The new player moved through the Recovery Hall like she owned the place.
Aiden watched her with a strange mixture of fear and curiosity. Her uniform was the same as everyone else's, but she wore it differently—like she was already in control. Her posture was straight, her steps confident, and her eyes sharp.
She didn't look like someone who had been forced into the game.
She looked like someone who had chosen it.
The other players stared at her. Some were angry. Some were curious. Some were afraid.
Four looked up from his bed.
He stared at her for a long moment.
Then he whispered, "That's not normal."
Aiden swallowed.
He tried to move, but his leg still hurt. The bandage felt tight. The pain was sharp.
The new player approached him.
She stopped beside his bed.
Aiden's heart raced.
She looked at him with a calm expression.
"You're number 11," she said.
Aiden nodded, unsure.
"How do you know?" he asked.
The new player smiled.
"I know because I'm the one who sent the letter," she said.
Aiden's eyes widened.
"You did?" he asked.
The new player nodded.
"I sent the letter to you," she said. "And to others."
Aiden stared at her.
"Why?" he asked.
The new player's eyes narrowed.
"Because you're useful," she said.
Aiden felt a chill.
Four spoke from his bed.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The new player turned to him.
"My name is Kira," she said.
Aiden's eyes narrowed.
"Kira," he repeated.
Kira nodded.
She looked at Four.
"You're number 4," she said.
Four's eyes widened.
"How do you know?" he asked.
Kira smiled.
"Because I'm inside," she said.
Aiden felt a chill.
Inside.
She knew the Arena.
She knew the rules.
She knew the players.
She knew the game.
Aiden's mind raced.
He thought about the letter.
He thought about the mask.
He thought about the promise of a new identity.
He thought about the fact that his debt had increased.
He thought about the fact that he had been eliminated and yet he was still alive.
He looked at Kira.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
Kira's smile faded.
"I'm here because I want something," she said.
Aiden's heart raced.
"What do you want?" he asked.
Kira looked at him.
She leaned closer.
Her voice was quiet.
"I want the Arena to end," she said.
Aiden blinked.
He stared at her.
"Then why are you inside?" he asked.
Kira's eyes narrowed.
"Because the only way to end it," she said, "is from the inside."
Aiden felt a chill.
Kira continued, "The Arena is not just a game. It's a system. A system that controls the city."
Aiden's mind raced.
He thought about the City Bank AI.
He thought about the debt.
He thought about the players.
Kira continued, "The Arena is a test. The winners are chosen to become part of the system."
Aiden's heart sank.
"So if we win…" he began.
Kira nodded.
"Then we join," she said.
Aiden's eyes widened.
He looked at Four.
Four stared at Kira.
His eyes were serious.
"You're saying the winners don't get freedom," Four said.
Kira nodded.
"They get control," she said.
Aiden's mind raced.
He felt a cold sweat.
He thought about his family.
He thought about his debt.
He thought about the promise.
He thought about the fact that he had been punished.
He looked at Kira again.
"If you want to end it," he said, "why don't you just leave?"
Kira smiled.
"Because I can't," she said. "The Arena doesn't allow leaving."
Aiden swallowed.
He felt a sudden anger.
He wanted to punch something.
He wanted to scream.
He wanted to break the system.
But he couldn't.
He was trapped.
The screen on the wall flickered.
A message appeared:
NEXT GAME: IN 6 HOURS
ALL PLAYERS MUST BE READY
Aiden's heart pounded.
He looked at Kira.
"What is the next game?" he asked.
Kira's eyes narrowed.
She stared at the screen.
She didn't answer.
Four spoke.
"I heard rumors," he said. "The next game is a team game."
Aiden's eyes widened.
"A team game?" he repeated.
Four nodded.
"It's where they test your loyalty," he said. "Your ability to trust others."
Aiden felt a chill.
He thought about the first game.
He thought about the tiles.
He thought about how the Arena didn't kill everyone.
He thought about how his debt had increased.
He thought about the fact that he had been eliminated.
He thought about Kira.
