This symbol only means one thing... The feast of nightmares will begin.
Although this eye is unusual, it's rather closed and not open. The could mean it won't begin just yet.
I glanced at my watch and it's exactly 11:30 pm. There's just a matter of time before the catastrophe begin...
"What kind of sick prank is this?!"
I shift my gaze at the people infuriating
"I think it's somewhat kind of virus or something?"
People started to enraged thinking that they're phone were hacked or been infected by virus. That they forgot about the long traffic jam.
"How can I make call with this now?!"
"It's not working at all"
I already anticipated this reaction from them. Like a deja vu I intently observed the scene before me. There is no doubt, this is the story I wrote, or should I say my dreams to be precise. But how is this possible?
I put my hand on my forehead and shake my head so I'll at ease and peek through the gap between my fingers.
I need some time to process everything in my mind. I never once thought what those dream could possibly mean. I thought those dreams just gradually appeared to me every night because of my obsession to leave the sick reality. But it never once occurred to me to think that it was the end of the world before me.
"Ayumu?"
If my dreams really did overlapped with the reality. That could means we too had to survive all hurdle I saw in my dreams in the future.
"Ayumu...Ayumu..."
I ceaselessly focused my eyes on the symbol filling my phone and was thinking deliberately.
That I didn't realize Emma calls.
"Ayumu!"
!
I only snap out of it when Emma tapped my shoulder and called my name out loud.
"Huh..?"
" What's happening to you...? Are you okay?"
" Ah-- yes I'm fine"
"You looked stupefied like other people, your staring at your phone so intensely without even blinking..."
"Am I?"
"Yes...don't put to much thought about it, it's just a mischievous antic. Everything will be fine okay"
"..."
She really lied about reading the book earlier. Seeing how clueless she is on what's about to happen later on...
"Anyway, what's taking this long stop, I should go to the driver seat and check it for myself--"
"Emma wait..."
"Hm?" I grabbed her hand before she could even make a step away...
"What is it?" I grasp both of her shoulder and looked directly in her eyes. "Hear me out, Okay?"
"Why, what is it?" Emma looked at me full of confusion, as I lower my head bitting my lips unable to speak directly.
I don't know if we will survive this first phase together. I don't even know if I would even last the night and met her again. Even so I want her to at least survive ."...Listen to me carefully, I know you lied to me so listen to what I will say to you"
"?...Lied about what..?"
"That doesn't matter, however, right now I want you to follow my instructions-- No it's an order!... You'll follow my order right?"
"Yes, I'm listening" She instantly became serious when I said that...
"Anyway, Think were in a game right now okay?"
"Game?"
" Yes... like...like... Hide and Seek..! that's right think of it as hide and seek like the game we used to play"
"What are you saying aren't that to childish to play in our age?"
"You'll follow or not?"
"Yes... I'll do anything you order me to"
"Good. The game starts when this eye open and when that happen do not freak out and do exactly what I'll say. Wait give me paper and pen"
"Oh...Here"
I instantly started scribbling on the paper the moment she gave me a paper and pen from her suit. While she curiously peek behind my back...
"Here take this. I want you to go to the exact place written in this paper"
"..?!... Why are you giving me this paper? what are you planning to do? Don't tell me--"
"I don't have much time to explain but I want you to go in this exact place and avoid things that are wandering around. They're the seekers, they'll eliminate you if they ever find you so be stealthy as possible"
"What do you mean? I can't comprehend to what your saying--"
"Listen to me, I'll meet you in this place so there's nothing to be worried about..."
What am I trying to say here? Why am I saying I'll met her in that place when I can't even guarantee my own survival?
"Ayumu...Uh?!"
Blink blink
"Huh? What's happening?"
"...! What's going on?"
The lights gradually flicker violently like I anticipated to happen. I glimpse at my phone again, with the eye wide open...
it started...
The symbol of open eye is the cue that feast of nightmare will begin
A new notification pop again the moment my eyes met the glowing screen of my phone.
Ting Ting!
The bus was filled with echo of monotonous notification once again and I know exactly what's written in that message...
[Prove your self by surviving the nightmare's feast]
[Failing the task will be followed with consequences]
[First Phase: Elimination]
Difficulty: Mid
Objective: Avoid the night seekers, find the safe zone
Reward: Survival
Failure: Death
The first phase elimination of people...
"What the hell does this mean..?"
"Death?!"
"Elimination?"
"What kind of sick prank is this?!"
Seconds after receiving the strange message, people started to feel agitated, chattering in confusion. I quietly observed the scene before me, it's was clearly vivid that I saw this scene in my dreams.
"What is the meaning of this?" Emma as well started to realize something was off.
... However, I can't explain everything to her in details. I don't even know where to start if I do.
I was so deeply lost in my mind when we overheard loud scream from one of the passengers with us inside the bus.
"Wah...!" She screamed while pointing her hand on the back part of the bus. All of our attention focused on the commotion where bout "The seat on the...the back is glitching..!"
