The Hunt (9)

[Round Started: One Minute Remaining]

Although many things could happen within one minute, it seemed like the hunter had a hard time trying to find me. Micha's advice was on the point, hiding was the best option I possessed. I felt Ethan standing above me, unintentionally interfering in the trial. Thankfully, it appeared like the hunter could not injure them from my experience from the previous round. However, I remained quiet, not allowing the possibility of giving out any hints.

I tightly hugged myself, waiting for the time to pass, staring at the timer. Surrounded by the darkness, I started to go through my miserable memories. Always confined inside a small, controlled cage, perfectly separated from the rest of the world. My world lacked many colours, only touching what the owner of the cage allowed. I was the one considered to be greedy, wanting more than what could be provided. Why wouldn't a prisoner who had done nothing wrong not want to run away from their cell?

However, I was worse than a prisoner. Someone wanted me to become their obedient doll, expanding his power over me with each increasing year. I wanted to return to the time where I was younger, embracing my family name that came from my parents. Sadly, nobody referred to me as Rika Shanes anymore. My identity was entirely dependent on Luke, mostly called as the fiancée to the heir of the Roselia family.

I couldn't stand the people who seemed to be jealous of me in the school forums. Did they ever suffer from the guilt, watching their parents wonder the next time they would be able to meet their child? Sometimes, I could hear my mom crying in the middle of the night, opening the photo albums sent by my school, whispering my name. I visited Luke's parents much more often than my own. Luke couldn't fully understand my homesickness, always free to visit his parents.

He was always surrounded by his family, extending to include his cousins. Although I had my friends with me, it wasn't easy to fill the emptiness inside my heart. The warmth of my parents missing in my life. It was different from calling Luke's family as my own, I disliked them, watching them plan out my entire life. His family was too cold, calculating every one of their actions, including what emotions to show to manipulate someone.

[Round Started: Twenty seconds remaining]

My eyes widened when the entire ground began to rumble, the hole starting to collapse. Maybe the hunter figured out I was hiding underground. But I was unfazed, my barrier was sturdy, unaffected by all the dirt falling onto me. I easily possessed enough mana to continue supplying more oxygen inside this tiny space, having the luxury to fortify my barrier. Although I could hear the chaotic noise of people crying, running to escape, it had nothing to do with me.

I selfishly knew they would manage to safely evacuate. I wasn't surprised when the mansion started to crumble, feeling more weight above me. The ground was being manipulated to the point it almost resembled an earthquake. The hunter was getting more desperate, affecting the people around me. I noticed the mansions in social week tended to be more fragile than the regular ones, focused on its beauty rather than creating a strong foundation.

I covered my ears, not wanting to hear more people panicking, someone calling for healers. This wasn't my fault. I was the one hiding from the hunter causing this frenzied mess. I was going to be killed as soon as I revealed myself. Wincing every time someone screamed from trying to avoid the debris, slowly turning into a death trap aimed for me. This trial tried to affect me both physically and mentally.

[Round Started: Ten seconds remaining]

"You should leave with us," Ethan warned Alex.

"I can't leave Rika alone here, pass me a shovel," Alex declined his offer.

This was bad. At this rate, Alex could reveal my location to the hunter. I placed my marble in silent mode, hoping the hunter didn't hear the subtle sounds. My fingers became busy as I sent him a message, 'Leave me alone, I'll join you in five more seconds. I'm going to die if you mess with this hole.'

I could teleport out of here if I wanted, a short distance away from the surface. However, when my hole was slowly beginning to be stomped upon, I shuddered, knowing it was coming from the hunter. I desperately fortified my barrier, digging deeper into the ground as another route to escape. My hands became busy, filled with scratches as tiny holes of sunlight began to drip near me. I had three seconds left, and anything could happen as time was slowing down for me.

My supply of oxygen was drastically decreasing, my mind going blank, preventing me from using my mana efficiently. I gasped for more air, my lungs constricting, quickly feeling out of breath. My vision wobbled, swirling in and out like my head was rapidly spinning. Was this how people felt when they started to suffocate to death? I had to get out of here, unable to keep myself sane. I abandoned my shovel and used my hands to dig, my nails becoming ruined. I didn't know what to do, staring at the timer, placing all my hopes into it.

[Round Started: One second remaining]