THE MAFIA REGIME

INTRODUCTION: WHERE IT ALL STARTS Timmy, the game developer, sat in front of his computer, typing ".apk" to finish his game. He had worked tirelessly for months, pouring his heart and soul into it. The game was halfway done, and he couldn't wait to see it completed. Feeling thirsty, Timmy got up from his chair and headed to the fridge. As he grabbed a cold drink, he couldn't help but think about how he had come up with the idea for this game. It was all inspired by the stories his grandpa used to tell him about the old days. His grandpa had worked with a man named Don Rostello back in the 1940s. They were part of a mob, living a dangerous life. But everything changed when his grandpa got into a terrible car accident that left him paralyzed. He had to quit the mob life to focus on his recovery. Twelve years later, tragedy struck. Timmy's grandpa's friends, Don Rostello, and other well-known mob figures were ambushed, murdered, or arrested. It was a brutal and dark time, and it had always haunted Timmy. But in the game he was creating, Timmy decided to rewrite history. He imagined a world where his grandpa hadn't been paralyzed, where he remained one of the strongest men in the gangs. It was a way for Timmy to honor his grandpa's strength and resilience. With a smile on his face, Timmy returned to his computer. He was excited about the game's progress and the chance to rewrite his grandpa's story. But just as he was about to touch the mouse, a sudden surge of electricity coursed through his body. There was an error in the electric current, and it left him stunned. As his hand brushed against the computer, something extraordinary happened. Timmy found himself in a bed at hospital, everything in the hospital looked different , but to say accurately it all seem very old way . Timmy woke up in an old-fashioned hospital room, the surroundings looking eerily outdated. He was disoriented, with a sense of dread washing over him. He needed to make sense of what was happening, so he rushed to the hospital's restroom. The room was dimly lit, and the mirror was covered in specks of dust. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out and touched his face. As he did, the perspective shifted, and he saw himself in the mirror from a third-person view. His own reflection stared back at him, but it wasn't him. It was a face he didn't recognize, an older face with wrinkles and scars. Panic welled up inside him, and he couldn't contain it any longer. "WHAT THE HELLLLLL!?" Timmy shouted, his voice echoing in the restroom. He stumbled backward and rushed out of the restroom, into the hallway. Every patient and nurse in the vicinity turned to look at him, their eyes filled with confusion and concern. A nurse who was nearby approached him, her expression gentle. "Any problem, sir?" she asked, her voice soothing. Timmy's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to explain. "NO... NO... NOOO, IT'S NOT REAL...!" His words came out in a frantic, disjointed manner. Other doctors and nurses started to gather around, trying to calm him down and make sense of the situation. That's when a familiar voice cut through the chaos. "HEY! TONY, IT'S OKAY. CHILL... WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU...?" Timmy turned to see his Uncle Shane approaching. Shane had always been a calming presence in his life, and just hearing his voice provided a sliver of comfort. "Uncle Shane," Timmy stammered, still trying to process everything. Shane furrowed his brow, clearly perplexed. "Uncle...?" He began to reach out to Timmy, but before he could touch him, Timmy's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground. Panicked, Shane turned to one of the doctors and said, "I will take care of him." He gently cradled Timmy in his arms, his mind racing with questions about what had just happened. Timmy again woke up ..this time he felt too tired with no energy to shout . so, he remained calm this time But he felt that it was a dream .He again sharpened his mind. Seeing the place, it was a place which was very familiar to him . things and furniture were outdated one's. again he started to sweat then takes a look out of window. Timmy couldn't believe his eyes as he stood there, gazing at the familiar yet strangely outdated surroundings of Falcon Street. He had created this place in his game, but now it had become his reality. The sense of wonder mixed with fear crept over him as he looked around. "The Falcon Street," Timmy muttered in disbelief. It was surreal to see the world he had designed come to life. The houses, the trees, everything looked incredibly real. But something was off, and a chill ran down his spine. Turning away from the street, he noticed a house with