𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Jackson Drake: A washed-up, cynical ex-soldier with nothing to lose. He's tough, haunted by his past, and numb to danger.

Maddie Delaney: A fierce and resourceful survivor of the slums, she partners with Jackson for protection but is smarter than she appears.

Victor Kane: A sadistic billionaire who runs an underground game where contestants are forced to kill for survival.

..............

INT. DANK WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

Jackson Drake awoke with a pounding headache, his vision blurred. The smell of damp rot and rusted metal filled the air, causing him to gag as he coughed himself into consciousness. He pushed himself up from the concrete floor, wincing as he realized his wrists were bruised and his knees ached as if he'd been dropped here from some height.

Looking around, Jackson's soldier instincts kicked in. The place was large, cold, and unfamiliar-a dilapidated warehouse. Dozens of others were sprawled out around him, some stirring like him, others still unconscious. Men and women, all rough-looking, dressed in ragged clothing. The kind of people no one would miss. In the center of the room was a raised platform, upon which stood a sleek, metallic device that resembled an oversized roulette wheel.

Jackson rubbed his temples and scanned the crowd again. His eyes caught on Maddie Delaney, crouched in the corner. She was awake, sharp brown eyes darting around, sizing up the situation just as he was. He knew her from the streets-a small-time hustler from the slums. She had been quick on her feet, always managing to avoid the same deadly traps that caught others.

She met his gaze, giving him a brief nod. He made his way toward her, carefully stepping around the still-unconscious bodies.

"You have any idea where we are?" Jackson growled, his voice hoarse.

Maddie glanced at the roulette wheel. "I've heard rumors. Underground games. The worst kind."

Jackson frowned. "The Death Lottery."

She nodded grimly. "They pick up people like us, no one important. Throw us into their game, make us fight for survival. It's a sport for rich bastards."

Jackson cursed under his breath. He had heard of it before in whispers, though he'd always thought it was just a myth. The Death Lottery-a twisted game run by billionaires, where the rules were simple: survive, or die in the most brutal way imaginable.

Just as he was about to ask Maddie more, the room was suddenly bathed in light. A series of metal shutters slammed down over the windows, trapping them all inside. The air became electric with tension as the remaining participants woke up, panicked cries filling the space.

A loud voice crackled through the speakers overhead.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the voice drawled, smooth as silk and cold as ice. "Welcome to The Death Lottery!"

All eyes turned toward the platform.
A man stood there, wearing an immaculately tailored suit. Victor Kane. Jackson recognized the face from underground tabloids. A billionaire who had made his fortune in black-market dealings. His eyes were empty, soulless.

"You have all been selected," Kane continued, "because society has deemed you unworthy of life. But here, you have a chance to prove your worth. The rules are simple: every round, one of you will be chosen to face a challenge. Succeed, and you live. Fail, and, well..." He smiled darkly. "The wheel decides your fate."

Kane gestured toward the massive roulette wheel, which hummed to life with a mechanical whir. It glowed ominously as it began to spin, the metal clicking in a sick rhythm as it chose its target.

"Let the games begin!" Kane announced, his voice full of sick glee.

The wheel stopped. The crowd tensed.

A light flickered above one of the contestants-a gaunt, wiry man. His face turned pale as the game started.

....................

The sharp metallic echo of the cage door slamming shut was the last sound Jackson Drake heard before the lights went out. It was pitch black now, as if the darkness itself had swallowed him whole. A silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity, broken only by the slow, steady dripping of water somewhere far in the distance.

Jackson's mind, already numb from years of war, trauma, and loss, registered no panic. He had been in worse places. Hell, he had lived in worse places for what felt like a lifetime. Combat zones, isolation cells, shantytowns-they all blurred into one after a while. Now, though, this...this was different. This was designed to break people, and whoever built this cage had done it for fun.

He wasn't alone. He could feel the quiet breathing of the other participants, huddled in the dark like animals waiting for slaughter. He didn't know how many there were, but he guessed no more than ten. From the brief glimpse he'd gotten before they were thrown into this godforsaken hole, he knew they were all desperate. Some looked tough; others looked scared. Most of them were young, people like him who had been chewed up by the world and spit out, only to end up here, in The Death Lottery.

Suddenly, a blinding light flooded the room. Jackson squinted, his hand shielding his eyes as the spotlight settled on a tall, charismatic figure standing on a raised platform above them. It was Victor Kane, the man who had orchestrated their doom.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Kane's voice boomed, echoing across the cavernous room, "welcome to The Death Lottery!"

