Enter the hell

The sound of heavy metal gates clanging shut echoed across the desolate cityscape, signaling the beginning of the game. Takeshi stood amidst the crowd of participants, his eyes scanning the rundown buildings ahead. The towering skyscrapers, worn down by time and neglect, loomed ominously against the gray sky. Vines snaked up their cracked facades, while shattered windows reflected the tension in the players’ eyes.

“All players, listen closely,” the mechanical voice boomed over the hidden speakers. “This is your first challenge: The Search. In this abandoned city, there are 20 buildings. Only seven contain yellow papers. Your objective is simple—find one and keep it in your possession until the time runs out. Only those holding a yellow paper will advance.”

Murmurs of anxiety rippled through the crowd. Takeshi’s heart raced as he mentally calculated the odds: 700 people, only seven papers. The numbers weren’t in his favor.

“There is a time limit of 19 minutes. Anyone without a yellow paper when the timer ends will be eliminated.”

The word eliminated hung heavy in the air. No one doubted its meaning—it wasn’t just about losing the game; it meant losing everything.

“Game starts in 3… 2… 1… Begin!”

The moment the countdown ended, chaos erupted. Hundreds of participants scattered like a swarm of panicked insects, each desperate to secure their survival. Some sprinted toward the largest, most intact buildings, hoping the yellow papers would be hidden in the obvious spots. Others dashed into dark alleyways, relying on luck and desperation.

Takeshi, however, didn’t move immediately. He stood still, observing the frenzy around him. His mind worked quickly—The tallest buildings will be swarmed. The obvious choices will draw the most people. I need to think smarter.

He spotted a smaller building nearby, a two-story structure with broken windows and a rusted metal door hanging off its hinges. It looked abandoned even in this abandoned city, which made it the perfect place to search. Without wasting another second, he sprinted toward it, dodging and weaving through the frantic crowd.

The inside of the building was dark and silent, the air thick with dust and mildew. Broken furniture was strewn across the floor, and shards of glass crunched under his boots as he moved. Takeshi’s sharp eyes scanned the room quickly. He opened drawers, rifled through cabinets, and searched every corner of the first floor, but found nothing.

His frustration grew. Think, Takeshi. If you were hiding something important, where would you put it?

He glanced at the staircase leading to the second floor. Without hesitation, he bounded up the stairs, taking two at a time. The second floor was cramped, filled with old office desks and filing cabinets. He moved quickly, opening drawers and scanning surfaces. Then, in the corner of the room, he spotted it—a folded yellow paper sitting on top of a dusty desk.

Relief flooded through him as he snatched it up. But his victory was short-lived.

The door to the room slammed shut behind him with a loud bang. Takeshi spun around, his grip tightening on the paper. Standing in the doorway was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a jagged scar running down the side of his face. His cold, calculating eyes locked onto Takeshi.

“Hand over the paper,” the man growled, stepping closer.

Takeshi’s instincts kicked in. He backed away, holding the paper tightly against his chest. “Not a chance,” he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

The man smirked, cracking his knuckles. “Suit yourself. Just means I’ll have to take it from you.”

The man lunged at Takeshi, his movements surprisingly fast for someone his size. Takeshi barely dodged in time, ducking under the man’s outstretched arm and darting to the side. His heart pounded as he realized this wasn’t just a simple game of hide and seek—people were willing to fight, to hurt, maybe even to kill, for these papers.

The man swung again, but Takeshi managed to sidestep the blow. He needed to think fast. There was no way he could overpower this guy in a straight fight, but maybe he didn’t have to. His eyes darted around the room, searching for anything he could use.

A broken chair lay on the floor nearby. As the man lunged again, Takeshi grabbed the chair leg and swung it with all his strength. The improvised weapon connected with the man’s side, causing him to grunt in pain and stumble back.

Takeshi didn’t wait for him to recover. He bolted for the door, clutching the yellow paper tightly. He dashed down the stairs and out into the open street, his lungs burning as he ran.

The timer was still ticking, and he knew this was only the beginning. The abandoned city was a battleground, and the fight for survival had just begun.