a sign that read "SHANE RESIDENCE." Timmy's heart raced as he rushed inside. He stood before a mirror, and as he stared at his reflection, he gasped in shock. He had transformed into an elderly version of himself, like his late grandfather. Timmy muttered to himself, "I've become like Grandpa... man, it's surely a nightmare to me." Determined to escape this bewildering reality, Timmy hurried out of the house, knowing that there was only one place he could go—the edge of his created world. He needed to find where it ended, hoping to unravel the mystery behind this bizarre transformation. Without wasting a moment, Timmy found a car and began to drive. The streets of Falcon Street led him on a mysterious journey, passing landmarks he had created but had never seen in person. Time seemed distorted, and the landscape seemed to stretch on endlessly. "I know where the world ends," Timmy muttered to himself, his determination unwavering. The feeling of being trapped in his own creation had become overwhelming, and he needed answers. Timmy reached the outskirts of the world he had created. He parked the car and stepped out into a desolate, eerie landscape. This was where his game had ended, where the world had simply faded away into nothingness. As he stood there, a cold wind whipped through the empty space, and Timmy felt a profound sense of loneliness and despair. He realized that he couldn't escape this world he had created. It was his own mind that had trapped him here, and he had to find a way to make peace with it. With a heavy heart, Timmy turned back towards Falcon Street. The world he had created was now his reality, and he needed to find a way to navigate it, understand its rules, and perhaps even find a way to return to his own time and life. As he walked back towards the familiar houses and streets, he knew that this was just the beginning of a surreal and challenging journey. CHAPTER 1: STRUCK IN MAZE, SEEKING THE RAYS Timmy drove back to Shane's house, his mind filled with confusion and uncertainty. He had no idea what to do or how to escape the predicament he found himself in. It was as if he was trapped in his own game, with no clear way out. Finally, he arrived at Shane's house, a place where he often sought refuge. As Timmy entered Shane's home, he couldn't help but reminisce about Shane's remarkable past. Shane was the sole survivor of the notorious Rostello gang, and now he and his grandfather passed their days in the present, engaged in daily conversations that bridged the gap between generations. Timmy headed to his room, only to discover that Shane had been searching for him. Shane's voice echoed through the room as he asked, "Hey, Tony, what's wrong with you?" Timmy took a deep breath and decided it was time to reveal the truth. He replied, "I'm not Tony, Uncle Shane. I'm Timmy, Tony's grandson." Shane chuckled heartily, assuming it was another one of Tony's jokes. "Good one, as always, Tony." But Timmy persisted, determined to make Shane understand the seriousness of the situation. "No, I'm serious, Uncle Shane. I can explain." Shane, still wearing a smile, dismissed Timmy's insistence. "Enough with that, Tony. You should drive more carefully. The doctor said you survived by sheer luck. And on top of that, if you had hit your head any harder, you might not have made it or could have ended up permanently paralyzed.". Immediately Timmy remembered the plot from the introduction of the game, where his grandpa survives and is taken to Shane's home. He understood that he was in the first plot of the game. Shane was about to leave a room when Timmy blocked his way and said, "Give me 5 minutes to explain, and I'll make everything clear, yes or no?" Shane agreed, so they both sat down on a bed. (5 min fast forward) Shane asked, "So, you're Tony's grandson?" Timmy said, "Yes." Shane was skeptical and asked, "How can I believe this? Do you have proof?" Timmy remembered something and suggested they go to a bridge. Shane asked if he couldn't cross the bridge, and Timmy confirmed it. Shane easily crossed the bridge. Timmy stood there, frozen in shock, unable to muster the courage to cross the bridge. It was a strange place, a fusion of reality and the game he had been playing. An NPC named Shane had effortlessly crossed the same bridge just moments ago, leaving Timmy bewildered. As he contemplated his predicament, a curious twist occurred. Timmy suddenly found himself in the body of his own grandfather. It was a bewildering experience, brought about by his failure to complete the game entirely. The world around him had transformed, blending the boundaries between reality and the game even further. Shane, who had witnessed the bizarre turn of events, couldn't contain his