1 Chapter 1

Everyone had their own method of making it through this hell called life. Some took the 'normal' path of going to school, getting a normal job, marrying a normal person, having kids, grandkids, growing old and dying. Others took a more unconventional path. Perhaps they became famous? Or even died an unfortunate early death.

However, any death they were capable of experiencing all had one variable that remained constant. Regret. No matter who died, or how death took them, there was always something they regretted. The lover they never chased, the dream they didn't pursue, the marriage they oh so wish they'd never agreed to.

I was one of these poor souls. I had lived a short life of 23 years only to be wrongfully shot in the head. A police officer had pulled me over, routinely asking for my license and registration. Why? I have no clue. As I reached into the front compartment to give him what he asked for, the last thing I heard was the loud shout of, "Be careful! He's got a gun!" Followed by a loud bang. So of course I had regrets. There were countless things I wanted to do, to accomplish.

It wasn't too difficult to work out what had happened. All of this occurred about a month ago, and now here I was. Sat at the back of my high school math class surrounded by my fellow juniors.

My name is now Marcel Avery, I'm a 16 year old junior living in Queens, New York City with my mom. It's a bad neighbourhood with crime at every turn, but it's my home now. Unlike my previous life I wasn't Spanish anymore. Now I was a tall for my age African American, with a common New Yorker accent. It wasn't there before and I tried everything to lose it. Nothing worked.

I was pulled from my thoughts by a tap on the shoulder, "Yo Marcel, you good? That look you got dead ass has me thinking you're high." That right there was my new best friend Johnny. One of the very few white motherfuckers in this hood. Not to mention the school.

According to Marcels memories we'd been friends since middle school and stuck by each other since. Everybody knew I had his back, and he had mine.

Turning to face him I whisper, "Yeah I'm fine man, just thinking that's all. Now shut the fuck up before Mr Cams hears us." I was not looking to get into anymore trouble in this school, my predecessor already left enough of that behind for me.

Johnny only response was to chuckle at my attempt to focus in class, "Why? You scared he's gonna throw your black ass out again? Well don't be, he's a fucking push over."

"Yeah Yeah yeah whatever, just be quiet for a minute." I rolled my eyes.

The class lasted for another 30 minutes before the bell rang, signalling the schools end. I grabbed my things and left alongside Johnny as usual. "Come on man I told you I got something you need to see." I don't know what it was, but he'd been wanting to show me something since this morning.

Following him to one of the schools many desolate classrooms I watched as Johnny vigilantly scanned the area before cautiously closing the door behind us and pulling down the blinds. These set of actions, that clearly resembled somebody who had something to hide, slightly worried me. "Hey John, what the fucks goin on? You've been acting strange since this morning." I asked accusingly.

He quickly checked the classes storage room one last time before approaching me. Reaching into his pocket he grabbed something and pulled it out. I couldn't make out what it was with his hand in a fist, although it wasn't small enough to be completely concealed. It wasn't long until I saw a decent sized, transparent bag with a familiar white substance in it.

The silence was deafening. "Where the fuck did you get that Johnny, why the fuck do you have it and why it gods name would you bring to a fucking school!" I growled quietly.

Putting back into his pocket Johnny stepped towards me, "Relax Marcel! It's just a little blow! I got from dreads on the block. He asked me to sell it man, even said I could keep some of the money. It's not as bad as you think!"

It took me a moment to process his words, but I soon broke into laughter. I genuinely couldn't believe what I was hearing. My 16 year old friend was going to sell cocaine for a known drug dealer? Making him a drug dealer? He's truly left me speechless.

Johnny reaches into his other pocket and pulled out even more blow, "look man this is for you. I vouched that you'd be cool with helping me out. We both fucking know you need the money motherfucker. It can be one time thing man." He extended his arm with the drug's out towards me, his face desperate, not wanting me to make a scene.

Quietly sighing I grabbed the cocaine, not at all planning to sell it, but my curiosity getting the better of me.

[WELCOME HOST TO THE DEALER SYSTEM]

I stared in shock at the large text before me. Somehow everything in the room had frozen, as if time had stopped. Below the text was a large map of what I recognised as the entire neighbourhood, on it were multiple glowing dots. "What the fuck" I muttered to myself.

[I CAN SENSE YOUR STATE OF CONFUSION HOST, SO PLEASE ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN. I AM THE DEALER SYSTEM, MORE SPECIFICALLY THE DRUG DEALER SYSTEM. ITS MY JOB TO ASSURE YOUR RISE IN THE RANKS, HOPEFULLY BECOMING THE TOP OF THE TOP, THE KINGPIN.]