A few groans came from the shadows, but Jackson remained silent, his jaw set. He had no interest in playing Kane's twisted game, but he knew there was no way out-except through.

Kane's grin widened, his voice dripping with arrogance as he continued. "I know you're all eager to learn the rules of the game. It's simple, really. Survive. Kill, if you have to. There are traps, monsters, and...well, I won't spoil the fun. Only one of you can win, and the rest, well..." He chuckled darkly. "You'll be dead, of course."

Maddie Delaney, a young woman who had been quiet up until now, spoke up, her voice laced with defiance. "What's the point of all this? What kind of sick bastard gets his kicks watching people die?"

Kane tilted his head, amused. "Ah, my dear, the kind of sick bastard with too much money and time on his hands. But if you're asking what you get out of it, the answer is simple. The winner-if there is one-gets a fortune beyond their wildest dreams. More money than you could ever spend in a lifetime."

Jackson glanced at Maddie, sizing her up. She was tough, but she had that spark in her eyes-the kind of spark that could get someone killed if they weren't careful. He had seen it before, in recruits fresh off the bus, eager to prove themselves in war. It always ended the same.

Victor clapped his hands, and the floor beneath Jackson shifted. Steel doors slid open, revealing a labyrinth of corridors beyond. "Let the games begin!" Kane's voice echoed as the lights flickered once, twice, and then died.

Jackson wasted no time. He grabbed Maddie by the arm and yanked her to her feet. "Move."

She didn't argue, and the two of them darted through the nearest corridor, footsteps echoing in the confined space as they ran. Behind them, the sounds of panic began-screams, the clatter of feet, and something worse. Something that wasn't human.

They kept running until the sounds faded, finding themselves in a large, dimly lit room with broken machinery scattered around. Jackson's mind raced, processing their situation. He had no clue how many participants were left, but it didn't matter. What mattered was that they had to stay ahead of whatever was coming.

Maddie leaned against a rusted wall, breathing heavily. "So what's the plan, soldier boy?"

"Stay alive. Find weapons. Don't die."

"Yeah, I gathered that much. What about the killing part? You think we'll have to-?"

"Eventually," Jackson cut her off. "But not yet."

They didn't have long to rest. From the shadows of the corridor they had just come from, a low, guttural growl echoed. Maddie froze, her eyes wide as she stared into the darkness. Jackson stepped forward, pulling a rusted pipe from the wreckage around them. His grip tightened as a figure emerged from the shadows.

It wasn't human.

The creature was hulking, its flesh pale and twisted, like it had been stretched and mutilated beyond recognition. Its mouth gaped open, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light.

"Run," Jackson hissed, pushing Maddie toward the far door.

She didn't need to be told twice. They bolted toward the exit, Jackson staying a step behind to keep the creature at bay. It moved fast-too fast for something so big-but he managed to swing the pipe just in time, cracking it across the face. The creature snarled and stumbled, giving them a few precious seconds to escape through the door and slam it shut behind them.

Panting, Maddie looked at Jackson with a mixture of fear and awe. "What the hell was that thing?"

"Part of the game," Jackson muttered. "And it won't be the last."

They pressed on, weaving through the maze of corridors. The traps came next-spiked walls, collapsing floors, and swinging blades. Each one designed to kill without mercy. But Jackson's military instincts kicked in, keeping them just one step ahead of death. He had no doubt that Kane was watching, enjoying every second of their struggle.

They weren't alone for long. As they turned a corner, they ran into another contestant-a burly man with a scar running down the side of his face. He was armed with a makeshift knife, and from the look in his eyes, he had already decided that Jackson and Maddie were next on his list.

Jackson reacted first, lunging at the man before he could strike. The two collided in a flurry of fists and steel. The man was strong, but Jackson was faster, using his training to outmaneuver him. Maddie circled around, looking for an opening, but the man was relentless, slashing wildly with his knife.

Jackson managed to disarm him with a swift kick, sending the knife skittering across the floor. But the man didn't back down. He charged at Jackson, tackling him to the ground. They grappled, rolling across the floor in a brutal struggle for dominance.

Maddie, seeing her chance, grabbed the knife and lunged at the man, plunging it into his side. He roared in pain, but it wasn't enough to stop him. He flung Maddie aside and turned back to Jackson, blood oozing from the wound.

