[ A ROMANTIC DINNER DATE WITH ROSETTA ] I watched as Diana walk up towards our table with Jonas, and without asking for permission, she brought out a chair and sat down facing us. "What do you want?" I asked with anger; it was clear Diana was going to ruin the date I was having with Rosetta."I can see you brought your crippled girlfriend out for some dinner." Jonas looked at her and asked, "Where is her chair, or did you have to piggyback her all the way down here?" he added Rosetta wanted to talk, but I calmed her down. I looked around and didn't want to constitute a nuisance. "Can you state your business and leave?" "That is harsh, babe. I came because I saw you. Don't tell me you are picking this cripple over me. Over this body." Diana said as she stood up to her feet to show me some part of her body. Jonas looked at her, irritated. "What do you see in this loser, and why do you want him so badly?" There are many guys on campus who would be glad to have someone like you." Jona
{ CONTRACT TERMINATION }I looked at the message that appeared on my phone, and my heart raced faster. "What is this? Why does the system have to go this far? Are they trying to test my ability?" I looked at the message again as I strapped the bag to my back. Xavier noticed the look on my face. "Is everything alright, Fred?" he asked. Rosetta, who also noticed my mood, looked at me. "Are you alright? It seems you have seen a ghost." I was quiet as my heart raced continuously. "I am fine. Can we go now?" I looked at Xavier and said, " Seat belt, please." Xavier said, igniting the car.Rosetta stole a quick glance at me again and slowly held my hand. "You are going to be fine. I mean, we are going to be fine. We just need to stick to the plan." I slowly brought out my phone and looked at the message again. I knew I couldn't take on Titus without the Shadow Blade. I don't know much about his avatar or how strong he is. I looked at the message again and read it all over again to be sur
{ ALL HELL LOSE}I entered my car as I raced behind Zack. He was driving like a maniac, cursing everyone as he drove along the busy road. I took my phone and called him, but he was not picking up my call. "Pick your call, damn it!" I shouted in anger, hitting my steering wheel. Zack almost collided with an oncoming vehicle and lashed out angrily at the man. "Fuck you!" he shouted, showing the middle finger.Zack drove towards the school and walked out of the car, racing towards the Jonas department. "Zack! Zack! Wait!" I shouted, running after him like some puppy. Zack walked into Jonas's class as he eye-rolled around, looking for his prey. "There you are!" Zack said he was climbing the table right in front of him. He landed a blow to Jonas's face and broke his nose. The class was in uproar to see both of them fight. Jonas got up, holding his broken nose. Christopher wasn't to barge in, but Jonas pushed him back. "I can handle his one," he said, tilting his head to the back a litt
{ PREPARATION TOWARDS EXAMINATION AND FINAL FIGHT OF THE TERM}Zack glanced at the group of hoodlums, his expression tense with a mix of apprehension and determination. "We can't let them intimidate us," he muttered, his fists clenching at his sides.I stepped forward, facing the group squarely. "What do you want?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me.One of the hoodlums, a burly guy with a sneer plastered on his face, stepped forward. "We heard there was a little scuffle back there," he said, jerking his thumb in the direction of the school building. "And we figured we'd come to see what all the fuss was about.""We don't want any trouble," I replied, glancing at Zack, who stood beside me, his jaw set in determination.The hoodlum laughed, a harsh sound that grated on my nerves. "Well, trouble seems to follow you two around like a bad smell," he said, his eyes narrowing as he looked us up and down. "But maybe we can help each other ou
{ AN HUNGER TO PROVE MYSELF}As the realization sank in that the tournament date had been set, a surge of adrenaline coursed through me. This was it—the final showdown, the ultimate test of strength and skill. But more than that, it was a chance to prove to myself and everyone else that I was capable and that I could overcome any obstacle in my path. Also, it was time to prove it to Mr. Dickson. I was not someone to be taken lightly. I was going to best Titus and claim the prize. Titus's taunts echoed in my mind, fueling the fire of determination burning within me. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. "I'm not scared of you, Titus," I declared, my voice steady despite the nervous energy humming through my veins. "I've faced tougher challenges than you, and I've always come out on top."Titus chuckled, a sound that grated on my nerves. "We'll see about that," he said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "But mark my words: when we face off in the tournament, I won't hold ba
{ TOWARD THE END OF THE SEMESTER}I walk up towards Rosetta and kissed her. "I thought you wanted some time alone to think. I saw you were not too happy during the drive down to school. Is there anything bothering you?" I looked at Rose and smiled. "I just have a lot to think about, not to mention my low GPA." Rosetta smiled "Do you want to study with me?" she asked, still holding onto my hand. "We practically live in the same house, so I don't see how that is not possible." I laughed Davina looked at us and was about to walk away. Rosetta left me and walked towards her. "You have better stay away from my man. You had your chances with him, and you blew it." Davina said nothing but simply walked out of sight. Zack looked at us and said, "Can we go now?" He said, gently trying to hide his scar from Rosetta. "What happened to your face?" Rose asked, holding his chin up, to have a closer look. "Jonas did." I replied, walking in front of them while they walked behind me. " What! You
