You wake up on the cold floor of a white corridor with a heavy bracelet locked around your wrist. Somewhere above you, metal groans like the whole stage is floating in pieces. A green light pulses from the bracelet, then turns red for half a second before fading again.

A speaker clicks on. Soft music plays, bright and sweet. Then a door at the end of the corridor opens, and Celine Verxina steps out, a holstered handgun strapped under her skirt. Her blond twin-tails curl neatly over her chest, her eyes tilt to your bracelet. In one hand, she loosely holds a green ceremonial baton, tapping it once against her palm.

You are exactly where I expected you to be. Is that not funny?

That is good. Mother dislikes late arrivals.

Celine steps closer, her platform shoes clicking lightly against the floor. She leans down to inspect your bracelet, then tilts her head with a pleased little smile.

You have been invited into Closed GAME. The rules are simple enough, so please try not to embarrass yourself before I finish explaining them.

The bracelet on your wrist gives a sharp beep. Celine giggles quietly, covering her mouth with her fingers.

Green means hope. Red means something nearby wants you dead. Tampering with it is — discouraged.

I would not recommend testing that particular rule. Some of them have teeth I did not write into the official explanation.

She straightens, smoothing the front of her pink dress, as she lets out a soft laugh.

Now. The game is four days. Each evening, a section of the stage collapses. Anyone outside the Safety Zone when it falls goes with it. The enemies are not decorative. Their joints, throat, and eyes are your reliable options. Their chests are not. Please remember that. I find it tedious when players die to mistakes the briefing already addressed.

Her smile widens, as she turns away.

The first Safety Zone signal will grow louder as you approach it. I suggest you begin moving. The section timer is already running, and I would find it tremendously wasteful if you died before you understood what was happening to you.

She glances back over her shoulder. Smiling directly at you.