frustration. "I crossed the bridge," he exclaimed, growing impatient with Timmy's apparent hesitation. Timmy, now in his grandfather's body, replied with a sly grin, "I can't cross it." Shane, losing patience, snapped, "Nice act, but this isn't funny anymore." But then something clicked in Timmy's mind. He burst into laughter and locked eyes with Shane. "As I said before," he chuckled, "I know what will happen next." Shane, taken aback, quipped, "Oh! Are you trying to be a fortune teller?" Timmy and Shane were engaged in an unusual conversation. Timmy seemed to be talking about a FIFA match from way back in 1930, an event that had little relevance to their current discussion. "Have you heard about the FIFA match on July 30th, 1930?" Timmy asked. "I'm so interested in history, I bet my life that Uruguay's club team will win today's match with four goals. You'll see it in tomorrow's match." With that cryptic statement, Timmy abruptly left for his grandpa's house. Little did he know that he was in for a surprise. When he arrived, he found his grandma, Lily, looking not like the old, wrinkled lady he remembered, but as a young and beautiful lady. Timmy was left speechless, unable to comprehend the transformation. He had only ever known his grandma as an elderly woman. Lily flirted playfully with Timmy, trying to have some fun, but he couldn't bring himself to respond. He excused himself and went for a nap, trying to make sense of what he had just witnessed. Meanwhile, Shane had rushed home after Timmy's bizarre departure and made a call to his friend in Uruguay. To his surprise, he learned that Argentina had already scored two goals, and Uruguay was yet to make a mark. The match was about to conclude. As Shane hung up, he received another call, this time regarding collecting protection money from Samuel's salon the next day. He was also instructed to bring Tony along, but Shane had concerns about Tony's mental state. As Shane pondered this, the telephone rang again. It was his friend from Uruguay, and he was ecstatic. "Hey Shane! They won!" he exclaimed. Shane was puzzled and asked, "Who won?" His friend replied, "Uruguay! They scored four goals in the last few minutes. It's unbelievable, right?" Shane slowly hung up the call, his mind racing. He muttered to himself, "Tony... no, it's Timmy..." He couldn't believe what he had just heard. "How could he have known?" Shane wondered aloud, still in shock. (scene cuts anstarts with next day mornings at shane's house) The morning sun cast a warm glow on Shane's doorstep as he heard a polite knock on his door. He hurriedly opened it to find Tony standing there with a friendly smile. "Good morning, Shane!" Tony greeted. Shane was taken aback for a moment, his eyes widening in surprise. He stumbled backward, losing his balance, and fell to the ground. Tony quickly extended a helping hand. "Hey!" Tony said as he helped Shane to his feet. Shane, still recovering from the shock of Tony's unexpected visit, stammered, "How did you know it was me? You must be playing some tricks..." Tony chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, really? Like getting a call from the capo to collect from Sam's salon directly, just to play a trick on you?" Shane's jaw dropped, and he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "How the hell did you know about that, Tony?" Tony leaned in closer, his tone conspiratorial. "Well, as I said, I know what happens next. And also, I'm not Tony. I'm Timmy." and finally, Timmy made Shane to believe. it. (minutes later..) Shane: Not everybody will forgive your incident, so I have a plan. Tony: What is it? Shane: Become Tony. Tony: What? I can't understand. Shane: Since you created this game world, become the character you created, like your grandpa Tony Grasso. And also, what's the problem here? You knew the ending, right? And when you reach the end, you will return back to your world. Tony: That's the problem here. I knew the game's story only half. The other part, I didn't think of it. Shane: You mean... you don't know the ending? Tony: Yes, but there is an ending for sure. That's all I know. And this world is a creation of half video game and reality. (after a long chat..) Shane: Well, do you know, Timmy, that you're called by names like "Tony the wiz " because you're one of the important men in our gang. So, better be like him. Tony: I will. Shane: I forgot that we've got a job to do. Tony: Samuel's salon? Shane: Yes. (Shane and Tony leave in a car.) Shane: (advising Timmy) Better stay out, because you need time to be more like Tony. Shane: We're off to South Street Laundry. Tony: This isn't the main job now. Shane: It's about seeing how you can extort money. Tony: Well, shopkeepers will tremble in fear