2025-04-14 21:40:39[ HELLISH SYSTEM MESSAGE : UNRAVEL THE DEATH OF THOMAS RABBIT ]
[ SYSTEM REWARD; $5,000,000 ] My face went pale. I looked around trying to see if I was being monitored or followed. But everywhere was so quiet. The gentle breeze clashed against my face, and the background music was playing melodiously. "Are you alright, Ethan?" Mr Rabbit asked, staring at my face. I let out a slight cough and nodded. "Do you want to tell me what happened to your son? He is dead right?" I asked, staring at both of them. "That is a long story, Ethan. One which we are ready to share with you when you become a part of the family. Me and my wife just wanted to look you up and then decide if we want an adopted child." Deacon said, staring at his wife before he finally looked at me. "So what do you think?" I asked, staring back at them. I know I don't need a family, but this family was special, and I knew they had a connection to Frank. Something in my gut tells me, and I could feel it. "Well, my husband and I have been alone for a long time. We would finally like to welcome a child into our midst. You might not be our biological child, but we promise to treat you with fairness and support you in every way that we can." Vanessa said, looking at me. I got up and hugged them tightly. "I will get in touch with you and schedule a day to finalise the adoption documents." I said getting to my feet. Both couples looked at me, and with open arms, they embraced me. "We will gladly be your foster parents, Ethan. I hope we are everything you wished and longed for." Deacon said again, adjusting his spectacles. "I couldn't wish for anyone else." I replied with a smile on my face. I watched as they walked out of the cafe, and I immediately relaxed into my chair. The system was on my side, and all I needed was to find out who really killed Thomas and why. A part of me felt it was connected to Frank, but I didn't want to push any further. If Frank had a hand in his death, then he was going to pay dearly for it. I drank the last coffee in front of me and dropped some dollar notes on the table. I have just actualised another motive. I had managed to get myself some recognition through Felix and also find myself a worthy parent. I know I needed to brush up my standard, and not only mine but that of my foster parents too. They look like they were going through a lot. I could help them with the system and also make sure they lead a comfortable life. But how do I do all of that without letting them know the money was from me? I was a teenager who was handling a lot of money. I stepped out of the café, pulling my hoodie over my head as the wind picked up. The streets were still calm, ordinary even, but everything about my life had stopped being ordinary the moment that system message appeared. [ HELLISH SYSTEM MESSAGE: INVESTIGATION PROGRESS – 3% COMPLETED ] [ WARNING: TIME LIMIT – 12 DAYS LEFT ] I swallowed hard. That was the system’s way of saying, “You’ve barely scratched the surface.” And yet, I couldn’t shake the image of Thomas Rabbit’s lifeless face—one I’d only seen in passing through a photo Felix had shown me briefly during my last business deal with him. I pulled out my phone and tapped Felix’s contact. I knew he was the only one who could get me the answer I needed. I dialled his line a few times but got no answer. Typical. He never answered on the first try. That bastard loved to make someone wait. But right now, time wasn’t something I could afford to waste. I needed information. The kind that wasn’t public. I needed to start at the source—Thomas’s last known location. I opened my search app and typed: “Thomas Rabbit – death location”. A list of articles popped up, most behind paywalls. But the one that stood out was a local blog—UnderGraySky. Known for digging up what others refused to publish. I clicked it. > “Thomas Rabbit, 21-year-old son of Deacon and Vanessa Rabbit, was found dead in an abandoned building along Graybridge Street. Autopsy reports claim a drug overdose, but questions surround the legitimacy of this claim as multiple bruises and a broken wrist were found on the victim’s body…” There it was. Graybridge Street. I made up my mind. That was my next stop. But just as I put my phone back into my pocket, a message appeared: [ SYSTEM UPDATE: UNLOCKED "SHADOW TRACE" SKILL – Allows limited tracking of last known presence based on emotional residue. Duration: 3 minutes I blinked. Emotional residue? That sounded like some sci-fi nonsense. But if the system gave it, I was going to use it. I flagged down a cab and gave the address to Graybridge Street. The cabbie gave me a look through the mirror. “You sure about this area, kid? It’s a dump. Cops avoid it after sundown.” “I’ll be quick,” I murmured. The ride was tense. My heart beat faster with every block we passed. When I finally got there, I stood before the decaying building, feeling the weight of silence and forgotten pain. I closed my eyes and activated the skill. [ SHADOW TRACE – ACTIVE ] The world dimmed. Colours dulled. Time seemed to rewind. Suddenly, ghost-like figures flickered in the alley beside the building—Thomas… another boy… and a third figure standing in the shadows. Thomas was shouting, desperate. “I told you, Frank! I told you I’d tell them everything if you didn’t stop!” And then a scream. The vision ended abruptly. My breath caught in my throat. Frank. I knew it. I knew he had something to do with this. But now… I have proof the system deemed valuable. The problem? I couldn’t go to the police. Not yet. Not without more. And I had just 12 days to get it. My phone buzzed, revealing a message from Felix.