My eyes widen for what I beheld.
The seat on the back part of the bus started glitching uncontrollably and was distorting into another shapes.
This thing is... corruption
"What...what's going on?!"
"Wah!! what's happening with... huh..?!"
Blink blink
We all jerked our heads up the moment the lights flicker again and we're all petrified seeing the whole roof plagued with corruption. It was covered with black gloo with small eyes peeking out. The corruption is spreading in flash, devouring the whole bus in a short amount of time.
All of the passengers panic in instant...
"Kyahh!!!"
"Woah..! Run away!!!"
"Wah!! let's get out of here!!"
People started screaming and panicking in fear, rushing through the exit, fleeing out of the bus with full terror. Leaving Emma and I dumbfounded.
I was dazed looking as the corruption devouring the whole bus and didn't even pay much attention to people bumping into me
[@&*!&@&@!] it was saying weird language I can't understand...
"Huh?" The next moment I knew Emma was dragging me out of the bus in a hustle.
"Come on, Ayumu let's leave!"
She pulled my hand to rush out of the bus only to perceive much more horrendous scene outside...
"Wah..!"
"Run away!!"
The commotion outside was much worse than I anticipated. Wherever I look there's always people running in terror, screaming dreadfully while other trampled on the ground...
Large looming buildings was mostly bend down covered with pitch black gloo. Making eerie sound as it sag down. Every objects I see in the corner of my eyes we're glitching uncontrollably.
Corruption is devouring the whole city...
That's right, I finally fully remembered what corruption is for...
[Chapter 1: The Feast of Nightmares]
[First Phase: Elimination Round]
The elimination round didn't mean eliminating only people but everything we used to know in this world. [Corruption a caliginous devouring plague] that the characters had first encountered.
Devouring plague that distorting everything making it a suitable environment for entities that will so on dominate this world.
"What are this things?.. What is happening Ayumu?!" I turned my back at Emma that was so agitated at this point.
"Explain this to me I know you knew something about this. I know you didn't give me this paper for no reason... What...what is going on..?"
I kept in silence like my lips refuse to say anything about it or is it my mind just too messy that I can't pick right words to convey to her.
"Is the world... is the world ending...?"
"..."
"I just met you again and we will get separated again?" I felt a sudden ache in my chest after hearing those words from her.
That's right, this is the Emma I know behind those seriousness whenever my father is around. The person I ever called my friend, the only companion I have that never left my side in the times of my struggle.
The person I abandoned for my selfish act...
Right in front of me, I tried to push this person away again...
"Emma... I apologies for my selfish act in the past" I spoked
"I understand your scared as well but I assure you this is not the end, I haven't even make up for my mistakes to you yet... I'll promise to meet you again. However to fulfill that promise you also have to listen closely and follow my instructions okay?"
Smile
I gave her a smile to ease a little of her agitation and to also hide my nervousness inside.
"Ayumu I..."
" Kyah!!"
"Run away!"
Before she could even say something, a echo monotonous loud screams was overheard behind our backs...
"Run...! run away!!"
"People are disappearing in that fog!!"
A crowd of people we're all running toward our direction. They we're all sprinting avoiding being caught up by the dark fog. Because people who get touched by the caliginous fog all disappear in plain sight.
"Wah! Help me!"
But one thing is for sure this fog bring people to somewhere unknown...
"Ayumu hurry! let's run away!"
Emma also proceed on running away like other people did but I refuse to do the same...
"Ayumu...?"
Instead of running away from the incoming murk like other people do. I remained silently standing on my place. I have no motive of running away. This caliginous fog is inescapable after all and I know exactly what would happen to me when this murk reaches me.
I will be swept away like everyone else...
This murk separate people and bring them to
the [Realms of the Unknown] and this caliginous fog stand as the gate to enter that place.
The place where the real horrendous hide and seek will take place.
People will be separated by category to perceive which category would adapt to this world much faster.
A mischievous game turned out to be an entertainment for mischievous entities...
They might as well spying on us, enjoying how this world is falling in chaos right now.
"Ayumu!"
We might end up in the same category but we will be separated...
"Emma"
"What are you doing let's hurry and flee from this place..." She tried to pull my hands...but I refuse to move even a step away...
"Ayumu..."
"This is where we part Emma"
"What?...what do you mean...?"
A surge of people is already passing through us...
"Come on let's make a run for it there's still time..."
"Be safe Emma... I promise I will meet you again"
"What?...what are you saying Ayumu...? Huh!"
The caliginous fog rapidly spread throughout the whole area...
I move a step backwards and throw my self inside the caliginous before it can even reach us. But Emma held a tight grip in my hand.
"Your an idiot"
Hap
We both take a deep breath before we get completely devoured by the dim darkness.
"Ayumu" Emma continued calling my name but it grow distance and distance afterwards. The moment I knew her last touch was completely gone.
I finally gave in and let the dim fog take me to the deepest pit of darkness.