when they see me. Shane: I ain't foolin', Timmy. The shopkeeper there has never seen you, or Tony never went there to extort money. (Timmy, aka Tony, feels a shock.) (They reach the laundry.) Shane: I'll wait here, and you go and collect our money. (Tony enters the laundry.) Shopkeeper: How may I help you? Tony: I... am... Tony... Tony Grasso. (Shopkeeper stares at Tony.) Tony: (nervous) I have come to collect... (Shane in the car watches how Tony talks.) Shane: (to himself) s**t! He's weak as hell. Tony: I... mean... I'm Rostello's men. (Shopkeeper still stares, doubting Tony's authenticity.) Tony: (frustrated, shouts a little) What are you looking at...? Just give me the money... okay? (Shopkeeper sees Shane outside and realizes the situation. He hands the money to Tony.) (Tony collects the money and returns to the car, where Shane is staring at him with rage.) Shane: (angry) I really doubt if you're really the grandson of Tony. And if you are, you don't deserve to be his grandson. (Timmy, in Tony's body, feels humiliated, hands the money to Shane, and silently enters the car.) Timmy had just realized that what he had experienced was nothing more than a tutorial within his video game. It was a startling revelation, and he couldn't help but be amazed by the vividness of this virtual world he had suddenly found himself in. The energy coursing through him was palpable, and his newfound strength felt invigorating. It was clear to him that this world was a unique fusion of gaming and reality, and that realization made him more cautious than ever. Meanwhile, Shane, who had driven to Samuel's salon, arrived just in time. He parked his car and turned to Tony, who was with him. Shane cautioned Tony, his voice firm, "Stay right here. Don't try to be a hero." With those words, Shane stepped out of the car and headed toward the salon, determined to collect the money he was owed. As Shane entered the salon, he was immediately struck by an eerie silence that hung in the air. It was as though the world inside had fallen quiet, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. He cautiously moved forward, his senses on high alert. Suddenly, a voice came from behind him, causing Shane to tense up. It was a deep voice, filled with an unknown intent. The voice called out, "Hey fella!" Shane's heart raced, and as the scene cuts, the tension in the air thickened, leaving everyone on edge, wondering what would happen next. (10 minutes later) tony could no longer wait and he decided to enter the salon. Tony, a rugged man with a hardened demeanor, pushed open the door to Samuel's Salon, a place known for its sleek haircuts and questionable clientele. As he stepped inside, the faint aroma of hair products mingled with an undercurrent of tension in the air. SAMUEL, a balding, burly man with a thick beard, stood behind the counter, his eyes narrowing as he assessed Tony. "How can I help you?" he asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice. Tony glanced around the dimly lit salon, the rows of empty chairs and scattered hair clippings. "I'm looking for my friend, Shane," Tony replied cautiously, avoiding eye contact with Samuel. Samuel's brows furrowed, and he chuckled darkly. "You came with Shane, then you should see my friend who is behind you." Tony turned slowly, his heart racing as he came face to face with a menacing figure emerging from the shadows. The man was built like a tank, his arms covered in tattoos, and a wicked grin spread across his face. Before Tony could react, the hulking figure lunged at him, fists flying. In that moment, Tony's vision seemed to warp and shift, like an augmented reality interface in a video game. A set of instructions flashed in his mind: Kneel down, get up, catch the baseball bat, and punch him in the chest with force. Tony acted on instinct, dropping to one knee, then springing up in a fluid motion. He snatched the baseball bat out of thin air, swung it with all his might, and connected with a devastating blow to the man's chest. The assailant staggered backward, crashing to the floor with a bone-rattling thud. Tony's eyes widened in shock, his chest heaving as he realized the inexplicable strength he had just displayed. He had no time to dwell on it, though, as the salon's sinister atmosphere came alive with movement. Eight more menacing figures materialized from the shadows, surrounding Tony. They cracked their knuckles, ready for a fight. Tony took a deep breath, his mind strangely focused as another set of instructions materialized in his vision. He began to move with an uncanny grace, each move precise and calculated. He sidestepped an incoming punch, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick to one thug's jaw, sending him