YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW ME.
YES — I AM JAM SELLER.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING, IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING WHAT I LEFT BEHIND,
THEN YOU ALREADY UNDERSTAND THIS MUCH —
THERE WAS NEVER A DIFFERENT PATH.
SO KEEP WATCHING.
NOT BECAUSE YOU EXPECT SALVATION,
BUT BECAUSE TURNING AWAY WILL NOT SPARE YOU.
EVERYONE HERE IS STARVING.
NOT FOR FOOD —
FOR CONTINUATION.
THEY KILL NOT OUT OF MALICE,
BUT BECAUSE HESITATION IS A LUXURY RESERVED FOR THE DEAD.
THEY BETRAY NOT BECAUSE THEY DESIRE TO,
BUT BECAUSE TRUST HAS NO FUNCTION IN A SYSTEM BUILT TO GRIND BODIES INTO PROGRESS.
BLOOD IS NO LONGER VIOLENCE.
IT IS PAYMENT.
CONSCIENCE IS NO LONGER VIRTUE.
IT IS AN OBSTACLE REMOVED WITH TIME.
INNOCENCE?
NOBODY IS INNOCENT.
EVERYONE CAN COME AND GO INTO ETERNAL SLUMBER,
BUT NOBODY IS INNOCENT.
THEY USE ALL THEIR MIGHT JUST TO SURVIVE.
THERE ARE ONLY THOSE WHO EAT —
AND THOSE WHO ARE CONSUMED.
EVERYONE IS PART OF THE FOOD CHAIN.
MEAT CONVINCING ITSELF IT IS HUMAN.
HUNGER WEARING THE MASK OF REASON.
THE STRONG DO NOT FEEL GUILT.
THE WEAK INVENT MORALITY.
THE DEAD ARE SIMPLY QUIET.
DO YOU THINK IT MATTERS WHO FALLS FIRST,
WHEN THE END RESULT IS IDENTICAL?
DO YOU THINK LIFE HOLDS VALUE
WHEN ITS ONLY PURPOSE IS TO DELAY ERASURE?
SURVIVAL IS NOT MEANING.
IT IS HABIT.
—
SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT —
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL PLAYERS WHO HAVE SURVIVED THE PHASE TWO QUALIFICATION TEST.
YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU CAN ENDURE PAIN.
YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU CAN ABANDON OTHERS.
YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE AFTER CROSSING LINES YOU ONCE BELIEVED EXISTED.
ALL SURVIVING PLAYERS WILL BE GRANTED ONE DAY OF REST
BEFORE PHASE TWO COMMENCES.
USE IT WELL.
THE BOARD IS BEING PREPARED.
AND PIECES THAT BELIEVE THEY ARE PLAYERS
ARE ALWAYS THE FIRST TO BREAK.
—
JAM THINKS:
"I'M HAVING A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS.
MY INSTINCTS ARE WARNINGS, SHARP AND RELENTLESS.
SOMETHING HORRIFIC IS BREWING.
EVERYTHING AROUND ME IS TOO QUIET.
THE AIR ITSELF FEELS THICK, ALMOST SENTIENT,
AS IF IT IS HOLDING ITS BREATH, WAITING FOR BLOOD TO FALL."
—
ON THE OTHER SIDE, SHIRO KAGE REMEMBERS THE MOMENT JAM KISSED HER. SHE BLUSHES, HER HEART STILL RACING.
SHIRO KAGE: "NOT LIKE I'M THE ONLY GIRL HE KISSED… IT MIGHT BE JUST THE FLOW, BUT… WHY AM I THINKING ABOUT HIM?"
JAM: "HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, STANDING ALONE?"
SHIRO KAGE: "N-NO… NOTHING. NOTHING!"
JAM: "DON'T OVERTHINK PHASE TWO. YOU'LL BE FINE… UNTIL MY LAST BREATH."
HER HEART POUNDS, CONFUSION AND FEAR SWIRLING TOGETHER, UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND HER OWN FEELINGS.
JAM: "NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I'LL ALWAYS BE BY YOUR SIDE, MY LOVE."
—
ON THE OTHER SIDE, PRB AND KYOICHI ARE HAVING DINNER.
PRB: "YOU DUMBASS! WHY DID YOU TAKE MY CHICKEN?!"
KYOICHI: "YOU WERE SLOW AT EATING, SO I THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T WANT IT. I WAS HUNGRY TOO."
PRB: "SHUT THE FUCK UP! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"
PRB STARTS CHASING KYOICHI, WHO MOCKS HIM WHILE RUNNING, LAUGHING AS HE DARTS THROUGH THE CAMP.
—
DIVINE OBSERVES SILENTLY, CALM AND UNMOVED.
DIVINE: "IT LOOKS LIKE THE PEACE BEFORE THE STORM."
CHAERIN LOOKS AT DIVINE, CONCERN WRITTEN ACROSS HER FACE.
DIVINE: "DON'T WORRY. I'LL PROTECT YOU AT ANY COST, EVEN IF IT COSTS MY LIFE."
