I died screaming.
Not because it hurt,
but because I finally understood what was happening.
The fire had already consumed the village. Wood cracked. People ran. Someone grabbed my arm, begging me to move, to help, to do something.
I froze.
Because floating before my eyes was a line of text that did not belong to this world.
SYSTEM INITIALIZED
NUMBER OF LIVES: 1
RULE: You may only save one person in this life.
I laughed. A short, broken sound.
"This is a joke," I whispered.
The system did not respond.
A woman collapsed near the well, coughing black smoke. A child cried behind me, calling for his mother. I could see them both. I could reach either one.
My hands trembled.
CHOOSE.
I ran.
Not toward the child.
Not toward the woman.
I fled.
The flames chased me faster than my legs. The heat tore through my lungs. I fell face-first into the ashes.
As my vision faded, the system spoke again.
THE CHOICE FAILED.
NO ONE WAS SAVED.
Then everything went black.
I woke up gasping.
Cold stone beneath my hands. A sky filled with unfamiliar stars.
And the system was still there.
NUMBER OF LIFE: 2
REMINDER: You may only save one person.
This time…
I wouldn't hesitate.
But deep down, I already knew the truth.
It didn't matter whom I chose,
someone would always die because of me.