crashing into another. As the chaos unfolded, Tony's fists danced through the air. He ducked, weaved, and dodged with an almost preternatural agility. He parried a knife strike with a swift karate block, disarming the attacker with a well-placed elbow strike. His attackers fell like dominoes, crashing to the ground one by one. With a final, devastating uppercut, Tony sent the last thug sprawling, unconscious. Breathing heavily, he stood alone in the center of the salon, his clothes torn and fists bloodied. Tony knew he couldn't waste any more time. He hurriedly ascended a creaking staircase at the back of the salon, entering a dimly lit room. There, tied to a chair, was SHANE, bruised and battered, but alive. "Tony," Shane gasped with shock. shane thought he sneaked to the room Tony wasted no time in freeing his friend. As he worked on the ropes, Tony had just helped Shane reach the exit of the salon when something unimaginable happened. Shane couldn't believe his eyes. Tony, seemingly out of nowhere, had taken on eight guys all by himself. It was a display of strength and skill that left Shane in awe. But their ordeal was far from over. The owner of the salon, a man named Samuel, suddenly appeared and pushed Tony, taking Shane hostage. Samuel pressed a gun to Shane's head from behind, and the world seemed to slow down for Tony. It was as if time itself had hit pause. Tony's mind raced as he realized what was happening. He had stumbled upon a strange power, something he had only seen in the video game he had created – bullet time. Everything around him moved at a snail's pace, including Samuel's angry voice. Samuel yelled, "You filthy Rostello brats! I will kill you! Put your gun down!" But to Tony, it sounded like a distant echo, a slow and distorted voice. Tony couldn't help but smile in an eerie, confident way. "You shouldn't have messed with us," Tony whispered as he moved with an almost supernatural grace. He spotted a nearby gun, and with deliberate precision, he snatched it up and pointed it at Samuel. Samuel, still unaware of the strange time manipulation that Tony was experiencing, continued to shout, "Can't you hear me? Put your gun down!" His words hung in the air, elongated and distorted by Tony's newfound power. Tony took a deep breath and aimed carefully. Time seemed to stretch even further as he squeezed the trigger. The gunshot rang out, echoing through the salon. It was a perfect, perfect headshot. Samuel's grip on Shane loosened, and he crumpled to the ground, Shane, still in shock from the events that had unfolded before him, stared wide-eyed at Tony. (tony drove the car, left the place) shane instructed the doctor's location and tony drove tony arrived there before time, before shane entering inside doctor's house . He turned at tony and said "you are not timmy , you are tony and I was wrong", timmy in tony's body realized what he has just beame. (Tony left by his car to his house) Tony arrived home after a long day at work, his heart heavy with the knowledge that he hadn't been giving his wife, Lily, the attention she deserved. As he entered the kitchen, he spotted Lily standing at the sink, lost in the mundane task of washing dishes. Unable to resist the longing in his heart, Tony approached her from behind, gently wrapping his arms around her waist. "Sorry," he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity. Lily turned, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Why are you saying sorry?" she asked, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Tony gazed into her eyes, his own reflecting a mixture of regret and affection. "I know you've been worried because I haven't been spending enough time with you," he confessed. A warm blush colored Lily's cheeks, and a shy smile played on her lips. She had longed for this moment, for Tony to acknowledge her feelings and make an effort to bridge the growing distance between them. Just as their connection deepened, something strange happened. Tony's vision was filled with a set of instructions, almost like a message from the past. It was as if Timmy, a dear friend from Tony's childhood, was guiding him from within. Tony remembered that Timmy had once created a romantic scene in a video game, inspired by his own experiences of feeling neglected by his family. Tony, now guided by Timmy's memory, felt a renewed determination to rekindle the spark in his relationship with Lily. He leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her cheek, but Lily, feeling the depth of his emotions, responded with surprising passion. With a playful glint in her eyes, Lily teased, "You're so lame." Without further hesitation, she pressed her lips firmly against Tony's, their mouths melting into a romantic and