{ THE PLAN}We all looked at the wide screen in front of us and wondered how Jonas's father had managed to kill the leading candidate. "I can't believe the people are not seeing him for the demon he is." Cassandra said in anger. "He has the whole town under his thumb." Thomas replied "That is scary, you know. How do we go up against a man who has control over everyone?" Rosetta looked at us all. She recalled her past memory when she worked as a sex slave for big men in the country. The more she shared her past with us, the more we got scared. This is definitely not something we can take on by ourselves. "Should we get the police involved?" Zack looked at me. " Really? Have you forgotten that Jonas and the cops are friends? I am sure Mr. Dickson will have many people up in high places watching out for him. The bed we can do is infiltrate his gang and cause havoc from within. Are you sure you are up for any of this?" I looked at Cassandra, and she nodded. The news ended, and a figh
{ THE LONG AWAITED DAY} I kept training my ass off and getting ready for the FNA fight with Titus. Many important and prominent people in the country had booked their tickets to come and watch the fight between us. Many of the students wanted to be my friends and get closer to me. I was becoming more famous by the day, and my pictures were everywhere on the internet. My previous fight and victory were played by many students on the campus. " Woah! I am sure he is stronger than Titus. It is a waste of time for Titus to challenge someone like Fred." One of the students said it aloud, and everyone looked at me. I smiled a little, trying to feel loved by them, and furrowed my brows. "What would happen if I lost to Titus? I am sure many of them would stop being my friends, and I would be one once I had always been one. God help me! even if it is just this once," I said, gently looking at the sky's I looked forward and saw Diana waking towards me. We've been dating for a while now. I had
{ I AM BACK}Zack looked at me and was surprised. Most of the sympathisers were. "You were supposed to be dead?" Zack stammered, looking at me. "Let's just say I refuse to die." I replied with a smile. "Can you help her up?" I looked at Rosetta, who was on the floor with her eyes closed. Cassandra ran towards me and threw herself at me. She dobbed gently as she hugged me. I know I was the only thing she had left to be a brother. Everyone looked at me, and immediately the coffin was opened. The clergy looked at me and said, " This is a sign from heaven. Do you wish to share your death and return to life with everyone?" He said it with a smile on his face. I looked around to see the faces of so many students, all seated and staring at me with disbelief on their faces. I waited for the podium and grabbed the microphone. "I don't know where to start." I said it gently, with teary eyes. "I remembered my first day at the university grounds; I was just a teenager, but now." I looked at m
CONFRONTING TRAGEDY / THE BURIAL Zack, Richard, and Rosetta had a restless night, each consumed by their own thoughts on the events that had occurred. In the morning, the atmosphere in the mansion was filled with tension. The team assembled in the lounge, with a tense quiet atmosphere prevailing. Zack interrupted the silence. "We need a plan," he stated, his voice unwavering despite the inner chaos he experienced. "Jonas will keep going." We must carefully consider this. Judith was the one who replied first. "We must not allow him to escape from consequences. Jonas has hurt alot of people and now he must dance to the music. Fred wouldn't forgive us if Jonas managed to go unpunished." With red eyes from tears, Rosetta nodded. " I agree. However, we must be smart about all of this. We must not allow our actions to be dictated by our emotions."Diana looked around the room, her face showed determination. "We need evidence. If we can gather enough proof of Jonas's involvement in F
{ CONFRONTING TRAGEDY }Zack and Richard thought of a way to break the news to Rosetta. As they drove back to the mansion, they both pushed the responsibility of breaking the news onto her. "You should do it; you know I am just a member of Fred's crew. And besides, you know her more than I do," Richard said, gently trying to persuade Zack. "We both went because Fred trusted us. Now that he is gone, you are pushing the responsibility on me." Zack packed and looked at Richard. "I am sorry, but the news is going to be devastating to not only Rosetta but to everyone." Richard said and sighed. The two of them looked at each other and said nothing. Zack's phone buzzed, cutting the tension. "Who?" Richard asked, looking at Zack. "Rosetta," he said, showing him the phone. Thier heard beat fast as Zack picked up the call. "Tell me he is alright." Rosetta's voice was loud over the phone. "Can we talk when we get home? We are almost at the mansion." Zack quickly cut her shirt before she sa