—
NIGHT SETTLES HEAVY OVER THE CAMP.
NO STARS. NO COMFORT. ONLY SILHOUETTES CARVED BY FIRELIGHT AND SHADOW.
FACES BEFORE DAWN. FACES THAT MAY NOT EXIST TOMORROW.
—
JAM
HE STARES INTO THE DARK, EYES UNBLINKING. THE WORLD FEELS LIKE A NOOSE SLOWLY TIGHTENING.
NO MATTER WHAT COMES NEXT…
I WON'T RUN FROM THE CONSEQUENCES.
IF I MUST BLEED, I'LL BLEED AWAKE.
—
SHIRO KAGE
SHE SITS QUIETLY, HANDS CLENCHED AGAINST HER CHEST. FEAR AND SOMETHING FAR MORE DANGEROUS ENTANGLED.
IF THIS WORLD IS CRUEL…
THEN WHY DO I STILL WANT TO BELIEVE IN HIM?
—
DIVINE
STANDING APART. OBSERVING. MEASURING.
HIS EYES DO NOT SEEK HOPE — ONLY OUTCOMES.
ORDER IS BORN ONLY AFTER SUFFERING.
IF I MUST BECOME THE WALL…
SO BE IT.
—
CHAERIN
SHE GLANCES AT DIVINE, THEN QUICKLY AWAY. HER BREATH IS SHALLOW, UNEVEN.
I'M AFRAID…
BUT IF I HIDE BEHIND HIM,
AM I STILL ALIVE?
—
MISTY
LEANING AGAINST A TREE, SMIRK FAINT BUT EYES TIRED.
THEY THINK THIS IS A GAME.
I'VE BEEN LOSING MY WHOLE LIFE —
THIS IS JUST HONEST ABOUT IT.
—
MORPHS
FINGERS TREMBLING, SMILE FORCED.
IF I KEEP CHANGING…
MAYBE I WON'T HAVE TO FACE WHO I REALLY AM.
—
JAEG
ARMS CROSSED, JAW TIGHT.
POWER ISN'T GIVEN.
IT'S TAKEN —
AND I'M DONE ASKING.
—
SWEGGY
LAUGHING QUIETLY TO HIMSELF, BUT HIS EYES ARE EMPTY.
FUNNY HOW DEATH MAKES EVERYTHING FEEL REAL.
I WONDER IF I'LL STILL LAUGH WHEN IT COMES FOR ME.
—
HALAL
SITTING STILL, HANDS FOLDED AS IF IN PRAYER.
IF THIS IS A TEST…
THEN LET ME FAIL WITH DIGNITY.
—
SONA
STARING AT HER BLOOD-STAINED HANDS.
I DIDN'T WANT THIS…
BUT I DON'T WANT TO DIE EITHER.
—
SOAMJA
BACK TURNED TO THE CAMP, WATCHING THE TREELINE.
EVERY STEP FORWARD
IS ONE STEP FURTHER FROM WHO I WAS.
—
THE FIRE CRACKLES.
NO ONE SPEAKS.
THE NIGHT RECORDS EVERYTHING.
—
SOME WILL WAKE UP CHANGED. SOME WILL NOT WAKE UP AT ALL.
AND SOME…
WILL REALIZE TOO LATE
THAT THE GAME WAS NEVER ABOUT WINNING.
ONLY ABOUT
WHAT YOU WERE WILLING TO BECOME.
—
PRB
SITTING APART, STILL ANNOYED, STILL LOUD —
BUT HIS HANDS SHAKE WHEN HE THINKS NO ONE IS LOOKING.
HE GRINS ANYWAY.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT PHILOSOPHY.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT MEANING.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO DIE SCREAMING —
SO I'LL KEEP MOVING, EVEN IF IT'S STUPID.
—
NIGHT GIVES WAY TO FALSE COMFORT.
THE SURVIVORS ARE ESCORTED INTO A LUXURY HOTEL —
POLISHED FLOORS, GOLDEN LIGHTS, SILENT HALLWAYS TOO CLEAN FOR A WORLD THIS ROTTEN.
SOFT BEDS. WARM WATER. MIRRORS THAT REFLECT PEOPLE WHO SHOULD ALREADY BE DEAD.
THEY SLEEP.
OR PRETEND TO.
—
FROM A DISTANCE, FAR BEYOND THE FLOODLIGHTS,
A FIGURE STANDS.
UNMOVING.
WATCHING.
A SMILE SLOWLY CARVES ITSELF ACROSS HIS FACE —
NOT ONE OF JOY,
BUT OF PREDATORY ANTICIPATION.
—
MORNING COMES WITHOUT MERCY.
A SHRILL TONE TEARS THROUGH THE HOTEL.
THE SYSTEM MATERIALIZES.
—
SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT —
PHASE TWO HAS BEGUN.
WELCOME TO
HIDE AND SEEK.
THIS IS NOT A GAME OF CHILDREN.
ONE SEEKER WILL BE CHOSEN.
THE SEEKER WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A WEAPON.
AN AXE.
