On July 15, 2042, torrential rain hammered the bluestone streets of the old district of Cangnan City, sending water spraying half a foot into the air. Lu Chen sat by the window, running his fingers over a crimson invitation edged in gold. Dark patterns adorned its edges, and the four characters “Ten Days to the End” were printed in the center in regular script. The ink gleamed coldly in the damp air, like fresh blood.
“Participant No. 73, Lu Chen.” A mechanical voice suddenly sounded from the back of the invitation, cold and utterly devoid of warmth. “Tomorrow at nine in the morning, report to the abandoned ‘Star Dome Amusement Park’ in the west of the city. Failure to arrive on time will be considered a forfeiture of your right to ‘atone.’” Atonement...
