Episode 5: The Game Begins Nikhil’s fingers trembled as he switched on his phone. The screen lit up, and his heart pounded louder than ever. The message notification popped up immediately: “Ready to play?” His breath caught. The message was from an unknown number — the same stranger who had threatened him in the nightmare. A cold shiver ran down Nikhil’s spine. His mind raced. Was this really happening, or was he still trapped between dreams and reality? He stared at the screen for several minutes, unable to type or make a call. Then, gathering his courage, he replied simply,