Jackson grabbed a shard of glass from the ground and, with a savage growl, drove it into the man's throat. Blood spurted from the wound, and the man gurgled, choking on his own life as he collapsed to the floor.

Breathing heavily, Jackson stood over the body, wiping the blood from his hands. Maddie pulled herself to her feet, shaken but alive.

"Thanks," Jackson muttered, nodding toward the knife.

"Don't mention it," Maddie replied, her voice tight. She looked at the dead man, her face pale. "We're not the only ones willing to kill."

"No," Jackson agreed. "We're not."

Hours passed, or maybe days-it was impossible to tell. They encountered more traps, more contestants, and more of those creatures. Each time, Jackson and Maddie survived, but it was taking a toll. They were tired, hungry, and starting to lose hope.

Finally, they found themselves in a vast, open arena. At the center was a massive cage, and inside it stood Victor Kane, smiling as though he had been waiting for them.

"Well, well," Kane said, clapping his hands. "It looks like we have our finalists. Congratulations."

Jackson didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, his eyes locked on Kane. "End this. Now."

Kane chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, I'm afraid it's not that simple. You see, there's still one more round. The final round."

Before Jackson could react, the floor beneath him and Maddie gave way, sending them tumbling into the cage. Kane's voice echoed from above, triumphant.

"Now, let's see who's really willing to do what it takes to win."

The door to the cage slammed shut, and the lights dimmed, leaving them in near darkness.

Maddie turned to Jackson, her face pale. "What now?"

Jackson's eyes narrowed. "Now, we fight."

The final showdown was brutal, a fight for survival in the truest sense.

Jackson and Maddie barely had time to register their new surroundings before the sounds of metal grinding and something heavy being dragged echoed around them. The floor was cold and slick with dampness, the smell of rust and decay thick in the air. A slow, menacing growl reverberated through the cage as they stood back-to-back, weapons raised, ready for whatever horror Kane had prepared for them.

From the shadows, a massive figure began to emerge. It was unlike any of the creatures they had encountered before. This one was bigger, stronger, and clearly designed to be the ultimate test. Its grotesque form was a mishmash of human and animal parts stitched together into a hulking monstrosity. Its elongated arms ended in claws the size of daggers, and its skin, mottled and torn, stretched over bulging muscle. Its head, crowned with twisted horns, swung toward them with a sickening crack, eyes glowing red with malice.

Maddie gasped, taking a step back. "What the hell is that thing?"

Jackson's jaw clenched. "Doesn't matter. It's in our way."

The beast charged, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Jackson shoved Maddie aside just in time to avoid its crushing blow. He swung his pipe, landing a hard strike on the creature's arm, but it barely flinched. The beast roared, its voice a deafening, inhuman howl as it swiped at Jackson again, missing by inches as he dodged to the side.

"Move!" Jackson barked, his military instincts taking over as he rolled out of the creature's path.

Maddie scrambled to her feet, grabbing a jagged piece of metal from the floor and lunging at the beast. She drove the metal shard into its back, but it was like stabbing a brick wall. The creature roared again, backhanding her with a single swipe of its massive arm. She flew across the cage, crashing into the steel bars with a sickening thud.

"Maddie!" Jackson's voice was strained as he raced toward her, but the creature blocked his path, its red eyes burning with sadistic fury. It wasn't going to let them both live. It wanted blood.

Jackson's mind worked fast. He couldn't take this thing down with brute strength. It was too strong, too fast. But it wasn't invincible-nothing was. There had to be a weakness. He glanced up, noting the structure of the cage itself. The ceiling was lined with rusted chains and hooks, some of which looked loose, dangling dangerously close to falling. That was it. That was their only chance.

"Hey!" Jackson shouted, drawing the creature's attention as he circled around. "Come on, you ugly bastard! Over here!"

The beast snarled and charged at him, its claws outstretched, ready to tear him apart. Jackson timed his movements carefully, leading it directly under one of the larger hooks dangling from the ceiling. At the last second, he dove to the side, grabbing a loose chain and yanking it hard. The hook came free with a loud crack, plummeting down toward the beast.

The metal hook slammed into the creature's back, impaling it through its shoulder. It let out an ear-piercing shriek, staggering under the weight of the blow. Blood oozed from the wound, thick and black, but it wasn't done yet. It ripped the hook from its body with a roar, turning back toward Jackson with murder in its eyes.

"Maddie!" Jackson called, his voice urgent as the creature advanced. "Get up! We've got one shot at this!"

