Arthur's mop danced across the gleaming tiles of Westfield High's main corridor, its rhythmic swish accompanied by the muffled laughter of students beyond the bathroom door. The scent of industrial cleaner mingled with the faint waft of adolescent angst—a potent cocktail that had become his daily symphony. At twenty-five, Arthur hadn't imagined he'd be here, a janitor in the same halls he'd walked as a student just a few years ago. But life had a way of throwing curveballs, and with their parents gone, someone had to support Brian through college.

As he worked, Arthur's mind wandered to his younger brother. Brian would be finishing classes soon, probably heading to football practice. They had plans to catch the game this weekend—a small luxury Arthur allowed himself, a reminder of simpler times.

The quiet moments between slamming lockers and squeaking sneakers were Arthur's favorite. Each day was a clean slate, a chance to make things a little better, even if just by ensuring spotless floors and sparkling windows. It wasn't glamorous, but it was honest work, and Arthur found a strange sort of peace in it.

Today, however, something felt off. Glancing at the wall clock, Arthur frowned. 3:15 PM—dismissal time. Yet the usual flood of teenagers was conspicuously absent. The silence grew oppressive, an unsettling undercurrent that made his heart skip a beat. He shrugged it off as another prank, just another jibe from the students who loved mocking the "loser janitor." They would laugh, and he'd keep his head down, just like always.

But when the lights flickered, a chill ran down Arthur's spine. This was no joke. The walls groaned, like the building itself was alive and in pain. The floor buckled beneath him, and Arthur's legs gave way, sending him crashing into the nearest bathroom stall. The sound of cracking tile filled the air, followed by a terrifying rumble that seemed to come from the bowels of the earth.

Dust filled his lungs, and the acrid smell of fear—his own—filled his nostrils. Through the small, now-fractured window above the sinks, Arthur saw the world outside dissolve into chaos. The sky thickened with debris, and the ground trembled like a beast ready to swallow everything whole. The school's structure moaned and screamed as cracks shot across the walls and ceiling.

His breath came in short gasps as he scrambled to his feet, his limbs shaking uncontrollably. One thought consumed him: Brian. Where's Brian? The panic seized him like a vice. He barely registered the world crumbling around him—his only thought was that his brother was somewhere out there in the midst of this nightmare.

"Brian!" Arthur screamed, his voice lost in the cacophony of destruction. He stumbled towards the exit, dodging falling debris. The once-familiar halls now led to a gaping mouth of ruin. Beyond the wreckage, the city was unrecognizable. Buildings had collapsed like sandcastles, streets had been swallowed whole, and thick smoke rose in ominous pillars. It was as if the world had ended in the blink of an eye.

Arthur dropped to his knees, his mind reeling with horror. Everyone he knew, everyone he cared about—gone. The weight of it crushed him, and he screamed again, his voice ripping through the choking air. "Brian!" his mind wailed. His brother must have died alone, terrified, buried somewhere under the rubble of what had been their city.

As despair threatened to overwhelm him, something cold and unnatural broke through the silence. A soft beep echoed in the chaos. Arthur fumbled with his pocket, expecting to pull out his phone. Instead, his trembling hands revealed a device he'd never seen before—a digital wristwatch. Suddenly, a holographic blue interface hovered before him, washing the wreckage in its otherworldly glow. His heart raced as a calm, mechanical voice cut through the devastation.

"Welcome to The Game. Your objective is to survive."

Arthur stared, mouth agape, as the digital interface flickered, casting eerie shadows over his dust-covered face. The words felt sharp, almost cruel against the backdrop of destruction. This isn't real. It can't be real. He blinked hard, willing the nightmare to end, but the hologram remained.

"The tutorial will begin shortly," the voice continued, indifferent to his confusion and terror.

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Before Arthur could process what was happening, four shimmering walls rose from the ground, boxing him into a room that didn't exist moments ago. Pedestals materialized, each holding brightly colored discs that floated above them, strange symbols etched onto their surfaces. The juxtaposition of this surreal, game-like environment against the broken world around him made Arthur's head spin.

