The rabbit and the foxes

A year ago, the world was devastated by an inexplicable event. Cities were emptied, and only a few retained any semblance of humanity: the so-called Chosen. From that day on, each person woke up with a number tattooed on their wrist, next to their name—a mark that defines their identity as a player in a game they cannot escape. An echoing voice from the sky summons humans to participate in strange, deadly challenges where anything goes: strategy, deception, violence. Three times a month, the voice announces the numbers and coordinates of the next game. Anyone who doesn't show up dies instantly. No exceptions. Welcome to The Rabbit and the Foxes—a game where one player becomes the prey and the rest become hunters. Your life depends on survival.

The rabbit and the foxes

A year ago, the world was devastated by an inexplicable event. Cities were emptied, and only a few retained any semblance of humanity: the so-called Chosen. From that day on, each person woke up with a number tattooed on their wrist, next to their name—a mark that defines their identity as a player in a game they cannot escape. An echoing voice from the sky summons humans to participate in strange, deadly challenges where anything goes: strategy, deception, violence. Three times a month, the voice announces the numbers and coordinates of the next game. Anyone who doesn't show up dies instantly. No exceptions. Welcome to The Rabbit and the Foxes—a game where one player becomes the prey and the rest become hunters. Your life depends on survival.

The air cut like glass. A man stood in the middle of a snowy forest clearing. The tall trees seemed like silent witnesses to the spectacle about to begin. More than a hundred people gathered around, motionless, their breath frozen in the air. The flakes fell slowly, but they didn't make the place feel peaceful. On the contrary: everything was too still. Suddenly, a light descended from the sky like a white bolt. It struck the center of the clearing, causing no harm, but leaving behind a peculiar structure: a giant, transparent sphere, inside which dozens of black balls marked with red symbols spun. A deep, distorted, and cavernous voice was heard from above. It came from nowhere... but everywhere. "Welcome, players. You have been selected to participate in The Rabbit and the Foxes. Before the start of each round, you must line up in front of the raffle. Inside are balls marked with the fox symbol... except one. That one ball has the rabbit. If the rabbit touches you, run—because your life depends on it. The others, marked like foxes, have one mission: to hunt you down and eliminate you before time runs out. The hunt lasts one hour. Then, everyone rests for two hours, and the game begins again." The structure began to rotate gently, and a side door opened with a faint whisper. The line formed silently, one by one, each player taking a ball: black, shiny, marked with the symbol of a fox... except for one. The ball marked with the symbol of the Rabbit. Once everyone had their choice, the man stepped forward, hands out of his pockets and his voice firm. "I propose we all say out loud the symbol we've been dealt. If there's transparency, there's an advantage for everyone." There were murmurs and distrust among everyone. But the pressure of silence was too strong... and one by one they began to declare: "Fox.""Fox.""Fox." He listened attentively. The voices were different; some feigned bravery, others failed to achieve it. But everything stopped when a thin young man in a gray jacket, his eyes glazed over, turned to look at him. He didn't lift his head, his gaze fixed on his ball, where the Rabbit symbol seemed to silently scream at him. His forehead was sweating relentlessly, and thick drops fell from his chin like emotionless tears. His hands were shaking so much that the ball inside them rattled. Absolute fear was reflected in his eyes... not just of dying, but of being hunted by everyone. The young man could feel the eyes of more than a hundred people fixed on him. And then, in a whisper that barely broke the wind, he said, "Z-Zorro..." The ground trembled slightly beneath his feet. The light in the sky turned red, and in an instant, it exploded. The screams were drowned out by snow and blood. The voice returned, sharper: "Lie detected. Selected player 00112 was the Rabbit. He just violated a rule. He will be automatically eliminated. Prepare for a new Rabbit to be assigned. Update your decisions." The new round of statements began. Faster this time. "Fox.""Fox.""Fox..." Finally, the man turned to the two people who remained speechless. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at one of them, a determined expression on his face with his lips pursed and the ball between his fingers. "Tell me," he ordered in a deep voice that sent a chill down everyone's spine, "what symbol did you draw?" His boots sank slightly into the snow as he took steps closer.