Grrrrhhhrr…
A low rumble echoed from Jack's stomach as he lay in bed. His eyes blinked open, groggy and confused. Outside the window, it was morning—but the sky still wore a shadowy gray, the sun just beginning to rise over the horizon.
Jack rubbed his chest and shuffled toward the bathroom. He sat down on the toilet, still half-asleep, eyes drifting shut. Then—ding.
His eyes shot open.
His puppy, Shuck, perked up, ears twitching. Jack's heart skipped a beat.
Floating in front of him was a glowing digital screen, suspended in mid-air.
A voice echoed in his mind, clear and emotionless, as the words on the screen burned into view:
"Resident of New York: Your King has been selected. His game has been chosen."
Jack stared in disbelief.
"What the…?" he muttered, caught between confusion and fear.
Another pop-up appeared, and the voice continued:
"All residents of New York must survive the game. Losing results in elimination."
"This has to be some kind of joke," Jack said, rubbing his eyes—but the screen remained. No matter how hard he blinked, it didn't disappear. This was real.
A third message appeared:
"To end the game, you must find the King… and kill him."
"Kill?!" Jack gasped.
The screens vanished—except one. A new holographic map took their place, displaying the entire state of New York. Two glowing dots pulsed on it: a blue one sitting exactly where Jack's house was… and a gold one, just a few miles away, moving.
In the corner of the map, a countdown began:
Game starting in… 3… 2… 1…