He thought about the possibility that she was telling the truth.
He thought about the possibility that the Arena was not just a game.
He thought about the possibility that the Arena was a weapon.
He looked at Kira again.
"Why did you send the letter?" he asked.
Kira's eyes narrowed.
"Because you're not like the others," she said. "You have something they want."
Aiden frowned.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Kira leaned closer.
Her voice was quiet.
"You have a weakness," she said. "A weakness that can be used."
Aiden's heart raced.
He felt a chill.
"What weakness?" he asked.
Kira's eyes narrowed.
"You're the kind of person who would risk everything for someone else," she said. "You're not selfish."
Aiden's mind raced.
He thought about his family.
He thought about his mother.
He thought about his sister.
He thought about his debt.
He thought about the Arena.
He looked at Kira.
"I don't want to be used," he said.
Kira's smile faded.
"You already are," she said.
Aiden's chest tightened.
He looked at Four.
Four stared at Kira.
His eyes were serious.
"Why are you telling us this?" Four asked.
Kira looked at him.
"Because you need to know the truth," she said. "Because the truth is the only weapon you have."
Aiden felt a chill.
He looked at the screen again.
The message was still there:
NEXT GAME: IN 6 HOURS
ALL PLAYERS MUST BE READY
Aiden looked at Kira.
He swallowed.
"What happens if we don't play?" he asked.
Kira's eyes narrowed.
"You don't get to choose," she said. "The Arena will choose for you."
Aiden's mind raced.
He looked at the other players.
He saw the fear in their eyes.
He saw the desperation.
He saw the hunger for freedom.
He felt a sudden anger.
He looked at Kira again.
He said, "We need to find a way out."
Kira's eyes narrowed.
"Out?" she repeated. "You really think there is an out?"
Aiden swallowed.
He looked at Four.
Four stared at him.
He nodded.
"We need to try," Four said.
Aiden felt a surge of hope.
But the hope was quickly replaced by dread.
The screen flickered again.
A new message appeared.
NEW RULES
Aiden's heart stopped.
He stared at the screen.
He read the new rules:
RULES UPDATE
All players must wear the tracking collar.
All players must follow the guard's instructions.
All players must participate in the next game.
Any player who refuses will be eliminated.
Any player who tries to escape will be eliminated.
Aiden's blood ran cold.
Tracking collar.
Elimination.
Escape.
He looked at Kira.
Kira's eyes were serious.
"We don't have time," she said. "We need to plan."
Aiden nodded.
Four looked at them.
His eyes were intense.
"We need to know who we can trust," he said.
Aiden nodded.
The room went quiet.
The other players were silent.
Then the doors to the Recovery Hall opened.
A guard entered.
He carried a tray.
On the tray was a small collar with a red light.
Aiden's heart pounded.
The guard walked toward Aiden.
Aiden tried to move.
His leg screamed.
He tried to stand.
He couldn't.
The guard approached.
He held the collar up.
He spoke, calm and emotionless:
"Player #11. Put on the collar."
Aiden's mind raced.
He looked at Kira.
Kira's eyes were wide.
She whispered, "Don't do it."
Aiden looked at the collar.
He looked at the guard.
He looked at his broken leg.
He looked at his debt.
He looked at the promise of a new identity.
He realized something:
He had no choice.
The guard reached for his neck.
Aiden closed his eyes.
He braced himself.
The collar snapped into place.
A red light flashed.
Aiden's heart raced.
The guard stepped back.
The screen on the wall lit up.
A message appeared:
COLLAR ACTIVE
PLAYER #11 — TRACKING ENABLED
NEXT GAME IN 5 HOURS AND 55 MINUTES
Aiden opened his eyes.
He looked at the collar.
He felt the weight of it.
He felt the control.
He felt the trap.
He looked at Kira.
She looked back at him.
Her eyes were full of warning.
She whispered:
"Welcome to the Debt Arena."
Aiden's blood ran cold.
He realized the truth:
The Arena wasn't just a game.
It was a prison.
And he was trapped.