Chapter 8: Hide and Seek 2
Music recommendation : ET by Katy perry ft Kanye West.
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I look at the heart rate monitor on my wrist as it begins to beep. Pain lanced through my body and my breathing becomes heavy.
'Charlotte.' I hear Matty and Scottie yell.
My eyes begin to blur and everything is slow and distorted. Exhaling one final breath, I pass out on the floor.
Waking up in the Clinic, I sit up on the bed.
'Oh there you are. You're awake now. My name is Amy and your father assigned you to me personally.' A pale skinned middle aged woman in a nurse's outfit walks in with a clipboard in hand.
I pull my knees up to my chest, shuddering at the thought of what happened before I passed out. This is just my first day of school goddammit.
'You feel any better?' Amy approaches me.
'I feel like shit.' I wanted to say. Nope, I said it.
Amy laughs. 'That's a funny way of describing how you feel.'
I lay back in bed and look at the ceiling. 'Are the teachers aware?'
Amy smiles and says nothing.
What's with that weird attitude? I thought. I asked a question and the reply I get is a smile like that of the Joker.
Pulling my legs down, I took to my feet. 'I'll head to class.'
'Class? Charlotte, school's over.' Amy says.
'What? School's over? God, I'm special to you. Why did you let this happen to me?' I nearly screamed.
'Talk it easy, kid. You've got a heart disease.' Amy keeps her chart in a folder by the wall.
'I know.' I mumbled and walked to the coat rail where my blazer hung. 'I'll get my things and go home.'
Walking out of the office, I realize everywhere is quiet. Indeed school was over but why this quiet? I pull my phone out of my blazer pocket to tell the time. It's 3pm. Its so goddamn early to dismiss school. What's going on? Is this school some kind of cult? Illuminati? Alien school? God no. I knew it. This school was suspicious to begin. Who in their right mind names a school "Alan Institute." It sounds like a lab for experiments.
I treaded carefully towards my classroom. Like I thought, It is emptied of students but strangely, their bags are still here. Okay. Did rapture just take place? God, I told you to hold on.
I walk to my seat and see a red card. On the front is a message printed in a large italic font. I pick it up and give it a read, 'Once you hear the bell, begin to run.'
A snicker escape my lips. Is this supposed to be an initiation for the new student? You've got me, everyone but I'll pass. I thought as I took my bag and slung it over my shoulder. Heading out the door, I see Matty and Scottie.
'Hey, guys. Where the hell is everyone? and why are you both standing there?' I asked. They both looked terrified now. Is something wrong? Is something behind me?
I looked behind me but there was nothing there. 'Buddies, what's going on?'
'She's going to pay my debt. Charlotte's my replacement.' Matty yelled to no one.
I am gobsmacked. 'Excuse me, what?'
'You are pardoned.' A distorted voice from God knows where replied and Matty ran away.
'I'm sorry, Char.' he called as he bolted through the hall's door.
I'm still trying to understand what is going on. His replacement? In what? What's going on?
Scottie tells me in a whisper. 'Did you see a red card on your desk?'
I nod slowly.
he continues in the same whisper. 'Once you hear the bell, run.'
'But why? what the hell did Matty do?' I am frightened now.
Before he could reply, the bell rings loudly. I expected zombies to burst through the door or aliens to march down here but none of that happened. I bet whoever made that card was bluffing. Why the hell should I run? Is this place "Maze runner?"
'Look out.' he yells and I swiftly move out of the way.
A masked student is trying to attack me.
'What the hell, man?' I yell.
'Run away. You're Matty's replacement and they want you.' Scottie yell.
'Shit.' I begin to run. 'I never liked temple run.'
Running was taking a toll on me and I was getting tired. I decided to hide in the Janitor's closet. Thankfully, it wasn't locked. Hyperventilating, I collapse to the floor. 'What's going on? Is this some kind of sick game?'
Outside, someone made an announcement. 'Welcome to Hide and Seek, players. As you all know, tonight is our harvest and guess who is our "It." It is none other than our very newbie from 3C - Charlotte Melbourne.'
'Now, Charlotte, darling. I want you to do me a little favour. Keep hiding wherever you are and don't come out. Seekers are out there ready to get rid of ya. Replacing the lamb isn't such a bad thing....
Was the lamb Matty? Charlotte thought.
The distorted voice concluded 'Be careful, English. The big bad wolf is coming.'
I hastily bolt the door and scuttle away from it. What the hell is wrong with this school? Aren't there teachers around? What the hell is the lamb? I pull out the red card and turn it over. It says "Lamb."
'Damn you, Matty.' I curse.
Massaging my temples, I nearly yell. This is my first day of school - I get threatened by shoplifter who kissed me and turned out to be my neighbour, I pass out in the hallway because of him and now, I'm a lamb in some kind of occultic game? I call it occultic cause it's weird. What kind of hide and seek is this?
I pull at my hair and nearly screamed when a gloved hand cupped my mouth.
'Be quiet. They might hear you.' The masculine voice whispered.
I nearly screamed but he turns me to face him and I don't scream. It's brown eyes. Jacob.
I exhale a sigh of relief as he lets go off me. 'Thank God. You've been here the entire time?'
'Pretty much. Yeah.' Jacob shrugs carelessly and sits on the floor in a lotus position.
Keeping my bag aside, I join him on the floor. 'Please explain to me what is going on?'
Jacob seemed to hesitate but then he gave up. 'Alan institute is not what it looks like on the outside. Students here get their status not by intelligence nor wealth but by playing Hide and Seek. Losers are called lambs while winners are called wolves.'
'And the school authority allows this? This is preposterous !" I complain.
Jacob chuckles. 'The school makes money from this, Charlotte. Every single event of this game is streamed live online and lot of people pay to watch so why the hell will this school give a fuck?'
'Jesus christ. They allow it? I knew America was a terrible choice for me!' I begin to cry. 'Shit.'
'Hey, it's going to be okay.' Jacob tries to console me but it's not working. 'If we can hide out till 7pm, then we'll make it. This event holds just once every month.' he says.
'Wait. What's your status?' I couldn't help but ask.
'I'm a lamb just like you. I've always been one.' he replied honestly.
I slapped my forehead. Yep, I did. How can someone who look so badass be a loser like me? Who changed the order of things in here?
'I don't like the idea of hurting someone.' he concluded.
My ears lift up like a bunny's. I'm sorry. Backtrack for me. 'You said hurt?'
'Yeah.' Jacob gave a short exhale. 'In this hide and seek, if you get caught, you get hurt.'
'Jesus christ' I nearly pass out.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone