Hide N Seek

Hashtag Kalakar
May 10, 2023
7 min read

By Nancy Chhillar

Her heartbeat was the only thing she could hear, her legs were shaking and went numb but she kept on running not daring to look back. As she was about to move in a different direction, she felt herself go backwards into someone’s hold.

Trying to break out of the male tight hold she heard a dark sinner voice speak, the voice sent a wave of fear down her spine, she felt his breath hit her ear as he spoke.

I’ve found you

She woke up with cold sweat, gasping for air. She sat up feeling the warmth and softness of the blanket. She sighed, “I had the nightmare again, the same one over and over and over again, yet I could never catch a glimpse of his face.” She sighed again and take a look at the time “3:05 a.m.” once finally awake she pulls herself out of the cozy blanket. Opening a window feeling the air brush pass her face giving her the chills, she climbed out of the window and sat at the roof of the house. Sitting at the roof, she kept her gaze fixed on the moon, the only thing that could give her a sense of reality. After a few minutes she decided to climb back into her bedroom, not caring to close the window. She got under the covers but couldn’t shrug the feeling of being watched.

The Next day; while returning back from her work.

It was already 11:00 p.m., she walked out of the office door and began walking home. The air was cold and the streets were quiet, she put up her headphones and began walking through the night, but soon enough her steps came to a halt as she heard someone …. groaning? Taking off her headphones, she tried to listen closely the sounds were of a male who sounded like he was in pain.

She speedily-walked over to where the sound was coming only to see a male figure looking down holding his abdomen area, she rushed to him and bent down to his level causing him to look at her, the reflection of moon could be seen in his eyes, they were holding soft and painful void of emotions. She looked at him for a few more seconds and said, “Sir, are you okay?” He shook his head; she helped him up as he just let his weak and fragile body. She called a taxi to pick her and this boy up, his other hand that was down to his side snuck around her body, the males hug felt awfully familiar to her but she brushed off the thought as the taxi pulled up. Opening the door placing the boy in the car she got in the other side and said her address to the male driving.

As they reached the destination she went out of the car and walked around the other side the male was asleep, she picked him up with all her strength. Quickly opening the door, she placed the male on the couch. Running up through the stairs to grab a first aid kit. She ran back down, she saw how badly his stomach was bruised, “Who did this to you...?” She whispered while treating his each and every bruise present on his body. After wrapping all the bandages securely, she laid him on the couch in a comfortable position and placed a blanket over him to before herself going to bed.

Waking up as she heard shuffling downstairs, she quietly walked down only to see the male walking back and forth, “You’re finally awake.” Which caused him to flinch turning towards her as his expressions changed to a clam one. “Uhm… S-sorry I didn’t mean to wake you up.” “You’re fine no need to be sorry, are you feeling better?” she asked softly, as she made her way towards the couch as they both sat across to each-other, “Yeah, I’m feeling better thank

you… well what’s your name?” she gave him a small smile as he thanked her, “I am Jane, how about you what’s your name?” She asked as a small smile made a way to the male’s lips, “Alex, nice to meet to Jane.” “Nice to meet you as well Alex.” The more they talked the more, she doubted at how familiar he sounded but ignored it.

It’s been about a month, Jane and Alex have gotten closer than before and always have a great time watching movies, playing games etc. but now a days jane is noticing something weird in Alex behavior.

It was a Saturday night and Jane was getting ready for a hangout with her friend Lia, she looked at the mirror and felt satisfied with her outfit. As she turned to leave the room suddenly Alex entered her room his head was low on his smartphone, “Jane do you w- where are you going?” “I’m going to hang out with Lia after such a long time.” She said with a huge grin on her face, “Well can’t you cancel the plan? I decided to watch this new movie with you today.” “Well, I can’t cause after 2 days she will be going back to her hometown.” Alex face contorted into a frown as his eye’s darkened. “H-hey are you okay?” she asked with slight worry, he just looked at her before nodding and walking out of the room while slamming the door causing the girl to flinch. “He’s been acting really weirdly recently; I have no clue because it’s honestly starting to scare me. Maybe he is just not feeling well, he will be fine alone for some-time. Come on jane you’re going out.” She spoke to herself before heading out.

“Thanks Lia, I had so much fun today.” Said Jane, “I too had fun after such a long time.” She spoke. They talked a bit more as they both realized it was getting late, they bid their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Unlocking the front door expecting to see Alex to greet her. She looked around, “Maybe he went out.” She thought, as she took off her shoes placing them by the door. She began to walk upstairs to take a warm shower. Once done she got under the covers and fell in deep sleep.

Nowadays all throughout the day Alex kept himself in the basement. And she couldn’t help but notice one of the sharp knives were gone, actually most of her knives have disappeared through these days.

Today again Alex was in basement, he was worrying her so she thought to check up on him, and went towards the basement. She spoke while moving down the basement stairs, “Alex-Ahh-Ahh” she screamed in horror at the site in front of her. Alex was on top of Lia’s lifeless body, all the knives that disappeared were scattered around the floor with one specific knife in his hand. She watched him hurriedly getting up while grabbing a piece of cloth, she turned around trying to run away as fast as possible to get help. He grabbed her wrist putting the cloth on her face, she tried to hold her breath but, in the end, she needed to breath and then everything went black.

Opening her eyes as her vision was blurry, she kept on blinking till she could figure out where she was. Once she could see clearly, she saw that she was in her room. Trying to stand up only to notice that she’s tied to a chair. Fear took over her as she heard footsteps only

to see Alex standing in front of her. He bent down to her level before talking, “You awake Jane.” She looked at him in fear as his hand began to caress her hairs. She moved her head away in fear, he noticed she saw his eyes darken he only stared until he got up softly grabbing her chin, “You look at me, when I’m talking.” His voice deep and filled with rage. Her eyes began to fill with tears, as he noticed her tears his expression soften, “Oh Jane, please don’t cry-” she interrupted him, “Please let me go… P-please I’ll do anything…” he again began to run his hand through her hairs, “When I like something, it belongs to me.” She looked at him still while pleading and begging. “Fine how about we play a game.” He said as she looked up in a bit of hope.

“If I win you could never run away from me, if you win you earn your freedom. We’re going to play Hide N Seek. But there is only one rule you’re not allowed to run out of this house or I win simple enough.”

He said with a creepy grin on his face and started to untie her. Once she was free from the ropes the game began, she ran downstairs into the living room. She hurriedly looked for a place to hide, realizing there’s no place to hide around her she ran into the kitchen looking for a place to hide there. She quickly ran inside the washroom as she hears Alex say, “Ready or not here I come.” He yelled; she left the door open just a little bit so she could see if he comes by. “He put up a time limit of 45 minutes, I just have to stay in here for forty-five minutes. You’ve got this Jane, just stay quiet and listen.” She thought to herself. She heard his footsteps go around the entire house, she couldn’t tell where he was which caused her to panic. Until he passed the kitchen, she suddenly realized and knew that he wasn’t going to let her go even if she wins, she knew he will never let her leave. When she saw him far away from the kitchen, she ran towards the front door hurriedly opening it and booking out of the house.

Trying to break out of the Alex’s tight hold she heard Alex’s dark sinner voice speak, the voice that sent a wave of fear down her spine, she felt his breath hit her ear as he spoke.