The news played across the TV in Daniel Hayes' penthouse suite, but he wasn't paying attention.
> "Reports are coming in from around the world about the disappearance of hundreds of people—"
Daniel clicked the remote, silencing the broadcast. "Another boring scare story," he muttered, leaning back on his designer couch. The world outside could crumble for all he cared.
The lights flickered. Then, an electric hum filled the air. Before Daniel could react, a blinding white light consumed him.
---
When his vision cleared, Daniel found himself in an immense metallic chamber. Hundreds—no, thousands—of people filled the room, all looking just as disoriented as he felt.
Above them, glowing numbers flickered into view:
Participants: 5000
The crowd erupted into noise: shouting, crying, and demanding answers. Daniel kept to himself, scanning the room.
Suddenly, a booming, mechanical voice echoed:
> "Welcome to the Trials of Survival. You will compete in a series of games to test your ability to adapt and endure. Here, you will become the animals you overlook and dismiss. Your objective: survive."
The voice continued, but the panicked crowd drowned it out.
"Shut up!" someone yelled.
"What the hell is this?!" screamed another.
The voice cut in sharply.
> "Silence is mandatory. Disobedience will not be tolerated."
But the noise persisted—protests, questions, and cries.
A loud bang silenced one of the protestors as his head exploded, his body crumpling to the floor. Gasps filled the room, but some still shouted, angered and terrified.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Each noise brought another body to the floor, blood pooling on the cold metallic ground. The crowd's volume dropped rapidly. Daniel froze, his stomach churning at the gruesome sight.
When silence finally fell, the voice returned, almost gleeful.
> "Participants: 3921."
---
Before anyone could process the horror, holographic screens appeared in front of them, displaying stats:
- Willpower: 6
- Instinct: 5
- Panic Resistance: 3
- Resilience: 4
Daniel barely registered his own stats as the voice continued:
> "Your first trial: Predator vs. Prey. Each of you will be transformed into an animal. A coin will determine your role. Flip now, or be eliminated."
A coin materialized in Daniel's hand. It felt cold and unyielding, like his fate was sealed within it. He hesitated, the glowing number of participants pressing on his mind.
Flip the coin.
Daniel's result flashed: Prey.
---
The transformation was agony. His bones twisted, his vision sharpened, and his limbs reshaped into lean, agile legs. He tried to scream, but his vocal cords failed him.
When it was over, Daniel glanced down. His body was covered in fur. He was no longer human but a rabbit, trembling and vulnerable. Around him, other prey animals stood paralyzed by fear: deer, squirrels, and sparrows. On the other side, predators emerged: wolves, hawks, snakes, and lions.
The voice boomed again:
> "You have 45 minutes. Survive."
The floor beneath them vanished. Daniel fell, landing in a dense jungle. The air was humid, the scent of earth and plants overwhelming.
A timer appeared in his vision: **44:59**
---
Daniel darted into the underbrush, every sound amplified by his sensitive ears. He could hear the pounding of hooves, the screech of birds, and the rustling of predators closing in.
A flash of movement caught his eye. A hawk dove, talons extended, snatching a squirrel mid-run. The rodent's high-pitched scream echoed briefly before silence.
Daniel pushed himself forward, adrenaline coursing through him. His small, nimble body weaved through bushes and under fallen logs. Behind him, the growls of a wolf grew louder.
> Panic Resistance: 3 → 2.
His breaths came in rapid bursts as fear began to take over. He froze behind a tree, hoping the wolf would pass.
The wolf sniffed the air, its golden eyes locking onto him. With a growl, it lunged. Daniel bolted, his instincts taking control.
> Willpower: 6 → 5.
The chase was relentless. The wolf's hot breath was inches away, but Daniel managed to dive into a narrow burrow just as the predator snapped its jaws.
For a moment, he was safe. But the game wasn't over.
---
Daniel crawled out of the burrow after a few minutes of silence. The jungle was quieter now—many prey had already fallen.
A timer flashed in his vision: 02:15
"Almost there," he thought, though his body was trembling with exhaustion.
Suddenly, he felt it—a presence. His ears twitched, picking up the faintest rustle of leaves. He turned, but it was too late.
The snake struck, its fangs sinking into his hind leg. Pain shot through him as he struggled, his small body thrashing wildly.
> Resilience: 4 → 2.
The serpent coiled around him, its grip tightening. Daniel's vision blurred as panic took over.
The timer ticked down: 00:45 … 00:30 … 00:15 …
The world dimmed as he fought to stay conscious, the predator's grip pulling him closer to defeat.
---