All across the Eclipse Arena, the shift was starting.
Players formed factions. Some for survival, some for power.
Resources became scarce. Food, weapons, even basic supplies—all controlled by the strongest.
And fear spread. People whispered about disappearances, about those who went against the wrong people and never came back.
But the real turning point hadn't arrived yet.
It was coming.
Something would push this world over the edge.
[THE NEXT GAME BEGINS]
The moment the announcement echoed through the city, a chill ran through every player.
"The Next Game: Hide and Seek."
"All players must participate. Failure to do so will result in elimination."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence.
---
THE RULES
A holographic screen appeared in the sky, displaying the rules in glowing red text:
1. The Seekers will begin hunting in 10 minutes. No specific Number of Seekers will be given.
2. Hiders must avoid capture until the time limit expires.
3. Any player caught will be Eliminated or turned into a Seeker.
4. The game will last 3 hours.
5. No area is off-limits.
---
THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS
Ace's stomach twisted.
"No way. This is insane."
Mia's face was pale as she turned to him. "How are we supposed to hide for three hours in an entire city? There are cameras everywhere!"
The city was in chaos.
Players scattered in every direction, desperately searching for places to hide. Some ducked into abandoned buildings, others climbed rooftops, and a few even tried hiding in plain sight, blending into crowds of confused survivors.
Ace and Mia sprinted down a narrow alley, their footsteps echoing against the walls.
"We need a place that isn't obvious," Ace panted. "Something deep, something secure."
Mia's eyes darted around, scanning the area. "What about underground? Parking garages, basements—anywhere away from open streets."
Ace nodded. It was a good plan. Out of sight, out of mind.
Above them, the countdown was almost at zero.
3... 2... 1...
A deafening alarm blared across the city.
THE SEEKERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED.
---
The moment the game officially began, a horrifying transformation took place.
Players who had already been marked—either captured in the last round or chosen beforehand—began to change.
Their eyes darkened. Their bodies twitched unnaturally. And then, as if controlled by an invisible force, they started moving.
Fast.
They weren't just seeking.
They were hunting.
One unlucky player, a teenager hiding behind a food stall, barely had time to react before a Seeker grabbed him.
His scream echoed through the air—then he fell silent.
But instead of disappearing, his body shifted.
His skin paled. His pupils vanished.
He was no longer a Hider.
He had become a Seeker.
–––––––––––
Ace and Mia finally found a hiding place—an underground maintenance tunnel beneath a collapsed subway station.
Ace crouched behind an old generator, forcing his breathing to slow.
Mia sat beside him, gripping her knees. "How long do you think we'll last down here?"
Ace exhaled. "Three hours. That's all we need."
But deep down, he knew the truth.
This wasn't a game of hiding.
It was a game of survival.
The sounds of the Eclipse Arena had changed.
Before, it was filled with chatter, laughter, and the excitement of players figuring out their new world.
Now?
Now, it was filled with screams.
Ace and Mia sat in the dark maintenance tunnel, barely breathing as they listened. Heavy footsteps echoed through the underground. Seekers. Searching. Hunting.
Every few minutes, a distant shriek signaled another player caught.
Some were eliminated instantly.
Others? They joined the hunt.
Mia clutched Ace's sleeve. "We should've hidden somewhere else."
Ace shook his head. "No. This is good. We just need to wait."
–––––––––––
At first, the game seemed simple. Hide, don't get found, and wait it out.
But the Seekers?
They weren't playing fair.
Some were just fast and relentless, running through the streets, checking every alley and room.
Others were smarter.
They worked together. Set traps. Faked being normal players.
One guy, hiding in a small clothing store, had let out a sigh of relief when he saw another player rush in.
"Thank God," the player panted, "I thought I was the only one left here."
The guy in the store had lowered his guard.
That was his mistake.
The "player" lunged forward, eyes turning black at the last second.
Seeker.
Another one converted.
The number of Hiders was shrinking.
The Seeker army was growing.
And there were still hours left.
Back in the tunnel, Ace noticed something.
The maintenance shaft had a ventilation pipe leading up to the surface. And through it, he could see something moving.
A shadow.
His heart skipped a beat.
A Seeker was up there. Sniffing the air. Listening.
Mia squeezed his arm, her face pale. She had noticed it too.
Ace held his breath. One sound, and they were dead.
The Seeker paused. Stood still.
And then—
It turned its head sharply.
Looking straight down the vent.
Ace's mind raced. Did it see us? Did it hear us?
Then—
A scream echoed from far away. Another player caught.
The Seeker hesitated.
And then it ran toward the noise.
Ace let out a slow, shaky breath.
Mia buried her face in her hands.
[Two hours left.]