Ultimate Countdown

place looks strange, like a tech tower from the future. Blue light pulses on its w

says softly. He checks his watch. 7:43 PM. Seventeen minutes to go. Kyle leans o

k calm but nervous, just like Kyle. He watches them. Men and women, young and old, stand apart. S

ep. His heart beats fast. At 8:00 PM, everyone moves. The quiet crowd walks to

cameras sit on the ceiling. They watch everything. Some people shift and fidget. Others grab friends' arms a

e place is clean-too clean. Their shoes click and echo.

, floor to ceiling. Hundreds of them flash with weird text and symbols. It's a

He expected a normal room, maybe chairs or a talk. Not this. It feels wrong. But he reme

e?" Kyle asks. The man looks confused. "뭐라고요? 이해 못 해요," he says. Kyle blinks. I

steady. Everyone turns. At the far end, the wall moves. No-

ce. It reflects the creepy blue light. His hands stay behind his back. The

hen he speaks. His voice sounds robotic, deep, and col

ne big picture now. An island. It's huge, with dark forests, ri

me," he says. His voice sounds like he's smiling. "It's the future.

look scared. Others stare at the island, eyes big. Kyle tries to stay calm. His hands shak

backpack. "You know what's going on?" She shakes her head. "No cl

You want something. Money. A new life. The Hunter Games gi

the screens. It looks dangerous, not fun. He leans toward the woman. "This

the island. Find the prize. Only one gets it." People whisper. A

game? He thinks of the money. He needs it bad. His family needs

ok sharp. Shadows move-animals, maybe. Kyle's heart beats harder. "This is nuts," he says u

get one hour to prepare," he says. "Then the game star

aring at the screens. He thinks of home. The bills pile up. The debts choke him. Thi

s. Kyle swallows hard. "Gotta be," he says.

shut. The countdown keeps ticking. Kyle looks around. People are ten

e Hunter Games are rea