Here I am. Stuck in a game of hide and seek. Since childhood, I loved playing hide and seek. So, normally, I wouldn't mind if someone randomly pulled me into a round out of the blue.
But this time... it's different. Whoever gets found here...
Gets killed.
Ah, you don't believe me? Funny, I can't believe it also! The situation I'm in... feels so surreal. I'm running and running, constantly in what seems like an endless maze to get away from the seeker. But these damn blood stains! They are revealing my location!
Ahh... what do I do? what do I do?? what do I do???
Give up?...
I can feel my body is about to give up, it will after the adrenaline rush ends. I keep trying to move quietly until I reach a dead end.
...What? This can't be... This is just like those movies..... It can't be real, those scenes are made up, they don't happen in real life. I'm dreaming. Yeah, that's it. I should try to pinch myself-
Then I remember, the gash wound on the right side of my stomach. The one I got while trying to save Aiden. I wonder if he's okay...
But the wound, I forgot about that... So, this is not a dream?
I was too focused on fighting for survival before to notice the pain or the blood... Anyways, this sh*t is the thing that just wouldn't allow me to hide. For this wound, a quiet and 'peaceful'
game of hide and seek turned into an intense and chaotic game of tag by making me unable to hide without a trace.
I hate tag.
I never liked tag. It requires speed, something that I never had. My reflexes were slow for as far as I can remember. But blending into the surroundings? Using the environment to disguise yourself and hide from your predator? Yeah, that is something I've always been good at.
I can't hear the heavy munching of shoes anymore. I guess the seeker left... But that means....
He's going after my friends now.
Am I really going to let that happen? I was ready to give up my life for her. Where did all my courage go?
Am I really gonna be The Coward at the end of the ******day******, like how I always was?
Clutching my wound, I sit down ignoring the pain. I'm too busy debating with myself to pay attention to it. As I keep on trying to bring myself to pick my body up and go to my friends' rescue again, I realized.
It's pointless.
I don't stand a chance against that monster, at all.
And all I can do is wait here for the bitter embrace of death...
I feel my consciousness starting to leave slowly by the point my friend's screaming filled the area as I'm there blankly. He was... maybe the last one beside me....
Oh, Aiden... I'm so sorry, I really want to protect you. But more than that, I just want to sleep now...
....I feel so tired....
I hear the familiar footsteps again. He's coming for me, the last hider. After he finds me, he'll be the ultimate winner, winner of this death game.
I never should've agreed to this game. Never should've been so greedy for money. But oh well, that's what I get for trying to get easy money. How could I believe someone would pay me millions for winning a childish game? And what's better? I brought my friends into this! Hah, not that guy, I am their actual murderer! Good job, me! You're killer now, just like that guy.
How lucky he was, to be able to choose the seeker faction of the game. Nobody can do anything to him, but he can do everything to us.
The best moments of life, especially with Aiden keep flashing before my eyes. Being in a haze, I didn't even realize the seeker picking me up by my throat. I could only think about my friends, family, and Aiden...
"I... love you, A-aiden," I muttered weakly with a faint smile and closed my eyes, slowly taking my last breaths.
----------------
Bodies laid here and there in the maze called "playground". He was the only one alive here now. He was the winner.
He slowly pulled down his mask, revealing the face of the dead girl's dear friend...
Aiden.
"Good job," a husky voice said from behind. "You better keep your promise."
"I will, I'm a guy with morals."
"Cut the crap, 50/50 was it? I won't accept less."
"Yeah, let's go meet the boss."
'The Seeker' walks away, his footsteps fading into silence as Aiden looks at his friend, eyes filled with tears of deep remorse.
"I love you too, I...
I'm sorry.... "
[This is part of my short story series "The world inside my mind". If you like it, kindly check out my whole book. Your support is my biggest motivation. 💙]
