All I see is a lie.
All I've ever seen here is a collection of lies, layered on top of each other, pretending to be something real. And yet… somehow, it still feels better than the life I once had—the life that was supposed to be true.
This world, these people, these endless illusions—they don't affect me anymore. Not the way they should. Maybe I've been here too long. Maybe I've just stopped caring.
Time has passed, though I don't know how much. Long enough that memories should hurt… but they don't. I don't miss my family. I don't wonder how they are, or if they're even thinking about me.
It's strange. You'd think I'd feel something.
But I don't.
At that time, I faced four enemies. Not just the system anymore—the players had turned cruel too.
Whatever. Who am I to judge anyone? I'll play alone. And this time, I'm not afraid.
Over our heads, five different screens were mounted in the ceiling, tilted toward us so each one was clearly visible.
The screen flickered, then lit up with cold white text.One by one, the rules appeared, sharp and undeniable.
Rules:
1. Choose any number between 0 and 100.
2. Only one winner per round.
3. The game ends after four players are eliminated.
4. The winner is the one closest to the average.
5. Duplicate numbers will count only once.
6. No one talks.
7. If you lose a total of 15 points, you will be eliminated.
8. If anyone chooses the exact average, all others will lose an extra 1 point.
We looked up in silence. I didn't know what the others were thinking. I just sat there, waiting for round one to begin.
I had to finish this quickly… I had to get back to her. And him too.
For a moment, I wondered what she was doing right now. My only wish was for her to win. I didn't even think about myself. At that moment, their lives mattered more than mine.
I was just a normal guy. No special talent. Nothing worth noticing. But they… they mattered. The world needed them more than it would ever need me.
I was just someone who failed—failed as a son, failed as a brother.
A life with no meaning at all.
Round 1.
I didn't know what to choose. They were already choosing their numbers. All I saw was a paper in front of me with a red pen. I wrote 100. I know it will never be any closer to the answer, but I was just trying to see how they think.
The results:
Mahmood: 100
Simon: 70
Jackson: 25
Dalton: 50
Rode: 1
The winner: Dalton - 50 > 49.2
Mahmood: -1
Simon: -1
Jackson: -1
Dalton: +1
Rode: -1
Round 2.
Mahmood: 65
Simon: 35
Jackson: 25
Dalton: 40
Rode: 10
The winner: Dalton - 35 = 35
Mahmood: -3
Simon: -3
Jackson: -3
Dalton: +2
Rode: -3
Round 3.
Mahmood: 40
Simon: 1
Jackson: 20
Dalton: 50
Rode: 10
The winner: Jackson - 20 < 24.2
Mahmood: -4
Simon: -4
Jackson: -2
Dalton: +1
Rode: -4
Round 4.
Mahmood: 30
Simon: 5
Jackson: 15
Dalton: 45
Rode: 10
The winner: Jackson - 15 < 21
Mahmood: -5
Simon: -5
Jackson: -1
Dalton: 0
Rode: -5
Round 5.
Mahmood: 25
Simon: 2
Jackson: 10
Dalton: 35
Rode: 5
The winner: Jackson - 10 < 15.4
Mahmood: -6
Simon: -6
Jackson: 0
Dalton: -1
Rode: -6
Round 6.
Mahmood: 20
Simon: 1
Jackson: 5
Dalton: 30
Rode: 10
The winner: Rode - 10 < 13.2
Mahmood: -7
Simon: -7
Jackson: -1
Dalton: -2
Rode: -5
Round 7.
Mahmood: 15
Simon: 2
Jackson: 5
Dalton: 20
Rode: 10
The winner: Rode - 10 < 10.4
Mahmood: -8
Simon: -8
Jackson: -2
Dalton: -3
Rode: -4
Round 8.
Mahmood: 10
Simon: 1
Jackson: 3
Dalton: 15
Rode: 5
The winner: Rode - 5 < 6.8
Mahmood: -9
Simon: -9
Jackson: -3
Dalton: -4
Rode: -3
Round 9.
Mahmood: 8
Simon: 1
Jackson: 2
Dalton: 12
Rode: 4
The winner: Rode - 4 < 5.4
Mahmood: -10
Simon: -10
Jackson: -4
Dalton: -5
Rode: -2
Round 10.
Mahmood: 6
Simon: 1
Jackson: 2
Dalton: 10
Rode: 3
The winner: Rode - 3 < 4.4
Mahmood: -11
Simon: -11
Jackson: -5
Dalton: -6
Rode: -1
Round 11.
Mahmood: 5
Simon: 1
Jackson: 2
Dalton: 8
Rode: 3
The winner: Rode – 3 < 3.8
Mahmood: -12
Simon: -12
Jackson: -6
Dalton: -7
Rode: 0
Round 12.
Mahmood: 3
Simon: 1
Jackson: 2
Dalton: 5
Rode: 2
The winner: Mahmood – 3 > 2.6
Mahmood: -11
Simon: -13
Jackson: -7
Dalton: -8
Rode: -1
Round 13.
Mahmood: 2
Simon: 1
Jackson: 2
Dalton: 3
Rode: 3
The winner: Mahmood – 2 < 2.2
Mahmood: -10
Simon: -14
Jackson: -8
Dalton: -9
Rode: -2
Round 14.
