Paradise Island Opportunity

"Aria, wait up!" Leander called out, rushing to catch up with her.

It was only Leander's second day here, and though he was still the newcomer, he had already taken a particular liking to Aria. Aria, however, continued walking ahead, unbothered by the new shadow trailing behind her. She wasn't used to having someone so persistent suddenly appear in her life.

"Did you sleep well, Aria? The beds in the sleep pods are really hard, aren't they? But, uh, I dreamt about you last night, Aria. It's hard to explain, even though we've only just met." Leander tilted his head slightly, as if nursing a stiff neck.

"What did you dream about?" Aria glanced at Leander out of the corner of her eye.

"I dreamt that the two of us entered a game—a virtual world. There was this virus taking over the world in the game, and the only way to escape was to kill the virus and win."

"What a strange dream," Aria remarked, turning on her heel and heading into the work area.

Ethan saw the interaction, his face lighting up with a gossipy expression. He quickly followed after Aria, catching up to her and leaning in close to her ear.

"Aria, it looks like Leander's really into you." Aria's elbow shot back, landing squarely in Ethan's stomach.

"Say one more stupid thing, and I'll show you just how tough I am." Aria clenched her fists, ready for action, as Ethan doubled over in pain.

"Ow, ow—okay, I give up! You really are a tomboy." Ethan blurted out the last part as he bolted away before Aria could take another swing at him.

Ding, ding, ding—the work area's bells began to ring non-stop. People stopped what they were doing, gathering in small groups as they made their way to the central square, their eyes filled with anticipation.

"What's happening today?" Ethan asked, puzzled, as he set down the pipette in his hand, watching the crowd move. Aria stood up and headed outside.

"Aria, wait! What's happening today?" Ethan hurried after her, weaving through the crowd until he caught up.

"Today is the 'Drawing,' an event that only happens once every six months. Those who are chosen get to go straight to Paradise Island," Aria explained, her eyes filled with the same anticipation as everyone else's.

The central hall was already packed with people when Ethan and Aria arrived. Ethan had been chatting with Aria the whole way, and now they found themselves at the very back. Aria, determined to get a better view, started pushing her way through the crowd, using her body to clear a path until she reached the front.

Wilson and Sherry stood on the platform, dressed in their Phoenix Guards uniforms—silver-white suits adorned with badges, their black boots tucked neatly into their pants. Even without speaking, they exuded an aura of authority and power. Butter gave the order to bring out the "Luck Machine," which would determine today's lucky winner.

All eyes were on the machine, but Ethan felt a growing sense of unease. He remembered Victor's words: "Those who are chosen will die…" The phrase echoed in his mind.

The Luck Machine was a large glass cylinder filled with the "Fate Balls" of every person in Fortress Omega. Each ball bore the number corresponding to a resident's ID, and with over 2,000 balls inside, getting picked was no easy feat.

At Wilson's command, everyone's gaze fixed on the Luck Machine. No one dared blink, afraid to miss their chance. The machine's base was connected to a blower that sent the balls swirling around inside the glass cylinder.

At the crucial moment, a ball dropped to the bottom. The crowd held its breath as Butter picked it up and walked over to Wilson and Sherry, handing the ball to Wilson. He cleared his throat, and the amplifier strapped to him emitted a static buzz.

"Now, I will announce the lucky winner!" Wilson declared, glancing at the ball again. The crowd's eyes followed his every move.

"Alright, here it is," Ethan muttered a quick prayer, his posture at odds with the eager faces around him.

"The number is… 88! Number 88!" The crowd erupted, with a mix of cheers and groans—those who weren't chosen couldn't hide their disappointment. People started looking around, searching for Number 88.

Ethan opened his eyes and let out a deep sigh of relief. "Thank God, it's not me!" But his relief was short-lived. A piercing scream, a woman's scream, erupted right next to him. Ethan turned toward the sound.

Aria was holding up her ID tag, shouting excitedly at Wilson and the others on the platform. Her excitement was so intense that it made Ethan's ears ring.

"Congratulations, Number 88! In one week, you will be heading to Paradise Island!" Wilson announced. As the crowd began to disperse, no one congratulated Aria. They all gritted their teeth, their eyes filled with envy. But Aria didn't care; she was about to leave this "hell" behind.

Ethan, however, couldn't share in her joy. He remembered the tragic fate of Number 299, the man from yesterday. Desperate, he tried to catch up to Aria, needing to warn her.

"Ethan, come on, wish me luck!" Aria's smile was dazzling, but Ethan could only feel dread.

"Aria, I need to tell you something—wait, don't go so fast! I need to talk to you!" Ethan called after her, trying to keep up.

