THE MIDNIGHT GAME 

INTRODUCTION BEFORE THE MAIN STORY

The Midnight Game is a ritual of sorts, rumored to have originated from ancient pagan practices used as a punishment for those who disobeyed the gods. 

The game involves summoning the Midnight Man an entity who is said to prey on fear and darkness. 

Those who play the game must follow a series of rules to survive the night.

Over time, the game has turned into an urban legend, with stories shared across more and more forums and whispered at sleepovers. 

Some claim it's just a psychological experiment, while others insist it's a true encounter with the paranormal.

Needless to say, The Midnight Game gained it's popularity through online forums, where thrill-seekers shared their scary experiences.

—-------------------

I woke up with a jolt, my head was pounding like a drum. 

The harsh light overhead stung my eyes, and I winced, blinking and turning my eyes away.

My sudden movement began to tear away at the foggy sensation I felt, then i realised my face was not resting on my pillow with the #1 brother note on it.

I tapped my side, this was a hard surface and it was cool.

Where am I?

Opening my eyes, I saw a dull gray ceiling that seemed draw nearer to me the longer I stared.

Slowly, I sat up with my muscles spasming and aching.

What happened?

And that's I noticed the others.

There were two of them, scattered across the room, all awake, I looked to me that I was the first to wake up.

The next one to begin to stir awake was a young guy, maybe eighteen, with wild, multi-colored hair. 

He groaned, blinking at the light like I did.

"Ugh, what the fuck?" he grumbled, dragging a hand over his face.

A woman, in her mid-twenties maybe, jumped from the floor, looking around the room.

 "W-Where… where—-" 

"I was hoping one of you could tell me," an older man, likely in his forties said while leaning his head on the wall.

So I wasn't the first to wake and we are four in total.

"It seems they don't know anything, I told you it would be pointless expecting that."

Turning from where I saw towards the female voice, I watched a woman in cropped hair stand to her feet.

I was wrong again, there were five of us and this woman here looked stern.

Maybe she knew something.

The woman looked at me, wiping her glasses and putting them on as she did.

"We need to figure out what's going on."

"I… I don't remember anything," the mid twenties woman said, hugging her knees to herself.

"Same," I replied, getting to my feet. 

"It's like… one moment I was—"

"At a party," the teen interrupted, throwing his hands up. 

"And now I'm here. What the actual fuck?!"

"Watch your language," stern woman snapped.

He rolled his eyes, kicking at the floor, "Or what? You'll ground me grandma?" 

"Focus, everyone," older man said, standing. 

"Let's check the door."

"We've already checked that."

"Let's check it again."

We all turned to the only door in the room that was large and closed.

"I got it," Teen said, swaggering over and yanking at the handle. 

"Locked. Figures."

"Let me try." 

Stern pushed him aside, braced herself and pulled but the door didn't budge.

"Maybe it's a push door," Teen said sarcastically.

"Maybe you should shut up and help," she shot back.

"Fuck you."

"What. Did. You. Say?"

Teen walked closer to her towering over her in spite of their age gap.

"I said, 'Fuck you…"

His lips twitched to the side, "... Bitch.'"

Stern was going…

"Wait," I said, stepping in between them. 

"This will not get us out of here."

Old man held Stern's left shoulder, "He's right. Let's keep looking."

We searched the room for what felt like forever, but there was nothing. 

No windows, no vents, no furniture—just the door.

"Alright, move," Old man said, stepping up closer to the door.

BOOM

He kicked at it.

BOOM

BOOM, 

The woman in her mid twenties was quiet timid and very quiet but she was squeezing both of her hands and shaking them as if cheering old man on.

BOOM

The door made a whack sound.

"Motherfucker! It's going to give. Keep hitting it gramps.

Old man stopped for a second, "I am not your gramps."

Then he hit the door again.

Suddenly there was a buzz and he bounced of the wall, jerking, shaking, spasming.

Timid ran to him and touched his face.

She jerked back immediately, flicking her hands in the air.

"What's wrong, what's wrong?!"

Old man was still shaking on the floor.

"He's getting shocked!"

Stern ran her hands through her cropped hair then squatted close to Old man.

"How?"

Old man's head began to shake violently.

"Help him! Can't you do something?!!" Timid was screaming and crying.

"Any of you!!!?"

"I can help."

We all turned to look at Teen.

"And how can you?" Stern said still not seeing eye to eye with Teen.

"You're a—-"

"A final year Med student," he finished, flicking out his tongue and I saw the silver stud that was pierced into his tongue.

Our jaws dropped and Teen sighed, swishing us with his hands.

"Fuck off I need space." 

"With that kind of attitude, do you know what you study at school?" 

Teen ignored her but snapped his fingers at Timid, "Give me your jacket." 

"What?" 

"What? I'm not taking off mine. Be quick Gramps could die." 

—------------------

I have no idea what Teen did to help Old man, all I know is that after a while, he stopped shaking.

Right now, though Old man was awake, we were sitting on the floor, in various states.

Timid was crying silently at a corner, Teen was sighing repeatedly and I was in a state of shock, quiet.

