Jason Blackwell's Rise To Power

CHAPTER 6

Jason stared at the gun pointed directly at his chest. For several seconds, nobody moved.

His eyes slowly shifted from the weapon to Marcus's face.

"Marcus..." His voice was low. "What are you doing?"

Marcus remained silent.

Jason took one cautious step backward. "You brought me here. You told me my mother would be saved. You told me I won one hundred billion dollars. And now you're pointing a gun at me?"

Marcus's expression remained cold. "Put your hands where I can see them."

Jason slowly raised both hands. "Why?"

"Just do it."

Jason obeyed, his eyes remained fixed on Marcus. "Are you working for Christian?"

Marcus's jaw tightened."No."

"Then why are you holding a gun?"

Marcus didn't answer.

Jason's voice became louder. "Answer me!"

Suddenly, a woman's voice came through the speakers. "Jason..."

Jason froze.

It was Davina again. "Don't trust Marcus."

Jason turned toward the ceiling. "Davina?" 

Her voice continued. "He's lying to you."

Marcus immediately looked toward the speakers. "Shut that system down."

Several technicians rushed toward the control room.

Jason looked at Marcus. "You know where she is?"

Marcus ignored him. "Turn around." 

Jason didn't move. "Where is my wife?"

Marcus's expression changed slightly. "She's not your wife anymore."

Jason's eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me what she is, just tell me where she is."

Marcus pointed the gun closer to his chest. "Turn around."

Jason slowly turned. A large glass wall stood behind him and beyond it was a massive room filled with computer screens.

On one of the screens was a live video of St. Vincent Medical Center.

Jason's eyes widened. "That's my mother's hospital."

Marcus said nothing.

Jason stepped closer to the glass. "Is that live?"

"Yes."

"Then why did you bring me here?" Jason asked. 

"Because you need to see something." Marcus stated.

Jason looked back at him. "What?"

Marcus lowered the gun slightly. "Look at the screen."

Jason turned toward the monitor. His mother's room appeared. Doctors were moving around her bed and a surgical team was preparing for the operation.

Jason released a breath. "She's alive."

"Yes."

"And the surgery has started?” Jason asked. 

"Yes."

Jason looked relieved for the first time. "Then lower the gun."

Marcus didn't move.

Jason frowned. "If you wanted to hurt me, you would've done it already."

Marcus remained silent.

Jason slowly walked toward him. "Who are the three billionaires?"

Marcus finally answered. "You'll meet them soon."

"Are they behind all of this?" Jason asked.

"Yes."

"Why me?" He asked again.

Marcus looked at him carefully. "Because they believe you are the only person capable of stopping what is coming."

Jason laughed bitterly. "Stopping what?"

Marcus hesitated. Then suddenly a loud alarm filled the facility.

Everyone turned toward the screens and 

one of the technicians shouted, "Sir!"

Marcus immediately turned. "What happened?”

"We've lost connection to the hospital."

Jason's face changed. "What?"

The technician continued nervously. "The payment system has been breached."

Marcus rushed toward the control room.

Jason followed him. "What does that mean?"

Marcus looked at the screen."The surgical payment has been reversed."

Jason froze. "What?"

Marcus's face became serious. "Someone has taken control of the account."

Jason's breathing became heavier. "You said my mother was safe."

"She was."

"Then fix it!"

"We're trying."

Jason grabbed Marcus by the collar. "Fix it!"

Marcus didn't resist. "I will."

"My mother is in that operating room!"

"I know."

"Then stop standing there!"

Marcus looked directly into Jason's eyes. "I'm not the one who did this."

Jason released him. "Then who did?"

Nobody answered. Suddenly, another message appeared across every screen.

WELCOME TO TEST TWO.

Jason stared at it. Then another line appeared.

ONE BILLION DOLLARS WILL BE REMOVED EVERY TEN MINUTES.

Jason's eyes widened. "What does that mean?"

Marcus looked at him."It means someone is draining your money."

Jason stared at the screen. "How much do I have left?"

A technician checked the system, his face turned pale. "Sir..."

"What?"

"One billion dollars has already disappeared."

Jason's expression changed. "One billion?"

The technician nodded. "And another billion is being processed."

Jason looked at Marcus. "Stop it."

"We're trying."

"Stop it!"

Marcus turned toward the technicians. "Lock every external connection."

"We can't."

"Why?"

"Because whoever is doing this already has administrator access." The technician said.

Marcus's face hardened.

Jason suddenly remembered Christian's words.

"The money was only bait." He slowly looked toward the giant screen. "Christian."

Marcus looked at him. "What?"

"Christian is behind this." Jason said.

Marcus shook his head. "We don't know that."

"I know him. He wouldn't miss an opportunity like this."

Marcus stared at Jason for a moment. Then he slowly lowered his gun.

"Perhaps."

Jason frowned. "What?"

Marcus walked toward a large metal table and placed the black card on it.

"You said you wanted to know what this really is."

Jason stared at the card. "Yes."

Marcus pushed it toward him. "Then take it."

Jason slowly picked it up. The moment his fingers touched the card, every screen in the facility suddenly went black.

A single message appeared.

IDENTITY VERIFIED.

Jason stared at the screen, then another message appeared. 

JASON BLACKWELL.

ACCESS LEVEL: UNLIMITED.

Jason's eyes widened. "What is this?"

Marcus looked at him. "Your inheritance."

Jason froze. "My what?"

Marcus took a deep breath."The three billionaires didn't choose you because you won a lottery."

"Then why?"

Marcus looked directly into Jason's eyes. "Because your father was one of them."

Jason's face went completely pale. "My father died when I was six."

Marcus shook his head. "That's what you were told."

Before Jason could respond, the entire facility suddenly shook.

A massive explosion echoed somewhere above them.

People screamed.

The lights flickered.

Marcus immediately grabbed Jason and pulled him behind a concrete barrier.

Jason looked at him in shock. "What just happened?"

Marcus pulled out another weapon. "They found us."

"Who?" He asked in confusion. 

Marcus looked toward the entrance. "The people who killed your father."

Jason's heart stopped. "My father was murdered?"

Marcus nodded. "And now..."

He looked at the black card in Jason's hand. "...they've come for you