A countdown appeared on the screen, and Caron watched with satisfaction as the stakes climbed. In just one hour, the number of viewers had already surpassed that of any single day from the previous quarter.
"This is a great start," he narrated excitedly to the screen."I can hardly wait either. The countdown has begun! The area, outlined by this ready-made campus, will be the stage for midnight's slaughter starting in thirty minutes."
Some had once believed that highly advanced extraterrestrial civilizations would abandon the crude habits of Earthlings, but they quickly realized their naivety. The universe was just a bigger jungle, where the law of the jungle still reigned supreme. The faces behind the screens, unimaginable to Earthlings, were already eagerly searching for information about the Earth natives to decide on their bets.
A woman, indistinguishable in age between fifteen and thirty-five with heavy makeup, chirped excitedly,"Finally, another hunting game! It's been so long since the last game was restricted to remote planets. This is going to be so thrilling!" Another woman's head, almost identical but growing from her shoulder, chimed in,"I'm so bored! I hope to win big this time!"
A portly recluse with an elephant-like trunk was sucking whisky from the table and deeply inhaling cigarette smoke through his nostrils while his fingers danced across the keyboard. His large screens displayed one vedio after another.
In some vedios, the view was from above the jungle surrounding the school, the dense forest appearing like a black cloud enveloping a small clearing. The paths formed by villagers' footprints wove through the forest like a spider's web, leading to the central school, silently waiting to ensnare unsuspecting prey.
As the surveillance drones zoomed in, the image rapidly focused on two red dots: a father and son.
"Dad, I'm scared. Can we take the main road?" a young, trembling voice asked.
"What's there to fear? Look, many of our neighbors are ahead. There's your Grandpa Zhao, Uncle Li, and lots of your friends too. What are you afraid of? If we walk quickly, we can catch up with them!" the father reassured.
"But Dad, I'm still scared."
"Really, son? Alright, alright, we'll take the main road, but we might miss out on a lot of good food!"
"Hmm? Dad, I've changed my mind. I'm a big boy now, and I should be brave, just like you always tell me!"
As they walked along the dark path, the boy watched the villagers' shadows melt into the forest and disappear, as if swallowed by the gaping maw of a silent beast. He quickly stopped peering around and focused on the path, clutching tightly to the corner of his father's clothes. The branches on either side of the road twisted in the wind like ghosts of night wanderers. They stretched out and waved, as if trying to grab each passerby.
Another image showed a villager hurrying along another path, head lowered and casting wary glances around. He heard the rustling of leaves in the darkness, whispering suspenseful tales. At the end of his road, the flickering glow of a campfire danced among the trees, casting an eerie light that brought the branches to life.
He quickened his pace, shaking off wild imaginings. His heart was filled with anticipation of seeing that young girl again tonight. Her smile, her laughter—filled his mind, driving him forward with eager hope.
Suddenly, he felt a light touch on his shoulder.
"Don't mess around, girl. I saw your husband ahead!"
The villager turned his head and was about to speak when a pair of red eyes flashed in the darkness, and sharp teeth sank into his throat.
"Ah, oh, glug..."
He wanted to cry out, but it all turned into strange gurgling sounds as blood spurted from his neck. He tried to run, but his shoulder felt as if it was hooked in place, the slightest movement causing excruciating pain.
Blood sprayed as his consciousness blurred. In his daze, he saw his intestines being pulled out, the crunching sound of them being chewed echoing in the darkness.
The sharp teeth had sunk deep into his throat, silencing his breath. Life flickered out with his terrified heartbeat.
In his final moments, he thought,"What kind of creature is this? A dark demon? I've never seen anything like it!"
The ground turned red, and as he lost consciousness, he watched part of himself disappear into the darkness.
The events in the forest made the recluse sneer,"Such weak natives. I won't bet too much on them!" With his silent commentary, the surveillance drone quickly flew in another direction within the dense forest.
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In the dark woods, the night wind rustled the leaves like quiet whispers. The air was thick with the smell of decay, making it hard to breathe. Occasionally, strange animal calls echoed from afar, sending chills down A-Lai's spine. Every step he took brought him closer to a nameless fear. He felt a cold gaze following him, a shadow moving with him, impossible to shake off. Each step made faint noises on the fallen leaves and twigs, as if the ground whispered secrets hidden below.
He suddenly stopped, ears straining to catch any sound from behind. The boy's big eyes widened, shining like dark gems. The leaves at his feet trembled slightly, pushed by an unseen force. His heartbeat quickened, as if an invisible hand was pounding on his chest.
Suddenly, a sharp crack from the bushes behind made his nerves tauten once more. He spun around and shouted,
"Who's there?"
Only the swaying branches responded. He took a deep breath. His heartbeat echoed in the silence like a ticking clock, reminding him of the approaching danger.
A-Lai's gaze roamed the darkness. Every shadow seemed to twist and contort, ready to turn into a monster. He decided to run toward the campfire's light, his only hope.
Suddenly, a shadow leapt from the bushes. Its eyes glowed green, lunging at him like a witch with outstretched arms. A-Lai jumped back, crossing his arms to protect his face. Pain shot through his forearm as the shadow's claws scratched him. Then, it flew away, flapping its wings.
"Whoo, whoo," an owl's soft call followed.
A-Lai breathed a sigh of relief; it was just a night-hunting owl. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, pulled himself together, and ran towards the campfire. The flickering light became his sole guide in the oppressive darkness.
Finally, A-Lai approached the campfire, now less than a hundred meters away. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. Overhead, a surveillance drone silently ascended, merging into the giant invisible mothership.