Chereads / Game of the dead / Chapter 9 - The hunted mansion

Chapter 9 - The hunted mansion

--

Then the unforgivable bell rang, echoing ominously through the dark expanse, signaling the start of the game. Alex's eyes were fixed on the road ahead, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he made a silent vow: he wouldn't let his friends become sacrifices to those blood-sucking monsters. He had to escape.

As the race began, the air was filled with the howling of creatures soaring overhead, their screams resonating like a chorus of tortured souls. Shadows flitted across the ground, taunting Alex and Ethan as they sprinted toward a looming structure in the distance. As they approached the base of the pyramid, Alex skidded to a halt, breathless but resolute.

"Ethan, we can escape from here! We have to go now!" he shouted, urgency lacing his voice.

Ethan hesitated, glancing over his shoulder, panic tightening his features. "Is this a good idea? What if we get caught on the way?"

Alex glared at him, frustration boiling beneath the surface. "Do you prefer staying here and getting eaten? Because that's fine by me!"

Ethan paled at the thought, his resolve faltering. "That's not funny, Alex!"

"Come on, Ethan! I was joking! I can't leave my friend behind. Now get your ass up here; we've got to move!"

With a reluctant nod, Ethan finally complied, and together they began the arduous climb up the impossibly steep hill to the pyramid. The path was slick with something that felt disturbingly warm beneath their feet. A narrow road wound around the pyramid, flowing continuously with thick, crimson blood that glistened under the pale moonlight, reflecting an unholy sheen.

As they reached the top, they paused to catch their breath, their hearts racing with fear and adrenaline. Below them, Chloe's frantic screams pierced the air.

"Isn't that Alexander the loser? Why are they going that way? The road to the orb is here!" she yelled, her voice laced with derision.

"Don't let them get away! They're escaping!" Oliver growled, his eyes filled with malice. "We need to alert the creatures!"

Isabella hushed them, eyes wide with terror. "Do you want to die here? My life is precious, and I don't want to die such a disgraceful death!"

A murmur of agreement rippled through the others, fear galvanizing their collective decision.

Jessie, glancing around with apprehension, added, "Isn't it weird how everything is eerily silent? Where are the creatures? Do you really think we can escape in their territory?"

Isabella scoffed, walking toward Jessie, and poking her forehead. "No one wants advice from a fool like you."

"Enough! Jessie is right," Nathan interjected, glancing nervously at the shadowy expanse. "Those despicable beings drove us into this corner, and now they're gone. Something is definitely up. Instead of attacking Jessica, I suggest we turn back and plan our escape!"

Oliver laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "Us? There is no 'us' right now! Everyone is on their own. If you die, it's on your own risk. Live? No one cares!"

"And remember your place, Nathan! Before you start bossing everyone around, I am the leader here, and I say we follow Alex! Who is with me?"

A chorus of reluctant agreement followed as Oliver pointed out a shadowy path leading away from the pyramid. The rest of the group hesitated but ultimately followed, the primal instinct for survival guiding their steps.

Isabella began to mock the two boys, especially Nathan. "Stop trying to act cool; you're nothing but a nobody," she sneered, her long painted nails glinting dangerously in the dim light.

As Eve and Lily walked hand in hand, oblivious to the danger, they unknowingly stepped over a massive python that lay coiled and watchful in the shadows, its scales glimmering darkly.

Meanwhile, Alex and Ethan, having put some distance between themselves and the others, stumbled upon an ancient building. Rain began to pour down around them, but it was no ordinary rain. It felt as if hot water was being dumped onto their skin, scalding yet oddly inviting.

"Let's go in and rest," Alex suggested, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. "We can continue our journey tomorrow."

Ethan nodded, too drained to protest. As they stepped inside, the air turned thick and oppressive, a heavy silence settling around them. Neither boy noticed the shadowy fingers that emerged from the walls, nor the barrier being drawn around the entrance, ensnaring them within.

