112 HIDE AND SEEK (1/2)

CHAPTER 112: HIDE AND SEEK

MICHAEL ELDRITCH

6 DAYS AGO

It's past midnight, but the chase never stops.

”Huff...huff…huff...”

I gasped for air as I leaned against a wall, completely terrified and sweating like ice. I can't believe it. I can't believe how crazy Xenon has been. He made it sure that I would have no escape in this hell. The escape pods have been destroyed or freed. Jumping out of the windows to end my own life is not viable either, as all windows have been sealed with huge thick metal plates.

That crazy bastard. He got me cornered in the shower room of this airship. It would be about half a minute before he gets here, and there's nowhere to go. I need to find a hiding spot.

I saw a set of locker beside me. Seeing that it is the only choice I have, I opened it and hid my body on such cramped coffin. If he finds me, this might as well be my resting place.

”Huff...huff…” My breathing is getting lighter. I can hear footsteps coming from the door of this locker room, combined with the scary snapping of the shears on his hand. I can see him walking just in front of me, using the vent in this locker as a window. I held my breath, trying to minimize all the noise I could make.

”You can run, and you can hide, my friend.” Xenon laughed. ”We can do this all day, all night long. But you will have no escape from me. Now… Which one of these lockers is your hiding place? Are you… here?”

Xenon opened up the locker that was just beside me. There are about twelve lockers here, and it would be tough for him to guess it at first try.

While he was preoccupied with checking the other locker, I took the opportunity to escape and run away. He will find me sooner or later if I stayed hiding in that place, and I'm willing to risk my everything just to have this chance to flee.

”Hold up there, buddy!” Xenon laughed like a maniac as he chased me. I'm only leading five meters away from him, so there will be no way I could lose him this time.

”Huff! Puff!” My gasp for air became faster as I run with full adrenaline. However, speed will not guarantee my escape. After three minutes of running, I found myself in a dead-end, being cornered in the engine room.

”You have nowhere to go, Mike~” Xenon snapped his shears as his demonic and holy eyes glowed.

”W-Wait! D-Don't cut my toes!” I curled like an armadillo, fully submitting to him.

Xenon grabbed my golden hair and dragged it closer to his face. His lips went closer to my ear as he muttered these words: ”Of course, my friend. I won't remove your toes… I will just smash it. Forge!”

Dropping his shears, Xenon immediately created a hammer that he used to smash my right toe. Blood splattered to the ground as the bones completely shatter like glass.

”Graaaahaaaaaaahhhh!!! Fuck!” I cried out loud. With my reflexes and instinct, I managed to kick off my torturer's face and I managed to run again. I started to run, albeit in a lumped manner, dragging my injured feet all along.

”Sigh. I should have cut your feet first. I'm such an amateur in this.” Xenon said as he held his head.

”Shit! Get away from me!” I cried with terror as I drag my injured feet. My speed in running has been cut twice as the excruciating pain echoes in my nerves.

”Fine! Fine! I know you're enjoying this game, my best friend.” Xenon said. ”Another round. I'll stay here and count to one hundred again. Make sure to find a better place to hide.”

I never turned back. I focused on fighting the pain and running away from that maniac. He seems to be enjoying himself in torturing me! He has cut my fingers, castrated my private parts, and now smashed my toe! I know I have done bad things in the past, and I fully repent now! I don't deserve to have this hellish treatment!

If this thing goes on, my mental state would shatter before my body breaks. I know that Xenon wanted to emotionally injure me as severely as possible before he kills me. He's doing a fucking good job.

Fighting is not an option. Escaping is not an option. I have to hide. Hide! Hide! Hide!

Wait, I know how to escape this predicament. It just took a while before my genius brain could work. As for the moment, I need somebody to save me. I'll call for anyone; Alterran Army, Emperor Sirius Elkyria, or even Serena Maizono just to escape from this hell. I'm sure they will deliver me away from this maniac friend of mine. Alterra believes in due process, and I should be imprisoned and tried fairly. I also believe that Serena Maizono has a genuinely good heart that would disapprove of Xenon's torturing techniques at me. I might end up dying in the process, but at least… anything… anything I can do to get away from the hands of this devil…

I managed to get to the control room and I hurriedly set it up for communication. There was an emergency channel radio exclusively reserved for me, so Xenon wouldn't have found it out. While trying to get a hold of myself, I put the telephone radio on my ears and talked.

”Anyone! Anybody! Please help me!” I cried out loud.