Wicked Justice

While I was sitting there, staring at the ceiling, piecing together everything that had happened, the message from before—the one I heard as I was falling from the bridge—flashed through my mind again.

[System activation commencing. Would you like to be chosen for a second chance?]

I couldn't shake it. That voice… those words. What did it mean? Why did it choose me? And what exactly was this "second chance"?

But I couldn't tell Tessa. Not yet. This was something I had to figure out on my own.

Ding!

I froze. My heart raced as I sat up on the bed, scanning the room for the source of the sound.

Ding!

There it was again, but this time, it wasn't just a noise. A glowing screen appeared in front of me, floating in midair, its light softly illuminating the dim room.

[System Alert: Would you like to begin your second chance? Y/N]

The words glowed faintly, but the message hit me like a freight train. My breath caught in my throat.

Should I trust this?

I hesitated, my hand trembling. None of this felt real—it couldn't be real. My mind screamed at me to ignore it, to brush it off as some hallucination brought on by stress and everything I'd been through.

But deep down, I knew it wasn't.

"What the hell is this?"

The screen didn't respond. It just hovered there, waiting, as if it could sense my hesitation. Then, suddenly, a timer appeared at the bottom.

[00:59:59]

The countdown began. One hour. That's all I had to decide.

I clenched my fists, torn between fear and curiosity. This "second chance"... what did it mean? I had already been saved from death once. Did this thing offer a better life?

The seconds ticked away, my pulse quickening. My hand hovered over the [Y] button.

If this is my chance to find answers… if this is real…

I took a deep breath and tapped the screen.

It flickered for a moment, and then the words shifted.

[Second Chance Initiated. Welcome, Kai.]

The air around me grew still as if the entire world had stopped.

And in that moment, everything changed. The screen's light grew brighter, and suddenly, lines of text began to appear one after the other.

[Analyzing user... Initializing system integration...]

[Stats Assessment Complete.]

The screen displayed a list of stats, each set to 1/100:

[Strength: 3] [Speed: 2] [Combat: 1] [Defense: 1] [Energy: 3] [Resilience: 1] [Stealth: 1] [Willpower: 1] [Wisdom: 3] [Charisma: 2] [Endurance: 2]

At the bottom, another line appeared:

[Affection Stat Unlocked: Tessa - [5/100]]

I blinked at the screen, stunned. Tessa? Affection? What did that mean? Why was her name there?

"What… what the hell is this?!"

I said aloud, but the System had already moved on to the next notification.

[Quest System Unlocked. New Quest Assigned.]

Another message replaced the stats screen, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as I read it.

[Quest: Push Your Limits] [100 Push-Ups] [100 Sit-Ups] [10-Mile Run] [Time Limit: 24 Hours] [Reward: +3 Strength, +2 Endurance, +1 Resilience]

I stared at the glowing text, my mind racing. This wasn't just some game. Whatever this was, it had rules—rules I'd have to follow if I wanted answers.

I stood up, my legs trembling slightly, and clenched my fists.

"Alright," I muttered under my breath. "If this is the start of my second chance, then I'll take it."

I dropped to the floor, beads of sweat dripping down my face as I finished the 100th push-up. My arms trembled, my muscles screaming at me for pushing them this hard, but the satisfaction of completing the first part of the quest was undeniable.

"Push-ups… done," I muttered between heavy breaths.

Without wasting time, I flipped onto my back and began the sit-ups. Each movement burned, my core on fire, but something about the System's challenge kept me going. It wasn't just the stats or the rewards—it was the sense of purpose.

"98… 99… 100," I groaned, collapsing back onto the floor once I finished. My shirt was drenched, and my body ached like I'd just gone through boot camp, but I couldn't stop now.

The final part of the quest awaited me—a 10-mile run.

I pulled myself up, grabbed a water bottle, and took a few gulps before heading to the door. As my hand touched the doorknob, a thought crossed my mind.

"Wait… won't Tessa think I ran away and tried ending it?"

I froze, my mind flashing back to when we were on the bridge—both of us falling, our eyes locking onto each other in terror.

"Eh," I said, shrugging it off. "She'll probably just think I went out for some fresh air. No big deal."

With that, I stepped outside, the cool night air hitting my sweat-soaked skin. I tightened my shoelaces and jogged into the darkness, determined to finish what I started.

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Tessa stood behind the cashier counter, her white hair cascading down her back in soft waves. Her skin was a tannish white, the warm glow of it contrasting against the sterile lights of the convenience store. Her eyes, a striking shade of gray, were sharp and observant, constantly scanning the room, yet there was a softness to them that hinted at an underlying vulnerability.

Her body was curvy, a busty figure hidden beneath the casual, form-fitting uniform she wore—a red shirt and dark jeans. Despite the attention her appearance often attracted, she carried herself with an air of indifference, focusing on the task at hand and serving customers with utmost professionalism. Still, there was a restlessness to her, a quiet longing for something more, something better.

Tonight, like most nights, she was working her shift at the convenience store, the hum of the coolers and the occasional beep of the register being the only sounds in the otherwise quiet space. Her thoughts wandered to Kai, wondering if he was okay if he'd ever come to terms with everything that had happened.

She wasn't expecting anything that night until three guys walked into the store.

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Sorry if the pacing is a bit slow! I really like to add detail to help you, the reader, create a clear picture in your head. I prefer not to leave too much out, so you don't end up confused or left with unanswered questions. I hope you're enjoying the novel so far. If you have any suggestions or corrections, feel free to let me know!