Virtual Reality : Dystopian Tales Online

013.4 | Hide and Seek

Ability gained: X-ray Vision

“What do you mean by X-ray Vision?” Alexander asked in exasperation.

Isn't that the greatest joke they heard today? X-ray vision? Wasn't that a god-blessed ability? That is completely cheating! How could they hide if the dreadful creature could see past through things? Should they merely serve themselves to the seeker?

Fortunately, the creature could wholly utilize it once. It would be merely a complete wipe out if the creature could employ it in the whole duration. The question now, how will they know if the creature is using the X-ray Vision ability?

It wouldn’t be using the ability right away after receiving it or at least they are secure from this ability in the second round. If they are reading the situation right, the creature will use it on the last round. Such an ability shouldn’t be wasted merely to merely capture a lone player.

Since the creature is presently given an ability, a weapon must have appeared on the map.

Alexander scanned the video feed and dedicatedly observed each camera angle. The range of the camera is limited to the corridors and laboratories. There’s an assumption or rather a logical explanation, that weapons that could forcibly restrain the monster won’t appear on such exposed areas. In some cases, it should be concealed like them.

The game system will never provide free lunch to them.

The position of the players is quite dispersed. Xavier can be noted hiding on his studio with one professor in an art laboratory on the third floor. Damian is hiding on the janitor’s closet under the stairs with two players crouching together under an auditorium stage of the second floor.

Alexander is lying inside an old bag hidden in a cabinet on the same floor. Three players are gathered on the fourth floor while only one person hid on the first floor.

The creature is treading the second floor with its deafening noises. The laughing face will often call out, “Where are you? Where are you? I am over here! Won’t you let me see you?"

It will be repeated thrice before the face will start giggling creepily. Once it is done chanting, the other face will respond indignantly, “It hurts! It hurts! Please help me!”

Its frenetic pace wasn’t brisk. Presumably due to the narrow corridors, the creature could not run in full blast. The walls and the ceiling are unduly restricting its scrawny arms and legs, leaving various noises of brittle pots and bone cracking. This conferred the players the advantage since they could perceive the horrid sounds very clearly. The empty corridor also amplifies the sounds very well.

Damian is sitting comfortably in a lotus position while gripping the bat on his legs inside the janitor’s closet. He could hear the sound of the creature walking to his direction, likely wanting to use the stairs to go up or down.

The cascading noises of bones scratching the marbled floor and walls sounded very terrible that anyone hearing it will surely tremble or faint on the spot. Well, since the sound means that the creature is nearby.

But Damian only rested his chin on his hand and furtively watched the door intently. The doors of the closet have those blinders design where you could see the outside from the inside but not the otherwise. It is facing the door of the room directly so when the creature opened the door, the first thing it saw is the cabinet.

There is no light in the room. The creature obsessively watched its own unrecognizable shadow elongate along the light that approached the lower end of the cabinet. The crying and laughing halted suddenly. It remained stationary.

The unfocused pupils of their sightless eyes twitched spasmodically and stretched until it is forced to look in one direction pointing to the cabinet where Damian is sheltered. At that point, both heads are giggling.

Terrible dread crawled up in the spines of the spectators.

Damian is tracked down.

Contrary to their expectation, Damian remained comfortably on his position. There is no expressed fear in his focused eyes. As how the creature is looking at his direction is also the same scrutinizing expression the individual have. There is no cowering or intention of fighting back since he is discovered. He is simply sitting there – waiting.

 “This person has a remarkably formidable psychological barrier,” one of the spectators commented. "I would have pissed my pants the moment the door is opened!”

Everyone agreed. If not pissing their pants, they must have fainted. Some would probably rush out and do something reckless like having a Spartan fight or a clueless escape. Such actions will be deemed useless though since the creature’s arms and legs are obstructing the way. But how would they able to analyze that considering they are hanging in a spider’s thread?

No matter how intelligent the humans had become, it is up until now a fact that they’re feeble creatures. The world conveyed by peace steered them to become vulnerable to danger.

Needless to say, there is a compelling reason why Damian wasn’t frightened of the creature. He had generously bestowed half of his life accompanying the undead in his guild. Each of them has their way to showcase their most grotesque, vulgar, and disturbing forms that other races would often retch upon sighting them. Such creatures only looked cute in his eyes. In actuality, he thinks of naturally taking it as a pet if the game permits it.

