
1
You crouch at your bedroom window, peering out, just enough to see into the backyard.
He's out there.
You fall away from the window. He can't know you're here. Maybe, if there's no sign of you, he'll give up, and -
Downstairs, the front door unlatches. Your heart jumps into your throat. You can hear his boots walk across the floor and up the stairs.
There's nowhere to run. No chance of fighting. Your only hope is to hide. You have to choose quickly.
2
You sneak down the hall to the front door downstairs. You try to open the door, but it won't budge. There's no time for this. You hurry toward the backdoor, but as you run, you hear screams coming from the backyard.
3
"So lonely," he laughs. "Let me show you to your friends."
"No, thanks!" you shout and sprint toward the car. You have to make it. You just have to.
4
You can't take the suspense. You have to get out of here. You take a second to psych yourself up, and you run.
"There you are!"
You bolt down the stairs without looking back, barely touching a step.
You get to the front door and try to open it, but it's stuck. His boots thunder down the stairs. There's no time. You run through the kitchen to the backdoor.
5
You jump into the bushes just in time. He runs past you and out of sight. If you can make it to the front of the house, you can get to the car.
6
"One of us has to get to safety," Ruby whispers. "It can't end like this. Not for all of us."
You both glance out to the car, parked on the road. The yard never seemed so big before.
7
He smiles, standing proudly with his hands in his pockets.
"Please," you say, taking a step back. Your words escape you in a way you only wish you could escape this situation. "No... Please..."
8
You hurry behind the shed. Your friends, Greg and Lisa, are also there.
"We're dead... We're so dead..." Lisa cries.
"Have you seen Ruby anywhere?" Joey asks.
You're about to answer when you see a hand reaching around the shed behind him.
10
"I'll run for the car," you say.
"Gosh, thanks," Ruby says. She takes a deep breath. "Alright. Don't look back."
Ruby runs for the porch. "Hey!" she shouts. He turns his head. "Come on, it's you and me!"
"You're making this too easy," he smiles. She runs and he runs after her.
11
"Olly Olly oxen free!" Ruby's voice rings through the air.
He shakes his head. "What?"
"Booya!" you shout. "My sister for the win!"
You do a victory dance.
12
You've almost made it to the car. You see someone else running toward it. Ruby. She's made it. She's safe.
13
You slam into the car with reckless abandon. Safe. You're safe at last. With relief and jubilation, you shout to the sky, "Olly Olly oxen free!"
14
You scramble out from behind the shed without a word. Is it wrong to hope that they will slow him down? You run around the side of the house and try not to hear the screams.
The car is parked out front. You can run to it through the open yard, or sneak through the trees that line the driveway.
15
You run behind the door. The floorboards creak as he comes down the hallway. He pushes the door into you as he makes his way into the room. You struggle to stay silent.
He pauses in the doorway, then walks to the closet and throws it open.
16
You run out onto the back patio. You have seconds before he catches up to you. There are large bushes on either side of the door, or you can try to make your escape through the yard.
17
Everyone comes out and gathers around the car, some happier than others with the outcome.
"What a game!"
"Do you guys want to play again?"
"Who's it this time?"
18
You take off across the yard and toward the car. No looking back.
Suddenly, you hear Ruby scream, "He's coming after you! RUN!"
19
"Shh! It's me!"
You turn your head and see your sister, Ruby, crouching on a box of books. You sit together, barely breathing, both staring toward the closet door.
The sound of distinct screams breaks the silence.
"He's found the others," Ruby whispers. "We have to get out of here."
20
You walk over to the closet and peer inside.
Something moves, and a face appears from behind some clothes.
You both shout.
22
"Run!" Greg shouts. "Get to the car!"
You're just about to turn the corner of the house when you trip on a root and fall to the ground.
23
You run around the house to the front yard. The car is parked out on the street. You pause to check if he's coming, when a whisper in your ear makes your blood run cold.
"Boo."
24
You run into the backyard. There's movement behind the shed. You run closer and see that it's your neighbor, Joey. He gestures for you to hide with him.
25
You run around the front of the house. The car is parked out on the street. Screams echo from the backyard. He's found the others. There's no time to think about it. He's coming for you. It's a straight shot to the car, across the open front yard. Or, you could sneak through the row of trees that line the driveway.
26
You take off across the yard. As you run, you look back. He's bolting straight for you.
"I don't think so!" he shouts. He's gaining on you.
27
You run as fast as you can. You can hear his breathing behind you. He's a fingertip away from grabbing you.
28
He starts to come closer.
You're about to decide between running or making like a mannequin when suddenly something catches his attention outside. He goes to the window and then rushes out of the room.
29
You rush into the closet and pull clothes in front of you. The bedroom door creaks open. Then, silence.
You suddenly realize that your hiding place has a small problem. It is impossible to see if he has left, or if he is standing, silently, waiting.
30
You try to run, but he's too fast. He grabs you.
"Game over," he laughs, but then he stops. You both hear something...
31
You swear he can hear your heart beating. Your hands have gone numb. He checks under the bed. Standing up again, he scans the room. His gaze stops on the door.
32
"Tag!" he bellows. "Got you!"
Tired and defeated, you watch him do a victory dance.
Admit Your Sad, Sad Defeat
33
You run out into the backyard and gasp. Your friends are strewn around the yard like rag dolls. He's gotten them. He's gotten them all.
And now he's hunting you.
34
You run back toward the front door. Your sister, Ruby, is already there. She shakes the handle and yanks the door open.
"What? Where did you come from?" you ask.
"Upstairs," she says, crouching down and sneaking out onto the porch. "Come on."
You run out onto the porch and hide behind a pillar. He's coming back.
35
A hand lands on your shoulder and spins you around. It's too late. You cover your eyes and accept your fate.
36
You sink back further into the closet to wait.
Your hand touches something warm that quickly moves away.
Before you can scream, a hand covers your mouth.
37
You get up and creep toward the front yard. Maybe someone made it. Maybe he won't be back for you. Maybe -
"Well, look what we have here."
Your blood runs cold as you turn around.
38
"Okay," you say. With a deep breath, you run off of the porch. "Come and get me!" you shout. He is quick to oblige.
39
You quickly make your way down the stairs. You try to open the first door, but it's stuck.
"You just have to..." Ruby shakes the handle and yanks the door open.
"How long has it been doing that?" you ask.
"Um... Always?" You both creep out onto the porch. "How long has it been since you've actually used the -"
"Shh!" You grab Ruby and hide behind a pillar.
He's coming back.
40
From the ground, you listen as the voices grow more distant. "Run!"
"No!"
"Argh!"
Then there is silence.
"This can't be it," you think. "It can't end this way."