The Twelfth Game: Fire Springs Forest Park 15

Boom—the sound echoed from the horizon, resembling a thunderclap. The sky was dark and dense, but it wasn't clouds; it was volcanic ash gathering in thick clusters.

The thunderous noise wasn't thunder either; it was the eruption's roar, circling the planet and lingering without fading, only to be heard once again.

It was only the second day of being stranded on the highway. The carefree mood of the first day had dissipated, replaced by a growing sense of urgency and anxiety.

As the hours passed, the cost of food increased steadily, and the realization struck them: if they didn't leave soon, they might never be able to. Some regretted giving away food just days before, while others packed their belongings, ready to leave.

On the twelfth day of the game, people stranded on the highway could no longer hold out. They grabbed what little food they had left, abandoned their vehicles, and began to walk.