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THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter seventeen
I read the message, and I immediately rushed down to the location he had sent to me. I met him seated all alone by himself, and when I got to his side, he yanked me toward the chair opposite him. I barely had time to adjust myself before falling to the floor. "What the hell was that for?" I said with anger. "Are you seriously asking me that, Ethan?" Felix snapped at me. " You tell me why you have been snooping around the death of Thomas Rabbit." I looked around, and my gaze landed back on some of the people staring at both of us. Not that Felix cared anyway. "Keep your voice down, will you?" I said, adjusting myself on the chair. I know one thing: I needed Felix if I was going to get to Frank and his minions. He was the one holding the keys to all their secrets, and with just the right amount, maybe I can get him to work for me. "Can I have some juice?" I said, motioning to the bar attendants. A young lady in her late twenties walked towards me. She was wea
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter eighteen
Trust me, when you have money, there is a lot you can do. You can either be a kingpin or even become a money demon yourself. I was going to become the demon that Frank needed to be scared of. I was not going to steal his spot in the university grounds, but I was going to break his backbone. I knew what I needed to do. I was going to attack this source of wealth. His father. That was the only way I was going to be sending a clear message to him, or should I say a warning. "It is going to be a pleasure working with you, Ethan." Felix said after I transfer a sum of ten million dollars into his account. At first, Felix looked at me and couldn't believe his eyes. It was when he saw the six zeros that he was damn sure I meant business. "Is there any other thing I have to know?" Felix looked at me. "Like?" I looked at him. "You tell me, boss. You are the one after Frank. I need to know who is in on this, and does that include taking down Selena as well?" "Frank's friends are my ene
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter one
The hallways of Frontale University reeked of expensive perfums, arrogance, and wealth—none of which belonged to me. I tightened my grip on my worn-out backpack, my knuckles turning white. This was supposed to be my golden ticket, my chance to stand among the elite, to prove that talent and intelligence could break through even the thickest walls of privilege. But that was before everything went to hell. Before Selena. Before Frank. Before I lost everything. “Hey, isn’t that Ethan Summerville?” The voice dripped with mockery, sending a cold chill down my spine. I recognized it instantly—Paul Henderson, one of Frank’s lapdogs. A quick glance told me all I needed to know. He wasn’t alone. I barely had time to react before a shoulder rammed into me, knocking me off balance. My bag hit the marble floor, spilling out its contents—second-hand textbooks, notes scribbled in the margins, and an old phone with a cracked screen. The students burst into laughter. “Damn, you stil
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter two
Rock Bottom Pain. It was the first thing I felt when I woke up. A deep, bone-deep ache that made it hard to move, hard to breathe. My body ached as I shifted, the taste of blood thick in my mouth. I cracked my swollen eyes open, vision swimming as I tried to piece together what happened. The dim, flickering light of my dorm room cast long shadows against the walls. My sheets were stained with crimson, and the sharp sting along my ribs told me something was definitely broken.The memory came rushing back—his smirk, his fists, the feeling of my body hitting the ground again and again. He didn’t just beat me. He made sure I stayed down. I forced myself up, every movement was painful. My phone lay on the floor, cracked and useless. How long had I been out? The clock on my desk read 3:14 AM. No one had come looking for me. Not that I expected them to. I pressed a hand against my bruised ribs, hissing in pain. My body felt like it had been through a shredder. My face was swollen,
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter three
I looked at the holographic message right before my eyes and blinked. [ SYSTEM MESSAGE ; DO YOU WANT THE POWER OF THE HELLISH SYSTEM? PRESS YES/NO ] I let out a weird laugh as I turned away from the holographic message. I must have been imagining things. Someone in my state of mind would. I was down to earth with nothing. My cafe job was not paying much. I might as well drop out like Paul asked me too. I could barely keep up with my daily lessons and up keeps. I walked down the silent street with my hands in my warm hoodie. The temperature was dropping since it was almost time for Christmas. I turned each time I walked trying to check if the mysterious message was there, hanging in the thin air. But when I looked, it was gone. Or should I say, it has disappeared. I bent my head with shame. I wish that was actually real. I tilted my head up to look at the road before me and it flashed again before my eyes. [ HELLISH SYSTEM ACTIVATED] [ YOU NEED TO PICK THE OPTIONS.
