Maylan, Loan, Arthur, and Étienne woke up in a vast room, illuminated by white neon lights that obscured any sense of time. Hundreds of bunk beds were lined up against the walls. The other participants, dressed in numbered green uniforms, seemed just as disoriented as they were. Each displayed a mix of disbelief and fear, as if they had woken up in a nightmare they still hoped to escape.
The four friends quickly regrouped, instinctively seeking safety in their unity. Maylan, the most pragmatic of the group, scrutinized every detail, On his jacket, there was a number written 363. His gaze stopped on the surveillance cameras fixed in the corners of the room. They watched them, omnipresent, silent, threatening.
"Where are we, exactly?" murmured Loan, his gaze wandering among the unfamiliar faces around them. "I don't know..." but it doesn't smell good," replied Arthur, his fists clenched. Étienne, on the other hand, remained strangely calm. His eyes were analyzing the numbers on the other players' uniforms. "We are pawns in their game." There are 456 players here. Look at their number.
At that moment, a shrill sound rang out, forcing everyone to fall silent. A door opened at the back of the room, allowing several figures dressed in red jumpsuits to enter, their faces concealed behind geometric masks. They advanced in silence, forming an impeccable line. One of them, probably a supervisor, stepped in front of the crowd and began to speak in a mechanical voice amplified by a loudspeaker.
"Welcome, everyone." You have been chosen to participate in a series of games. If you manage to complete them, you will be handsomely rewarded. The final winner will receive a life-changing sum of money. But be careful, losing a game means elimination.
The atmosphere in the room became icy. Maylan felt her stomach knot. "Elimination"… that word resonated in a sinister way. Loan murmured, panicked: "They want to kill us, don't they?" "We don't have the details yet." "Don't panic," Arthur tried to reassure, although he himself felt the fear rising.
The mechanical voice resumed, more authoritatively: "You all have an immense debt or a reason to want this money." You are here of your own free will. If you wish to give up, you can do so now. A murmur ran through the crowd. Some participants timidly raised their hands, but another supervisor signaled to them that they could only leave after voting, as a group.
Then, a massive screen descended from the ceiling, displaying a large glass pig suspended, filled with banknotes. The colossal figure displayed below – 45.6 billion euros – silenced all objections. The gazes fixed, drawn to this staggering sum. The red masks took this as an implicit agreement. They signaled the players to line up.
The participants were led through a long corridor, painted in bright colors that strangely contrasted with the oppressive atmosphere. Arthur tried to make a joke to lighten the mood, but no one laughed. Everyone was too focused on what was about to happen.
They finally arrived in a vast sunny courtyard, adorned with fake grass and plastic flowers. A giant doll stood at the end of the field, with its back turned to the participants. The mechanical voice announced: "First game: Red Light, Green Light." You must cross the finish line before the time runs out. If you move when the doll turns around, you will be eliminated.
Etienne swallowed loudly. "Is this a joke, or what?" Maylan did not answer. He stared at the supervisors standing on the sides, armed. Their presence confirmed that this was not just a game.
The countdown began. The doll began to sing while turning its head. The players rushed forward clumsily. Some advanced too quickly, others remained frozen in fear. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. A participant collapsed, a red stain quickly spreading beneath him.
Panic broke out. Dozens of players screamed and ran in all directions, but every reckless movement was followed by a precise shot. Loan screamed, paralyzed by fear. Étienne grabbed his arm. "Move when it's green, stop when it's red, okay?" Focus!
Maylan was already on the move, keeping an eye on the doll. Each step seemed to last an eternity. He could hear the screams of others, but he forced himself to stay focused. When he stopped, his heart was beating so hard that he feared it might move him inadvertently.
Arthur stumbled right in front of him. Maylan extended a hand to help him up. "Stay calm." You can do it. Arthur nodded, trembling, and regained his balance.
The seconds were ticking away. Some reached the finish line crying with relief. Loan fa