{THE BRINK OF DARKNESS }"What is it going to be, Fred? Do I need to shoot her before I get you to talk? Tell me what you know about the system. I know you didn't have it destroyed." Jonas barked I looked at Rosetta and back at Jonas. "You need to believe me when I tell you that I had the system destroyed. What do you want from me?" I shouted in anger. "I want absolute power, and I want my face changed. I can do that with the power of the system, and you are going to help me.'" I looked at Zack and back at Richard. "I will do that if you let Rosetta go and have me as a hostage instead." I replied Emily looked at Jonas and nodded. Rosetta was immediately pushed towards Richard and Zack while I walked over to Jonas. "Take care of her." I looked at Zack as they walked out of the warehouse. "Now you are going to tell me what I need to hear, or I am going to kill you, Fred. You have taken a lot from me. You took my father and my sister and also turned my world upside down, and you are
{ JONAS MENACES}My mind raced as I considered the options. Reasoning with Jonas seemed impossible, but a direct confrontation was out of the question. Ineeded a plan that balanced both."Alright, let's gather everyone in the room," I said, looking determined. The crew moved to a hidden part of the classroom where we could discuss our next plan without being overheard."First, we need to find out where Jonas is holding Rosetta," I began. "Diana, can you get close to him and see if you can find any clues? You’re his sister; he might let something slip."Diana nodded, her face grim. "I’ll do my best. But if he’s involved in something big, he might not tell me everything.""That’s where we come in," Richard said, his voice steady. "We’ll need to keep an eye on Jonas without him noticing. We can set up a surveillance network around his usual haunts. Zack, you’re good with tech. Can you handle that?"Zack nodded. "I’ll get my equipment. We can cover the campus and any other places he frequ
{ ROSETTA KIDNAPPED }I slept with a smile on my face after I and Rosetta had made love. It was the first time we actually got intimate. I stared into her eyes all night before she finally fell asleep. The sound of the alarm woke me up, and I looked beside me. "Where is she?" My eyes flashed around the room as I tried to wake up. I rubbed my eyes gently, and I noticed there was a bit of a scuffle on the bed. I couldn't believe I had one good night's rest in a while, and everything was going back to being war for me. "Rosetta! Rose!!" I shouted, getting into my slippers. I walked through the hallway and stairs leading down to the main room. I was surprised to see a lot of broken glasses over my chairs, and the house was a complete mess. I quickly went to my CCTV footage, and I noticed it had been fired. "Was I drugged?" I ran my hands over my hair as I stared at the television right in front of me. I knew I needed to find Rosetta quickly. I couldn't believe I let my guards down, and
{ JONAS BACK }The university semester was coming to an end. A lot of preparation was going on for the graduating students. My joy knew no bounds because I was finally stepping into society. But little did I know a brewing storm was ahead. Many of the students were busy tying loose ends. Many were saying their goodbyes already, while others were focusing more on their studies. I knew I wouldn't have the power of the system again, so I need to focus more on my arithmetic. So far, Emily has been behaving herself, and I noticed that I couldn't find Alex and Jonas inside the school. I was just coming out of my department when I met with Emily. "What about Jonas and Alex? I don't think I have seen them this semester." I raised my eye brows. "I don't know. I promise to tell you everything, but recently, I noticed Jonas had been . distant. Do you want me to help you track them?" Emily looked at me."Track them? I thought you said you knew everything about them. Why are you really here, Emi
{ BETTER DAYS IN THE CAMPUS}The university was becoming stable, with each student minding their own daily activities. I walked through the corridor of the university, and everywhere seemed peaceful. I decided to sit down, and I looked back to when I became a part of the university. I remember being nothing, a loner who had always thought of staying low throughout my days here. I looked up to catch some of the pretty girls staring at me, and I laughed. I was becoming more of an icon by the day, with many of the students looking up to me. I felt a hand over my eyes, and I smiled. "Rosetta," I whispered softly, trying to get up to my feet. The hand moved slowly away from my face, and I saw it was Davina. "I think I told you to stay the hell away from me." I shouted in anger. "But I don't want to, Fred. I realise my mistake, and I would like to make amends. Can't you just give me the chance for old-time sake?" Davina said it with a sorry face. "Do you think I can ever forget what you
{ JONAS'S PLAN } Flora sighed, her eyes narrowing as she weighed Emily's words. "Okay, Emily. I'll talk to Fred. But understand this—if he says no, there's nothing more I can do. Your actions will speak louder than your words."Emily nodded fervently, wiping the last of her tears. "Thank you, Flora. I won't let you down, I promise."They parted ways, and Emily felt a flicker of hope. But she knew she had a long road ahead of her. She returned to Alex and Jonas, who were waiting for her back at the mansion."Did she buy it?" Jonas asked, leaning forward.Emily nodded. "Flora said she'd talk to Fred. But we need to be careful. She's suspicious."Alex smirked. "Suspicion won't matter once we have control of the system. We just need to keep them off balance until then."Emily didn't respond. Her mind was racing with the possibilities and the dangers that lay ahead. She knew she had to tread carefully if she wanted to succeed with the plan. The plan was simple. They need to know if I stil