Euphoric

Chapter 1

News got around fast, there was a new survivor in town. All they knew was his last name, not even his abilities. Miss Nightingale called him l/n and was planning to transfer him that morning. "I hear he's a baker!" "I hear he's a sheriff!" "I hear he's an asshole." The survivors gossiped. The hunters on the other hand, "Are you excited for the new survivor?" asked The Sculptor. "I hear he's quite easy to beat. Little to no abilities." The Photographer chuckled. "Ssssstop getting your hopessssss up." Hissed the Dream Witch. "He might jusssssst be the challenge you were wisssssshing for." "Well I never! Any survivors and all survivors are no survivors to me!" The Bloody Queen scoffed. Needless to say, they were all jittery upon the new survivor's arrival.

A knock on the big manor door sounded. A scrawny man with buck teeth opened it. "You must be our expectant. Follow me to your room." He said. The entryway was huge, tables on either side of the main door and a long staircase winding down. There were so many doors it could make your head spin. Whispers were heard all through the manor while being walked to my room. I took in my surroundings as I went. It was a beautiful place with quite a bit of space. Expensive paintings hung and vases were laid out. Even a couple of sculptures were placed in the halls. I passed the kitchen, where multiple people were chatting and drinking. "A bit too early for a drink eh?" I joked. The scrawny man stopped and stared blankly as if telling me to zip it then continued the walk. I embarrassingly treaded on until I entered a hall with doors lined with names on them. Campbell, Subedar, Morton, I read. "Are these the other-" the man cut me off. "Ah, here we are. Lunch will be called soon." With that, the scrawny man spun and walked away. Rude little guy. I walked in and it was a pretty basic room. A bed, a bathroom, a dresser and a bookshelf. I placed the letter I received on the dresser and sat on the bed patiently waiting for lunch. After 15 minutes of twiddling my thumbs and staring at the ceiling I got bored and decided to check out the books. I dusted them off and read the old titles. They were all classics with yellow crinkly pages. I opened one book and saw something written on the front page. It read, "My beloved. Please be safe. I heard the manor you're arriving in is dangerous. Be careful, my love." I furrowed my brows and put the book back. Surely that wasn't addressed to me. Had someone else lived in this room? What did they mean dangerous? A little unsettling, but whatever. I closed the book and relaxed on the bed, forgetting about it. The mattress squeaked with any bit of pressure, but it was comfortable enough. It did its job and before I knew it I was fast asleep.

BANG BANG BANG. I jolted awake due to the banging outside my room. Sleepily, I got up and opened the door, revealing an angry man in a coat and a top hat. "Can I help you?" I asked drowsily. "You are late. We have been waiting HURRY UP." He said sternly. I rubbed my eyes confused trying to wake up. The man started to walk away, but I yelled after him. "W-wait what about lunch? Late for what? What are you saying?" He turned and sighed irritatingly. "I'll explain on the way." I rubbed my face still trying to wake up and jogged after the man who was walking way too fast. "You missed lunch. Don't let it happen again. The rest of us will shun you." He smiled a little at the thought. "Hurry. The match window will end soon." He started to jog. I sighed, still very confused and jogged after him. "Yo, what match? Like a fire match?" He sighed again. "It's a game. We play in the game. We decode and avoid being hunted. Now enough with the questions and RUN." He said almost sprinting now. Luckily I was able to catch up, but as soon as I did he bust down the doors in front of us and yanked me into the room, causing me to trip and fall. "We. Are not. Late." He panted trying to catch his breath.

I got up and looked around. Inside the room was a long table seated five, with one chair broken. Outside were long windows with ripped curtains. It was dark outside so I went to get a closer look, but a ghastly creature whipped by me. I jumped back and the man grabbed my wrist and told me to sit sternly. I yanked my hand away and sat in the most durable looking chair. Over to my left was a skinny guy in weird pants and a beret who was carrying a canvas and paint brushes. The coat guy whipped out a wand and sat next to the painter and a girl I've never seen before. She was wearing a purple dress and a veil and was carrying a bottle of perfume. They all started inspecting their items. I frowned, still very much confused. "Hey. Hey coat guy." I said. I stood and approached him intimidatingly. The painter laughed and the girl farthest from me stifled a laugh as well. "Coat guy? What a fitting name for you, Servais." She said poshly. "Call me that and I'll sacrifice you in a bloody second." The coat guy, or Servais I guess, irritatingly said. "HEY. Wand dude. I think I deserve more than a half assed explanation. I want some REAL answers." I leaned over him. "Wand dude." The painter laughed again. "That's gold." "You still haven't explained the game to him? Not surprising, coming from you." The girl said. Servais yawned and looked up at me unamused. Just as he was about to say something, another set of doors burst open. A woman holding a shattered piece of glass in a red dress walked in and smirked. She had blank eyes and stitches across her pale neck. "Ready?" She asked, looking at me intensely licking her lips and all. I swallowed nervously, but before I knew it everything turned black.