Novels by Aniela

Ethan’s P.O.V. (Continued)“Terry!” Laurence’s scream pulled me out of my trance, and my fingers started working again.I needed to keep Terrence busy with something so that he wouldn’t interfere with whatever was going to happen in the Mansion.I still needed to trigger the alarm, and I still needed Laurence and that guard to take Terry away.I still needed to stop that accident that stopped the ambulance and fire trucks.The timer once again started ticking at the upper-right corner of the screen.I had already directed the alarm.So, the chief would reach the kitchen instead of running to the west wing.Then, I stopped.It won’t do.The alarm needed to go on until the emergency responders arrived.I grimaced and then moved to the west wing again.I had fifteen seconds, and this was enough time to start the same decoy.My fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard.I opened the security feed from the west wing and accessed the motion sensors.Then, I created a false movement pattern.

Ethan’s P.O.V.The system didn’t reply instantly.The cursor blinked in perfect synchronization with my heartbeat.I didn’t know why the system always acted so dramatically.Taking too much time every time I asked a question.I narrowed my eyes when it displayed the next statement.[The last mission status: Failed]I pursed my lips into a thin line, waiting for the next statement.[The cause: External Factors][After the successful amendment, the host is entitled to return to the mission timelines fifteen minutes before; same as the last time]My mind instantly brought back memories of that shootout and how the system changed the outcome for my siblings and me.I took a deep breath and asked the next question.The mission was still the same:- Save Terry.The system was sending me back when Terrence had already started beating Terry.[All memories obtained during the failed mission timeline and re-evaluation will be retained.]His eyes widened slightly.That meant he would remember eve

It was slower than the snail’s speed, but Ethan waited patiently for the system to finish the line.[Re-evaluation complete]Ethan breathed out. He didn’t realize that he had held his breath till now.His eyes remained fixed on the screen.The next line appeared a bit faster this time.[Primary Mission: Save Terry Boda][Cause of the failure: Extreme external factors]Ethan read every word one by one and remained calm.Seeing those words made something inside him loosen.When he opened his eyes here, he was both infuriated and scared.Not for himself, but for his siblings.But he wasn’t as desperate as he was when he was dragged there for the first time.He used the agreement’s clauses to save the fate of his siblings, and now he was relieved because he knew that his siblings were saved.The system continued.[Host’s Action: Not responsible for final incident]The massive circle stopped rotating.For several seconds, there was nothing but silence.Ethan didn’t speak either.The blue s

Ethan showed no impatience when the system didn’t react for several seconds.He had made his decision; it was the system’s turn to decide.He understood the reason behind destroying casinos, stopping smuggling, and other missions like that.Those things destroy so many innocent lives almost every day.So, he didn’t need a valid reason to finish those missions.But saving Nathan in that mission, and now Terry, meant changing someone’s original fate.This is something that comes with a great threat of external forces' involvement.He defied his and his siblings’ fate by agreeing with the system, and he had been paying a price every time he was assigned to finish a mission.But he wasn’t ready to pay for changing someone else’s fate.If the system wanted him to change the fate of a few more people in the future, it needed to amend the original agreement between it and him.Ethan didn’t regret challenging the result, and he had already planned to ask for the amendment so that he won’t go

The question hung in the endless digital space.For the first time since the system had dragged him here, Ethan didn't feel helpless.He felt something else.Hope….The agreement stated only three chances, and he figured out that in the future he might have worse situations than he faced now, but what’s the use of saving these chances if not using them could end their lives right now?He loosened his clenched fists slowly, resolve evident in his eyes.His eyes remained fixed on the blue screen.[Host: Do you want to challenge the result?]The system asked him again.The corner of his mouth curled up slightly.“What will happen if I challenge, or if I don’t?” he still asked.He needed to ensure that he wasn’t walking into another trap.The system remained silent.Ethan’s bitterness deepened.He wasn’t that desperate and naïve boy from three months ago who was desperate to get a second chance for his siblings to live.If the system wanted him to make a choice, then it would be on his ow

Before Ethan could process, he felt a sharp, ringing pain in his head, making him clutch his head between his palms.His vision went dark, and within a second, he lost consciousness.He didn’t know how long everything stayed blank before the ringing in his mind returned.He slowly opened his eyes, feeling irritated by the ringing.He was stunned when he registered his surroundings.The very familiar, yet unfamiliar digital structure….Lines of code appeared everywhere around him.They moved faster and faster until they formed a massive circular structure.For a few seconds, he couldn’t even feel if he was breathing or not.The digital structure began rotating.A blinding white light was erupting from the centre where he was standing.Ethan raised his arm to shield his eyes.Then the very familiar blue screen of the system appeared on the opposite side of the blinding light.Ethan moved in that direction and slowly lowered his arm a little to see the screen.[Host final assessment:][F