Virtual Reality : Dystopian Tales Online

013.1 | Hide and Seek

It has been three days since the incident.

The civil order has been altered. The people’s movement has been restricted by the armed forces patrolling the streets now and then. There is only limited transit, only allowing selected businesses to operate. Universities and some related institutions are forced to suspend their classes while only letting a handful of personnel to enter the establishment.

Such events happened in the past. Nevertheless, it wasn’t because of the red warning alarm but from magnetic storms and other disastrous weather instruments. The federation is thoroughly capable that easily calmed the masses and ordered martial law.

Nobody fathoms the reason for the sudden alarm. Most people are seeking for answers, wanting to comprehend the cause of the event. The red warning alarm isn’t just a blunt warning since it means complete annihilation. Presumably, nobody will joke about such a thing, right?

The standing president hasn’t issued a statement yet. The secretary and the president’s spokesperson only presented a small warning and reminders to the citizens to not panic and listen to the officers. They vaguely said that it wasn't safe to come out and advised them to stay in their homes.

The people easily connected the dots and realized that it must be related to the recent accidents happening all over the world this past week.

Everyone had noticed it and thought that it was just coincidence. Accidents happen without warning, so to hear someone dying or getting injured from system failure is inevitable. However, the news covered that this wasn’t because of the social systems failing but from the unknown characters suddenly appearing and promptly disappearing.

Initially, the officers thought the victims were merely perceiving things. But as the continuous reports of strange sightings, the upper hand officials became alarmed. If it is just one person, they can just assume it as a hallucination. But if there is a collective proclamation, there must be some problem.

They had commenced the investigation about five days prior and indeed found some strange fluctuations around the area where the strange creatures were spotted. They could not pinpoint the source since the signal seems to hover in mid-air. Aside from that, there are also some weird markings underneath the fluctuations that look like a game’s transmission circle.

Many officers are vaguely familiar with the design. Though there are some variations, one could still identify the pattern. Even a person with no practical knowledge about games will admit that it looked like a spell or a gateway from one world to the other.

Someone from the investigation team joked it could be a portal from the netherworld or something. It is meant as a joke, but nobody laughed at their words. This generation had almost forgotten the word impossible, since anything can be made possible in their grasp. If they could now cross across the galaxy, then how possible it could be for an inter-dimensional rift to appear?

It had led to the current situation.

Schools had been closed for three days, but Alexander (Allen) and Damian (Melon) can be seen loitering around their art department. Actually, it wasn’t only them but also a few students requesting to enter the establishment to get their art projects. The school is in the middle of the exams, and some students left their materials when they were ordered to evacuate three days ago.

Even though there are considerations with the examinations, some students still wanted to gather their belongings. They are artists and perhaps they have some quirky preference on their things. Allen and Melon, however, are merely here to enjoy the fun. They have nothing to do and these extroverted pairs dislike staying at home.

It has been three days. Their body could not last for so long.

So, while other students are busy collecting stuff, they are just walking around chatting whomever they wanted to chat with. Some professors had already scolded them for lazying around and telling to hurry. The two will then go to the next class to socialize. Nobody would detest them anyway since they possess a natural amiable attitude.

After disturbing their underclassmen, the two headed out. They were chatting on their way when their terminals beeped. Both of them are wearing it on their wrists like bracelets. The color that accompanied the beeping sound is blue, which represents the federation’s color. It means that the federation sent out a public notice.

All the students stopped on whatever they were doing and checked the message. It started with the insignia of the federation, which is the Earth with some ribbons and stars. Then a terse voice over stating the name of the current president and the federation’s motto: To humanity’s sake, power, and pride.

The subsequent lines are explanations telling about the cause of the red alarm warning and the federation’s answer to resolve this problem. Strange creatures are appearing. They could not determine the source, but they could tell the entrance points of these creatures. After that, it came with a map pointing at the spots.

Alexander commented, “This one is just around here.”

Damian nodded approvingly. They continued reading the next phrase.

The people living within the two-kilometer radius from the entrance points will be evacuated. If anyone found their houses or apartments touching the restricted area, they are required to report and do some preparation to leave. They will be reinstated in a nearby facility often used when there are magnetic storms.

The government has no way of telling if new entrance points will appear. If one appears, the public is reminded to hide or go to any underground safety cabins before reporting to the officers. The creatures haven’t injured humans openly, but they could assure that they’re not something anyone could provoke.

The problem of keeping people safe by isolating the entrance points is effective. However, it would be different if a portal suddenly appears. So, the government had set up some signals to let the people know the situation.

Light alarms had been installed around the streets at a ten-meter interval. If a portal is detected opening, the signal will blare with flashing lights accompanied by a thundering sound.

Red and blue lights will represent instant danger. The people within the fifty-meter radius should quickly escape or hide. The area will be monitored for five hours. If there are no creatures crossing, the people will be evacuated quickly. If a creature appears, they are ordered to remain in their bunks until someone announces that it is safe to come out.

Yellow and orange warning posses medium threat. The portal is about a hundred to three hundred meter away from the individual’s position. Evacuation can be immediately executed, and the public is advised to listen to their personnel. Nobody is allowed to enter the vicinity or cross the red-to-blue alarm circle.

The one with the least threat is the green warning. The people still have to be evacuated since they are still included in the two-kilometer radius but at least their safety can be guaranteed. Officers don’t need to escort them as they could just walk into the evacuation center themselves.

