Draft Night II

{This story is ready to read on my P-a-t-r-e-o-n. If you wish to read ahead then the link is https://www.p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/easyread. Be sure to remove the dashes. I hope to see plenty of you there and enjoying this novel.}

~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~

~~~(Date: June 23nd, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: The Simulation Space)~~~

~~~(Time: 4:25 PM)~~~

The system hasn't responded to my question, and I don't think I'll be getting an answer to that question. If the system did have something to do with me not being on that bus, it could do other things. It's influenced my life with basketball. It could do it in different ways.

[If I was the one that stopped you from getting on that bus, what would that change now? Is your curiosity the center of these questions, or are you looking for something deeper?]

Who's the one asking the questions now...

I'm surprised the system answered me. It's not something I'd counted on. But from its response, it's the reason I wasn't on that bus. I'm glad, but I'm also mad. If the system had warned me, I could've stopped my team from getting on.

"It couldn't change anything now... But if you'd have warned me, I could've stopped them from dying... Everyone would still be alive..."

There isn't anything I can do now that would change anything, but the more I think about it. The more it eats at me.

[You won't like my answer.]

It's not like I've liked any of your answers so far, but I stay quiet for it to continue.

[I was ordered to kill off the team by a higher force above you and I. You'd refer to him as God, but there are other ways to look at him. You might even say he's the one writing your story.]

That doesn't make me feel any better. That just makes me resent more than understanding. And writing my story? Do I have any control over my actions, or is everything predetermined? Their destiny wasn't to die...

"How is that fair..."

And I get the response that I should've expected.

[Life isn't fair. Are you going to live in the past or make a better tomorrow for yourself?]

What a cruel response, but it's fitting for the world we live in. And not much can be said in regards to a true answer. All that tells me is it's out of my hands. I should try to control what's in my power.

"I have one final question."

This is an important one.

"Am I the only one that's been reborn with a system before?"

I've been wondering this for a while now, and I've never come this close to an answer. And this man can give me one.

[No one in your world has a system or has been reborn. But you're not the first and won't be the last. You'll never see the big picture, but there are millions of worlds with reborn and system holders. All of them on different journeys to fulfill their dreams.]

That's... Cool.

I'm not wise enough or smart enough to know the higher workings of God. But this does make me feel better.

[Hannah is trying to get your attention, so off you go. Good luck, Ulysses.]

I'm shoved out of The Simulation Space, and I'm back in the real world, looking at Hannah. She giggles and sighs.

"Only you would fall asleep at one of the biggest events in your life. The Draft is starting soon, meaning you'll be up on that stage soon."

I look at the clock and see it's 4:31, and The Draft should be starting now. But I guess they have a few seconds to spare. Which is cutting it close, but hey, I don't run this show. After a minute or so, the cameras settle in certain spots and start broadcasting live.

"Remember to smile when you're drafted. You don't want to give off the vibe you don't want to be in New York."

Ellie makes sure she gets in one final lesson before the draft starts.

~~~(POV: Ellie)~~~

~~~(Date: June 23nd, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: The Simulation Space)~~~

~~~(Time: 4:32 PM)~~~

"The New York Knicks with the 1st pick select... Ulysses Kennedy from Holden High School!"

I watch as my son stands up with a confident grin and makes his way to the stage. His name fills the spot on the first pick spot. And Cheers from around the room roar. My heart is racing, and I'm filled with pride about the fact he's made it.

He shakes hands and puts the hat on his head. Smiling for the camera and girls in the crowd scream. And I look to see Hannah not happy about that but gathers herself.

"This is the first step in your adult life..."