The Empty City
851 Words
Nobody slept.
How could they?
The words on the giant screen still lingered in everyone's minds.
119 DAYS REMAINING.
SURVIVE.
The once noisy hall had become eerily quiet.
Some people sat on the floor, staring blankly into space.
Some cried softly.
Others whispered among themselves.
A few kept insisting that this was all a joke.
Ava stood near the entrance, her eyes fixed on the city outside.
It looked… normal.
Too normal.
The tall buildings sparkled beneath the night sky, their lights glowing warmly as if people lived inside them.
Yet there wasn't a single sound.
No car horns.
No footsteps.
No voices.
Nothing.
It was as though the entire city had been frozen in time.
"You think they're real?"
A voice suddenly spoke beside her.
Ava jumped slightly.
A young man stood next to her.
He looked to be around her age.
His dark hair was messy, and despite the situation, he looked strangely calm.
"What?" Ava asked.
"The buildings."
He slipped his hands into his pockets.
"They look real, but the place feels fake."
Ava looked at him for a moment.
"You seem surprisingly calm."
He let out a small laugh.
"I'm panicking on the inside."
For some reason, his answer made her relax a little.
A little.
"I'm Ava."
The words left her mouth before she could stop them.
The young man blinked.
Then he smiled.
"Ethan."
Before either of them could say another word—
"Everybody!"
A loud voice echoed through the hall.
A man in his late twenties stood near the center.
He looked serious.
"We should stay together."
Several people turned toward him.
"Panic won't solve anything."
"What if this is some kind of experiment?"
"What if the police are already looking for us?"
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
The man continued.
"Standing around won't help. We should search the city."
"And if this is real?" someone asked.
Silence.
The man swallowed.
"...Then we need information."
People slowly nodded.
It made sense.
After all, sitting here and waiting wouldn't change anything.
Soon, everyone began leaving the hall in groups.
Some stayed close to friends they had just made.
Others preferred to remain alone.
Ava hesitated.
Then she stepped outside.
The cold night air immediately greeted her.
She looked around.
The city was beautiful.
Glass buildings towered over them.
Streetlights illuminated empty roads.
Flower beds lined the sidewalks.
Everything looked perfect.
Too perfect.
"Still think it's a prank?"
Ethan asked.
Ava didn't answer.
Because the truth was—
she didn't know what to think anymore.
Suddenly—
A scream pierced through the air.
Everyone froze.
The scream had come from up ahead.
People immediately rushed toward the source.
Ava followed.
Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
A crowd had already gathered.
People stared ahead with pale faces.
Someone looked like they were about to faint.
Ava slowly pushed through the crowd.
Then she saw it.
A giant wall.
No.
Not a wall.
A barrier.
It stretched endlessly across the city.
Transparent.
Almost invisible.
One of the contestants was touching it.
"We're trapped…" he whispered.
Another contestant suddenly stepped forward.
"No."
He picked up a stone from the ground.
Then—
BANG!
The stone bounced back.
Gasps erupted.
The barrier was real.
"We're really trapped…"
"No…"
"No, no, no…"
Panic spread.
A woman burst into tears.
A man punched the barrier repeatedly.
"LET US OUT!"
Nothing happened.
The city remained silent.
Ava slowly stepped back.
This couldn't be happening.
This couldn't be real.
Suddenly—
Every screen in the city lit up.
Everyone gasped.
The distorted voice returned.
"Good morning, contestants."
Nobody answered.
"You have successfully arrived in your new home."
"What do you want from us?!" someone screamed.
The voice ignored him.
"For the next 119 days, this city belongs to you."
The giant screen changed.
A map of the city appeared.
"There are houses, restaurants, supermarkets, hospitals, schools, and many other facilities."
Murmurs spread.
"You are free to use them."
The map disappeared.
Then the voice continued.
"Food and water have been provided."
A few people looked relieved.
At least they wouldn't starve.
"But remember…"
The voice suddenly became colder.
"Nothing is free."
Silence.
"Your first game will begin tomorrow at exactly six o'clock in the evening."
A countdown suddenly appeared.
20 HOURS : 13 MINUTES : 41 SECONDS
The crowd stared.
Some looked frightened.
Others looked confused.
"What game?" someone asked.
No answer came.
Instead, another message appeared.
FAILURE = ELIMINATION
A chill swept through everyone.
The words slowly disappeared.
Then one final sentence appeared.
Enjoy your first day.
The screens turned black.
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Nobody even breathed.
Then—
"What exactly does elimination mean?"
The question came from a girl standing nearby.
No one answered.
Because everyone was thinking the same thing.
Elimination.
Did it mean death?
The image of masked guards dragging someone away suddenly appeared in Ava's mind.
Her stomach twisted.
Beside her, Ethan spoke softly.
"...I don't think I want to know."
For the first time—
fear truly settled inside everyone.
This wasn't a game.
This wasn't an experiment.
And whatever happened tomorrow…
someone might not return.
- Writer
