Hide and Seek with Death

Chapter 2: The Rules of Hide and Seek

A white ephemeral being suddenly appeared in front of them all. Amid the chaos and confusion in being brought to another world after expecting to play a game, everyone suddenly stopped because of her. The man trying to kill himself, the ones who are holding their heads, the ones arguing with each other and even the claustrophobic person all stared at her.

This person is laughing at them. She is hysterically laughing at them for no reason. One of the students present is contorting his or her face as he or she looks at Alpha with disdain, another clenches his fist so hard in an attempt to control his or her emotion toward the unknown being, while all the others have fear painted in their faces.

Why is it the case? She looks like a ghost appearing out of nowhere who mocks and smiles in a surreal manner that no human in a state of a shock will find it appealing. There is only one thing in their minds when they saw her.

She is a monster.

A lady wearing a white sleeveless dress with the strap on the left about to fall from her shoulders. She has a paper white skin that is flawless from head to toe. She even have a beautiful face under that long silky black hair that stretches to the floor, if only she do not have that wicked smile that is so wide and big that it already reaches her eyes.

The creepy being then finally speak after getting a fill of laughing too much.

"Hello. My name is Alpha... and welcome everyone!"

The pair of friends with braided hair immediately shrieks from hearing her speak. At this situation where the people here do not know what is going on, they are suddenly approached by a ghost who knows nothing about their situation.

It matters not to her if they are listening or not. The lady in the podium who names herself as Alpha speaks without a care to everyone in the room.

"I am the ruler of this space, and.. from.. now.. on.. this will be your place of your refuge.." She speaks in an eerie way where she highlights her words smoothly and slowly. "...I know why all of you are sent to this place so listen carefully."

She turns her head towards of all of them before she resumes in speaking. No one dares to speak out of fear as if their life are being threatened with a knife.

"Play hide and seek with me."

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The moment she said those words, everyone in the room focuses their eyes on her. In this hollow room where her voice is the only thing that reverberated, she speak of the things about the rules and regulations of the game.

"My name is Alpha and I am the starting point of everything. In this world, there is nothing you can do without me."

"..."

"I can even grant your wish if you will be able to reach the end. That is the only thing that you will do. Move forward until you find the Oooomega...gate."

The Omega gate. There is no one here who knows that yet everyone had their eyes open wide at the mention of that word. Angelo, on the other hand, bites his lips at the thought of being familiar of that word despite hearing it for the first time.

"But there are a lot of them who hates humans here. Please hide before they catch you. All of them are very different with each other and they are very peculiar on their territories so be sure not to make them aaaaaangggghrrry."

"..."

"... Hihi. There are no safe place outside so come and see me from time to time. I will always be here if you need me. Hihi."

"..."

"I am always curious about creatures like you. That is why I am so happy that they bring you here. I like to see you smile soon. This will be the most exciting times of your lives so make sure to have the most of it because this may be the last time you will be able to."

"..."

"One more thing before you leave..."

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What happens next brings the most bone chilling feeling among all of us. The white lady named Alpha says the most important part of this game at that time. Everyone in the hollow space felt that feeling and no one was able to do anything. Nobody was able to say a thing and no one was able to move a muscle from the place where they are standing. It must be the instinctive fear for their lives or simply a respect for a being that exists beyond their imagination.

"Listen carefully for I will only say this oooonnnsssuuuu (once)..." She says this with those unseen eyes of her on all of them without letting go of the smile on her face. "I am not here to scare you but I want to hear it all from you. I want to hear your names once you reach the end, and only there, so.."

"..."

Everyone simultaneously held their breath.

"Please forget your names for me but always remember them or just take it to your graves with you"

"..."

"Now... LET'Ssssssss.... PLAaaaaaYyyy..."

As if it is on cue, the wall behind the white lady moved. She walks inside it without a word as if vanishing within it.

The one-sided conversation ended in a manner where no one was able to do anything.

They finally know where they are and what is the nature of the game that they enter into but... This is nothing but the start of what it is to come to them.

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Basic Facts:

After Alpha stated the words please forget your name but always remember them, all of the students in the hollow cave simultaneously receives their new names.

For convenience of keeping track on who is who, the WIC Company has brought to you the partial list of participants.

1. Flamingo - Shiela Arabel SN. 121001

2. Falcon - Torri Aschenbach SN. 121000

3. Dove - Joseph Auma SN. 131041

4. Parrot - Lunettes Brille SN. 101991

5. Gull - Angelo Cielo SN. 113451

6. Flycatcher - Marcel Cotard SN. 114321

7. Chickadee - Theresa Dejima SN. 110213

8. Kiwi - Kael Castro Michaelis Don Wayne Dela Cruz SN. 101775

9. Robin - Andres Flores SN. 105571

10. Goose - Mika Gomez SN. 123123

* where SN stands for Student Number

Additional disclaimer: the names above are all fictitious names intended for entertainment purposes. If they happen to match with names of real person, events, or landmarks it is all a coincidence with no relation to real person, events or landmarks in reality.