Chapter 1
Lately, an app called "Are You Dead?" had been all the rage among young people.
My boyfriend, Nathan Davy, downloaded it too.
Annoyed, I snatched his phone out of his hand.
"Nathan, can you stop messing with that app? It looks sketchy," I said.
He was just staring at the "Are You Dead?" app, grinning like an idiot, his face totally blank.
Nathan asked, "Honey, have you used it today?"
"Are you crazy?" I snapped.
Just as I was about to close the app, my finger slipped and hit the "Install" button by accident.
"Welcome to Are You Dead? Countdown: 24:00:00," a voice announced.
*****
The phone screen suddenly flashed a bright red light.
Without thinking, I tossed the phone onto the couch.
"What the hell is this?" I blurted out.
Nathan's goofy grin vanished.
He twisted his neck, unnaturally stiff.
There was a sharp crack from his neck.
"You downloaded it?" Nathan asked.
I didn't pay it any mind.
"It was an accident. Delete it right now. This thing is seriously creeping me out," I said.
Nathan didn't move.
He just kept staring at me, eyes locked on mine like he was seeing right through me.
His gaze made my skin crawl.
"Why are you just staring? Hurry up and delete it," I snapped.
Suddenly, Nathan flashed a creepy, wide grin.
His smile was so big, it showed all his gums.
He said, "You can't delete it, honey.
"Once you're in the pen, you're just a pig waiting for the butcher. Pigs don't get to open the gate and escape, do they?"
My brows furrowed.
"What's wrong with you? Quit with the spooky nonsense," I said.
I grabbed my phone, wanting to check out the app for myself.
The screen was completely black.
No matter how many times I tapped or pressed, it wouldn't respond at all.
I reached for Nathan's phone.
The countdown was still ticking on the screen.
23:58:12。
Below the numbers, a new line of small text appeared:
[Newbie Task: Identify your keeper within ten minutes.]
[Option A: Nathan. Option B: None (Choose this and you'll be erased on the spot.)]
I let out a snort of disbelief.
"What kind of sick joke is this? Nathan, are you and your buddies trying to mess with me?" I demanded.
Nathan didn't say a word.
He stood up and moved sluggishly toward the kitchen.
"I'll fix you something to eat, honey. Gotta make sure you're well-fed for the road ahead," he said.
From the kitchen, I could hear the sound of meat being chopped.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The rhythm was slow, and each strike landed with a powerful force.
I wasn't about to let this freak me out; I clutched my phone and rushed straight to the front door.
The front door wouldn't move an inch.
The lock was completely stuck, like someone had welded it shut.
I pounded hard on the door.
"Is anyone out there? Open up," I yelled.
The hallway was dead silent.
Normally, around this time, Linda Hood next door would be frying something, and the kid upstairs would be banging away at the piano.
But tonight, there wasn't a single sound.
The only thing I could hear was the slow, heavy thud of meat being chopped in the kitchen.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated.
The screen, which had been black, lit up on its own.
The app's blood-red interface took over the screen.
[Player detected attempting to escape the enclosure. Level One Warning.]
An electric current suddenly surged through my arm.
"Agh!" I let out a shriek, and the phone flew out of my hand.
A charred, blackened streak appeared on my arm.
It was real.
The pain was real.
The chopping noises from the kitchen came to an abrupt halt.
Nathan leaned halfway out of the kitchen doorway.
He gripped a hefty bone cleaver in his hand.
Red flecks of meat clung to the blade.
Nathan warned, "Honey, don't try to run away.
"Disobedient pigs get their legs broken."
I had to force myself to calm down.
This was no joke; this was real.
That jolt nearly made my heart stop.
I picked up my phone.
The countdown read: 23:45:00.
The choices were still flashing on the screen.
[Please confirm your keeper.]
Nathan walked over, carrying the cleaver in his hand.
There was a faint, metallic tang clinging to him.
"Go with A, babe," he said.
He set the cleaver down on the coffee table with a soft thud.
"If you pick me, I'll keep you safe," he promised.
I stared at the cleaver.
My eyes flicked to the countdown.
If I didn't pick, I'd be erased on the spot.
That electric shock proved this app could really kill me.
With shaking hands, I pressed A.
[Congratulations! You have been paired with your keeper: Nathan.]
[Current Status: Candidate Meat Pig (Level One).]
[Time until slaughter: 23:42:15.]
Nathan grinned with satisfaction.
He reached for my head, trying to touch it.
Instinctively, I pulled back.
His hand froze in mid-air.
"Are you afraid of me, honey?" Nathan asked.
I fixed my gaze on his face.
"What did you mean when you said I was just a pig?" I asked.
Suddenly, Nathan felt like a complete stranger to me.
"Just what I said," Nathan replied.
He withdrew his hand and grabbed the cleaver.
He said, "In this app, there are only two types of people.
"One is the butcher, the one who keeps and kills.
"The other is the meat pig, raised to be sold and eaten."