I think I understood what was happening. The other foot had dropped. I knew there was more to this second life, there had to be. And this was it? It could only assume that coming into contact with this cocaine is what triggered this. "Kingpin Huh? And how exactly are you going to do that?" I asked curiously.

[THE MAP BELOW SHOWS THE AVAILABLE TERRITORY FOR YOU TO SELL IN YOUR PRODUCT IN. THE GLOWING DOTS SHOW PEOPLE WILLING TO BUY FROM YOU. THE DOTS WOULD VANISH IF THE PERSON DIED, OR DECIDED THEY DIDN'T WANT WHAT YOU HAD TO OFFER.]

I stared in awe at the message. This was probably godsend for anybody who worked the corner selling drugs. It would tell them who would buy and who was just wasting their time. Not to mention undercover cops or enemies pretending to be customers.

[IN ADDITION, THE MORE YOU SELL THE MORE I CAN PROVIDE. THE SYSTEM IS CAPABLE OF PURIFYING ANY PRODUCT TO A HIGHER QUALITY, CAPABLE OF TRACKING YOUR CREW MEMBERS AND INCREASING YOUR PHYSICAL STRENGTH]

The last statement caught me by surprise, "Increasing my physical strength? Is there a limit?" I questioned eagerly

[ YES THERE IS A LIMIT, HOWEVER THIS LIMIT IS STILL FAR ABOVE ANYTHING A HUMAN IS CAPABLE OF. I MUST INFORM YOU THAT THE GROWTH IS A QUICK PROCESS AT FIRST, BUT WILL SLOW DOWN DRASTICALLY WHEN REACHING THE POINT OF SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH]

I nodded my head in understanding. It made sense that things would get harder as they progressed. After conversing with the system for a few more minutes I managed to get everything I could out of it. The system couldn't provide me with drugs, weapons or people so I'd actually have to put a decent amount of work if I pursued this path in life. And to be honest, I wanted to. My last life consisted of me doing nothing spectacular and dying an even less spectacular death. This was my chance to do more, to be more, and I sure as hell wasn't going to let it slip through my fingers.

I eventually dismissed the system and was finally able to move my body, the world around was taken off pause. "Ok I'll do it" I said confidently.

Johnny looked surprised at my complete u-turn in attitude, but didn't complain. "I fucking new I could count on you Bugsy yo-" "What the fuck did you just call me?" I cut him off at the unfamiliar nickname.

Johnny grinned, "What? If we're gonna do this we need to do it right. And the first step is having a badass gangsta nickname Marcel. And Bugsy is pretty fucking gangsta. You're Bugsy and I'm Cane." He said confidently.

I wanted to argue, but he wasn't wrong, and Bugsy wasn't so bad. "Whatever man, lets get to work."

....

Took me a minute to convince Johnny that I'd quickly find us people willing to buy, yet I still manage to get control of our destination. Hopping off our bikes, we arrived outside a small corner store. "What the fuck we doing here Bugsy? You hungry or some shit." He groaned in annoyance.

Ignoring him I made my way into the store. The map on the top left corner of my vision was zoomed on the store. I followed the blinking light and soon found the cashier behind the till. She looked to be 18, Hispanic and pretty. Well, I made it this far. How do drug dealers actually approach the customer? Do I act like a normal person, or put on a persona? I hate to admit it, but I wasn't the most intimidating person, I may be tall, but I was skinny as fuck and barely knew how to fight.

Taking a deep breath I put my hoodie up, gestured to Johnny who tried to stop me, and made my way. Stopping in front of the till I picked up a small chocolate bar from the shelf beneath the table and put on top of the desk. Alongside the chocolate bar I casually placed the 8 ball of cocaine, like it was nothing. I tentatively watched as the girl froze, it wasn't just her, but Johnny as well. He couldn't believe what his friend had just done. They were screwed, what if she called the cops?

However to Johnnys further surprise the girl dug into her purse and pulled out some cash. I reached out and took the money. Handing it to John, he counted it and nodded his head. I paid for the chocolate with some change and left the store.

As soon as we stepped out I was bombarded with Johnnys...opinion on what had just gone down, safe to say he wasn't happy. I told him I knew the girl was a regular when it came to drugs, and that I also knew a few others. After calming him down we spent the rest of the afternoon riding around town making a couple more drop offs.