The dead field was shrouded in a suffocating mist of dark energy, each tendril of malice wrapping around Theodore like a noose. The ghost lady's voice, crackling and distorted, counted slowly.
Each number she uttered seemed to pull the forest deeper into darkness.
"4… 5… 6…"
The sound of her voice was like nails on glass, and with every word, the trees twisted unnaturally, their branches clawing at the sky. Theodore's heart raced as he watched in horror. Her body was changing. Her bones cracked loudly, her frame growing wider, her limbs multiplying until she had six grotesque arms.
"Is this really a game for kids?" Theodore thought, his eyes wide with panic.
He had assumed it would be a twisted version of hide-and-seek, but this was something far worse. This was a hunt. And he was the prey.
Theodore sprinted into the forest, desperate to put distance between himself and the creature. The ground beneath him was cold and damp, his every step echoing faintly in the unnatural silence. Soon, he reached a fork in the path: one road to the left and one to the right.
He didn't hesitate. Theodore darted down the left path, hoping it might lead to the village and safety. But as he ran, the air grew colder, the trees became sparser, and the forest seemed to fold in on itself.
When he stopped to catch his breath, he realized with growing dread that he was back where he had started.
"What the hell?" he whispered, turning around.
The ghost lady was still counting, her voice echoing eerily through the mist. She seemed to be enjoying herself, dragging out the countdown like a predator savoring its prey.
Desperate, Theodore took the right path this time, sprinting as fast as his legs could carry him. The dirt beneath his feet turned into a swampy muck, slowing him down. His lungs burned as he pushed himself forward, clinging to the hope that this time he'd escape.
But when he stopped again, he was right back where he had started.
The forest itself was alive, trapping him in a nightmarish loop.
Theodore's stomach twisted as the ghost's voice grew louder. She was nearing the end of her count. He needed to hide—now.
His eyes scanned the forest frantically until he spotted a bush filled with raspberries. They seemed strangely out of place in the dead forest, vibrant and alive amidst the decay. Without thinking, Theodore dove into the bush, crouching low and pulling the thorny branches around him to conceal himself.
The ghost lady reached ten.
The forest seemed to tremble. The mist grew thicker, and a chilling breeze swept through the trees, scattering a murder of crows into the sky. Her voice, soft and venomous, whispered into the night, "Ready or not, here I come, my little Arthur."
Theodore's heart was pounding so loudly he was afraid it would give him away. He covered his mouth with his hands, trying to steady his breath.
Why am I so afraid? he thought angrily.
This wasn't the first time Theodore had faced death. He had fought monstrous creatures in the temple of shadows, had been killed and resurrected countless times. But this… this was different. The ghost's aura was overwhelming, seeping into every corner of his mind. It was primal fear, the kind that couldn't be rationalized.
Suddenly, he heard her.
She was crying softly, her sobs echoing through the forest. It was a sound that might have evoked pity in another context, but here it only made her presence more terrifying.
The cries were interspersed with the sickening sound of trees being snapped and smashed as she tore through the forest in search of him.
Theodore dared to peek through the bush. His breath hitched.
Her monstrous form was now fully revealed. Her six elongated arms moved like serpents, tearing apart trees and uprooting bushes. Her twisted face, once eerily human, was now distorted with jagged teeth and hollow black eyes that seemed to glow faintly. She was massive, towering over the forest like a nightmare brought to life.
Her malice was suffocating. Theodore felt as if he were drowning in it.
Is this really just a game of hide-and-seek?
The ground shook as the ghost slammed her massive body into a tree, searching for him. Theodore flinched, clutching the thorny bush tighter. He had never felt this helpless before.
Theodore clenched his fists. He refused to let her win. He refused to let her reduce him to a trembling child.
No! I won't let her manipulate me emotionally!
With a defiant smirk, he decided to end the game. He would summon his shadow magic and fight her. It didn't matter how strong she was,he'd faced worse.
Closing his eyes, Theodore focused on his connection to the shadows, summoning the dark power that had never failed him before.
But as he reached for it, he felt… nothing.
Confused, he tried again.
And again.
Each attempt ended in failure. It was as if his magic was sealed, his connection to the shadows completely cut off.
For the first time in his life, Theodore felt powerless.
His hands trembled as realization dawned. He was trapped in her game, and he had no way to fight back. His smirk faltered, replaced by the creeping tendrils of panic.
The ghost was closer now, her massive body casting a shadow over his hiding spot. Theodore held his breath, every muscle in his body tense.
Her cracked voice echoed through the forest, playful yet dripping with malice.
"Where are you, my little Arthur?"
Her sobs turned to laughter, a bone-chilling sound that sent shivers down his spine. Theodore's mind raced. He needed a plan. He couldn't rely on his magic, and running would only bring him back to the same spot.
For the first time in his life, Theodore felt true FEAR.
The kind of fear that stripped away all pride and confidence, leaving only the raw instinct to survive.
The bush shook slightly as the ghost's massive clawed hand brushed past it. Theodore froze, his body stiff as a board. The only sound he could hear was his own heartbeat, thundering in his ears.
The game wasn't just hide-and-seek.
It was survival.
And right now, Theodore wasn't sure if he could survive much longer.