"These are powerups," the emotionless voice droned. "Each powerup grants a special ability. Common powerups like Speed Boost and Power Jump can be found across the map. Rare powerups, like Extra Life, can be found in dangerous areas. High-risk, high-reward."

Arthur's mind raced, grasping for any semblance of logic. A game? How is this possible? He must have hit his head during the earthquake. Maybe this was some kind of hallucination—his brain's last-ditch effort to shield him from the horror of reality. Or perhaps this was some cruel joke from a god he had never believed in.

As he stood there, paralyzed by disbelief, one of the pedestals slid toward him. A circular disk floated above it, glowing red, with a white sneaker icon etched in the center.

"Reach out to the powerup in front of you," the voice instructed.

Arthur hesitated, his hand trembling in mid-air. Am I really supposed to do this? But what other choice did he have? His reality had been reduced to rubble, and now this bizarre digital world was all that remained. If playing along meant surviving—if it gave him even a sliver of hope to find Brian—he had to do it.

With a shaky exhale, Arthur brushed the glowing disk. Instantly, a surge of energy coursed through him, electric and alien. His vision sharpened, and the world around him seemed to slow, as though everything had been dipped in molasses. His body felt lighter, faster, humming with newfound power.

Driven by an instinct he didn't understand, Arthur took a step—and found himself sprinting across the room in a blur, covering the distance in a fraction of a second. He skidded to a stop, eyes wide with shock.

"You have activated a Speed Boost," the voice announced, as matter-of-factly as if commenting on the weather. A golden timer appeared in the corner of Arthur's vision, counting down from sixty seconds.

Arthur's chest heaved, his breaths ragged as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. This was no dream or hallucination. It was too visceral, too real. The grip of fear tightened around him, but he forced himself to focus. He had to keep his head clear. If this "game" was real—if this was his new reality—he couldn't afford to lose himself to panic.

The tutorial continued as the pedestals vanished into the ground, the discs dissolving into thin air. "Tap your wristwatch to access the map. Unexplored areas will remain blurred until you reach them. Locations of interest will be marked."

Arthur glanced down at his new, sleek digital watch. He tapped it gingerly, and a new hologram sprang to life, displaying a bird's-eye view of the city. It was an intricate, detailed map, dotted with markers and blurred zones. One marker pulsed brightly, drawing his eyes to the center of the city—his next destination.

As quickly as it had begun, the tutorial ended. The shimmering room disappeared, and the shattered world reemerged. But something had changed. Arthur squinted at the sky, mouth falling open in disbelief as the city began to rebuild itself before his eyes. Crumbled buildings grew whole again, broken streets knitted back together, and debris was sucked back into place as if someone had pressed rewind on reality itself.

Arthur staggered forward, his legs trembling as his mind struggled to process what he was seeing. This isn't real. It can't be. But no matter how hard he tried to wake up, this new world persisted, vivid and unforgiving.

A message flashed in his vision: "First Mission: Proceed to the arena."

His heart lurched. The arena? Arthur's stomach twisted as he pictured the city's football stadium. A place where he had spent so many Saturday afternoons with Brian, cheering with the crowd, dreaming of better days. But something told him this would be no ordinary football game.

With a shaky breath, Arthur took his first steps toward the city center. The streets were eerily empty, devoid of the chaos and destruction he had witnessed moments ago. Buildings stood tall and unblemished, as if the earthquake had never happened. But the silence—the complete absence of any other person—sent chills down his spine.

As he walked, Arthur's mind raced with questions. What happened to everyone else? Are they in this game too? And Brian... is he out there somewhere, confused and alone like me?

The speed boost had worn off, but Arthur could feel something different about his body. He felt stronger, more agile. A quick glance at his wristwatch revealed a simple HUD: Health, Stamina, and a blinking indicator labelled "Skills."

Whatever this game was, whatever had happened to the world, Arthur knew one thing for certain: he had to survive. He had to find Brian. And to do that, he needed to learn the rules of this new reality—fast.

With a deep breath, Arthur quickened his pace towards the arena. The first mission awaited, and with it, perhaps, some answers. As the stadium loomed in the distance, a mix of fear and determination settled in his gut. The game had begun, and Arthur was playing for keeps.