Ultimate Countdown

His robotic voice echoes loud. "You'll live there for six months." Nobody talks. People lo

ds. He speaks again, his voice smooth but fake. "Don't be scared. It's virtual reality. Your bodies stay here, safe. Your

s hard. His mind spins. Six days isn't so bad. It's still wild, but not impossible. A guy's voice cuts through the whispers. "Ho

et shows up, covered in weird carvings. It pulses gold. "Good question," the man says. "These artifacts are all over

thing, and your time runs out. Your mind leaves the system. You lose." Kyle feels cold. The man keeps talking. "Each

get rich in six days. Kyle sees it on their faces. Fear turns to greed. Some people

ou can take another player's money-and their extra time-by killing them." People step back fast. Eyes dart around. W

Kyle's stomach twists. This game's a trap. He jumps as something slams his desk. His body jerks forward.

an looms over him, face red, fists tight. His boss. Kyle's a secretary at a marketing firm. S

never enough. He looks for money online, sneaking on his work computer. Every idea costs too much. He's stuck. "Sleep on t

e desk. His eyes drift to the computer. Is this his life? Just pain? His

ns show the island again. Trees sway dark. Rivers rush. Rocks look sharp. Kyle's heart pounds. He whisp

a few artifacts. Easy cash." A woman snaps, "You think it's that simple? They said kill." Kyl

ds me." She frowns. "I get it. I got debts. Name's Mia." Kyle gives a small smile. "Kyl

basic kit-food, water, a knife. His eyes linger on "knife." He don't like that. Mia nudges him. "You good

. Kyle follows Mia. They walk to a room with pods-big, glass tubes with wires. "Guess

n hits 57:00. Lights dim. His eyes get heavy. The game's starting. He thinks of