Game Over: No Second Chances Novels & Stories

My colleagues, who at first believed that we had somehow gotten ourselves involved in a scam, immediately changed their tune when they got their hands on the money. "Oh, my God! So, all I have to do is survive for a week to earn so much money? Who even cares about working anymore?" "Hurry and tell us more! Stop dawdling!" The assistant manager, Frank Gideon, calmly chimes in, "What happens if we don't survive? Or if someone quits halfway through the game?" "The game will be reset if all players perish. If there is a winner, the game will end. The players who quit halfway will have to return all the money that they claimed from the gift earlier."

From behind the mask came a quiet sigh, heavy with resignation and bone-deep fatigue. "Third time's the charm. You finally figured it out." The voice was hoarse and low, but it sounded exactly like mine. With a thud and sickening squelch, the axe came down. Darkness swallowed me again. [Third loop over. Player has died. Remaining attempts before game over: 7]

That lapse gave Annabelle confidence too soon; she began to assume victory, paying less attention to Sam’s movements. I watched with a grin as Sam backed steadily towards the punching bag. He wasn’t giving in—he had a plan. The moment Annabelle launched her final strike, Sam ducked. Her blow landed squarely against the bag she hadn’t noticed was behind him. Off balance, she left herself wide open, and Sam tackled her with ease, pinning her in seconds. “I Won!” Sam shouted triumphantly. Annabelle laughed. “Smart move, Sam,” she said, holding up her hand for a high five.

Perfect. He looked toward the side door again. I knew he was still hoping she would appear, so I spoke before he could say anything. “You should stop expecting so much from her. She made her choice.” “Enough.” He said. I looked back at the stage and felt more certain. Angel had missed her chance. The room had already turned. People were no longer waiting with patience. They were judging. The host finally lifted the microphone again. His smile was akward now. “It seems our guest speaker has disappeared,” he said. “We will cancel this part and move to the… ”

Let him suffer. Two could play this game.

And as the wind carried the echo of sirens up from the street below, the drone’s lens flickered one last time — a faint red light blinking against the dark, as if recording something unseen. Maya turned toward it, a chill running down her spine. “Leo…” she whispered. “It’s still on.” He looked up — and the screen on the drone flashed a line of text neither of them had written: “THE GAME ISN’T OVER.” The night fell silent. And somewhere far away, in a hidden control room lit by blue monitors, a new voice watched through the same feed — calm, steady, and dangerous. “Let them celebrate,” the voice murmured. “It’ll make the fall so much sweeter.”

“I haven’t seen them in forever. We should say hi after the game.” “We will, The game dragged on and my stress levels went from bad to catastrophic, especially when we hit 24-24 which is a deuce. “Whoever scores two points in a row wins,” I explained the meaning. “So this could go on forever if they keep trading points.” “That’s the worst rule I’ve ever heard,” Naomi said. I pressed both hands over my face. “I can’t watch this. Someone tell me when it’s over.” “It’s almost over,” Naomi said, grabbing my wrist and pulling my hands down. “Look, Luca’s up to serve again.”

“Let’s talk about what’s going to happen before, during and after the game. As usual, y’all be staying on a hotel for a night then tomorrow you will be shown to the public, broadcasted by our top news channel and on the next day, you will enter the Micro Society.” I suddenly took a deep breath when my heart beat became faster. I blinked three times and I clenched my fist in order to calm myself. “During the game, you will play along to the only one rule. If you fall in love first or both, you would receive repulsion. If you manage to stay out of love, you will have the choice to pick your reward.”

My heart is still heavy, but I can do it. I packed all my stuff. Yes, I will move on and start a new life without much drama. One month more dormitory. And it's game over time. I was such a lousy player, the barrier level was new to level one, but I had given up. In fact, this marriage has only reached the easy level, has not yet entered the medium level, let alone hard. This isn't everyone's dream wedding. I can find another game, which I can, and I will become a pro, not a noob like now. I lost the game over. I want to end this game.

"No, it doesn't matter Kenzo. I understand." Of course, Kenzo would not have been able to find a single clue if Caramel had died. The man did not know Mother Caramel's face and her features. And if Kenzo only relied on a name, that too would be impossible. Because remembering there are many similar names used by residents in Los Angeles. So, I can tolerate Kenzo's efforts, Seina thought. "Thank you again, Kenzo." That was all Seina could do. Kenzo raised his head, he pulled the two ends of his lips. So that it forms a smile. "The game is in progress," him said, to himself.