The Hunter's Mask

The hunter's mask: Part one "Blood in the water."

Your name is Alec. You're a teenage boy, 18 years old, with bright green eyes. It's Christmas morning, but your thoughts are on the past. For as long as you can remember you've been playing tag with your friends. They're rangers, with proper training and knowledge of the land. They always know exactly where to go, what to do. They could always track you no matter how you hid. It wasn't just a game to them. You'd all play the game, armed with non-lethal replicas of your usual weapons. So while the others had weak bows with dulled arrows, or wooden swords, or even axes, You would run about with nothing because you've never been properly trained. The game is unfair. But on a misty autumn morning in the overgrown forest you know you finally have your chance. The moment the game starts arrows begin to fly, mostly at you but you're able to dodge with the practiced ease that comes with being hunted the most. Even when they figure out weaving your patterns you're able to change based on your remarkable instincts. You dive into the mist and remembering the way you often ran blindly through the forest, with the hunters at your heels, manage to clear the trees with no injury. Disaster strikes as out of nowhere you fall, landing at the base of a waterfall whose roaring had been choked by the fog. In a small clearing within the cloud lies a mask and a sword. Curiously you approach and put on the mask. Suddenly everything fades. Your senses are gone for the moment. Then you begin to feel again. You feel the sword's familiar weight in your grip, you don't recall picking it up. Your hearing returns. There's a sound, crystal clear even through the mist. "Oh Alec! Come out come out wherever you are!" More voices soon join in.

"Are you here?! Oh Alec!" You try to reply but can't as the sounds draw near. 

"Weapons ready everyone, he could be trying to ambush"

"Yeah right like Alec would ever try that. We're the chasers remember?" They all chuckle. 

"Its not tag y'know, its hunting. You can't run forever Alec!"

You walk out of the mist and they're all shocked... "Alec where'd you get that sword?"

"And what's with that mask?!" You try again to speak but instead lose sight of them all as you walk back into the mist. "Hey he's getting away!" They chase you again, only for the fastest to run straight into your waiting blade. His cries are cut short. Your sight returns, the sight of your friend's lifeless body, hanging from the sword, fills you with dread. You feel blood splattered all over you, tainting you. The body drops and red seeps into the once clear water. You take his wooden axe. Its not sharp but the weight of your blows brings another to his knees. "Ahh W-what the hell Al-" You move the axe, switching from his back to his stomach. Your friend doubles over in pain. "Ahhh! A-Alec its me! Its me-" His head falls, followed by the crash of his body. Another struck down by a slam between his shoulder blades. Another head. One after the other you hunt them down. Until you stand alone. Your tears mix with the water. You fall to your knees in the bloodbath you made. You dig your nails in, you scratch and tear. But nothing works. The mask won't come off.

This is a short story I wrote myself, based loosely on Dream and the Minecraft manhunts. Not sure when the next part will be out (I would love suggestions for a continuation of this, or other stories I should try writing.) but if you like this one please show your support.