Ten
Fallon
T he sun has just dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow through the windows of our dorm room. The air buzzes with excitement as the three of us prepare for the impromptu game of hide-and-seek. After classes, we came back here and Lyndsy and Rowyn began going through their closets for cute but dark outfits to wear tonight. Fortunately, most things in my closet are black. Emo girl for the win!
I tie up my long, blue hair into a messy bun and begin rummaging through my closet. I need the perfect outfit that will blend into the shadows.
“This black hoodie would be good,” I mutter to myself, pulling it over my head, inspecting my reflection in the mirror. Rowyn peeks her head in, then frowns when she sees the oversized sweater.
“You are going to sweat to death in that thing!”
“Fine,” I murmur as I pull it off and throw it on the bed. My rubber band pops, making my hair fall around my shoulders. I guess I’ll be wearing it down, since that was my last one.
“What are you wearing?” I call out. She comes into view, wearing black leggings and a black tank top.
“What else do you have?” she asks.
“I think I’ll wear these black fishnets, shorts and a tank. I don’t want to be hot, like you said.”
“That works. Although, you need some sun!” We both begin laughing at how pale I am.
“Well, at least we live close to the beach,” I muse.
“That’s very true, and your tattoos hide some of the paleness,” she giggles.
“What’s so funny in here?” Lyndsy asks.
“Rowyn was just mentioning that I needed some sun,” I grin, holding out my arms. “I might glow in the dark.” We all laugh, and it feels good to have friends. I’ve been solo for so long, I forgot how it feels to be around people that get me.
Rowyn, always the planner, begins mapping out potential hiding spots in her notebook. “Since the game is outside, hiding behind the bushes will be our best bet,” she declares, tapping her pen against her chin. “Although, that might be too obvious. But there is an old storage shed behind the math building… now that’s a good one.”
Lyndsy, the tallest of the trio with a mischievous glint in her eye, is already dressed in dark jeans and a navy blue t-shirt. She leans against the doorframe, watching us with amusement. “You guys are taking this way too seriously,” she teases. “It’s just a game.”
The lights suddenly flicker, forming eerie shadows across the room. We all freeze, our laughter dying in our throats.
“Did you see that?” Lyndsy whispers, her eyes wide.
“Yeah,” Rowyn replies, her voice barely audible. “Maybe it’s just a power surge.”
I glance at the window, but the streetlights outside were steady. “Or maybe it’s a sign,” I say with a nervous chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. “The game is about to begin.”
Rowyn laughs, closing her notebook with a snap. “Alright, are we ready?” We all nod in agreement, our competitive spirits igniting. I turn off the lights, plunging the room into darkness once more. We make our way outside, and the cool breeze gives me goosebumps. Maybe I should have brought that hoodie after all.
“So, where are we supposed to meet?” I ask, checking my watch.
“Um, let me check the paper again.” Rowyn pulls out the flyer from her back pocket, scrunching her eyes to read it in the darkness.
“It says to go to the old library building and wait outside,” she finally reads aloud. “That’s where everyone is meeting up.”
Lyndsy shivers slightly, whether from the cold or the mention of the old library, I can’t tell. I didn’t even know there was an old library here. “That place is creepy as hell at night,” she says, her voice tinged with excitement.
“Why did they shut it down?” I ask.
“I think there was a fire there several years ago. They didn’t want to tear it down, because it was the first library built on this campus,” Rowyn chimes in.
“Perfect for hide-and-seek then,” I reply with a grin. “Let’s go.”
We walk briskly, the anticipation building with each step. The campus is eerily quiet, the only sound is the crunch of leaves under our feet. As we approach the old library, its dark silhouette looms against the night sky, adding an extra layer of thrill to our adventure. The library is at one end of the campus, brushing up closely with a forest. The air feels charged, every rustle of leaves sending a shiver down my spine. The shadows of the trees blend with the darkness of the library, creating an almost surreal landscape.
There is a small group of people gathered, whispering to each other when we arrive. It doesn’t seem like anyone here knows what to do, because we all stand just looking at each other.
“So, who actually set this game up?” I ask Rowyn, since she was the one that signed us all up.
“I’m not sure,” she shrugs.
“Listen up!” I look around until my eyes fall on the guy that made my new key card. He stands tall in the middle of the students.
“I have numbers for everyone to wear for tonight’s…game,” he shouts. “When I call your name, come forward to get yours pinned to your shirt.” He goes through the names one by one until he finally comes to mine.
“Fallon Monroe!” his voice booms over the chatter of everyone around. I make my way through the crowd to where he’s standing.
“I’m Fallon,” I acknowledge, as I step forward, feeling the eyes of the crowd on me. He smiles as he hands me the last number card.
“Here you go, Fallon,” he nods, pinning the number to my shirt. I glance down and see the bright white number 13 staring back at me. My mom always said that whenever the number thirteen appeared, it meant something powerful was about to happen, or new opportunities were on the horizon. The air around me feels charged, like static before a storm. Interesting.
“Alright, everyone has their numbers,” he announces.
Before I can inquire further about what tonight entails, I hear people gasp. As I turn around, a group of people approach, all of them wearing black masks with different colored neon faces on them. The masks are creepy as fuck, but also intriguing. The neon stitching around the eyes and mouth seem to enhance their effects.