THIS AXE TRANSCENDS ALL DEFENSES, ALL MATERIALS, ALL CONCEPTS OF DURABILITY.
IT CANNOT BE STOPPED.
IT CANNOT BE RESISTED.
IT CANNOT BE ESCAPED THROUGH POWER.
ALL ABILITIES ARE SEALED.
YOU WILL RUN AS HUMANS.
YOU WILL HIDE AS FLESH.
IF THE SEEKER FINDS YOU,
THEY MAY DO ANYTHING THEY DESIRE.
KILLING IS OPTIONAL.
PUNISHMENT IS NOT.
—
TO ESCAPE THIS HOTEL, THERE ARE ONLY THREE METHODS:
REPAIR AND ACTIVATE THE HELICOPTER ON THE ROOFTOP.
RESTORE POWER TO THE SPEED BOAT AT THE DOCK.
FIX THE CAR LOCKED WITHIN THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE.
TOOLS ARE SCATTERED.
PARTS ARE INCOMPLETE.
KEY ITEMS ARE GUARDED.
ONLY THIRTY-TWO PLAYERS MAY ESCAPE.
ONCE THAT NUMBER IS REACHED —
THE HOTEL WILL SEAL.
EVERYONE LEFT BEHIND
WILL BE CONSIDERED
FOUND.
BEGIN.
—
PANIC ERUPTS.
FOOTSTEPS. SHOUTS. DOORS SLAMMING.
STRATEGIES DIE THE MOMENT FEAR INVADE THE ROOM.
—
JAM DOES NOT HESITATE.
HE GRABS SHIRO KAGE'S HAND.
"RUN."
SHE DOESN'T ASK WHERE.
THEY MOVE.
HALLWAYS BLUR. STAIRS POUND BENEATH THEIR FEET.
JAM'S MIND IS SHARP —
CALCULATING.
HIGH GROUND. NO DIRECT ACCESS. LIMITED ENTRY POINTS.
THE ROOF.
NOT THE OPEN ROOF —
THE SPACE BENEATH IT.
THE ATTIC.
A NARROW, FORGOTTEN VOID BETWEEN WOOD AND SKY,
A PLACE NEVER MEANT FOR PEOPLE.
THEY CLIMB.
THEY HIDE.
SHIRO KAGE'S BREATH SHAKES.
JAM LISTENS.
—
ELSEWHERE —
DIVINE GRABS CHAERIN WITHOUT A WORD.
UP.
INTO THE VENT SYSTEM.
METAL SCREAMS SOFTLY AS THEY CRAWL.
DIVINE STOPS.
LISTENS.
—
THE HOTEL FALLS SILENT.
TOO SILENT.
—
THEN —
FOOTSTEPS.
SLOW.
HEAVY.
DELIBERATE.
THE SEEKER HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING.
THE AIR CHANGES.
EVERY BREATH FEELS OBSERVED.
—
A SHADOW PASSES BENEATH THE ATTIC FLOOR.
JAM FREEZES.
THE AXE SCRAPES AGAINST METAL SOMEWHERE BELOW.
—
IN THE VENTS —
THE AXE STRIKES.
ONCE.
METAL SCREAMS.
A SECOND STRIKE.
THE VENT BUCKLES.
DIVINE SHOVES CHAERIN BACK JUST AS THE AXE BURSTS THROUGH THE GRATE —
MISSING HIS HEAD BY AN INCH.
THE SEEKER PAUSES.
LISTENS.
SMILES.
WALKS AWAY.
—
SCREAMS ECHO FROM THE LOWER FLOORS.
ONE CUT SHORT.
ANOTHER STOPS MID-BREATH.
—
KYOICHI RUNS.
HE HIDES POORLY.
A CLOSET.
TOO OBVIOUS.
THE DOOR OPENS.
FOUND YOU.
HAHAHAHA! —
—
KYOICHI FELT A FEAR SO RAW, SO COMPLETE,
HE COULDN'T THINK.
THE SEEKER PULLED THE AXE.
—
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!
S-SOMEONE! H-HELP ME! —
—
PRB IS HIDING UNDER A TABLE.
HE SEES EVERYTHING.
KYOICHI'S VOICE DISAPPEARS, SLOWLY.
HIS HAND COVERS HIS MOUTH.
TEARS FALL SILENTLY AS BLOOD DRIPS ON THE FLOOR.
KYOICHI'S FACE FLASHES IN HIS MIND.
LAST NIGHT.
A GRIN.
"BY THE BRO, SORRY FOR ALWAYS ANNOYING YOU.
REMEMBER ME WHEN I WON'T BE HERE ANYMORE
AND WON'T ANNOY YOU ANYMORE."
THE SMILE.
THE AXE RISES AGAIN.
PRB DOESN'T SCREAM.
HE CAN'T.
—
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH HIS HIDING SPOT.
THE SHADOW STOPS.
THE SEEKER TILTS HIS HEAD.
AND LAUGHS.
"I SEE YOU. HAH HAH HAH. YOU'RE PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK WITH ME."
—