It started like any normal day.
Nothing felt different.
Nothing warned me.
I was walking home from school, earphones in, not really paying attention to anything around me.
People passed by. Cars moved. Life was just… normal.
Until it wasn't.
A sharp pain hit my hand.
So sudden that I almost dropped my phone.
"…What the hell?"
I stopped walking.
Looked down.
There was something on my palm.
A mark.
Dark.
Strange.
Almost like it was burned into my skin.
I frowned.
"…Did I touch something?"
It didn't hurt anymore.
But it didn't feel right.
I rubbed it with my thumb.
Nothing changed.
Then—
A voice.
Not from outside.
From inside my head.
Cold.
Clear.
"You have been selected."
I froze.
"…What?"
I looked around.
People were still walking.
Talking.
Laughing.
No one reacted.
"…Selected for what?"
I muttered.
No answer.
Just silence.
"…Okay. I'm losing it."
I let out a small laugh.
Tried to ignore it.
Started walking again.
But something felt off.
Like the world had shifted just a little.
I didn't notice it at first.
But the people around me…
They felt different.
Quieter.
Distant.
I shook my head.
"Stop overthinking."
I just needed to get home.
Rest.
Forget this weird day.
That's what I thought.
Until I saw her.
She was standing across the street.
Still.
Watching.
Not moving.
Our eyes met.
And something in my chest tightened.
It wasn't fear.
It was recognition.
Like I knew her.
But I didn't.
"…Do I know you?"
I whispered to myself.
She didn't look away.
Didn't blink.
Her eyes dropped slowly.
To my hand.
Then—
She raised hers.
My breath stopped.
The same mark.
Right there.
On her palm.
"…No way."
The world went silent.
Not quieter.
Silent.
Completely.
Cars stopped.
People froze.
The wind disappeared.
Everything paused.
Except us.
"…So you hear it too."
She said.
Her voice was calm.
But her eyes…
They weren't.
"…Hear what?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
She walked toward me.
Step by step.
Slow.
Careful.
Like I might disappear if she moved too fast.
"…The voice."
She said quietly.
My chest tightened.
"You have been selected."
She repeated the words.
Exactly.
I stared at her.
"…You heard that?"
She nodded.
Silence.
Heavy.
"What is this?" I asked.
"I don't know."
She said.
"But I know one thing."
A pause.
Her eyes met mine again.
And this time—
There was something else in them.
Something I didn't understand yet.
"…It's not random."
"What do you mean?"
She looked at our hands.
At the marks.
"…It means we're part of something."
My chest tightened again.
"…What kind of something?"
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then said it.
"…A game."
A cold feeling ran through me.
"I'm not playing."
"You don't get to choose."
Her voice didn't shake.
Mine did.
"…And what happens if I don't?"
Silence.
Then—
She looked straight into my eyes.
"…You die."
Everything inside me froze.
"…That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
Her hand tightened slightly.
"…I've already seen one."
My heart skipped.
"…Seen what?"
A pause.
Her lips pressed together.
Then she whispered:
"…Someone lose."
Silence.
"What do you mean 'lose'?"
She didn't answer.
Not directly.
"…There are others."
My stomach dropped.
"People like us."
She looked around.
Even though the world was still frozen.
"…And only one survives."
My breathing slowed.
"…No."
I shook my head.
"No, this is crazy."
"This is real."
"No, it's not."
I stepped back.
"This is some kind of prank, or—"
"Look at your hand."
I stopped.
Slowly…
I looked down.
The mark was glowing.
Faint.
But real.
Then—
The voice came back.
Clearer than before.
Stronger.
"First Phase Initiated."
My chest tightened.
"Survive."
Silence.
Then—
The world moved again.
All at once.
Cars passed.
People talked.
The noise returned.
Like nothing happened.
But everything had changed.
I looked at her.
She was still there.
Still watching me.
"…What's your name?" I asked.
She hesitated.
Then said quietly:
"…I don't think that matters anymore."
A small pause.
"…But you can call me… Aya."
Aya.
I nodded slowly.
"…I'm—"
I stopped.
For a second—
I didn't know what to say.
Not because I forgot.
But because something felt different.
Like names didn't matter anymore.
"…Doesn't matter."
I said finally.
She gave a small, sad smile.
"…Yeah."
Silence.
Then—
She stepped closer.
Not too close.
But enough.
"…Stay alive."
She said.
I looked at her.
"…You too."
For a moment—
Neither of us moved.
Then—
We both looked at our hands.
The marks.
Glowing slightly.
Waiting.
For what comes next.
Only one will remain…
But what if the one you have to defeat…
is the only person who understands you? 👀🔥