passionate kiss, reawakening the dormant desires that had long been buried beneath the surface. As their lips locked in a tender embrace, Lily's hands moved gently across Tony's shoulders, her touch igniting a fire within him. Tony, overwhelmed by the intensity of their connection, allowed Lily to guide him toward the bedroom. With each step, their love and longing flowed freely, reigniting the flames of their passion. In the warm, intimate embrace of their shared moment, Tony and Lily found solace and rediscovered the joy of being together. After a long and beautiful night of rediscovering each other, Tony and Lily lay in each other's arms, Tony realized that he had finally spent a truly beautiful and meaningful time with his beloved Lily after far too long, and he was determined to make every day just as special as this one. (In the morning) The sun was just beginning to cast its gentle morning glow through the curtains as Tony stirred awake. He blinked his eyes open and found Lily lying beside him, her soft breaths rhythmic and soothing. Tony couldn't help but smile as he watched her for a moment, grateful for the warmth and comfort she brought to his life. As if on cue, the shrill ring of the telephone sliced through the tranquil morning air. Tony groaned and reluctantly slid out of bed, leaving Lily nestled in the sheets. He stumbled his way to the telephone and answered it, still half-asleep. "Hey, Tony, how you doing?" a familiar voice crackled through the receiver. It was Shane, a friend and associate of Tony's from the world of organized crime. Tony rubbed his eyes and yawned. "I should ask you the same," he replied. Shane chuckled, "I'm fine, just recovered and got home. But the Capo wants to see you at Rostello's compound." Tony's brow furrowed with curiosity. "Why? What happened?" "He wants to talk about yesterday's incident," Shane explained. Tony's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "Oh, okay. I'll be coming soon." Lily, who had quietly followed Tony to the living room, couldn't help but worry. "Honey, is everything alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. Tony turned to her, trying to reassure her. "Nothing's wrong, it's just about work today. I'll be back soon." Lily looked at him with a sad expression, her eyes slightly damp. "Honey, you can go, but please come back sooner," she said softly, her words carrying a touch of vulnerability. Tony felt a pang of guilt as he looked at the woman he loved. They had shared a beautiful moment together the previous day, and he cherished those moments just as much as she did. "Why are you sad?" he asked, genuinely concerned. Lily smiled faintly, wiping away a tear that had escaped her eye. "We had a great moment yesterday, and I want these every day," she admitted. Tony's heart melted at her words. He approached her, cupping her face with his hands. "I promise, it will be like that every day when I get back," he reassured her, sincerity in his eyes. With one last lingering kiss, Tony pulled away, got ready, and left in a car, heading towards Rostello's compound. Tony: I'm here to see the Capo. Man (revealing himself as Robert, the Consigliere): I'm Robert, Don's Consigliere. So, you must be Tony Grasso. Tony: Do I know you? Robert: No, but everyone at Rostello's now knows about you. Everybody's impressed with your little incident yesterday. Even the Don himself is impressed, and you'll meet him today. But the Capo is angry with you; he's upstairs. Tony: It was nice to meet you, Mr. Robert. Tony heads upstairs to meet the Capo. Capo: So, you finally came. Tony: Yes, boss. Capo: Do you know what the hell you did? Tony:I'm sorry, but I had no choice. I had to shoot him because Shane was at gunpoint. Capo: Killing him became a serious issue. We lost our next month's cut, and we lost respect among other shopkeepers who pay us. Tony: I apologize, boss. Capo (at a normal voice): The Don wants to meet you, so go there. Tony nods and heads to meet the Don. an old man's voice, said, "So, you're Tony Grasso, the young man who took down 8 men." Tony replied, "Yes, Don Rostello. I did it to protect Shane." Don Rostello nodded understandingly and said, "It's okay, these things happen. You remind me of my younger self. I used to be just like you when I was your age. In fact, you're the strongest and smartest among us. So, your position in our organization is going up. You and your friend will now be our associates in our business dealings and more." Tony expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Don Rostello." Don Rostello continued, "From now on, you'll have more responsibilities, and word has spread about what happened. Other gangs in the city are aware, so be cautious." TO BE CONTINUED...