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter four
Laughter rippled through the hallway of Frontale University, bouncing off the pristine marble floors and the grand pillars that lined the corridors. I could hear it all around me—the mocking whispers, the amused smirks, and the quiet murmurs of pity and disdain. I clenched my fists, my breath ragged as I pushed myself up from the cold floor. My knees stung from the fall, my hands scraped against the unforgiving tiles. My backpack had spilled open, my few battered notebooks lying scattered like fallen leaves. Paul’s voice was the first to cut through the noise, sharp and laced with cruelty. "And down goes the pauper prince again!" he mocked, nudging his polished shoe against my shoulder, shoving me back down with ease. A fresh round of laughter erupted into the thin air. I looked around and I could see their faces, basking in my pain. But I didn't care, all I wanted was to get a shot, a chance to sit for my exam. Frank, Paul, and the rest of their minions stood over me, basking
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THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter six
I stood in front of the receptionist’s desk at the hospital, my fingers tightening around the sleek black card that had mysteriously appeared in my wallet. The Hellish System had given me fifty thousand dollars, and now, it was time to use it."How much is my hospital bill?" I asked, my voice steady but cold.The nurse behind the counter barely spared me a glance. "You were here overnight. The total comes to $3,200, including the emergency treatment and tests."I exhaled slowly. That was a lot of money for a single night, but with my current balance, it was nothing.I slid the card across the desk. The nurse's fingers hesitated over the card before swiping it through the machine. She glanced at the screen, her brows furrowing. "It… it went through?"I smirked. "Of course it did."Her eyes flicked to my hospital gown, then to the worn-out sneakers I’d managed to retrieve from the storage locker. I could see the disbelief on her face."Do you need a receipt?" she asked hesitantly.I sh
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Chapter eighteen
Trust me, when you have money, there is a lot you can do. You can either be a kingpin or even become a money demon yourself. I was going to become the demon that Frank needed to be scared of. I was not going to steal his spot in the university grounds, but I was going to break his backbone. I knew what I needed to do. I was going to attack this source of wealth. His father. That was the only way I was going to be sending a clear message to him, or should I say a warning. "It is going to be a pleasure working with you, Ethan." Felix said after I transfer a sum of ten million dollars into his account. At first, Felix looked at me and couldn't believe his eyes. It was when he saw the six zeros that he was damn sure I meant business. "Is there any other thing I have to know?" Felix looked at me. "Like?" I looked at him. "You tell me, boss. You are the one after Frank. I need to know who is in on this, and does that include taking down Selena as well?" "Frank's friends are my ene
Chapter seventeen
I read the message, and I immediately rushed down to the location he had sent to me. I met him seated all alone by himself, and when I got to his side, he yanked me toward the chair opposite him. I barely had time to adjust myself before falling to the floor. "What the hell was that for?" I said with anger. "Are you seriously asking me that, Ethan?" Felix snapped at me. " You tell me why you have been snooping around the death of Thomas Rabbit." I looked around, and my gaze landed back on some of the people staring at both of us. Not that Felix cared anyway. "Keep your voice down, will you?" I said, adjusting myself on the chair. I know one thing: I needed Felix if I was going to get to Frank and his minions. He was the one holding the keys to all their secrets, and with just the right amount, maybe I can get him to work for me. "Can I have some juice?" I said, motioning to the bar attendants. A young lady in her late twenties walked towards me. She was wea
Chapter sixteen
[ HELLISH SYSTEM MESSAGE : UNRAVEL THE DEATH OF THOMAS RABBIT ] [ SYSTEM REWARD; $5,000,000 ] My face went pale. I looked around trying to see if I was being monitored or followed. But everywhere was so quiet. The gentle breeze clashed against my face, and the background music was playing melodiously. "Are you alright, Ethan?" Mr Rabbit asked, staring at my face. I let out a slight cough and nodded. "Do you want to tell me what happened to your son? He is dead right?" I asked, staring at both of them. "That is a long story, Ethan. One which we are ready to share with you when you become a part of the family. Me and my wife just wanted to look you up and then decide if we want an adopted child." Deacon said, staring at his wife before he finally looked at me. "So what do you think?" I asked, staring back at them. I know I don't need a family, but this family was special, and I knew they had a connection to Frank. Something in my gut tells me, and I could feel it. "Well, my h
Chapter fifteen