Groaning in pain, Maddie pushed herself off the ground, her vision swimming as she tried to focus. She saw what Jackson was doing and nodded, limping toward the nearest wall where more chains hung, rusted and forgotten. She grabbed one, pulling with all her strength to dislodge it. It came loose, and she swung it toward the creature, wrapping it around its neck.

"Now, Jackson!" she shouted.

Jackson didn't hesitate. He yanked another chain, pulling it taut around the beast's arm, pinning it in place. The creature thrashed wildly, trying to break free, but the chains tightened, binding it to the cage like a rabid animal.

Together, Jackson and Maddie pulled the chains as hard as they could, tightening the noose around the creature's neck. It gurgled, choking, its eyes wide with rage as it tried to claw at the restraints. But it was too late. The more it struggled, the tighter the chains became, until finally, with a sickening crack, the creature's neck snapped. Its body slumped to the ground, motionless.

For a moment, there was only silence. Jackson and Maddie stood there, panting, covered in blood and sweat, staring at the lifeless form of the beast. It was over. They had survived.

Or so they thought.

Victor Kane's voice echoed through the speakers, slow clapping filling the air. "Bravo! Bravo! What a show! I must admit, I didn't think you'd make it this far. But don't think for a second that this means you're free."

Jackson's blood boiled at the sound of Kane's smug voice. He looked up toward the platform where Kane stood, high above the arena. "Let us out of here, Kane. It's over."

Kane chuckled darkly. "Oh, my dear Jackson, it's never over. Not until I say it is."

Suddenly, the floor beneath them began to rumble. The walls of the cage creaked and groaned as they started to close in, the ceiling lowering inch by inch. It was another trap, another sick game designed to crush them alive.

Jackson's heart raced as he scanned the room, looking for an escape. There had to be a way out. There was always a way out.

"There!" Maddie pointed to a small maintenance hatch on the far side of the arena, half-hidden behind a pile of rubble. It was their only chance.

Without wasting a second, they sprinted toward the hatch as the walls closed in behind them. The ceiling was nearly on top of them now, the weight pressing down, threatening to crush them into paste. Jackson reached the hatch first, yanking it open and pulling Maddie through just as the ceiling slammed down with a deafening crash, sealing the cage shut.

They tumbled into a narrow maintenance tunnel, the air thick with dust and the sound of machinery humming around them. Jackson's chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his muscles aching from the fight.

Maddie leaned against the wall, wiping blood from her forehead. "We can't stay here. Kane's not going to let us walk out of this alive."

Jackson nodded, his eyes hard. "I know. But we're not done yet."

They moved through the tunnels, careful to avoid detection as they made their way toward the heart of the complex. The further they went, the more they saw of Kane's twisted operation-rooms filled with weapons, cages holding other contestants, and security guards patrolling the halls. It was a fortress, and Kane was its king.

But Jackson had fought his way out of worse places before, and he wasn't about to let some sadistic billionaire keep him caged like an animal.

Finally, they reached the control room, where Kane sat in front of a wall of monitors, watching every corner of his deadly maze. He didn't even look up when Jackson and Maddie entered, too engrossed in his sick little game.

"Enjoying the show, Kane?" Jackson growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Kane's eyes flicked to the screen where Jackson and Maddie had just escaped the collapsing cage. "You really are something, aren't you?" he mused, a smile creeping across his face. "Most people would have broken by now. But not you two. No, you're special."

Jackson stepped forward, his fists clenched. "This ends now."

Kane laughed, standing up and facing them. "Oh, does it? You really think you can just waltz in here and-"

Before he could finish, Jackson punched him square in the jaw, sending him crashing to the floor. Kane groaned, clutching his face as blood dripped from his mouth.

Maddie grabbed a nearby fire axe, her eyes blazing with fury. "I think it's time you learned what it feels like to be on the other side."

Kane scrambled to his feet, fear flashing across his face for the first time. "Wait! Wait! I can give you anything you want! Money, power, freedom-you name it!"

Jackson shook his head, his voice cold. "All we want is justice."

And with that, Maddie swung the axe.

The Death Lottery was over. Victor Kane's empire of blood and terror crumbled with him, his sick games exposed to the world. Jackson and Maddie walked away from the ashes, survivors not just of the lottery but of a system that had tried to break them.

They didn't need the fortune Kane had promised. They had something far more valuable-their lives, and the knowledge that they had taken down a monster.

As they disappeared into the night, Jackson couldn't help but smile, knowing that for the first time in a long time, he was truly free.