I wanted to go home.

Old man was quiet as well where he sat but only Stern was pacing around the room.

We were all quiet; Old man's near death was a serious warning to us.

We could all die.

"Oh for fuck's sake stop pacing."

Stern stopped and began to address everyone, "Are we going to sit here and die?"

Before any of us could answer, a robotic voice suddenly spoke.

"Attention. You have been selected to participate in the Midnight Game."

We all stayed still.

"Who's there?" I demanded, standing and turning around to find the source of the voice

But turn as we might,---- we all did— none of us could figure out where the voice was coming from.

It sounded like it was coming from everywhere at once.

"Let us out!" Timid cried, fresh tears streaming down her face.

"This is bullshit!" Teen yelled, standing up as well.

"Come out and face us, you coward!"

However, the voice continued as though it hadn't heard us. 

"You will follow the rules of the Midnight Game. Failure to comply will result in elimination."

"Elimination?" Stern repeated.

"What does that mean?"

"Survive until 3:33 a.m., and you will be released. Rest assured, you will not be harmed before then if you follow the rules. Any further attempt to leave will result in severe consequences."

Old man shook his head, "This can not be real." 

"Well it sounds pretty fucking real to me," Teen snapped.

The voice ignored us again. 

"An alarm will sound at midnight. Please proceed to the dining area, where you will find trays containing food and supplies. Make sure to eat. You will need your strength."

"Wait, wait, wait!" I yelled.

"Why are we here? Who are you?"

The voice paused for a moment, then continued. 

"Good luck."

And just like that, it was gone.

The room fell into a thick silence, except for the sound of the Timid's quiet sobs.

"This isn't real," she whispered to herself, rocking back and forth. 

"I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming."

"Get a grip," Stern scolded. 

"Crying won't help."

"Neither will being a bitch." 

"Say that again," she growled, stalking towards Teen.

"Shut up the both of you! Don't you know you should—-"

Old man started and opened his mouth, wincing in pain while clutching below his left chest.

Stern and I quickly held him.

"Are you alright?" 

"Can you breathe?" 

He winced again but nodded his head, "Let's just… let's do what the voice said."

"Do what it says?" Teen sounded surprised.

"Are you serious?"

"Do you have a better idea?" he asked.

Teen glared at him but said nothing, instead it was Timid that spoke up.

"But even if we did, where is the dinning room? This is the only room." 

Just then, there was a sliding sound and right behind where Teen stood, there was the wall sliding up on its own, till it was completely open. 

All five of us exchanged glances but I was hungry, who knows how long we were kept unconscious. 

So I made the first move to the door. 

"Hang on man," Teen said holding my shoulders, stopping me in my tracks. 

"How safe do you think that is?" 

I shrugged his hands off, "What choice do we have?" 

—-----------

In the dinning area, a long, plain table sat in the center of the room, with five trays neatly arranged on top. 

Each tray held a small loaf of bread, a bottle of water, a candle, and a lighter.

"Well, isn't this cozy," Teen dripped with sarcasm.

Stern grabbed a tray for herself, "Shut up and eat."

Somehow I didn't feel like the food was a trap, I just ate. 

At least the bread was fresh. 

Old man took his tray and sat beside Timid nibbled on her bread like a frightened mouse.

Teen grabbed his own tray and sat as far away from the others as possible, muttering curses under his breath.

None of us noticed the Vanda black cameras that were watching us.

—---------------

Old man was the first to break the silence. 

"Do you think this is some kind of experiment?" 

"Could be," Stern replied. 

"Or a sick joke."

"If it's a joke, it's not funny," Teen tersed.

Timid looked up, "What if… what if they're watching us?"

There was silence, then… 

"I wouldn't put it past them," Stern said finally.

I glanced around, half-expecting to see hidden cameras in the corners, but the walls were smooth.

And I couldn't make out much since the lights had turned off a while ago to let us know it was night time.

"Whoever they are," I said.

"They're not going to tell us anything. We just have to get through this… Midnight Game."

"Whatever the hell that is," Teen muttered.

"Do you think we'll survive?" Timid all but whispered. 

I didn't know what to say other than; "We have to."

Teen snorted. "Great pep talk, man."

Stern was on him again, "Do you ever shut up?" 

"Why don't you make me?"

"Enough!" Old man shouted, his voice booming in the otherwise empty room

"We need to conserve our energy for midnight."

—----------

I couldn't sleep and I'm not sure any of us did but at 11:59, a shrilling sound made us get up, covering our ears.

"It is time," THAT voice announced. 

"Light your candles and prepare for the Midnight Game."

My hands trembled as I fumbled with the lighter, pulling the click handle till the tiny flame lit up in the darkness. 

Around me, the others lit their candles, as well.

"Keep your candles lit," the voice warned. 

"If your candle goes out, you have 10 seconds to relight it. Failure will result in elimination."

"What does that mean?" Timid woman asked shakenly.

The voice didn't answer.

"Hey! Explain what the hell is going on!"

Silence.

Then all the walls around us began to slide up, opening and from within, we heard a growl.

"BEGIN."