7:03 a.m.
Atlas blinked at the light cutting in through the blinds. He reached for his phone, still half under the blanket. The same white icon sat on his home screen.
"World Survival," he muttered.
He tapped the side of the phone with his thumb, thinking. "Did I download something while drifting again?"
The thought rolled off. He dropped the phone on the desk, got up, and went through the motions—wash, brush, hoodie, jeans, bag. The phone stayed untouched until his shoes were on and the door clicked behind him.
Outside, the air bit a little sharper than yesterday. He crossed campus, passed the same coffee line, and stepped into the lecture hall.
Rei spotted him first. "There he is—Right on time."
Atlas slid into his seat. "Shock and awe."
Mira turned in her chair. "Study group after class again?"
"Yeah."
Rei leaned back. "We need snacks this time. Last night was pure starvation."
"You had chips," Atlas said.
"Exactly. Chips are not dinner."
"Dinner is not a snack…" Atlas retorted.
"But snacks can be dinner!" Rei fired back.
Mira chuckled.
They were still trading lines when Caldwell strode in. "Phones down. Laptops ready. Today, elasticity."
Markers hit the board. Supply curves rose and fell. Caldwell moved quick.
Atlas's phone buzzed in his pocket. Once. Twice.
He glanced down. The app was open. Black screen, clean white text.
Complete your profile.
Name. Date of birth. Profile picture.
Atlas glanced up—Caldwell's back was turned. He typed in his name, swiped to the date selector, and chose a photo from his gallery.
The app spun a small loading wheel, then a line appeared.
Daily Tasks Generated.
— Drink 1 bottle of water
— Answer 5 study questions correctly
— Walk 2,000 steps
— Organize your desk
"Hey." Rei's voice slid in from the side. "On your phone during class? What's the deal?"
Atlas closed the screen halfway. "It's… weird. This app popped up. Wants me to do random stuff."
Mira tilted her head. "Like what?"
"Walk, drink water, clean my desk. Real-life chores."
Rei smirked. "So… you downloaded 'Mom Simulator?'"
Mira grinned. "I like it already."
"That's enough chatter," Caldwell's voice cut across. He didn't turn, just kept drawing curves. "You three. Eyes front."
"Sorry," they said in unison.
Rei held his hands up. "Won't happen again."
Atlas pocketed the phone. The rest of the lecture passed with only the sound of markers on the board and the occasional question from the front row.
When they stepped out into the hallway, the conversation picked back up.
Atlas pulled his phone again. "So, about that app—"
"Yeah?" Rei asked.
"It's called World Survival. It gave me a list of daily tasks. Thing is… they're pretty specific. Like it knows my schedule."
Mira tapped her own screen. "Wait—" Her eyes widened. "I have it too."
Rei's phone was already out. "Same. What the hell? This some kind of mass update to everyone's phones?"
"Has to be," Atlas said. "I didn't download it."
Mira scrolled. "My tasks are… drink two cups of tea, review lecture notes, text my mom, and… stretch for five minutes."
Rei laughed. "Mine says run a mile, answer two trivia questions, and reorganize my bookmarks. This thing is judging me."
"Maybe it's a wellness thing?" Mira suggested.
"Or spyware," Rei said. "Fun spyware."
They kept walking, each of them tapping through menus. By the time they hit the quad, they were comparing completions.
"Two down already," Rei said.
"Three for me," Mira said, tucking her phone away. "This is way more satisfying than it should be."
Atlas checked his list. One bottle of water—done. Desk? Not yet. Steps? Getting there. Study questions—easy after last night.
Afternoon came and went. They grabbed coffee, hit another lecture, and by early evening were back in the library study room.
Rei dumped a small pile of snacks on the table. "Fuel for greatness."
Atlas opened his notes. "Or distraction."
"Both," Rei said.
Mira unzipped her pencil case. "Okay, but seriously—this app. Don't you think it's strange how it just… showed up?"
"Strange, yeah," Atlas said. "But it's harmless. I mean, it's just tasks."
"Tasks tailored to you," Mira countered. "Mine literally reminded me to text my mom, and I was planning to anyway."
Rei tore open a bag of pretzels. "Mine knows I haven't gone on a run in weeks. It's creepy, but also… motivating."
Atlas tapped through his list. "I can see why people would get hooked. Every time you finish something, it rewards you. Even if it's just a little green checkmark, it feels good."
"Exactly," Mira said. "Positive reinforcement."
"Or psychological warfare," Rei said with a grin. "But the fun kind."
They worked through notes, pausing every so often to check their progress. Between problem sets and coffee refills, they all ticked off more tasks.
Rei leaned back. "We should make it a thing—see who finishes their list first every day."
Mira nodded. "Loser buys snacks."
Atlas smirked. "That's a terrible idea. I'm not funding your sugar habit."
"You just admitted you'd lose," Rei said.
Atlas shook his head. "We'll see."
By the time they packed up and make their leave, the group chat was already buzzing with side bets.
Rei: Done. All tasks. Bow before your champion.
Mira: Almost. Stretching now.
Atlas: Two left. Steps and desk.
Rei: Lame.
Mira: Motivated.
Night settled over the dorms. Atlas sat at his desk, last bottle of tea gone, phone in hand. He tapped the final task. A line rolled across the screen.
"Huh?" Atlas said confused.
Congratulations.
Another line appeared, cleaner, sharper.
You Are A Vanguard.
"Vanguard…?"