The rain poured endlessly over the city,
as if the sky was trying to wash away something that could never be cleaned.
The streets were crowded, faces blending into one another…
everyone lost in their own world.
And no one noticed him.
Adam stood beneath a flickering streetlight, its weak glow cutting in and out.
Rain seeped into his clothes, but he didn't care.
He was used to this feeling.
Emptiness.
"We'll call you back."
He muttered it with a faint, mocking smile, as if repeating a line he had heard too many times.
They never do.
His phone vibrated in his hand.
He glanced at the screen.
Balance: $2.17
A dull smile appeared on his face.
"Even you… are laughing at me?"
He began walking with no destination.
City lights reflected on the wet roads, the entire place drowning in a cold haze.
Everything felt heavy…
even his steps.
Then—
A sharp pain struck his head.
"—!"
He staggered, grabbing his forehead.
And then…
Everything stopped.
The rain froze mid-air.
Cars halted.
People… like lifeless statues.
His eyes widened in shock.
"What… is this?"
A cold, emotionless voice echoed inside his mind:
[System Activated]
He froze.
"Who—who's there?!"
[Binding to host…]
[10%… 37%… 82%… 100%]
His heart began to race.
"This… isn't possible…"
A translucent blue screen appeared before him, as if it didn't belong to this world.
[Welcome, Host]
[You have been selected]
His throat went dry.
"Selected… why me?"
The screen flickered slightly, then changed.
[First Mission]
Survive
Silence… heavy and suffocating.
"…What?"
In the next moment—
Time resumed.
The rain fell all at once.
Cars moved again.
And a sharp scream echoed from the distance.
Adam turned quickly.
Something was moving within the shadows.
Something… that shouldn't exist.
The cold voice returned:
[Time Remaining: 10:00]
His heartbeat accelerated.
"…Survive?"
The thing slowly stepped into the light.
Its face was distorted…
its eyes empty.
Then—
It smiled.