𝚶 𝐧 𝐞 𝚩 𝐲 𝚶 𝐧 𝐞 || 8 people 8 deaths

.4.

Justine furrowed her brow, her mind racing with questions. "What do you think this is? Some kind of prank?"

Ben scratched his head, looking uneasy. "I'm not sure, but we should take it seriously. Better safe than sorry."

Marcus nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "Yeah, let's stick together and follow these rules. We don't want to take any chances."

Jacob glanced around the room, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Do you think we should call someone? Maybe the police?"

Alexander shook his head, his voice firm. "No, let's not overreact. We can handle this ourselves."

Amara bit her lip, considering their options. "I think we should stay calm and stick together. We'll be okay as long as we follow these rules."

Melanie nodded in agreement, her voice soft but determined. "Yeah, let's just stay inside and keep an eye out for anything suspicious."

After a few intense rounds of (g/n) (game name) the tension had visibly lessened, and everyone seemed more relaxed. Justine glanced around the room and got an idea for their next activity. "How about we play hide and seek? It's been ages since we did that," she suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement.The others exchanged glances, a mix of curiosity and enthusiasm spreading among them. "Sure, why not?" Ben agreed, stretching his arms. "It could be fun.""Alright, Melanie, you're the seeker!" Justine announced, pointing to her friend.Melanie raised an eyebrow but smiled, accepting the challenge. 

"Fine by me. You all better find some good hiding spots because I won't go easy on you!" she teased.The group scattered throughout the house, looking for the perfect hiding places. Melanie covered her eyes and began counting down from thirty, her voice echoing through the large, dimly lit lake house. As the others hurried to find their spots, the thrill of the game temporarily overshadowed the eerie rules they had read earlier.

 Melanie's POV

Melanie counted down from ten, her eyes closed. She could hear the shuffling and hushed giggles of her friends finding their hiding spots. When she reached zero, she opened her eyes and looked around the now silent room. "Ready or not, here I come!" she called out. She started searching the living room first, knowing it was the most obvious place. She felt a sense of anticipation mixed with a slight unease about the house's eerie rules.

 Ben's POV

Ben quickly climbed the narrow ladder into the attic, feeling a rush of excitement and a touch of fear. The attic was dark, with only a small window letting in slivers of moonlight. He found a spot behind a stack of old boxes, crouching down and trying to control his breathing. His heart pounded as he listened for Melanie's footsteps, hoping his hiding spot would be good enough.

Marcus's POV

Marcus slid under one of the beds, pulling the dust ruffle down to hide himself completely. He lay still, listening to the sounds of the house. He could hear Melanie moving around downstairs and the distant creaks of the old house settling. He tried to stay calm, focusing on the game and pushing away any thoughts of the basement and its ominous rules.

 Jacob's POV

Jacob crouched behind the kitchen counter, making himself as small as possible. He could see through the gap between the counter and the floor, giving him a partial view of the living room. He watched Melanie's feet moving around as she searched, his pulse quickening each time she came near. He held his breath, trying to remain completely silent.### Alexander's POVAlexander sat in the bathtub, the shower curtain drawn tightly closed. It was cramped and uncomfortable, but he felt well-hidden. The bathroom was cold, and he shivered slightly as he waited. He could hear Melanie's muffled voice calling out as she searched, and he prayed she wouldn't think to look in the tub.

 Amara's POV

Amara squeezed herself into the cabinet under the sink in the laundry room. It was a tight fit, and she had to sit with her knees drawn up to her chest. The darkness inside the cabinet was almost complete, and she found herself straining to hear any sound that might indicate Melanie was nearby. She tried to stay calm, focusing on the game and not the oppressive darkness around her.

Justine's POV

Justine hid in a cabinet in the dining room, pulling the door closed behind her. She had to twist herself into an awkward position to fit, but she managed. The space was cramped and smelled faintly of old wood and dust. She could hear Melanie moving around the house, and she hoped her friend wouldn't think to check the cabinets so soon.

May's POV

May chose to hide behind the couch, pressing herself flat against the floor. It wasn't the most original hiding spot, but it provided a good view of the room without being too exposed. She listened intently to Melanie's movements, trying to anticipate where she would look next. Her heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness.---

 Melanie's Search

Melanie moved from room to room, checking behind curtains, inside closets, and under tables. Each empty spot she found only heightened her determination to find her friends. As she searched, she couldn't help but remember the strange rules Amara had read aloud. She shook off the feeling of unease and focused on the game, determined to find everyone.

Melanie eventually gave up, unable to find any of her friends in their well-chosen hiding spots. "Alright, you win! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" she called out, laughing. Slowly, everyone emerged from their hiding places, stretching and laughing about how well they had hidden.They all gathered on the couch, trying to think of something else to do. "We did a good job hiding," Jacob said with a grin. "Yeah, but now what? I'm bored," Amara replied, fidgeting.Marcus's eyes lit up with an idea. "Hey, how about we go for a swim in the pool out back? It's not like we're going to be sleeping anytime soon.""Great idea!" Justine said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Let's go!"Everyone nodded in agreement, excited about the new plan. They quickly changed into their swimsuits and grabbed towels before heading out to the pool. The night air was cool, but the thought of swimming together made them forget the chill. The pool was large and inviting, surrounded by a few lounge chairs and a small table. They jumped in one by one, splashing and laughing, the water quickly warming them up. "This is so much fun!" Melanie said, floating on her back."I know, right? Who knew we'd end up having a pool party after hide and seek?" Ben replied, diving underwater and coming up with a big splash.They played games, raced each other across the pool, and shared stories about their favorite moments from the past school year. The eerie rules of the house were forgotten as they enjoyed the simple pleasure of being together, making memories they would cherish for a lifetime.