8:47 a.m.
"You… need to see this."
Mira's voice carried a weight that made both Atlas and Rei look up instantly. She got to her feet, almost too quickly, and crossed the room. The couch groaned as she dropped into the middle seat, posture tight.
Atlas and Rei exchanged a glance, then moved to join her. The air felt heavier now, even though no one had said why.
"What is it?" Atlas asked, lowering himself into the cushion.
"Just watch."
Her phone was already in her hand. She swiped once, then tapped the screen.
A video loaded on a Reddit thread. The title read: "World Survival – Rayne Report WTF?!"
On-screen, the familiar faces of Ross and Violet Rayne filled the frame. The two were more than just well-known anchors — they were the news to most people. Co-founders of their own channel, they were respected for something almost extinct: reporting actual facts, with no sensationalism, no pandering.
Seeing them there should've been comforting. It wasn't.
Violet smiled faintly for the camera.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Violet Rayne."
Ross followed with a small nod. "And I'm Ross Rayne."
Violet continued, her tone calm but edged with something they couldn't place.
"Our top story today continues to be the viral game 'World Survival.' It has taken the world by surprise. We all woke to find it on our phones, with no explanation as to why. No one knows who's behind the game or its sudden appearance, but it's… captured the interest of many."
Rei leaned forward. "Yeah, we heard all this last night, what's—"
"Shush. Just watch." Mira's voice was sharp, cutting him off.
Violet's next words felt colder.
"It began as what seemed to be a harmless wellness app. Completing personal tasks tailored to you… and earning rewards for it."
A pause. Her lips pressed together before she spoke again.
"However… there have been increasing reports of injuries. The game has instructed some players to commit crimes — theft, assault… and even murder."
The word murder hit like a gunshot.
Atlas's hand curled around the couch armrest. He didn't realize he was holding his breath until his chest ached. He wasn't the only one.
Rei broke the tension with a huff. "Yeah, that's it. Bye-bye World Survival." He unlocked his phone, thumb hovering over the app icon.
Mira's hand shot out, blocking him. "No. Keep watching."
Both boys stared at her. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, unblinking.
Atlas shifted uneasily. "Let's… just finish the video, dude."
Rei leaned back, muttering, "Alright, alright…"
The video continued.
Ross's expression was stern now. "Other news outlets won't give you the full story. We've confirmed that yes, there are players following quests that push them toward crime. If you ask me, it feels like a sick social experiment — someone seeing how far they can push people."
His jaw tightened. "If that's what this is, I see no reason to keep it. So, to whoever made it — I'm deleting your so-called 'game' right now."
He pulled out his phone, tapping through the menus. On the screen, a confirmation message appeared:
'Are you sure you want to terminate your account? You can never return to World Survival.'
Two options: Yes or No.
Without hesitation, he pressed Yes.
'Profile Terminated' flashed briefly, then his home screen returned.
Ross looked back to the camera. "I advise everyone to do the same. If you receive any quest that encourages harm, no game should have that much influence over your life."
Violet nodded firmly. "I agree. So please, join us as we rid our lives of this devious game and take back—"
She stopped.
Her eyes darted toward Ross. His hand had dropped to his chest.
It started with a sharp inhale — then another, ragged. He staggered back a step, gasping as if the air had thinned to nothing.
"Ross?" Violet's voice cracked.
He collapsed. The mic barely caught the thud of his body hitting the floor over her sudden scream.
Crew members rushed in. The camera didn't look away.
Ross's body convulsed violently, his limbs jerking without rhythm. The veins in his neck stood out, pulsing, his eyes wide and bloodshot, locked in a wild stare at nothing.
"Help him! NOW!" Violet's hands shook as she tried to hold him down.
One crew member knelt, a metal straw in hand, aiming to open an airway. The moment it pierced the skin — nothing changed. Ross's body kept thrashing.
"No, no, no— Ross, stay with me!" Violet's words blurred into sobs.
The fight for air lasted seconds that felt like hours. Then, all at once… Ross went still.
Silence.
The studio was frozen. Even the camera operator didn't move.
"Ross…?" Violet's voice was small now, trembling.
No answer.
Then, without warning, his head burst — a wet, concussive pop that sprayed the floor, the walls, her face.
Violet didn't scream. She just stared, her eyes hollow, her hands hovering over what was left.
The stillness lasted only a heartbeat before the room erupted — chairs scraping, footsteps pounding, screams overlapping. Someone was crying in the background, the sound raw and broken.
"Cut the camera! CUT THE FUCKING CAMERA!" a voice roared.
The feed went black.
Mira's hand was clamped over her mouth. Atlas sat frozen, lips parted.
Rei swallowed hard. "…fuck."
"Did… did he really die? After deleting the game?" Atlas asked.
Before either of them could answer, all three phones pinged at once.