If ever the spectators know his thoughts, they would surely cry blood for thinking so much.

The stalemate did not last long. The long gaunt arms plunged eagerly unto the cabinet piercing deep holes instantly. It wantonly destroyed most of the doorframe leaving the sides in gaping open. Damian managed to miraculously escape the hands that slipped right just the sides of his head that struck directly to the walls behind the cabinet. The force wasn’t since he could hear the part of the wall crumbling behind him.

Such a fortunate escape! If he was struck, it would be either he, would be blind or would have his brains exploded.

The creature did not stop there. It wasn’t able to knock Damian off, so it took its hands back with the intention of striking the second time. As yet, it hasn't expected Damian to use this as a cover.

While it is extending its hands, back to itself, Damian quickly changed his position and grabbed the clothes of the janitor. He leaped together with the unattached door and used it as a stepping stone to attain the height of the creature.

A sinister grin appeared promptly on his face. He efficiently transferred from the door to the neck of the creature where he anchored himself using the clothes. Amply securing his balance, Damian made himself comfortable by riding on the creature’s back shoulder with his legs latching into the neck. A loud breaking sound resonated accompanied with two shrieking voices.

He said, as if staunchly defending his actions, "The rules didn’t say we couldn’t fight back when caught. Or how getting caught is supposed to mean. So, just allow me to assume that only by seeing your targets will the game system consider it as caught.”

He used the clothes to envelop the head of the creature. He carefully wrapped it around the head very tightly, even using the long sleeves of the shirt to fasten it to the neck. One shirt is enough to block the creature’s sight so Damian striped off his clothes to add a second layer. Two is better than one.

Once he’s done, he simply walked out of the door and decided to do a quick marathon but he paused thoughtfully. Damian returned to the room and retrieved the metal bat. Upon grasping the sturdy object, he employed his strongest force and brandished it to the head of the creature hitting the position of the eyes. Since he made a good one hit then doing the second time will not go wrong.

So he strike the creature the second time. Then, he ran away.

He didn’t hide immediately since the creature has marked him. The rules state the player shouldn’t move out from their hiding places, or the seeker will see them. It means that hiding would be useless and they’ll completely be wasting their three turns of hiding. Damian just only has to wait for the second round to end, and he could hide again.

Damian’s actions amazed the spectators. When he was sighted, everyone almost stopped breathing, afraid that it will affect the game play. It gotten worst when the creature suddenly struck the cabinet that caused a few people to faint. Damian’s successful escape caused a large sighing of relief. They suddenly got feeble on their knees and become dizzy. The intensity is too much to take.

The creature is already massive so the moment it entered the janitor’s room it got stuck. Damian is even kind enough to close the door when he escaped rendering the creature speechless. It could not use its hand to remove the clothes wrapped in its head since the doors of the cabinet are jamming it. Its arms are also too long it will hit the walls and ceiling whenever it tries moving it. Locked in place, the creature uttered an agonizing cry as if it has been bullied.

Damian, indeed, is a big bully.

Since he couldn’t hide, he uses this chance to roam around and search for the weapon. He opened his terminal and used the GPS map to scout. He had marked the areas that he went through. While looking over, he observed some of the cameras blinking. He stared at it for while then looked up to search for a camera. He bobbed his head with a thumbs-up then continued on his journey.

The flickering of the cameras wasn’t normal. It is like someone is deliberately causing a glitch to appear. Initially, it wasn’t noticeable. They thought it was just a disruption of feed caused by the barrier around the school building. But when it happened repeatedly, the spectators suddenly become concerned. With the current technology, it is impossible for e video to flicker. It won’t pass the standards.

 “What is happening?” Someone asked. “The glitches are disturbing.”

It strikingly resembled a horror film screen TV.

The military officers frowned as they watched the video feed. Though, they didn’t do anything and observed a little more. They detected an odd pattern from the glitches that comes in intervals. It felt familiar. One officer comprehended something and enlightened his comrades, “Sir! That wasn’t a glitch!”

His sonorous words seized the attention of people. But he didn’t shy back. He excitedly informed their group commander and said, “They are communicating with Morse!”

 “What do you mean-“

The military officers have one reaction as they all nodded in understanding. They all returned their eyes to the camera feeds and watched intently. They calculated the times the screen flickers. One screen will flicker a few times then another camera will flick back. The military had been taught by this method so the flickering are instantly decoded!