Mahmood: 3
Simon: 2
Jackson: 2
Dalton: 4
Rode: 5
The winner: Mahmood – 3 < 3.2
Mahmood: -9
Simon: -15_eliminated
Jackson: -9
Dalton: -10
Rode: -3
The room was dead silent until Simon started taking deep breaths. We all knew what was going to happen—and so did he. Just as we expected, the screen above him fell, crushing his head. Half of the table was stained red with his blood.
Round 15.
Mahmood: 3
Jackson: 1
Dalton: 2
Rode: 7
The winner: Mahmood – 3 < 3.25
Mahmood: -8
Jackson: -10
Dalton: -11
Rode: -4
Round 16.
Mahmood: 4
Jackson: 2
Dalton: 6
Rode: 5
I noticed their activity from the very beginning. The first time, it was a completely different situation—back then, they weren't afraid at all. Instead, they were confident. They even thought to team up just to eliminate me early. I could tell they saw me as an easy target.
But things have changed now. As my points kept rising, their attitude shifted. That same confidence turned into hesitation, and that hesitation slowly became fear. Now, instead of trying to corner me like before, they watch me carefully, unsure of what I'll do next.
The winner: Mahmood – 4 < 4.25
Mahmood: -7
Jackson: -11
Dalton: -12
Rode: -5
Round 17.
Mahmood: 4
Jackson: 6
Dalton: 8
Rode: 1
The winner: Mahmood – 4 < 4.75
Mahmood: -6
Jackson: -12
Dalton: -13
Rode: -6
Round 18.
Mahmood: 5
Jackson: 10
Dalton: 6
Rode: 6
The winner: Mahmood – 5 > 4.75
Mahmood: -5
Jackson: -13
Dalton: -14
Rode: -7
Round 19.
Mahmood: 6
Jackson: 7
Dalton: 10
Rode: 2
The winner: Mahmood – 6 < 6.25
Mahmood: -4
Jackson: -14
Dalton: -15_eliminated
Rode: -8
This time, the sounds were unbearably loud. Dalton was already sweating, but now he looked completely out of it. All of us—including him—knew what was about to happen. He struggled to break free, trying to get out, but the seatbelts were pulled so tight that he couldn't move at all.
The last look he gave me was filled with anger—burning, desperate anger.
Me? I was just waiting for the screen to fall. It felt like it was taking forever, and I found myself wondering why it was so slow this time.
But Dalton wasn't the only one breaking down. There was someone else sweating just like him—Jackson. He was only one point away from disaster, and I could see it in his face. The fear, the pressure… it was all catching up to him.
Mahmood: 10
Jackson: 6
Rode: 5
The winner: Jackson – 6 < 7
Mahmood: -5
Jackson: -13
Rode: -9
Round 21.
Mahmood: 10
Jackson: 9
Rode: 7
The winner: Jackson – 9 > 8.6...
Mahmood: -6
Jackson: -12
Rode: -10
Round 22.
Mahmood: 20
Jackson: 10
Rode: 8
The winner: Jackson – 10 < 12.6...
Mahmood: -7
Jackson: -11
Rode: -11
Round 23.
Mahmood: 12
Jackson: 15
Rode: 2
That was surprising, to be honest. Dalton was actually catching up, something none of us expected. For a moment, it almost looked like a comeback. But then again… maybe it was just a desperate attempt, a last try before everything slipped away.
The winner: Mahmood – 12 > 9.6...
Mahmood: -6
Jackson: -12
Rode: -12
Round 24.
Mahmood: 13
Jackson: 15
Rode: 12
The winner: Mahmood – 13 < 13.3...
Mahmood: -5
Jackson: -13
Rode: -13
Now I could finally see it—the real fear in their eyes. Something final. It almost felt perfect.
But it was taking too long.
Each second dragged like it was never going to end, and my patience was slipping. I wasn't scared anymore… just desperate. Desperate to see what would happen next.
And then a thought hit me.
Where was Sarah? She had been right beside me not long ago. Close enough to hear her breathing.
And Omar… Where is he? What was he doing right now?
I was desperate to end this—fast. To find them again. To see them in person.
All I want is to end these games and leave this world, together.
Round 25.
Mahmood: 12
Jackson: 8
Rode: 16
The winner: Mahmood – 12 = 12
Mahmood: -4
Jackson: -15_eliminated
Rode: -15_eliminated
Finalist: Mahmood Billah.
Good to see I hadn't wasted any time. I had won—perfectly—in the 25th round.
My seatbelt clicked open. I stood up and started heading back.
"No," Jackson said, his voice shaking, "this can't be…"
I turned.
Jackson was staring at me, his eyes red, filled with tears. Rode kept his head down, silent. And then, slowly… he looked up right at the screen.
In that moment, everything felt still.
I turned and walked toward the door.
And then—something that had been waiting to happen.
The screens fell.
I didn't stop to watch them. It was a waste of time. I had already won the moment I saw the fear in their eyes. Nothing felt more satisfying than that.
I stepped out the door. But the big gate outside was waiting for me. I looked back— the court was gone.
I smiled, thinking if I looked back again, the gate would vanish too, like the court.
But it didn't. The walls beside it stood unshaken.
This world is so unpredictable. I heard voices behind the gate.
Desperately, I stepped forward.