The Ghost Game

Ever heard that old saying?

"Curiosity killed the cat!"

Like most guys out there, I have certain... hobbies that aren't exactly suitable for polite conversation.

Let me give you a warning based on personal experience: when you're watching adult content online, never—and I mean never—click on those pop-up ads!

My name's Jake Harrison, and I'm a programmer grinding away at a job where working overtime doesn't even guarantee a bonus from the boss.

Six days on, one day off. Today's Saturday, but the office atmosphere is as dead as ever.

Even more so than usual.

Tomorrow's our day off, so we should be excited to hit the bars after work today. Instead, everyone's wearing the same grim expression.

I'm not one to pry into other people's business, so I don't ask.

After I sit down, Ryan Brooks at the desk to my right glances around to make sure the boss isn't watching, then taps my desk.

"Did you see what's trending?"

"Celebrity gossip? Not interested. When I'm making $208k a day like them, I definitely won't forget about you."

But Ryan leans in closer and lowers his voice.

"Come on, man. I only care about legs in stockings. I don't follow that celebrity crap either. What I'm asking is—have you heard about the Ghost Game?"

"That's just some pop-up ad."

Calling it "trending" is a bit of a stretch—it's not really viral or anything.

It just made the local news feed.

A few shut-ins were at home browsing the internet, watching, you know, those adult videos.

While watching, a pop-up ad appeared for some interesting little game.

The game description said players who beat it would survive, but anyone who died in the game would die in real life the next day in the exact same way.

Out of sheer curiosity, these idiots stopped watching their porn to play the game instead.

By the next day, when they were discovered, they were already dead!

Bodies stiff, no external injuries, and toxicology reports came back clean.

Because it was so bizarre, neighbors started spreading rumors privately that it wasn't a game at all, but some kind of supernatural death curse!

The rumors got more and more outrageous. Since the city was about to undergo some kind of evaluation, the higher-ups suppressed the story.

The local trending topic was only up for two days before disappearing completely.

Personally, I think it's just some social media clickbait!

These days, people will say or do anything for views, for fame.

Even negative attention is attention.

As long as there's traffic, they'll exploit anyone they can!

Only a fool leaves money on the table!

Come on, this is the 21st century—ghost curses?

How could such ridiculous things possibly exist in this world?

I share my thoughts with Ryan, who gives me a thumbs up with an admiring look.

"Jake's the man! Jake's fearless! Jake's a badass!"

But then Ryan pulls out an envelope with a sarcastic grin.

"If you're brave enough to download that game and play one round, I'll give you this."

Inside the envelope is five hundred bucks in cash—money he'd set aside to give as a wedding gift after work.

Five hundred isn't much, but hey, even a little cash is still cash. I could eat at the all-you-can-eat buffet three times with that.

I agree immediately, unlock my phone, and open the hidden app where I keep my adult content.

"It's just a game. 'Ghost Game'—that's just a name. What's there to be scared of?"

You can't challenge a man's pride like that. Once you do, the competitive spirit kicks into overdrive.

But then a familiar voice sounds in my ear.

"Ghost Game? Is that the one where three people died recently?"

Sarah Chen! Our department manager!

I quickly lock my phone and put my hands back on the keyboard, pretending to work hard.

If she reports me, there goes this month's bonus, and it's almost the end of the month. Not worth it!

Still, I can't help stealing glances from the corner of my eye.

Sarah's wearing frameless glasses—the square lenses make her look especially intelligent.

She's dressed in a professional pencil skirt with a white deep-V blouse, her impressive cleavage subtly visible.

Below the black bodycon skirt, her long legs are wrapped in sheer black stockings.

I can't help envying the boss. When Sarah leans over slightly to report to him, doesn't he get to see everything?