June 3, 2010, Los Angeles. The screech of tires and the sickening crunch of metal were the last things Ethan Kane remembered. He'd been crossing Sunset Boulevard, headphones blaring, when a distracted driver in a pickup truck ended his 17-year-old life. No pain, just darkness—until he opened his eyes, gasping, in his own bed. The digital clock blinked 6:00 AM, June 3, 2010. Same day. Same life. But something was different.
Ethan sat up, heart pounding. His room was exactly as he'd left it: posters of *Iron Man 2* (released a month ago), a cluttered desk with AP Calculus notes, and his beat-up laptop streaming YouTube videos about the iPhone 4 launch. Was it a dream? He touched his chest, expecting scars or pain, but his skin was flawless. Then he saw it—a glowing holographic panel hovering above his bed, like something out of a sci-fi movie.
**Daily Sign-In System Activated. Welcome, Ethan Kane. Sign in to receive your first reward.**
Ethan blinked, rubbing his eyes. The panel didn't vanish. It pulsed with a soft blue light, displaying a button labeled *Sign In*. His gamer instincts kicked in—years of grinding MMORPGs had taught him to recognize a system prompt when he saw one. "Okay, universe," he muttered, "let's see what this is." He reached out, his finger brushing the holographic button. A chime rang in his mind, and the panel updated.
**Sign-In Successful! Reward: Lamborghini Aventador (Custom Black Edition, delivered to your residence). Additional Reward: $1,000,000 deposited to your account.**
Ethan laughed, a mix of disbelief and adrenaline. "A Lamborghini? A million bucks? Yeah, right." He grabbed his phone, a scratched-up Blackberry, and checked his bank app. His jaw dropped. His account, previously holding $47.23 from his part-time job at a comic shop, now showed a balance of $1,000,000.23. A text from an unknown number followed: *Your vehicle is parked at 2456 Beverly Hills Drive. Keys in mailbox.*
He scrambled to his laptop, searching the address. It was a mansion, listed for sale at $15 million, now marked as *Sold*. To him? Ethan's head spun. He threw on jeans and a hoodie, grabbed his skateboard, and headed to the address, a 20-minute ride from his suburban home. The June sun was already warm, LA buzzing with morning traffic and the distant hum of a city recovering from the 2008 financial crisis.
When he reached the address, Ethan froze. A sleek, jet-black Lamborghini Aventador sat in the driveway of a sprawling mansion, its gates open. The car's curves gleamed like a predator ready to pounce, a stark contrast to the Priuses and SUVs lining the street. He checked the mailbox, hands trembling, and found a key fob with a Lamborghini logo. He pressed it, and the car's lights flashed, doors unlocking with a soft click.
"No way," Ethan whispered, sliding into the driver's seat. The leather smelled new, the dashboard a futuristic array of screens. He didn't have a license—hell, he was 17—but the system seemed to ignore such details. A note on the passenger seat read: *Title and registration in your name. Enjoy, Ethan Kane.*
He drove slowly, heart racing, back to his neighborhood, parking the car a block away to avoid his mom's questions. Back in his room, the system panel reappeared.
**Daily Sign-In Available Tomorrow. Next Reward: Beverly Hills Mansion Ownership (Full Title). Tip: Use your rewards wisely to build your legacy.**
Ethan's mind raced. This wasn't a prank. He was rich, with a supercar and a mansion on the way. But why? And what was he supposed to do with it? He thought of his old life—average grades, no girlfriend, dreams of making it big in Hollywood but no plan. Now, the world was his. He opened his laptop, searching for inspiration, and stumbled on a news article: *Taylor Swift to Perform at Charity Gala for Haiti Relief, June 5, 2010.*
Taylor Swift. Her *Fearless* album had been everywhere, her face on every magazine. Ethan had always admired her—not just her music, but her drive. The gala was in LA, and with a million dollars, he could buy a ticket. Maybe this was his chance to start something bigger.
---
Two days later, Ethan stood in a tailored suit (another system purchase, courtesy of a $10,000 shopping spree reward) at the Haiti Relief Gala in a downtown LA ballroom. The room buzzed with celebrities, philanthropists, and media, all gathered to support the recovery from the January 2010 earthquake. Ethan felt out of place, his 17-year-old awkwardness clashing with his new wealth, but the system's *Charisma Boost* skill, earned that morning, made his words flow smoother than ever.
He spotted Taylor Swift across the room, her blonde curls catching the chandelier light as she spoke to a group of donors. She was 20, already a global star, her *Speak Now* album set to drop later that year. Ethan took a deep breath, channeling the system's confidence, and approached her during a break in the mingling.
"Miss Swift?" he said, offering a smile. "I'm Ethan Kane. Huge fan, and I wanted to thank you for supporting this cause."
Taylor turned, her blue eyes warm but curious. "Thanks, Ethan. It's great to see young people here. Are you with a foundation?"
He hesitated, the truth too wild to share. "Just… an investor with an interest in giving back. I read about your donation to Haiti. It's inspiring."
She smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "That's sweet of you to say. It's hard to ignore what's happening there. Are you local?"
"LA, born and raised," Ethan said, his charisma skill making the lie sound natural. "I'm starting a film studio, actually. Trying to tell stories that matter."
Her eyes lit up. "A filmmaker? That's ambitious. What kind of stories?"
They talked for ten minutes, longer than Ethan expected. He mentioned wanting to produce a film about resilience, tying it to Haiti's recovery, and Taylor shared her love for storytelling through music. The conversation flowed effortlessly—her laugh, her quick wit, the way she leaned in when he spoke about his (fictional) studio plans. When she was called away for a performance, she handed him a card.
"Keep in touch, Ethan," she said, her smile lingering. "I'd love to hear about your studio."
He watched her take the stage, strumming her guitar for a stripped-down version of "Love Story." The crowd cheered, but Ethan felt something else—a spark, a possibility. The system chimed in his mind: *Bonus Reward: Contact Information for Apex Pictures CEO. Unlock your Hollywood empire.*
---
Back home, Ethan sat in his new mansion, the deed arriving that morning as promised. The system's rewards were real, and so was his chance to change everything. He thought of Taylor's card, her smile, and the world waiting for him. Hollywood, wealth, love—it was all within reach. But the system's tip echoed: *Use your rewards wisely.* He'd died once. This time, he'd live bigger than anyone ever had.