' pig! Did you hear me? I said you're a fu….."

"Why Jason? I loved you…"

"Where are you going man? What are you too cool to be seen around us anymore?"

"Ohhhh, big rich boy, spending dad's money like…"

"I just wanted you to show up to my ceremony. I was getting my licence. Why didn't you show up?"

"Jason, you can't die now amigo. I'm not fucking done with you! You hear me?"

That voice. It stood out from all the others and I recognized it almost immediately. The accent was a dead giveaway. It was Vaas. But where was he? I did a full 360 turn but to no avail, I couldn't see the psychopath anywhere. Gritting my teeth in annoyance, I began running. I ran past the familiar faces that seemed to blur together as I darted down the trail. Their voices seemed to fade into the background, becoming white noise. Eventually I reached a part of the pathway that began climbing up like stairs. Taking the steps two by two, I continued running till all I could hear was my heartbeat and the ticking of the clock in the background.

A few more steps and I found myself on a large circle like platform being created by none other than TV screen. The dull light radiating off of the monitors illuminated two figures ahead of me. One laying on the ground the other kneeling above. As I got closer the lights seemed to get brighter till everything was surrounded in white. Everything had faded, except for the two people in front of me. My heart was pounding in my chest like a drum. These two seemed different from the others. For one, they weren't yelling at me. But they seemed focused on nothing but each other. The closer I got to them, the harder my heart seemed to beat. My eyes widened when I saw who one of the figures were. Broad muscular shoulders, red tank top, hair cut into a mohawk. It was impossible to mistake him for anyone else.

"Vaas…."

The other figure was being cradled in his arms like an infant. He was holding them in a seemingly loving gesture. I strained to see over Vaas` shoulder to get a better look at the other person. My eyes widened in surprise when I recognized who it was.

Very short chapter here. just trying to build up what i figured was going on in jason's head when he was wandering along. in the game, grant should of showed up since he was an important part of his life before he went insane. i mean, i get that vaas' is important but so are his brothers. im trying to build up jason so i can break him down later. *sighs contently* i love torturing my characters :)