If this were a horror movie, something terrifying would reach out from the darkness at this moment and drag me under the bed.

However, nothing happened.

When I lowered my head to look, all the sounds and shadows disappeared, replaced only by the thick layer of dust under the bed with no sign of even a single mouse.

It was as if everything I had just experienced was just a figment of my imagination.

The red light on my watch told me that the terrifying scene had just occurred, and another person had been eliminated.

A replay of the death scene appeared, and another young female participant was eliminated. After hearing a sound, she became frightened and covered herself with a blanket, too scared to look under the bed. Tentacles dripping green slime reached out from beneath the bed, ending the game with her screams.

Five participants have been eliminated, leaving only a dozen or so remaining.

Day three of the game.

I was awoken by a knocking on the door. It was morning, but the storm outside remained pitch black.

The pressure to stay "home" and the looming death filled me with an overwhelming level of stress, and my eyes were bloodshot.

I splashed cold water on my face to stay awake before opening the door to my brother standing outside with a pale complexion.

Even though his tone was icy, he seemed more human than "Mom and Dad."

He asked, "Didn't sleep well?"

I didn't answer and created some distance between us.

He continued, "Mom made breakfast and we should go downstairs to eat."

As we climbed down the stairs, my brother turned to me and said, "It's the third day, and you still don't believe me? The storm outside won't stop and you won't leave here unless..."

"Hurry up, the food's getting cold!" Mom's robust shouting cut him off.

Fear flashed in my brother's eyes, and he gave me a strange feeling that he was different from the "monsters" wearing human skin. He seemed human, as if he was also a player trapped here.

Could that be possible?

Perhaps, all us game participants would eventually become a member of "home," left in this eerie world.

An impulse surged in me, and I wanted to stop my brother.

No! I should wait; some rules haven't been triggered yet.

On the dining table, Mom had prepared the "dark cuisine" – a bowl of green, gooey porridge.

Dad wasn't home, leaving only my brother and Mom. They sat down to eat the green porridge like it was a delicious meal.

I wanted to throw the stuff away, but I knew I needed to save my strength to win the game.

"Green porridge? I'm not mistaken! What's the taste?"

"Even dogs wouldn't eat it! The participants are so pitiful... o(﹏)o"

I pinched my nose and took a few spoons of it. When I found my brother looking at me, I looked into his eyes. He glanced away then looked back at Mom.

He was afraid of Mom, and he had something to say to me.

Mom robotically cleaned our bowls. I walked over to the sofa and sat beside my brother.

He turned and said with a blank expression, "Do you believe me now?"

The rules clearly state, "Do not talk to your brother." Does nodding or shaking my head count as talking? I dared not respond, merely listening to him speak.

"If you want to leave here after seven days, you must do as I say. On the night of the seventh day, I will take you away from 'home' to see the 'truth.'"

I felt my palms sweating.

The general rules acknowledged that we had to stay in "home" for a full seven days, and only surviving after that time would be deemed a victory. His words conflicted with the rules; could I trust him?

The risk was too great!

I stood up, ready to leave, and my brother stared directly at me. "If you don't believe me, then try following what I say. If you hear breathing when you're lying in bed, do not open your eyes. When Mom cooks noodles on the seventh day, you can take a bite, but don't take a second. If you don't comply, I won't be able to take you away.”

My brother informed me of two new rules.