Bang!
The front door slammed shut with a dull thud. Maddox's shoulders sagged as he trudged into the empty house, his footsteps echoing against the marble floor like a funeral march.
The silent response hit him harder than expected.
"Great. Just bloody great. Now I'm back to square-one—jobless and reliant on my wife."
Alina had already left for work—her coffee mug still sat on the kitchen counter, lipstick stain on the rim like a goodbye kiss he'd never receive. Only the soft hum of the air conditioning and Aunty May's distant humming from the laundry room filled the void.
He needed to wash away the morning's disaster. The shower water scalded his skin, but he barely noticed. Steam clouded the mirror as he stood there, letting the hot water pound against his neck and shoulders.
Every drop felt like it was trying to wash away the memory of that discussion with Marcus, the smug faces of Crowther and the coaching staff, and the crushing weight of failure.
"What now?" He asked, to no one in particular but himself.
Twenty minutes later, Maddox found himself in the game room, hair still damp, wearing nothing but sweatpants and a sports t-shirt.
With nothing but time stretching endlessly before him, Maddox collapsed into one of the chairs and powered up the football simulation.
The massive TV screen flickered to life as he grabbed the controller. Football. That's what he needed. Something he could control, something he could win.
The Exhibition menu popped up, then the team selection. His finger hovered over the button.
Click.
"Bayer Kronstadt. Not bad."
He scrolled through the KaiserLiga opponents and picked Stahlberg 09. A classic rivalry. The virtual crowd roared as the teams took the field.
For the next four hours, Maddox lost himself in the digital world. His thumbs worked the controller like a pianist playing a familiar tune. Through balls, crosses, tackles—everything he couldn't do in real life but dreamed about from time to time.
The cumulative matches score was 8-2 in his favor when his phone buzzed.
The shrill ring shattered the peaceful bubble he'd created. Jenna's name flashed on the screen, and despite everything, he felt a genuine smile tug at his lips. His sister had always been his anchor, the one person who could make him laugh even when the world seemed determined to crush him.
"Hey, Jenna," he answered, pausing the game mid-play. The virtual players froze mid-run, their legs suspended in the air like plastic toys.
"Big bro! Perfect timing," her voice bubbled with excitement. "You'll never guess what happened. We're on a week break and Sarah's dad got us tickets to the Cromley Rovers versus Longford United match this afternoon. The Division-2 Royal Championship League, it's going to be absolutely mental! The thing is, we need a ride, and I immediately thought of my amazing big brother who definitely has nothing better to do on a Friday afternoon."
Her playful tone suggested she had no idea about his recent employment situation, and he was grateful for that small mercy. "You're not wrong about the nothing better to do part," he said, forcing lightness into his voice. "What time do you need me to pick you up?"
"Seven-forty-five is the kickoff, but we'll grab dinner first. Come on, it'll be fun! When's the last time you went to a proper outing with me?"
'When's the last time I did anything proper?' He added in his mind.
"Alright. I'll pick you up. What time?"
"Five-thirty? We're meeting at that new pub near the stadium. The Crown and Anchor."
"Alright."
The line went dead. Maddox stared at the phone, then at the frozen game on the screen.
Cromley Rovers. He'd heard of them—a decent team fighting for promotion to the Division-1 Imperial Crown League. Better than sitting here feeling sorry for himself.
He switched off the console and headed for the garage. The key box sat on a small shelf near the door, a simple wooden container that looked oddly humble for what it contained. Maddox reached in and grabbed the first key his fingers touched.
The garage door slid open.
"Holy..."
The automatic lights flickered on in sequence, illuminating what looked like a luxury car showroom. Maddox's jaw dropped as he stepped inside, the key dangling from his finger like a piece of forgotten jewelry.
Ten cars. Ten beautiful, gleaming, ridiculously expensive cars lined the spacious garage in perfect formation. Each one sat beneath its own spotlight, with small plaques mounted on the wall behind them displaying their names and specs like museum pieces.
The NobleStrider SX2 sat closest to him—a sleek black beast with curves that could make a grown man fall in love. The price tag glowed softly: ⊽1,950,000.
"Nearly two million Terra." Maddox almost shouted out loud. His entire life savings wouldn't cover the down payment.
Next to it, the Vireon EchoBlade sparkled under the lights like a blue diamond, worth ⊽1,750,000. Then the Paladin Mk V in pearl white, worth ⊽1,690,000. The Tempestra 440S in racing red, worth ⊽1,500,000.
The Nyx Pulse Quattro in midnight black, worth ⊽1,200,000. And the Triumph V12 Sector in silver, worth ⊽1,150,000. The remaining four were equally impressive.
"This is insane."
Maddox walked slowly down the line, his reflection multiplying in the polished surfaces. Each car was perfect, pristine, like they'd never been driven.
Hell, they probably hadn't. The old Maddox—the real owner of this life—had probably been too busy with safekeeping his pride to enjoy any of this.
"What a waste."
He looked down at the key in his hand. A distinctive logo of an eagle's eyeline connecting with the beak—the Vireon symbol. His thumb traced over the smooth metal as he walked toward the EchoBlade.
"Here goes nothing."
Maddox pressed the unlock button. The Vireon's lights flashed once, and the engine purred to life with a deep, throaty rumble that vibrated through his chest. The sound was pure poetry—eight cylinders singing in perfect harmony.
"Bloody hell," he whispered.
The car door opened with a soft hiss, revealing an interior that looked like it belonged in a spaceship. Leather seats that probably cost more than most people's cars. A dashboard that looked like mission control. The steering wheel felt perfect in his hands—not too thick, not too thin, with just enough texture to grip properly.
Maddox settled into the driver's seat and felt the car adjust to his body weight. The seat hugged him like a gentle embrace. The engine's purr grew slightly louder, as if the car was eager to stretch its legs.
"Jenna's going to flip when I'm done with this beauty."
He backed out of the garage slowly, savoring every second. The Vireon moved like liquid silk, responding to his every touch. As he pulled onto the street, Maddox caught a glimpse of himself in the rearview mirror.
For the first time all day, he was smiling.
"Maybe this day isn't completely ruined after all."
The garage door closed behind him with a soft whir, sealing away the other nine sleeping beauties. But Maddox didn't look back. He had a sister to pick up, a match to watch, and a car that could probably outrun his problems.
At least for tonight.
============
============
Please remember to vote with your power stones and golden tickets for the WSA 2025. Thank you.