72 hours.
That's what the screen said.
I had three days to prepare—for what, I had no clue.
A "phase"? A fight? A test? Death?
Catalyst.
Active.
Survive.
Adapt.
Or die.
Words like those don't come from prank apps or AI voice changers.
That symbol—burned into my chest—it still glowed faintly, even under my clothes. I'd tried everything from scrubbing it to praying it away.
Still there.
Still warm.
Still watching me.
I didn't go home right away.
I just walked.
Through the city.
Through the noise.
Through the confusion.
My body was on autopilot, but my mind was screaming.
"This isn't supposed to happen."
"I'm a high school kid, not a chosen one."
"I'm not a warrior. I'm not special."
"I'm not ready."
It wasn't until the sun had fully set that I heard it—
Screaming.
Down the block. Echoing through the alley.
Another damn alley.
I ran.
Faster than I should've. Faster than fear wanted me to.
And that's when I saw it.
A boy—around my age—sprinting barefoot through the alley, panting, eyes wide with terror.
His arm was glowing—same symbol as mine.
Another Player?!
But he wasn't alone.
Something was chasing him.
No—hunting him.
A black figure, ten feet tall, thin as death itself. Skin like shadows. Eyes like flickering candles inside a skull.
A Reaper.
One of them.
"HELP!" the boy screamed.
I didn't know what to do. I wasn't ready. I didn't even know the rules!
Do I run? Do I help? What if I die next?
Then the Reaper lifted its hand.
And the boy…
Stopped.
Mid-sprint, his body locked up—paralyzed in midair like someone hit pause on his life.
The Reaper reached inside the kid's chest.
No blood. No scream.
Just silence.
And then—
SNAP.
The glow vanished.
His body hit the ground like a broken marionette.
Gone.
Dead.
Just like that.
The first Player… eliminated.
I couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
The Reaper slowly turned its head toward me.
Those candlelight eyes flickered.
It saw me.
Marked me.
And then—
It vanished into the shadows.
Gone like smoke.
I dropped to my knees.
Another buzz from my phone.
[Player Eliminated: Jaylen G. – Time Expired]
Remaining Players: 11
Phase One Begins: 71:36:02
I stared at the screen, heart pounding like a war drum.
There are more of us.
There are rules.
There's a countdown.
And now?
There's one less.