Ethan, feeling an unnatural chill seep into his bones, shivered violently. "Is it just me, or did the temperature drop? And why are there so many dead trees around?"

Alex looked around, puzzled. "What do you mean? The trees were fine when we came in." He squinted into the gloom, but upon closer inspection, he realized the trees were indeed dead and withered, their gnarled branches twisting toward the sky like skeletal hands grasping for salvation.

Unease gnawed at Alex's insides as a cold breeze swept through the building, rustling the lifeless leaves. The chirping of birds echoed eerily, a dissonant melody that seemed to grow louder as the darkness thickened. A hissing sound slithered through the silence, and Ethan visibly trembled beside him.

"Alex, what's going on?" Ethan's voice quivered, panic rising in his throat. "Haaaa!"

Before Alex could respond, the flickering light from an old TV caught his attention. Suddenly, a dripping wet hand shot out of the screen, grasping for him with a desperate grip. The sight sent a jolt of horror through both boys.

"Run!" Alex screamed, adrenaline surging through him as he turned on his heel. They sprinted toward the door, but an unseen force slammed against them, throwing them back with brutal intensity. Pain shot through their bodies as they landed hard on the ground.

They scrambled to their feet, only to find the door sealed, the ominous barrier shimmering with a dark energy. Panic coursed through their veins as the reality of their situation hit them. They were trapped in the building, surrounded by the remnants of a long-lost horror.

Ethan's eyes widened in terror as he stared at the walls, which seemed to breathe, pulsating with a sinister life of their own. "We have to get out of here! We can't stay here!" he shouted, his voice rising in pitch.

Alex's heart raced as he backed away from the encroaching shadows, the air thick with a malevolent presence. He felt the chill seep deeper into his bones, the unnatural cold wrapping around him like a shroud. The walls seemed to close in, and the whispers of lost souls filled the air, chilling him to the core.

"Ethan, we need to find another way out!" Alex shouted, desperation creeping into his voice.

Suddenly, the temperature plummeted further, and the boys could see their breath misting in front of them. The darkness grew thicker, swallowing the faint light that seeped through the cracks. An eerie laughter echoed from the shadows, reverberating against the walls, mocking their plight.

"Help!" Ethan screamed, as they dashed through the darkness, searching for any means of escape. But the building twisted and turned, transforming into a labyrinth of horror. The walls seemed to shift, obscuring any hope of a way out.

In a frantic attempt to break free, Alex rammed into the door once more, but it stood firm, a solid wall of despair. As they stepped back, panting, the walls began to pulse, and shadowy figures flickered at the edges of their vision, dark eyes glimmering with malicious intent.

"Alex, I don't want to die here!" Ethan cried, tears streaming down his face.

"Neither do I! We have to keep moving!" Alex shouted, trying to rally his friend. They stumbled deeper into the building, feeling as if they were being drawn into the depths of a nightmare.

As they turned a corner, a grotesque figure materialized before them, its twisted face grinning with malevolence. The creature's eyes glowed a sickly green, and it reached out, claws poised to strike.

"Run!" Alex yelled, grabbing Ethan's arm and yanking him away just as the creature lunged. They sprinted down the corridor, the air thickening with terror, as the laughter echoed behind them, haunting their every step.

But the way ahead was filled with shadows that writhed and twisted, closing in like a hungry beast. The walls seemed to whisper secrets, taunting them with promises of eternal darkness.

"Where are we? What is this place?" Ethan gasped, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"I don't know, but we can't give up!" Alex shouted, determination fueling his voice. They rounded another corner, desperate for an exit, but only found more shadows and despair.

With every passing moment, the sense of dread intensified, pressing down on them like a weight. They were trapped, ensnared in a nightmare with no escape.

As the darkness closed in, Alex could feel the tendrils of despair wrapping around his heart. They had to find a way out, or they would become just another whisper in this hellish place.

The chase had just begun.

---