The Game

"Oh shit..." You whispered and ripped the bust off of the bookcase. The passageway opened and you slipped into it. The case closed behind you in time as a deafening stampede approached the study.

"How could she!?" The partygoers shrieked.

You shrunk away from the door, fear coursing through your veins. Quietly, you paced away from the door and followed the corridor. The muffled screams of the guests echoed off the narrow walls, and the light fixtures above your head perilously dangled: threatening to fall on you. Holding your breath, you started to jog down the corridor-- almost tripping over yourself as it took a sudden downward steep.

"Damn," you muttered, holding your satchel closer to your side and carefully climbed down. Your fingers felt like wood and their yells sounded louder, closer.

You relaxed slightly when you saw a familiar corridor. As you put a hand over your racing heart, you heard a cough from beneath you. Glancing down, you saw the mask glaring back at you.

"It was rather rude of you to do that to me," it huffed with a pout. "But I could get them off of you if you put me back in my proper place."

"Which is?"

"My clothes," it answered.

You stared at it for several seconds. Every nerve of your body was screaming at you to do as it asked. All it would take is for you to swallow back the discomfort long enough to make the trek back to the study. As you were about to turn in the direction, the game's first rule whispered in your weary mind: under no circumstance are you to get help from any of the other residents in the mansion, nor are you to help them so that they may try to return the favor to you.

"Hm? What's wrong? Are you going or not?" It said in a slightly annoyed tone. Your brows furrowed as your teeth grinded behind your closed lips.

"(Y/N), are you even listening to me?"

Your hands trembled and your muscles felt like they were set ablaze.

"Hey, are you going or--"

"Hell no!" You snarled.

"....Then I'm afraid you've forced my metaphorical hand..." It sighed and coughed before shouting out: "She's in here!"

You thrusted the mask back into your bag and began to run as you heard an entourage of partygoers coursing down the corridor. Their footsteps punctuated by the rabid snarling and frenzied screams when they saw you.

Gritting your teeth, you sprinted down the hallway. It felt like you were in a loop as they rapidly gained on you; their furious pounding was like that of a shiver of sharks. A scream ripped out of your throat as one of them slashed at the air being you-- your back felt as if it had been sliced. You pulled out your sword and your muscles tensed as another throng of them rushed at you from the front.

"Fuck!" You exclaimed and wildly swung your sword at the ones facing you. The blade cut through two of the masks and severed them in half.

Running even faster and with clenched teeth, you raced towards the portal. Sweat rolled down your face as your feet ached more with each pounding step. Your burning legs threatened to collapse. Your frenetic heart felt like it was about to finally give out. Your senses were becoming dull-- all you could focus was on finding the portal. All you could focus on was escaping. All you could focus on was winning.

One of them had grabbed you by the back of your jacket-- pulling you towards the hoard. A piercing shriek escaped your throat as they pinned your thrashing limbs. Pinpricks of red light contrasted against the black expanse of their empty eyes as their nails dug into you.