Pretty Handsome
I've just booked a restaurant for my seventh wedding anniversary with my wife, Melanie Rowland, when several lines of text suddenly appear across my vision.
"Would you like to take part in a loyalty test?
"We'll randomly give your wife a system. If she tells you about it, you win, and the two of you will receive one million dollars."
After seven years of marriage, I have no doubt Melanie loves me. As far as I'm concerned, that million dollars is already in the bag.
Still, I'm curious enough to ask one question.
"What if we lose?"
"If you lose, it proves your marriage has failed. In return, you'll receive a mystery prize big enough to let you start your life over.
"The price of participating is allowing people from another dimension to watch you. Choose carefully."
I couldn't care less about the mystery prize. I'm already planning to use the million dollars to buy Melanie the condo she's had her eye on for ages.
After I agree to join the game, I hurry home. The moment I walk in, I catch a flash of panic on Melanie's face.
She brushes me off with a few vague excuses and hurries into the study. Through the closed door, I hear her talking to Hayden Locke, the guy she grew up with.
"Hayden, I just got an apocalypse system. It says the end of the world is coming. I'm going to find somewhere to build a safe house, and I promise I'll keep you safe. Don't worry. I won't tell Alex a word.
"When the world ends, it'll be you and me together."
I freeze.
Her apocalypse system is fake, but the countdown to my mystery prize has probably already begun.