The Echelon Tower

Chapter 0 - Phantasm

*Note: Chapter 0 and 1 are essentially the same chapter that I split in two because of length. As they are prologues, almost no action. Stuff starts at chapter 2*

...

August 30th, 2020, Canada, Montreal.

In the west of the Montreal Island, where the more fortunate resided, a boy was waiting in line at an electronics store.

He was a tall teen that looked about 16 years old although he was only 14. He had a face that would be described as handsome due to his green almond eyes, thick eyebrows, a thin nose, full lips and a square chin. He had brown matte hair cut in an undercut style, which accentuated its waviness.

"Hum, hum, hum, huummmm~"

"Shut your mouth"

A strong female voice suddenly interrupted Jonathan's joyful humming.

"Ay, someone is in a foul mood today."

"Hmph."

The angry person was a young girl, who was also 14 years old. She was standing next to Jonathan with her arms crossed and had an annoyed look on her face. Part of that was because she had been waiting in line for a long time but also because she kept attracting glances from young boys here.

But how could you blame them? It was truly rare to see such a fine girl.

Large grey eyes, long blond hair in a ponytail, full pink lips, round chin, beautifully curved eyebrows. What could a guy ask for more? Furthermore, she was a quarter Japanese, which gave her a unique and attractive look that produced admiration and curiosity. Even her body wasn't something you could find on an ordinary 14-year-old girl. Toned legs, large hips with an ample posterior and full breast where each a rarity at this age, so saying that this all-in-one was a feast for the eyes was an understatement.

"Steph, you aren't helping your case by having your arms crossed under your boobs you know?" Jonathan sneakily pointed out with a mocking tone.

Although she had said nothing, Jonathan had clearly seen through her. After all, they had been best friends since they were in diapers. If he couldn't figure out this much about her train of thoughts, he might as well go to handicap school.

".." Stephanie simply stared at him, not knowing what to say. Although the best course of action right now would be to change her arm posture, now that her friend had pointed it out, she couldn't do it. Her pride was too large for that. As such, she simply grinded her teeth and endured.

"You know you didn't have to come here right? There's leaving bus toward our houses in 5 minutes. If you walk fast, you should be able to catch it."

"Hmph! How could I abandon you here with all these creepers? It's my responsibility as a friend to be with you."

"Yes ma'am, whatever you say." Jonathan lazily answered. Sigh, if only she didn't have such a huge ego her life would be much simpler.

"But you know, not everyone here is a creeper, it's just that a series of events have led many people to come here, not just geeks."

"Shut up."

"Yes mom."

Although Stephanie didn't want to admit defeat, what Jonathan had said was indeed the truth.

Today was the launch of the latest virtual reality headset, the Phantasm. The company that constructed it, RealVision, had announced it as the opener to a "new age of virtual reality." And from what people saw from its premiere at CES, that was indeed the case.