Additional regulations about public order are also stated. Alexander read through the announcement twice before closing the message. The professors also finished reading the message and started beckoning the students to hasten or else they will force them to leave. The pair didn’t dawdle around and exited the building.

“It had become terrible,” Alexander commented as they were treading the hallways. The students are already running here and there to get their stuff out.

“Let’s get out from here,” Damian closed his terminal. “The university has been marked on the map. It would be perilous for us to stay.”

Alexander has no objections and hastened their steps. It’s just that when they’re passing the department for sculpting, they coincidentally met with Xavier. The person seems to chat with someone on his terminal while large-bodied guards surrounded him.

Xavier noticed the two approaching and gestured his hand at them.

“You’re also here?” Xavier asked.

The two approached Xavier. They had already met each other, so they weren’t awkward greeting each other. Alexander looked around and discovered two of the bodyguards carrying some large backs. He could smell the familiar scent of oil paint and paper.

“We’re just looking around,” Alexander honestly replied. “Seems like you’re here to collect your stuff?”

Xavier nodded. “I’ve been sculpting a six-feet statue for two months for a competition. The competition has been suspended, but I could not stay at rest. Fortunately, I came here to get it. It seems like a portal appeared around here somewhere.”

“Excellent choice.” Damian gave him a thumb up. “Two months of work is not a joke.”

They were chatting for a while when one bodyguard prompted Xavier that the car has arrived. He looked at two people and asked if they needed a ride. Alexander and Damian nodded in unison, feeling lucky for the free ride. Xavier only laughed in their words when suddenly a loud blare echoed around the place. It came after with a red and blue light...

The body guards promptly went to position and secured the three students in between them. Xavier, Damian, and Alexander also became alert. The trio have the most friendly appearance both in the game and in the real world, so it is quite surprising to see them this serious. After all, they were top players in the game. The long years of playing instilled them a sense of calmness in facing challenging situations.

The professors erased their facade and cursed for choosing this day to allow the students to retrieve their materials. Of all the alarms given to them, it must be the most dangerous one. They immediately ordered the students to drop whatever heavy materials they have, then go to the nearest emergency exit point. They will head out to the university bunker until it is safe to come out.

The order has been out, so the students no longer lingered and briskly proceeded according to the procedures. The body guards helped in escorting the students out while still protecting Xavier in their circle. They were on the third floor, so it may take a few stairs for them to reach the basement.

Damian opened his terminal while they are descending the stairs. He inspected which part of the school the portal was placed. Stepping to the second floor, Damian looked out to the field just in time to see the air of the field to ripple. Alexander also discerned the movement, since it was completely visible.

“Is that the entrance point they are saying? Why didn’t we notice it three days ago?" Alexander asked.

The entrance point is found at the main walkway of the school where a statue of the university’s founder stood. It is the key passage of all the departments and also the only way towards the gate. The ripple in the air appearing right just outside the university school gate means they won’t be able to leave the premises without passing it.

“Let’s hope nothing will appear,” Xavier said, worried.

Yet fate must be playing tricks on them.

The ripple in the air becomes stronger, and the feeling of dread becomes more prominent. In just a second, a figure popped out from the portal like spitting out a watermelon pit. It uttered a raucous raspy cry that is then replaced with creepy children's laughter.

Damian was surprised. Isn’t this monster appeared frequently on the Undead floor?

The creature looks absolutely terrible. It is a body of six feet tall female with an emaciated body. The bones can be seen clearly while some parts exposed it grandly. The neck is connected to two baby faces, with one face smiling while the other is crying.

It must be a body complication, but the creature didn’t seem to know how to walk. Two thin hands grasped the ground while her leg made an awkward, slightly kneeling posture. In this way, the creature crawled out from its landing phase and proceeded on rushing towards their building. They even giggled as they went to advance the spacious field in one swoop.

It is such a extremely disturbing sight.

More curses from the adults erupted as they change course. They could not continue heading down the ground floor since the creature entered the building. They have no other choice but to look for other areas to hide. Fortunately, there are only few students. There are many dark rooms and large cabinets to hide them.

Xavier returned to his studio on the third floor. He grabbed other students on the way and hid inside the room. His studio has many thick curtains and used it to cover the windows and the door of the room. The bodyguards used the polished marbles on the corner to block the door while allowing a narrow passage for escape.

The room became silent after finishing the set-up.

The students had hidden under the office tables while some tried to squeeze inside the cabinets and lockers. It is their first time seeing a grotesque figure, so they are quite shaking. One even started sobbing, unable to maintain their calmness. This reaction is already considered understandable. Even the bodyguards are quite apprehensive about their safety.

It was the trio’s reactions that were strange.

Nobody dared to hide nearby the hallway’s window and doors aside from the three people huddled in a crouch. The light has been flick off to not alert the creature. Alexander opened his terminal while Damian and Xavier listened to movements. The terminal’s holographic screen wasn’t reflective, so it appeared dull in the darkness.

“What are you doing?” Xavier whispered, quite curious. He did not dare to look at Alexander’s terminal in respect.

“Contacting people,” Alexander merely said.

Xavier did not ask more question and just let it be. Damian told them to be quiet since he had heard something walking. The other students were frozen when they saw a shadow suddenly forming from the windows. Because of the darkness, the light outside had become brighter, thus reflecting the shadow of whomever was passing outside.

There is no use to guess since aside from the shadow, they could also perceive some children laughing.