SPOILERS FOR BLOODMONEY! AND HUMAN EXPENDITURE PROGRAM
Nine years have passed since the events of HUMAN EXPENDITURE PROGRAM.
Toby Harvington is now 14 years old. Like his late father, Harvey, he is kind hearted and believes in the best in people.
Like his mother, Eun-mi, he is very intelligent. Perhaps too intelligent for his own good.
And for the past nine years, heâs been asking himself questions - what actually happened to his father? Why did he disappear? Why did he and his mom have to keep moving and changing schools? Why did his mom keep such strict access of the Internet and social media? Why wasnât he allowed to make friends or tell people his real last name?
âŚWhy did his mom keep so much wine bottles in the house? Why did she flinch whenever he mentioned Dad?
Well, like any curious teen, he goes looking for answers. And he finds them.
ThereâsâŚa lot of evidence. Including recordings. And the hidden message Dad had left behind.
It takes him a while, but he eventually confronts his mother. Shows her the evidence.
At first, she deflects. She denies. She claims the evidence is fake. When that doesnât work, she justifies, she downplays her actions. Then she accuses him of going behind her back, of being ungrateful for all sheâs done for him.
Heâs not angry. Not really. Honestly, sheâs made this a lot easier.
Two sleeping pills in her wine glass is all it takes. She didnât even notice until it was too late.
As stated before, Toby is very intelligent. He was able to replicate the virtual reality simulator Eun-mi created with little reference. With some differences.
First, the simulation is based off Eun-miâs own memories. Second, Eun-mi is unaware that sheâs in a simulation (at first). Third, she has complete control over her own choices and actions.
He wants to see if his mom will make a different choice. If sheâs capable of learning from her mistakes.
She doesnât. Not the first loop. Or the second. Or the fifth.
Every time, he hits reset. Every time, she wakes up from her ânightmareâ and starts all over, unaware that sheâs stuck in a computer program. Forced to relive the events that ruined her and her familyâs lives.
And sheâll keep reliving it. Until she starts learning her lesson. Until she proves she can change.
Tobyâs not a monster. He loves his mother, despite everything. He canât bring himself to outright torture her like she did to Dad, no matter how angry he is.
He just wants her to understand. To care.
