Escape the Beast or It Will Eat You

"Damn it, this is like those Indian movies," Jonathan muttered. He wasn't trying to demean them; in his view, those films, along with Turkish dramas, were classic choices for a first date.

They had always worked for him. His dates preferred watching him rather than the movie, and it helped them connect better by discussing the films.

One thing Jonathan hadn't mentioned was his love for video games and his fascination with things he couldn't explain. Perhaps that's why he found Indian movies so amusing.

But now wasn't the time to delve into Jonathan's preferences. He was referring to the typical scene where a deranged man claimed everyone would die.

"Run from what exactly?" Asked the impatient old man.

The man in the pergola looked at everyone with a wide grin and said, "Welcome to this place. None of you are alive, but you aren't dead either. Let's assume your souls haven't been completely erased yet."

"What did you just say?" A black man, visibly agitated, seemed ready to start a fight.

The man in the pergola waved his hand dismissively and said, "You died when your wife caught you having sex with her mother. She shot you over a hundred times, so everyone here knows no one could survive that."

"You were electrocuted while masturbating in the bathroom."

"You got caught stealing and decided to run, but then a truck hit you."

"As I said, you aren't alive, but you aren't dead yet either. If you want to know more, you must listen to my words and play this life-or-death game."

Crack!

The man in the pergola looked at everyone and said, "Allow me to introduce myself. Everyone knows me as Scissorhands, but you can call me Mr. Peter, the armorer of this spectacular game."

"Well, you don't really need to know my name because you'll die sooner than you can imagine. Anyway, you've all been brought here by the supreme lord of life and death. To win the game and continue living, you must survive. This entire city is the playing field, and only one can remain alive."

Upon hearing this, Jonathan walked over to the forty-year-old woman and took her hand. His performance was so convincing that the woman, who was reminded of her son, was moved.

"Don't be afraid, child. We'll get out of here soon."

"You remind me of my aunt. I'm glad you're a good person."

Jonathan's expression showed relief, but inside he celebrated. "Damn, I've never lied in my life, but now I think I can outdo anyone on their first try."

"The game is as follows: I'll count to three, and all of you must run and hide. If you don't escape and the wolf finds you, you'll lose the game and, consequently, your life," Peter explained as he pulled a pocket watch.

The black man wasn't in the mood for games. A man from the streets, his experience dictated he had to assert his authority.

"That idiot's going to die..." Jonathan thought as he distanced himself, not losing sight of the black man and his impending action.

By this point, Jonathan had moved far enough from the forty-year-old woman, knowing that carrying extra people would be a burden in a game of hiding.

"Don't do that."

"Are you telling me what to do?"

Peter smiled, pulled an hourglass from his pocket, and murmured, "There's always one example..."

"What did you say?"

Crack!

Everyone watching the black man was stunned. They saw Peter's right hand pierce the black man's chest, holding a heart bubbling with blood.

"Oh, shit..."

Jonathan felt nothing but horror. The man before them was powerful enough to kill with his bare hands. This clarified that no one, not even the strongest, could control this situation.

It also indicated something else: the sand in the hourglass marked their time to hide. Before anyone else could react, Jonathan ran.

"Hey, wait." The forty-year-old woman wanted to protect Jonathan, but the child ran before she could say anything.

"Time is running out. If you don't leave, the wolf will eat you."

"Damn, let's get out of here."

"Everyone, run."

While running, Jonathan discovered two things: he didn't get tired, and he seemed faster than any adult at their peak.

What the hell was happening to his body?

"The tallest building..." Jonathan thought, not questioning who the wolf was.

Firstly, the best place to hide from a wolf in the city might be a closed and secure area, like a well-protected basement or a building with multiple locked doors. He needed to avoid open areas and seek refuge in places where the wolf would have difficulty entering or detecting him.

This only left Jonathan with the option of seeking refuge in the tallest building. Additionally, he needed to get rid of his body odor. To avoid detection by a predator, he had to blend his scent with the environment.

"A damned perfume shop..." Jonathan couldn't find anyone else besides those from the meeting, meaning they were in a game, as mentioned before. But since this place was a replica of the real world, there were real things he could use.

Jonathan entered a perfume shop, grabbed a dozen of the same kind, put them in a bag, and ran towards the building, reaching it in less than ten minutes.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Jonathan threw several perfumes on the first floor and ran to the second, repeating the process. The scent of perfume filled the building, and he soon found an ideal hiding spot.

"The ventilation ducts will work." Jonathan thought as he climbed up through the public bathroom, where he threw another perfume, jumped in a way he never thought possible, and managed to open the hatch.

Crack!

Once inside the duct, Jonathan closed the hatch, moved to a completely different area, and, after securing an exit and several options, remained silent.

All he could do now was wait.