n was all misted around. He blinked rapidly in attempted focus, but all he could see was smoke and the twisted wreckage of his driven car. "Oh man, am I... finished?" He croaked out the wor

of the trio, a scarred man, spat on the ground while drawing near. "Well, well," the scarred man said slowly, his voice laden with irony. "See who's still alive." Johnny's fingers quivered. "Who on earth are you?" he insisted, attempting to suppress the shake in his voice "Don't act stupid, Lance," Scar sneered. "Marcus sent us. Said you've been dodging your debts." "Debts?" Johnny blinked, his mind racing. "What debts?" Scar grinned, pulling a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. "You think we don't know about the loans you took out? Marcus was nice enough to buy them up after you tanked your life. Now you owe him. And us." He balled up the paper and tossed it at Johnny's feet. "We're here to collect." Johnny's jaw clenched. "You tell Marcus he can go to hell." Scar chuckled, nodding to the men behind him. "Not the answer we were looking for." The two thugs moved forward, cracking their knuckles. Johnny flinched backward, his heart pounding in his chest. Glancing around, he was heard looking for the way out, but the men would not give him an opening. "System," he hissed low. "What the hell do I do?" "You have the power of Greed," the voice replied back. "Use it." Johnny swallowed hard; his vision flickered as the green threads of energy returned again. This was the time when they were connected to the men in front of him. He could perceive their desires--money, respect, power--and by instinct, he knew how to leverage those against them. "Wait," Johnny said, raising his hands. "Let's... let's talk about this." Scar narrowed his eyes. "Talk about what? You are a failed husband and father, and worst a poor one at that." "Yes, I am poor" Johnny confessed, slowly moving a step ahead. "But, I know Marcus very well. I am sure that he isn't paying you based on worth and time." Scar wavered, while Johnny continued, speaking in a quiet and secretive tone. "Come on, dude. Do you believe I don't of how Marcus thinks and does business? He was my best friend and business partner for years. He is a serpent. He's likely giving you very little money while he's accumulating millions. "Be quiet," Scar retorted, though a glimmer of uncertainty appeared in his eyes. "Do you not trust what I'm saying?" Johnny advanced nearer, disregarding the other two men as they fumed. "Think about it. You're out here, putting yourself at risk for him, and what do you receive? A few hundred, maybe thousands of dollars? All the while, Marcus is in his upscale office, enjoying scotch and chuckling at you." Scar clenched his jaw. "You have no idea what you're talking about." "Yes, I do," Johnny responded, his tone unwavering. He knew the system of Greed w