Jason smacked the machine in frustration when the flashing red ‘GAME OVER’ appeared on the screen again. He’d been playing this game for hours but he just couldn’t win. If he were at any other arcade he would’ve left ages ago with everyone else but his Aunt Diana owned this arcade and let him stay late.

Despite the fact that Jason was allowed to stay, he knew it was getting very late and he should probably head home.

“Aunt Diana!” he called. “I’m going home now. I’ll see you later.”

There was no reply. Maybe she’d gone to sleep. Jason grabbed his things and turned away from the ‘GAME OVER’ still flashing at him, only to find another. The game behind him also said ‘GAME OVER’, as did the one next to it, and the one next to that, and all the other games he could see.

Every single game in the arcade said ‘GAME OVER’ in flashing red letters.

Jason rubbed his eyes but it didn’t go away.

“Aunt Diana!” he yelled. “I think something’s wrong with the games!”

Still there was no reply. It was fine, Aunt Diana would fix it in the morning. Jason needed to get home and it wasn’t his problem. He headed to the door and went outside into the cold autumn air, locking the door with the key his Aunt had given him.

He turned away from the arcade, about to walk home, when he noticed the flashing red in the sky. His mouth fell open as he took in the ‘GAME OVER’ flashing in the sky. Everything around him seemed to flicker and disappear but he could tear his gaze away.

Everything went dark and Jason was left alone with the red ‘GAME OVER’ in the sky.