A Deadly Game, A Dangerous Midnight

A Dark, Humanoid Figure

Jared's P.O.V

I heard the muffled sounds of screaming. Where did it come from? I looked around, trying to pinpoint a location. The screaming stopped. Both confused and anxious, I picked up the pace. At the edge of yet another hallway, there was a door. I opened it cautiously, expecting something to jump out at me. Thankfully, there was nothing, just a few marble steps that led into a basement. I reached for the light switch, then immediately drew my hand back, remembering one of the rules. I shook my head and walked in. 

The basement was not much to look at. An old, leather couch sat in a corner to my left, next to a wooden dresser. Several stacks of cardboard boxes sat in the opposite side. An unused exercise machine stood in the middle of the room. I walked around the basement for a while, considering where to go next. A very daring idea popped up. The attic. Yes! I had promised Monique that I would go there without her. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I was playing at my chances here. The attic was probably going to be the most risky chance I took. The space was so small, there wasn't room to move about freely.... 

I found myself walking up the stairs. Upon reaching the small, attic door, I reached out and flung it open. As all attics go, it was tiny. Piles of cardboard boxes filled the room. Sitting snugly in the furthest corner were four antique-looking chairs. Pushing my luck, I hesitantly edged further into the room. Nothing. No whispering, no freezing temperature, no supernatural movements, nothing. I started to relax, setting my mind and body at ease. Huge mistake. Because as soon as I let my guard down, the room grew cold, and I heard the whispering again. But my candle had not blown out, yet. I slowly turned around to face the doorway, terrified of what I would come face to face to, but also deadly curious. There, blocking the doorway, was a pure black, humanoid figure. It loomed over the doorway, and I gasped at how tall it stood. A wide, devilish smirk formed on his face, which was brutally covered in scars. 

That was when my candle blew out. I shouted and jumped so high, I almost bumped my head on the low ceiling. Without realizing, I released the grip on the candle and it rolled away on the floor, into the darkness. This time, I gave a horrified scream.

"NO!"

I blindly searched the ground, hoping to find the waxy feel of the candle underneath my trembling fingers. After a few seconds, I realized that my pathetic attempts were futile. I couldn't even see anything in the absolute darkness, let alone find a tiny candle. It was like searching for a needle in a haystack. My only chance was the salt circle. Feeling the rush of adrenaline, I pulled out the salt shaker and spread the salt around me in a circle. I waited. Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds....

Nothing happened. Phew. Looking at the doorway, I realized that the figure was gone. Thank God. I sat down on the grime-covered attic floor. I ached to run out the door. The tight space was making me claustrophobic. Then again, I remembered the rules and, after a few minutes of hard-thinking, decided to stay put. I hoped that, at lease, the others would be fine.