"Aria, you have to come with me," Ethan urged, his voice tense as a group of William's men approached, their eyes brimming with hostility.

"Well, well, well, look who it is—Aria! Congratulations on your trip to Paradise Island. Though, I doubt even there anyone would want a 'manly woman' like you. Guess you'll die lonely on that island, huh?" William sneered, circling Aria like a predator, his words dripping with mockery. Aria's anger flared, her fists clenched tightly.

"Aria, ignore them. If we can't fight, we'll run. Just watch for my signal..." Ethan whispered, his eyes darting around for an escape route.

"Hey, Ethan, you don't have to stick with this 'manly woman,' you know. Join me instead," William leaned in close, his breath hot against Ethan's ear, his words laced with a sickening insinuation. Ethan recoiled in disgust.

Seizing the moment while William's men were still jeering, Ethan grabbed Aria's hand, his grip firm and unyielding as he pulled her along. They sprinted through the complex, ducking through tunnels and dodging obstacles, with William's gang in hot pursuit. They finally reached their "secret base"—a hidden nook within the facility.

"Ethan, you can let go now... my hand," Aria panted, reminding him gently. Her wrist was red where he'd held it, her heart still racing, though she wasn't sure if it was from the run or something else. She couldn't quite shake the feeling of something stirring inside her.

Ethan, still caught up in the adrenaline, seemed oblivious to Aria's flushed face.

"You said you had something urgent to tell me?" Aria asked, her voice quieter now, trying to mask the emotions swirling inside her.

Ethan finally noticed her expression. "Huh? Aria, why's your face all red?"

"It's nothing. Just... from running too fast," she replied, quickly brushing off his concern.

As they both caught their breath, Ethan began to recount his latest discovery in the upper lab, carefully detailing each aspect to convince Aria of the danger she was in.

"Aria, I've been trying to tell you, but there was never a good moment. I went back to the upper lab, and this time... I found something shocking." Ethan's voice was grave, his eyes locked on hers.

"What is it?" Aria asked, her eyes widening in alarm.

"Do you remember that black man, number 299? The one who was pregnant? He was murdered... in a surgical room up there," Ethan said, his voice shaking with the memory of what he'd seen.

"What? He was supposed to go to Paradise Island, wasn't he?" Aria couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"I think Paradise Island is a lie. They're not sending people there to live. They're killing them. And now... you're next, Aria," Ethan's voice was laced with dread, his concern for her palpable.

"So, I'm going to be killed too?" Aria felt the hope she had clung to crumble away, the weight of the truth pressing down on her.

"Ethan, take me to that lab tonight. I need to see it for myself," Aria demanded, her resolve hardening.

"Alright, but it's dangerous, Aria. If they catch us, we're dead. So you need to follow my lead, exactly as I say. Got it?" Ethan's eyes were firm, leaving no room for debate.

"Okay. I trust you," Aria replied, steeling herself for what was to come.

"And remember, no unnecessary violence, Aria!" Ethan added with a teasing smile as they parted ways. Aria playfully raised her fist.

"Ugh, that guy can't stay serious for more than three minutes... so annoying," Aria muttered as she watched Ethan walk away, before lowering her fist with a small, affectionate smile.

That night, after finishing their work, the two of them would meet in the ventilation ducts, ready to uncover the truth.

Day and night make no difference inside Fortress Omega. The entire fortress is encased in a metal shell, a sphere where the concept of natural landscapes and the passage of time simply doesn't exist. The only glimpse of the outside world is a small, circular skylight in the central plaza, barely a meter in diameter. Through it, you can see a sliver of sky, a reminder that humans are meant to soar under the open sky, not live caged like birds.

Aria was already waiting by the entrance to the ventilation shaft, anxious for Ethan to arrive. It wasn't long before he came trudging along, his footsteps heavy and his posture dejected, like a deflated balloon, his arms swinging weakly at his sides.

"Aria, something terrible happened," Ethan began, his voice filled with frustration. "Butter ended my punishment, but he took back my key. We can't get in anymore."

"What? What do we do now, Ethan? Are we just going to give up?" Aria's voice faltered, the sting of failure hitting her hard.

"No, Aria," Ethan said, his tone growing more intense.

"If we don't uncover these secrets ourselves, we'll be trapped in Fortress Omega forever. And right now, I have to save you from your fate. I can't just stand by and watch you walk into your death."

Aria was moved by Ethan's words, though she masked it with a casual tone. "Finally, you're making some sense. So, what's the plan?"

"Steal," Ethan responded, his voice firm with newfound determination.

"Steal? How do we do that?" Aria asked, puzzled.

"Tomorrow. Listen, Aria, we'll have to work together. Everything hinges on tomorrow." Ethan's voice was solemn.