Jack stood at the window, watching helplessly as people were torn apart in the streets. Even the armored boxes—once thought to be safe—were now silent tombs. He rubbed his head, his thoughts spiraling.
How do we get to the King without getting attacked?
He glanced at the timer hovering beside the map: 9 minutes left until the event ended. Then a realization struck him—once the ten-minute event ended, the King would be required to select his choice again.Then if they survived again,the king would have to roll And Jack remembered from earlier… it took time for the King to roll.
"If we get to him after this mess and before he rolls," Jack said to Rose, eyes lighting with determination, "we win."
He handed Coco to her, freeing up his hands as he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Curious, he grabbed it and checked the notification.
A news broadcast.
He tapped it. A black news anchor sat at a half-destroyed news desk. His dark brown eyes were wide with fear, and sweat dripped down his face. Normally dressed in a suit and tie, today he wore a plain T-shirt, his voice shaky as people screamed and fought outside the studio.
"I'm doing this for you," he said, swallowing hard. "Sitting here, risking my life… to tell you the truth."
He looked directly at the camera.
"You all know by now—New York is trapped in some twisted game. But I just got word from friends in Pennsylvania. They're playing a different game. Yeah, you heard me right—every state has its own King. Every state is playing their own game."
He opened his mouth to say more—but a creature's claw burst through his chest. Blood sprayed across the camera before the feed went dark.
Jack stared at the screen, stunned. "We're not alone in this…"
Coco whimpered in Rose's arms.
Then they heard it—scratching. First at the back wall… then on the roof.
Jack immediately turned and reached for his sword, which he had set down after coming upstairs. Rose held hers tightly, her knuckles white.
They stayed still.
Jack slowly backed away from the window. Staying visible was a mistake.
Then he stepped toward Rose and Coco. Raising a finger to his lips, he mouthed, Please don't bark.
For a second, it was calm.
Then Jack's phone buzzed again—loudly.
A ringtone blared through the house.
Caller ID: Loser Luke
Jack's stomach dropped. Why would Luke be calling now? Wasn't he in Pennsylvania?
Then it hit him—Luke was in Pennsylvania. He must be playing a different game. A different King.
Jack silenced the call as fast as he could—but it was too late.
A shadow creature phased straight through the ceiling, shrieking.
Jack lunged forward and swung his sword, cutting through the creature in a blaze of glowing light.
But in the chaos, Rose screamed—shocked by the sudden attack—and dropped Coco.
"No! Coco!" Jack shouted, turning just in time to see the little dog take off down the stairs.
Heart pounding, sword still glowing, Jack ran after him.