Hide and Seek

Chapter 7 - Another Game

Today was the day. One game three rounds. I have to be diligent, I can't mess up. I wore different clothes, everyone did. We had special clothes that had to be specifically worn on hide and seek days only. Everything was black, it didn't matter what design, everyone wore black. I made my way into the cafeteria to eat before the rounds. After I finished I looked at the clock, the game starts soon... The leaders walked in to give us the usual introduction. It was always the same. They held the microphone, their voices resonated in all places of the building.

"Today is the day. Please know that once the game starts, you can't go back."

"Some of you are new, and some of you have been playing this game for your whole lives." I caught people glancing at me from that sentence. Its always been like that. Word gets around easily here, I'm used to it.

"Everyone has played hide and seek before in their life. It's the same as that. It doesn't matter where you hide, there's no limits."

"But there are a few rules. You cannot pull someone out of their spot, but you can hide with them. You may work with others, or stay by yourself. You can hide with as many people as you want but in the end if one goes down, all goes down."

"Once you're the first person found in a room by the seeker that's it, game over. You can fight though, if you can take the seeker out before they take you, you win and it's the end of the game. No more rounds will be hosted afterwards. For example, if the seeker is taken down in the first round, everyone wins. Hence, that will be the end of the game. If, however no one can take the seeker down, the game continues for three rounds. There are only three rounds in one game of hide and seek, no more no less."

"Everyone gets 30 minutes to hide in the first round, 20 in the second and 10 in the last. Use this time wisely."

"The seeker also has disadvantages. The seeker has 20 seconds in each room and once those seconds are over, you're in the clear, but do not leave your room. The seeker can still take you, as long as you don't leave the room you're hiding in, you're still safe"

"You can go into the cleared rooms, these are the only safe zones. But they reset every time a new round starts."

"Remember to be quiet, one sound and the seeker can find you."

"Since these rounds of hide and seek aren't in seconds we will notify through the P.A. system how much time you have, counting down in five minute intervals. In the last thirty seconds the seeker will count down. So listen carefully and keep track of time."

"Even if you weren't paying attention to everything we were saying, one thing you should remember is to find a good hiding spot. That is all." The leaders walked out of the cafeteria.

They changed some of the rules. From the rounds I've played before we couldn't even touch the seeker. I shivered, at least there's safe zones, minutes marks and rules for the seeker now. The games were merciless before these new rules were implemented. I remembered the previous game a few months ago, absolute terror. I thought back on my experience, on how it used to be. It was terrible, but, why are they changing the rules now?

I was soon bothered by the atmosphere. Everyone was hugging each other, shaking with tears staining their faces and clothes. I felt a pit in my stomach, the pressure and fear was finally hitting my senses. I inhaled deeply but it still wouldn't go away. What's going on with me? I calmed myself and began to stretch. It's easier now, all I have to do is take him out and survive, that's it. The game will be over. I finished stretching when the PA system turned on.

"The game will begin, remember you have 30 minutes to find a hiding spot. Ready? ...5 ...4 ...3 ...2 ..1." A bell rang and and the game begun.