The tall masked figures come to a stop in front of our group. They stare without speaking, heightening the anticipation flowing through the crowd. The silence stretches on, making my heart pound in my chest.
Finally, the pink masked figure steps forward and speaks in a distorted voice, “Welcome, freshmen. Tonight’s game is more than just hide-and-seek…” he trails off, building the suspense.
“We are the seekers,” he gestures to the group of people around him. “You better run fast and hide better, because we will hunt you down. The only rule for you is you have to stay outside.” I hear muttering behind me, but I can’t turn my face away from the pink mask. He seems to have zeroed in on me as well, making a shiver run through me.
The pink masked figure continues, “You have ten minutes to find your hiding spots. After that, the hunt begins. Remember, this is not just a game.”
How is this not a game? I want to ask, but I also don’t think I want to know the answer. What has Rowyn gotten us into? Before I can think of my next move, a whistle blows.
With that, the seekers disperse, and the crowd erupts into a flurry of movement. The forest looms ahead, its dense canopy casting long, twisted shadows on the ground. The air is thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the only sounds are the rustling leaves and our frantic footsteps.
Rowyn grabs my arm, pulling me toward a heavily wooded area.
“We need to split up,” she shouts urgently. “They can’t catch us both.”
Before I can protest, she veers off to the left, disappearing into the shadows. Lyndsy runs in a different direction completely. My heart pounds in my chest as I run as fast as I can, stumbling over roots and ducking under low branches. My breath comes in ragged gasps, and every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves makes me jump, convincing me that one of the seekers is right behind me.
Why do I feel like we all just signed up for something way more sinister than hide-and-seek?
I push forward, my mind racing with thoughts of what might happen if I’m caught. The forest seems to close in around me, the shadows growing darker and more menacing. I can hear distant shouts and the occasional scream, adding to the sense of urgency.
I spot a large, hollowed-out tree and quickly duck inside, trying to calm my breathing. The space is cramped, but it offers a decent hiding spot. I press my back against the rough bark, straining to hear any approaching footsteps.
Minutes pass, each one feeling like an eternity. Suddenly, I hear the crunch of leaves nearby. My heart leaps into my throat as I hold my breath, praying that whoever it is will pass by. The footsteps grow louder, then stop right outside my hiding spot.
A shadow falls over the entrance of the hollow tree. I can see the outline of one of the masked figures, their yellow neon face glowing eerily in the dim light. They stand there for what feels like forever.
The mask turns to face me, and I know I’ve been caught. This must be my seeker. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle as they take a step closer to me. Something about this doesn’t feel right.
I freeze, my breath caught in my throat. The yellow neon face seems to glow brighter as the masked figure’s hand reaches out, fingers almost brushing against me. Panic surges through me and I instinctively scramble backward, trying to put some distance between us.
“I knew I’d find you,” the seeker says in a low, distorted voice that has me trembling. There’s a strange, almost intimidating way in which they stand before me, almost like they intend to scare me. Before he reaches me, something shifts to the side of us and whatever it is has the yellow mask dropping his hand. He scrambles away, leaving me bewildered and alone. I glance to the side, trying to see what scared him off. The shadows seem to shift and move, but I can’t make out anything clearly. My heart pounds in my chest as I take a cautious step forward, peering into the darkness.
I let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through me—until I see another figure emerge from the darkness. It’s the pink masked figure. Somehow, deep down, I knew it would be them coming after me, though I can’t explain why.
The pink mask glows eerily in the dim light and the figure moves with a deliberate, predatory grace. My heart pounds in my chest as I feel their gaze lock onto me, sending a shiver through me.
“Number 13, I’ve been looking for you.” The words send a jolt of recognition through me. That voice—distorted as it is—feels oddly familiar, like a distant memory trying to resurface. My mind races, trying to place it, but the fear and adrenaline make it hard to think clearly.
Then in one fluid motion, he has me pinned to the tree. The rough bark digs into my back and I struggle to catch my breath. The pink masked figure looms over me, their grip unyielding.
“I’ve been looking for you,” they repeat, their voice still distorted but undeniably familiar. I search my brain, trying to place the voice, but fear clouds my thoughts.
“Why?” I manage to gasp, my voice barely a whisper.
The pink masked figure leans in closer, their neon face inches from mine. “Because you’re special,” they say, their tone almost gentle. Almost.
The sound of crinkling leaves catches our attention. The pink masked figure steps away from me, looking off into the darkness. Seizing the small reprieve, I take off in a run, my heart racing along with me.
Branches whip at my face and roots threaten to trip me, but I push forward, driven by sheer adrenaline. The forest seems to blur around me as I sprint, every muscle in my body screaming for me to keep going.
Their dark chuckle sends a flutter of nerves to my stomach and before I can react, a jolt of electricity shoots through my body at their words.
“Run, little fox, before I catch you and cage you,” the pink masked figure taunts, their voice dripping with venom.
Little fox.
Remy is the pink masked person.
My breath is coming in pants and I can barely see a foot in front of me, but I keep going. I don’t know if I’m more afraid or thrilled by the chase. My brain is fucked up for even being remotely excited by this, but I can’t deny my drenched core.