Suddenly, a bright light flashed, followed by a deafening thud as Alex crashed onto the blood-soaked floor, his arm burning with pain. He groaned, attempting to steady himself, but the sight around him made his stomach turn. The floor was smeared with blood, the air thick with the iron scent of decay.
"What… what is happening?" Alex muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes scanned the room in disbelief. Headless bodies hung from the walls, blood dripping like a sick, never-ending waterfall. The grotesque display made his skin crawl.
A low, animalistic growl cut through the silence, making Alex freeze. His gaze shot upwards. There was no roof, just an open sky, but it was not the comforting sight of stars. Instead, the sky was cloaked in swirling black smoke, ominous and thick. Shadows writhed within it, their glowing red eyes watching, waiting.
Alex's breathing quickened as he shuffled backward, trying to distance himself from the horror unfolding around him. His heart pounded in his chest when suddenly a hand grabbed his shoulder. He screamed in terror and spun around, only to come face-to-face with Ethan.
"Oh my God… Ethan?" Alex's voice trembled as relief momentarily washed over him. He pulled Ethan into a tight hug. "You're alive…" He exhaled shakily, but his relief was short-lived when he noticed more of his classmates standing behind Ethan, their faces pale, eyes wide with fear.
"What's going on?" Alex asked, his voice breaking.
Isabella, ever poised even in the worst situations, stepped forward, her heels clicking on the blood-stained floor. "What's going on?" she scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "We were dragged here by those… things. And now we're stuck here with you." She crossed her arms, her tone filled with disdain. "And you think I'm okay with that?"
Oliver, holding onto Chloe, who wore a sinister smile, stepped forward, his expression dark. "If this is your idea of a prank, Alex, you better stop. I swear, I'll kill you if this is some sick joke."
Alex chuckled—a strange, unsettling laugh that sent a wave of unease through the room. His classmates stared at him, confusion and fear swirling in their eyes.
Charlotte leaned toward Isabella, whispering, "We should move. Something's really wrong with him."
But Isabella ignored her, keeping her icy gaze locked on Alex. Meanwhile, Oliver's frustration grew. "Answer me!" he barked.
Alex's expression darkened. "You think I want to be here with you? I'd rather die than be stuck with any of you."
Everyone froze at his words, shocked. Even Nathan, who had been smirking in the corner, stopped. He had half a mind to congratulate Alex for standing up to Oliver, but a low growl from behind the group stopped him dead in his tracks.
The students turned in unison, fear gripping them tightly. A ghastly sound echoed through the room, followed by a sense of impending doom. Ethan grabbed Alex's arm tightly. "We need to get out of here. Now."
Suddenly, a student made a run for the door, but before he could escape, a bolt of lightning struck him down. Two hideous creatures with worm-like bodies and deformed faces descended upon the fallen student, tearing into his flesh with a sickening crunch. The student's agonizing screams filled the air as the creatures fed.
The rest of the group screamed in horror.
"No! No! This can't be happening!" Alex shouted, his voice lost in the chaos.
They all backed away, huddling in fear. Then, a crackling sound came from the rusted speaker on the wall, cutting through the madness.
"Stay behind the barrier, and you will be safe from the creatures. Let your mind wander, and you will be their next meal," a raspy voice announced through the speaker. "Welcome to the Game of the Dead. Let the games begin, and may the best survivor win."
Silence fell over the room, thick with dread.
Lily, one of the twins, broke the silence. "We're in some kind of horror game… We have to play to survive."
Her sister Eve, shaking uncontrollably, clutched Lily's arm. "I don't want to die… I don't want to die."
Lily held her tightly. "We won't die. We just need to stay together."
Alex looked at Nathan, who appeared to be on the verge of a breakdown. "We'll make it through this," Alex said, trying to reassure him, but his own voice was filled with doubt.
"How can you say that?!" Oliver shouted. "Did you hear what that thing said? Our minds have to be clear! What the hell does that even mean?"
Jessie, who had been quietly observing the group, stepped forward. "It means no secrets. If anyone here has anything they're hiding, we'll all die. So, I suggest you start talking."
Oliver glanced at Isabella, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. But Isabella remained stone-faced, ignoring the tension.
Jessie smiled darkly. "I'm not dying because of your secrets."
Suddenly, an announcement came from the wall they were standing by, making them jump. "All of you, come out for the selection of the fifteen players. The rest… will be for the feast."
Fear spread like wildfire among the group. They were twenty in total, which meant five of them would be sacrificed.
The game of survival had begun.