Isabella's POV
"I'm not going. I went there once and had fun for the rest of my life. So, I'm not going there again." I said with finality as Mia pouted.
"But we can dance." She sulked. Hell no! That club still haunts me. I don't even want to walk past that place ever.
"Okay, fine. But then you've to go with me to some other place," she said as I narrowed my eyes at her.
Any place that Mia mentioned always comes in my danger zone.
"I'm not going. I've an assignment to complete." I tried to give her an excuse. But she wasn't buying it.
"So do I. But no excuses, babe. We are going. You'll love this place, and we'll keep it mild." She said as I stared at her, confused.
"Mild what? Where are you guys going?" Jerry popped out of nowhere with orange juice as he slid it in front of me and winked while sprawling on the seat beside me. I thanked him politely. I like his gesture.
"This place is awesome. We'll just have to play a game and that's all. It's happening tonight. I'm gonna register ourselves." Mia said as she began typing on her phone excitedly, while I just sighed.
Jerry nudged my arm. "Did you see Simon's face. He said he fell from the stairs, but I'm sure someone beat the shit out of him," he said, and I stiffened for a second before I tried to remain nonchalant.
"I saw his face. I guess it's karma. Stairs or beating, whatever." I said as both Mia and Jerry nodded.
When I dashed out of Mr. Volkov's office yesterday. I saw Simon in the corridor, and Chloe was beside him, looking genuinely worried for him.
I ignored them because something more daunting was on my mind. I was still flustered after hearing what the professor just said. Like, how could he use such crude language?
"Isabella, your color is black, wear something black. Like a tracksuit or something with sneakers. And Jerry, your color is blue, wear all blue, okay." Mia said as we both blinked at her.
"So, what's this game exactly?" Jerry asked, and to be honest. I was least interested.
"Nothing much. We'll find out once we get there. Jerry, I'll go to Isabella's place. Pick us both from there at 10 pm." She told him, and he agreed to oblige.
Today, Mr. Volkov has taken off. Which was weird because he doesn't do that, but anyway. I was glad I didn't have to face him today. Especially after the sinful things he had said yesterday.
Mia showed up at my place at 8. We made dinner, had our food, talked, and gossiped. It felt good. Then I changed into a black hoodie and trousers, I wore black sneakers and a black cap. Mia was wearing a cute purple tracksuit.
We were ready, and Jerry showed up. The three of us headed to the destination of the game, and Mia still hadn't told us what the game was about exactly.
We reached the place, and it gave off mysterious, haunting vibes. They checked our registration passes, which were in Mia's phone. They handed us a watch that had a map on it of some sort, and it was showing our location. And a faraway green spot where we were supposed to reach.
Ten people were wearing different colors, including us. No one was wearing the same color. 8 of us were girls and 2 were boys. The guide kept saying the hunt would begin in 15 minutes. Whatever the game was, it was called the hunt.
Weird name.
We were all supposed to run and reach the green spot before the hunters caught us. There'll be ten hunters. One for each of us.
"You'll have ten minutes ahead of the hunters," he said.
And everyone looked super excited, while Jerry and I were simply confused.
"You can protect yourself by all means." He said. They had also checked us to see if we had anything and taken our phone and everything else from us.
"Everything is allowed except for nonconsent and murder." He said, and my eyes were about to bulge out as my ears perked up.
"What?" Jerry barked.
"You all have signed the consent form. There's no backing down. The hunt will start in 3, 2, 1 GO!" He barked. I barely read the consent form. What in the world?
The gates opened and everyone began to dash out into the darkness within a second. Huge lights flashed on, and the whole field got visible. It... It was a forest. What was happening?
Someone bumped past me, and I followed in their footsteps. Maybe the guide was joking about the murder thing. What the hell.
"Either run for the green light or hide from your hunters." An ominous voice boomed in the air through the speakers. They even had speakers installed in this forest-type zone.
What the hell was this place? It looks like a setup from a horror movie.
I was running towards the green light as I kept staring at my watch. For a brief second, I looked around for Jerry and Mia, but they were nowhere in sight.
I noticed a girl in red ahead of me. She saw a stick near the tree and grabbed it. Then she proceeded to break it and noticed me. I had stopped to breathe.
"Are you a dom or a sub?" She asked, grinning ear and ear.
"What?" I asked muddled, and her smile shifted to a frown.
"Is this your first time here?" She asked.
"Yes, what is this game. And what was about that murder talk?"
"Nonconsensual act and murder is not allowed in this game. There are cameras. If anything is too much, tap three times and your hunter will stop, and the same goes for the hunter," she said, pointing at one of the cameras set on the tree.
My eyes were wide as I tried to register her words.
"F*ck! He's fast. I'll tame him good," she said, looking at someone behind me. I turned around and stiffened, seeing a huge, muscular man dressed in red shorts prowling towards her. He was wearing a Joker mask, and his body had tattoos. A lot of them. He does look like a hunter from hell.
"Who's gonna save you, red head?" he growled, and he sounded barbaric. My legs weakened as I watched her take off with him hot on her heels.
I gulped, sweat breaking through my forehead as I frantically looked around. There was no one behind me.
With a deep breath, I looked down at my watch. I just need to get to this green spot. As I turned around, my body hit a solid wall, and I fell on my bum with a wince.
I looked up and froze, seeing a huge man wearing a ghost mask as he stared down at me like a grim reaper.
God, help...