GAME OF HORRORS: LEVEL UP FEAR

The game doesn't end

Kai's pov

By the time I got home, the whole day felt like a fever dream. The tasks, creepy smiley face on that, I wonder if it was funny or just weird. I kicked off my shoes by the door, tossed my bag on the couch and collapsed on my bed starring at the ceiling. My mom was still at work still not back home. On the ceiling there were stickers of moon and stars that I put up when I was a kid. They glowed under the dim lights of my room. My room was a mess but I was too tired to care.

Just as I was about to drift off , my phone buzzed from the desk, I groaned and rolled over to check if it was tae or mark, but it was a notification from the game.

>"Hey Kai! Miss me already? Ready for your next task?"

I laugh "seriously? Even now?" Like who would miss some creepy game installed itself out of nowhere".

Ignoring it I tossed my phone aside pulling a pillow over my face. I was still feeling uneasy about the whole game thing but I was determined not to let this silly game get to me. I let my mind wonder about other things like school, basketball practices and my friends. And whether I should start watching that anime that everyone was talking about.

Just as I started relaxing, my phone buzzed again, and again... And again! It was non stop like an angry bee.

"Fine, you win!" I muttered reaching for it so I could turn my phone off but before I could do the room was plunged into darkness. The power went out leaving in pitch black silence.

I sat up quickly , my heart pounding. "Uh ... Okay this is weird". I muttered. The streetlights were still on outside, which means it wasn't a blackout. Just my room .

I got up fumbling my way to the light switch, flipping it on and off. Nothing happened, a shiver run down my spine as my phone buzzed off once more. This time the notification flashed across the screen in bold glowing letters.

>Ignoring me won't make me go away Kai! "

My blood run Cold, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was almost like the app was.... Watching me. Alright this was super creepy!.

Then, as if nothing happened, the lights turned back on their own humming softly. My room was normal again -no creepy shadows, no omnious silence.

I let out a breath, I didn't realize I was holding, shaking my head." Okay.. that was freak"I admitted to myself. Deciding I'd enough for one night, I shut off my phone and put it in to charge. Shoving it face down on my desk if the app wanted attention, it could wait until in the morning, right now I'm tired and I'm not gonna deal with some stupid creepy and confusing game. Just need my energy for tomorrow. School itself is tiring, I'm not gonna add another stress in my life.

The next day, I tried to put the weirdness behind me. The sun was shining, students filled the hallways of stale lake international highschool, where kids from different parts of the world study here, and everything seemed normal. I was actually looking forward to see my friends.

After migrating from Korea with my mom after the death of my father, I enrolled here where I met my first ever friend Huang Tae who's from China, and later I met mark who's American, Rubin who's from Russia, Marianne, Mia, Zara and Ambrose from England, and somehow we both became close friends.

When I spotted Tae and Mark by the lockers I jogged over to them. "Morning losers" I greeted, punching mark lightly on the arm.

"You're looking chirper" Mark said, giving me a sideways glance "Got a date last night or something?" Typical Mark!. Mark is a school playboy everytime he's thinking about dates and girls.

"Please, like anyone would want to date this guy!" Tae joked shaking his head.

"Actually" I said , leaning against the lockers with a grin. "I spent the night with my new favorite app. We're in a very serious relationship now".

"That game thing again?" Tae asked raising a brow "Dude, you need to get a life".

"Or better games" Mark added laughing.

"Hey, you're just jealous because I'm living on the edge" I said with a wink. But deep down I couldn't shake the feeling that this app was more than just a prank. It was like it has a mind of it's own.

Just then ,my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and sure enough it was the app... Game of horrors again.

>"Good morning,kai! Let's start the day off with some fun.

Task 1: sneak into the teachers room and leave a random banana on the principals desk

Timer: 5 minutes.

I blinked, a banana? I couldn't help but laugh." This game is ridiculous" I muttered.

" What's the dare this time?" Tae asked peering over my shoulder.

I showed him the screen and he Burst out laughing." Ooh my God, that's actually hilarious. Do it I dare you"

" How does this game comes up with this stuff?"Mark wondered shaking his head. I was wondering that too!.

" Beats me " I said,but I was already heading to the principal's lounge. If I was going to play this game I might as well have fun with it.

I slipped down the hall , doing my best spy impression as I paced around the corner. The lounge door was slightly open I could see the principal room from where I was I reached my bag and pulled out the banana that I packed for lunch.

" Showtime" I whispered to myself sneaking inside I tiptoed over the desk placed the banana right on top of a stack of papers and snapped a quick picture for proof.

As I darted outside my phone buzzed :

>Well done Kai! A+ for creativity, ready for the next task?

I grinned, half expecting the next task to involve putting googly eyes on science skeleton or something equally crazy. I headed back to my friends feeling like a mischievous kid who just got away with a prank.

"So did you do it?" Mark asked,his eyes wide with excitement

"Of course I did". I said showing then the picture I took it.

"You're a madman" Tae laughed. "What's next? Ripping school announcements? Or what?"

"It can be,I wouldn't be surprised" I said glancing at my phone as it buzzed again.

>Task 2: high five every person you meet in the next five minutes. Spread some joy kai!

(Time starts: 05:00).

"This app is something else" I shrugged. "Guess I'm on high five mission".

I spent the next few minutes sprinting through the halls, slapping high fives with everyone from freshmen to seniors. Some people looked at me like I was insane. Probably I was going insane doing tasks for the creepy that was surely insane. But I was grinning like an i***t.

Mark and Tae were cracking up by the time I got back to them. "You're like school's personal hype man now". Tae said laughing.

"It's kinda of fun though" I admitted still riding the high of the ridiculous task. But just as I was enjoying myself my phone buzzed again. I pulled it out expecting some silly dare instead the screen went dark and a new message popped up

>Task 3: Time for little fear!

Head off to the old storage room alone. Don't tell anyone".

The smiley face Icon was looked different this time. It's grin was more wicked and sinister than the last one. The lighthearted tone from before was replaced by dark unsettling vibe. My face went pale! Why was this game changing it's appearance Everytime? This was getting dark and I was afraid.

" Uh, Kai?" Tae voice snapped me back to reality.

" What's up? You look like you saw a ghost".

I forced a smile shoving the phone back into my pockets " Nah! Just the app being weird again".

Mark frowned" weird how?"

" It wants me to go to the old storage room" I said trying to sound casual but I was freaking out as hell , ready to s**t my pants!

Tae's face twisted in confusion" isn't that place locked up?"

" Yeah, maybe it's just trying to freak me out" I said shrugging " whatever I'm not doing it".

But as I said those words, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the start and the creepy smiley face had more than jokes in store for me

" Whatever, I should not be afraid of some creepy app".