On the 10th of May, the exams were over and Alex had miraculously a very good feeling about the answers he gave.
What had happened in the last weeks, was something that Alex had well-hidden from society, and if Alex could forget everything that happened he would.
The gambling at the casino wasn't a loss but wasn't a success either.
He made some money, but not in the least enough to constantly supply himself with NZT. There was absolutely no way that he could win 800 per day with his condition.
It then struck him. Having just one more white pill, he could break into Vern's house and steal all the NZT Vern had.
With the pill, Alex was persuaded to know how to have a perfect alibi and not leaving any trace at the house. He firstly read a lot of books about crimes and police procedures.
Finally, on the next morning, Alex broke into Vern's house. He waited for Vern to leave for work in the morning. With a plastic back on his head, shoes, and hands Alex rummaged through the house. Alex made sure to always have an alibi. He published a picture of him at home on Instagram, flexing his muscles. A clock was on the picture, which showed the actual time. Alex had turned ahead the time to create a false alibi.
After searching for over two hours Alex found a plastic baggie of pills being duct-taped under the oven.
He opened the baggie. It contained over 200 tablets. He finished his whole break-in, leaving some fake traces to divert the attention of the officer.
Followed by that, he went home and then went shopping downtown. Nothing was better than doing something to prove that one didn't do anything bad.
With his first crime, a new life opened to him.
The next day Alex's fingers reach in and take one.
´A tablet a day... kept the torpor away. And what I could do with my day... was limitless.´
Alex went back to school from this day on, he studied hard for the exams as he knew that he needed a life-insurance if he used all pills. The rest of the time Alex learned programming and learned to read the stock charts. These things were the best ways to make money.
Another small project was to write his first own webnovel with the remaining effect of each pill.
His novel "The legendary mechanic" became a hit in the community after the first 50 chapters.
Between his occupation, he had a visit of two police officers.
´So Vern really did let them make an investigation. Using the police to look for his drugs. How ironic? He probably lied to them about everything. How high are the chances that they are corrupt?´
After responding to their questions, Alex still hadn't heard what was stolen. So he asked curiously?
„Officer, what exactly has been stolen from my cousin's house?"
„We aren't allowed to answer that question? We can just say that M. Vernon it urgently need?"
...
It was only one week later that the police officer came again. But this time to inform them of Vernon's death.
This news had given Alex a shock. ´Did I cause Vernon's death? I did, yeah? I stole his whole baggie of pills. 800 x 253 = 202,400. Does this mean I am in danger? No. It can't be, right? Did Vernon suspect me?´
„Did you know if M. Vernon had any illegal activities? Or if he owed money from a person?"
„M. Bernhardt, please stop asking questions to my son? We didn't interact often with Vernon! We only heard from his parents that he dealt with drugs. We don't know more."
„Then thank you for your time."
…
The danger never came, so Alex relaxed and lived his life. Beginning with looking for a girlfriend!
In the most popular club in Stuttgart, Alex had a discussion with three beautiful girls...
"So you're saying that any author who's commandeered adjective status, Orwellian, Dickensian--"? A brunette asked Alex with a coquettish smile.
"--is prosaic. Yes." Responded Alex.
"Which means a prosaic author's work rests on a foundation of acclaim---
So you're saying praise and fame are unrelated to achievement, that the greatest hits CD cannot possibly contain good songs? That Shakespeare's catchiness belies mediocrity?"
That night was when Alex learned an important lesson.
NZT should not be combined with alcohol, as this can result in gaps in memory.
Alex didn't know what happened after this discussion. Only with another pill did he at least remember to have lost his virginity, but even that was just a vague memory.
He suddenly had a sudden urge to ask what other things he should know about the drug on the internet. He made an anonymous post about the drug.
Wanting to not risk having anymore unknown side effects, Alex decided to take a short break from the drug and regulate the consummation.
´I only have 204 pills. I should save them up for important days, where I need to be 100% of my mental strength.´
What Alex didn't know at this point was that NZT had already caused deaths and would not let go of him so easily. But this is not the protagonist of this book and so he has to go his path without any reader ;)