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ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

Ayla's Pov :

I should've woken up by now. Surely, this is just another one of my bizarre dreams—an adventure plucked straight from the pages of one of my novels.

But no, this isn't a dream or i should say a nightmare, this is real .

My footsteps echo in the large courtyard as we're herded like sheep. The dull hum of anxiety clings to the air, mingling with the sharp smell of freshly mown grass and the warm sun overhead.

The courtyard was deceptively peaceful, its vast expanse framed by painted skies and clouds that felt straight out of a children's show. The ground beneath my feet was firm but dusty, the kind of surface that clung to your shoes and made every step just a little heavier. I looked around, taking in the sea of teal uniforms that mirrored my own. Each player had a number stitched onto their chest, a constant reminder of the faceless mass we had become.

There's something terribly wrong with this place, yet I can't look away. Maybe it's the surreal, dream-like quality of everything. Or maybe it's the fact that everyone's wearing the same lifeless green tracksuit.

I glance down at the number plastered on my chest: 444.
"It's just a number, Ayla," I mutter under my breath, ignoring the irrational shiver that comes with it. But something about it feels so ominous. Wasn't four supposed to be an unlucky number?

I shake my head. "No time for superstitions now. You'll be fine. Just get through whatever this is."
Around me, murmurs rise—anxious whispers mixed with quiet sobs. I try not to dwell on their faces, but their emotions are like a mirror reflecting my own: fear, confusion, desperation.

The massive doll ahead is unsettling. Its eerie grin and lifeless eyes make me feel as if I've stepped into some twisted children's story.
"Definitely not the kind I'd read before bed," I whisper to myself, trying to stave off the gnawing panic crawling up my spine.

Suddenly, a mechanical hum filled the air, vibrating through my chest. My breath hitched as a cold, robotic female voice boomed from unseen speakers:

"Players, welcome to the first game. The game is 'Red Light, Green Light.' When the doll says 'Green Light,' you may move. When it says 'Red Light,' you must stop. If your movement is detected after 'Red Light,' you will be eliminated. You have five minutes to cross the finish line. Let the game begin."

The voice was flat and emotionless, the kind you'd expect from a machine. Yet it carried a weight so heavy it pressed down on the space around me, suffocating even the bravest among us. The words "eliminated" echoed in my mind like an alarm, their meaning lingering far too long for comfort.

I swallowed hard, trying to calm the growing lump in my throat. "Eliminated? What does that mean? Sent home? Kicked out?" My thoughts raced, and I shook my head slightly. "No. Calm down, Ayla. They're just trying to intimidate you. It can't be what you're thinking... right?"