Tracy was about to walk away when I drew her back. "What are you trying to do?" She asked immediately, staring back at me. "I know we got off on the wrong foot. I am not supposed to kiss you, and I am sorry for that, but why don't we make a new set of rules?" I said with smiles. "What are you talking about?" Tracy said, looking at me. "Your rules are not fair. It keeps protecting you while leaving me on the losing end. I know you also want to take revenge on Frank Carter. Why don't we just agree we both need each other?" I said finally releasing my hands off her waist. Tracy chuckled and folded her two arms while looking at me. "I think I like the new version of you, Summerville." She said, smoothing my rumpled clothes. "You said you were going to propose a kind of solution to boycott my rules. I am all ears." Tracy said with a smile. "I don't know why I am doing this, but I believe it is going to be a win-win for the both of us. We make the students believe we are an it
Chose fourteen
Fiona Carey had the camera fixed and immediately positioned it to my face. The hallway was silent, with some of the students whispering if I was going to take revenge on her for what she had done. But I was not a woman beater. I chuckled and looked at her. "Well, it looks like you still have a lot to learn. Do you feel less than you already have? Look around you, Mighty Selena Ray. Do you think I was going to get back with you simply because you said please'? I snapped. "I thought I could manage someone like you, but it is obvious that you are way beneath me. Do you think because you have some ill-gotten money now, you can do whatever you feel like?" Selena, akimbo, looking at me. I laughed again, staring at her face. "Then if it is not money, then what is it?" I walked round her like a predator circling its prey. "You left me for that bully, didn't you? And if my guess is right, you are coming back to me because you honestly think that I have more money than Frank ever
Chapter thirteen
[ DING! ] [ DING! ] [ DING! ] All the students phones buzzed as I walked past the student hall. "I told you; I said he was rich." "Who are his parents?" "Don't you think it is a little fishy where he got his wealth from? No, parents. No uncles and boom!" "Who cares about how he got his wealth? I heard your father just sold some illegal drugs into the system. Don't you think that is really bad?" One of the students taunted Philip Jayden that his father was a notorious drug baron in the city. Philip charged at the student, and a huge fight erupted in the hallway. I laughed slowly, feeling myself. Yes! Let them fight over me. I had to show them I was not on Jeremiah's level. I need to prove to those low scum that I won't be bullied. Not anymore. "Hey! Rich kid." I heard a familiar voice right behind me. I turned slowly to meet Selena's gaze. She was putting on a hat, and she was flanked by her friends who were drooling over me. I felt the tattoo under my skin burn hot, and
Chapter twelve
Felix smirked and leaned back in his chair, tapping a finger against his chin like he was calculating a formula in his head. He looked me over, his sharp eyes sizing me up — not just my money, but my ambition. "Two million”, he said. "Money is not the issue right now, Felix, but I need you to keep a secret. None of this must reach the ears of any students on this campus." I said, staring at him. Felix looked around and smiled, "Well, that depends on how much you are willing to pay for my service and how much you are going to be paying to have me keep my mouth shut. I can do both if the pay is high enough." I didn’t blink. I reached into my bag, brought out a slim envelope, and placed it gently on the table. He raised a brow. “You came prepared.” “I always do.”He picked up the envelope, peeled it open slightly, then nodded. “You want your name everywhere, right? Campus fame? Digital presence? Social media dominance? All of that?” “And more,” I said. “I want them to know
Chapter eleven
My hands grasped my phone gently. My gaze was fixed on the screen. I could barely believe it. I was twelve million dollars richer. A money that was not befitting of a small boy like me. You know that moment you saw the zero at the back of the actual number. You lose focus. That was exactly what happened to me. My head swells, and my palms become sweaty. I looked around the school, and I noticed some of the students were beginning to know my weird behaviour. I have a lot of bills to settle. I need to buy books and also invest. The school were filled with different calibres of students whose parents got their money from gambling, investment, fraud and many other atrocities. But most of them like to deny the fact that their parents were a bunch of criminals. Rather, they prefer to flaunt their parents wealth and oppress the poor, like me. But not anymore. I looked at the message I was seeing right in front of me. I have been upgraded. That was also a good thing, right?
Chapter ten
Frontale University bubbling with the news of how I had beaten the most ruthless tugs inside the university ground. The fame was new to me. I haven't had so many people give me so much attention after what Selena did to me. " Is that him?" " The kid who single handedly beat up Aiden and Ethan Gray." " Do you think he was lucky?" " Lucky? Why don't you try and see how lucky you can get when you are up close against someone like Ethan and Aiden." The university was in a frenzy mode. While some talked about me being a good fighter, others who were friends with Frank Carter said I was just lucky. If I was lucky then I don't want my luck to run out. Some said I was a freak. They even had the audacity to say it to my face. " Do you think that is normal?" " Don't you see the way he charges at Ethan and Aiden? Does that look normal to you?" " Well, if you ask me then I would say he is done freak. He should be kicked out of the school premises." I walked past
