Chapter 2 : An Invitation?
908 Words
The alarm rang at 5:30 in the morning.
Ethan Voss opened his eyes slowly.
For a few seconds, he forgot everything.
Then reality returned.
The debt.
The medical bills.
The seven-day deadline.
He turned his head toward his mother's room.
The door was slightly open.
She was still sleeping.
That was the only reason Ethan forced himself out of bed every morning.
He couldn't give up.
Not while she needed him.
After preparing a simple breakfast for her and leaving her medicine nearby, Ethan grabbed his old jacket and left the apartment.
Today was supposed to be another normal day.
Another day of working.
Another day of trying to earn enough money to survive.
---
The sound of water spraying filled the air.
Ethan stood outside a small car wash on the edge of the city, holding a pressure washer.
Luxury cars entered and left constantly.
Expensive vehicles owned by people who probably never worried about money.
Ethan carefully cleaned every car, making sure there wasn't a single spot left behind.
It wasn't a glamorous job.
The pay was low.
The work was exhausting.
But it was honest.
And right now, honest money was all he had.
"Faster, Ethan!"
His boss's voice came from behind him.
Ethan turned.
A middle-aged man wearing a clean shirt stood there with an annoyed expression.
"I'm already working as fast as I can."
The boss frowned.
"You always have an excuse."
Ethan looked confused.
"What?"
The boss crossed his arms.
"Customers have complained that you're too slow."
Ethan glanced at the cars around him.
"That isn't true. I've been doing the same work for months."
The boss sighed.
"You should understand something, Ethan."
He looked away.
"I need workers who can bring more profit."
Ethan's expression changed.
"Are you firing me?"
The boss didn't answer immediately.
That silence was enough.
"Your last day is today."
Ethan stared at him.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
Ethan lowered his head.
Another job lost.
Another problem added.
He wanted to argue.
He wanted to ask for another chance.
But he knew it wouldn't matter.
The world didn't care about his problems.
The boss handed him his remaining payment.
"Good luck."
Those words sounded less like kindness and more like a goodbye.
Ethan walked away from the car wash with his small amount of money in his pocket.
He calculated quickly.
It wasn't enough.
Not even close.
The medical bills alone would consume it.
He stopped beside the road, staring at the busy city.
For the first time, fear entered his mind.
What was he supposed to do now?
---
"Ethan Voss."
A voice suddenly called his name.
He turned around.
A man in a black suit stood behind him.
The man looked completely out of place among the ordinary people walking by.
Clean suit.
Expensive watch.
Calm expression.
"Do I know you?" Ethan asked.
The man smiled slightly.
"No. But I know you."
Ethan became cautious.
"How?"
The man reached into his briefcase and removed a black envelope.
He extended it toward Ethan.
"I have an invitation for you."
Ethan didn't take it immediately.
"An invitation to what?"
The man looked around before answering.
"The Billion Dollar Arena."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
He had heard rumors.
Everyone had.
A competition where people fought for an unbelievable amount of money.
Some called it the greatest opportunity in history.
Others called it a death trap.
The man continued.
"Millions of people have already shown interest."
He handed Ethan the envelope.
"Participants enter voluntarily."
Ethan looked at the invitation.
"And why are you giving this to me?"
The man smiled.
"Because people like you are exactly who the Arena was created for."
Ethan's expression darkened.
"People like me?"
"People with nothing left to lose."
The words hit harder than Ethan expected.
He looked away.
The man didn't seem offended.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card.
"This is my contact information."
He handed it over.
"If you decide to register, call this number."
Ethan looked at the card.
The man's name was written on it.
Victor Hale.
"Why are you helping me?"
Victor turned around.
"I'm not helping you."
He paused.
"I'm offering you a choice."
Then he walked away.
Ethan remained standing there.
Holding two things.
A mysterious invitation.
And a phone number.
---
That evening, Ethan returned home.
His mother immediately noticed his expression.
"Ethan?"
He forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
But she knew him too well.
Something had happened.
After she fell asleep, Ethan sat alone at the table.
The black envelope was placed in front of him.
He slowly opened it.
Inside was a single message.
---
THE BILLION DOLLAR ARENA
Four players.
One battlefield.
One chance.
Prize: $70,000,000,000 per surviving squad member.
---
Ethan stared at the number.
Seventy billion dollars.
It could save his mother.
It could erase every debt.
It could completely change his life.
But beneath the message was another warning.
---
Participation is voluntary.
The risk is absolute.
Death inside the Arena means death in reality.
---
Ethan slowly placed the paper down.
For the first time, he understood why the reward was so high.
Nobody would risk that much money without a reason.
Because the price wasn't money.
The price was their life.
Ethan looked toward his mother's room.
His hands tightened.
"I need to think."
He picked up Victor's card.
But he didn't call.
Not yet.
For now, the invitation remained on the table.
Waiting.
- Writer