Other spectators that were knowledgeable about ancient Earth cryptography joined the officers in deciphering the coded conversation. One even volunteered on translating the exchange to enable the other people follow what the players are chatting about. A large projector is placed beside the video feed giving subtitles to the mute conversation.

Xavier: Have you finished searching the second floor?

Damian looked up in the camera and swayed his head sideways. He raised his palms up with three fingers extended. He’s telling there are three rooms left.

Alexander: I guess it wasn’t on the second floor.

Xavier: Just let him look. It won’t take a while.

Damian nodded and continued exploring the rooms. Only the three has the access of the cameras, so they are the only ones who could converse. They followed Damian enter a room then come out. He signaled them that there’s nothing in the room then proceeded on entering the second room.

Alexander: Anyways, how will we know what weapon are we looking?

Xavier: I’m unsure. But I’m guessing it wasn’t a weapon.

Alexander: What do you mean?

Xavier: It could be something simple. Don’t expect to see some sword or ax hanging around.

Alexander: That’s true.

Alexander is communicating with Alexander when he heard some noise. Damian cautiously entered the room he’s hiding. The other person knows Alexander is hidden deep in the cabinet, so he did not dare to open it. He just scurried over the room and exited without a sound. The same thing happened to the third room. The weapon is not on the second floor.

Damian went from one side of the corridor to the other and used the stairs opposite to the place he was hiding before. He decided to check the fourth floor first then go down. Xavier is watching Damian pass through the camera feeds and thought of something.

Xavier: What is the possibility of the weapon to move around?

Alexander: Holy shi-

Xavier: Since we could change our hiding places three times, it is reasonable to assume the weapons will be moved too.

Damian: Wouldn’t it be useless to seek the weapons then?

Xavier: It’s just a speculation. I wonder if the seeker also knows where the weapons can be found.

Damian: Want to prove it?

Xavier did not answer. Alexander made no response no response either. Damian did not continue inspecting the rooms and waited at the end of the stairs of the fourth floor. He’s already two floors above but the wailing and banging from the second floor can still be heard. Damian only sneaked glances down as if wanting to perceive things. He even leaned unto the railings with no fear of falling.

He motioned towards the camera and flickered it.

Damian: I am asking you. Do you want to test it?

This time, Alexander responded: I never thought you were this courageous. You even wanted to stake your life.

Damian shrugged his shoulders: It’s just a game.

Alexander: Just a game, my a*s. Do whatever you want.

Nobody could understand the conversation except to the military officers. They eyed the three conversing players and thought that even the ordinary citizens of the federation possess a courageous heart.

Even though there are no wars to wage, the federation however maintained the military. This is to ensure the general safety. The peace for a thousand years presented the current generation vulnerable to danger. The president could not imagine how the peace loving citizens could fight back.

Each year, there are lesser people going to the military. Most of the students attending are from families rooted with military elders. To find some students possessing the similar spirit, despite their background, showed humanity is not dead yet.

They are still undergoing progress.

They are, once again, undergoing a change.

Some of the students are inquiring Alexander, and Damian is talking about. A professor answered grimly, "He volunteered to become a seeker.”

The students reacted fiercely. “What? Does it mean he will be facing that creature?”

Both Alexander and Xavier understand what Damian is trying to do. Damian wanted to risk the loopholes of the game. If he will become a seeker, they could resolve many questions and the creature won’t receive any abilities. They will moreover know if the seeker could detect the weapons. This is in exchange of his life.

Damian searched for the students residing the fourth floor and handed the code for accessing the cameras. Then, he fled down using the other stairs. The sounds of banging is much clearer in this side since the creature is locked right just two floors below. He descended the stairs languidly; each step seems to get heavier. After scoring a few numbers, Damian reached the door of the janitor’s room.

The creature seems to have untangled itself from the shirt and is now punching the door open. The door wasn’t sturdy from the start, so it broke ajar just enough for the Damian to witness the creature in rage. A smile crept up in his face.

Everything in his sight seems to be moving in slow motion. The hands of the creature comprised of sharp nailed fingers reach out. Like how it hit the walls, the finger went straight to Damian’s face stabbing his eyes in a flash.

[ DAMIAN FORBES – ROLE: SEEKER ]