Chapter 2: The Game Doesn't End

Kai's POV

By the time I got home, the whole day felt like a fever dream. The tasks, the creepy smiley face on that app... I couldn’t decide if it was hilarious or just plain weird.

I kicked off my sneakers by the door, tossed my bag onto the couch, and collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. The glow-in-the-dark stickers I’d put up when I was a kid were still there—stars and planets that had long since lost their shine. My room was a bit of a mess, but it was my mess, and after today, I was too tired to care.

Just as I was about to drift off, my phone buzzed from the desk.

I groaned and rolled over, peeking at the screen. The app notification glowed bright against the dark screen:

> "Hey Kai! Miss me already? Ready for your next task?"

I let out a laugh. "Seriously? Even now?"

Ignoring it, I tossed my phone aside, pulling a pillow over my face. A little voice in the back of my mind was still uneasy, but I was determined not to let this silly game get to me. I let my mind wander to other things—school, basketball practice, and whether I should start watching that new anime everyone was talking about.

Just as I started to relax, my phone buzzed again. And again. And again. It was non-stop, like an angry bee trying to get my attention.

"Fine! You win!" I muttered, reaching for it. But before I could even glance at the screen, the room was plunged into darkness.

The power went out, leaving me in pitch-black silence.

I sat up quickly, my heart pounding. "Uh, that’s weird," I muttered. The streetlights outside were still on, which meant it wasn’t a blackout. Just my room.

I got up, fumbling my way to the light switch, flipping it on and off. Nothing happened. A shiver ran down my spine as my phone buzzed once more.

This time, the notification flashed across the screen in bold, glowing letters:

> "Ignoring me won’t make me go away, Kai."

My blood ran cold. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was almost like the app was... watching me.

Then, as if nothing had happened, the lights flickered back on, humming softly. My room was normal again—no creepy shadows, no ominous silence.

I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, shaking my head. "Okay, that was freaky," I admitted to myself.

Deciding I’d had enough for one night, I shut off my phone and plugged it in to charge, shoving it face down on my desk. If the app wanted attention, it could wait until morning.

The next day, I tried to put the weirdness behind me. The sun was shining, students filled the hallways, and everything seemed normal. I was actually looking forward to seeing my friends, just to feel grounded again.

When I spotted Tae and Mark by the lockers, I jogged over. "Morning, losers!" I greeted Mark lightly on the arm.

"You’re looking chipper," Mark said, giving me a sideways glance. "Got a date last night or something?"

"Please, like anyone would want to date this guy," Tae jokes, shaking his head.

"Actually," I said, leaning against the lockers with a grin, "I spent the night with my new favorite app. We’re in a very serious relationship now."

"That game thing again?" Tae asked, raising an eyebrow. "Dude, you need to get a life."

"Or better games," Mark added, laughing.

"Hey, you’re just jealous because I’m living on the edge," I said with a wink. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this app was more than just a prank. It was like it had a mind of its own.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, and sure enough, it was Game of Horrors again.

> "Good morning, Kai! Let’s start the day off right with some fun. Task 1: Sneak into the teacher’s lounge and leave a random banana on the principal’s desk. Timer: 5 minutes."

I blinked. A banana? I couldn’t help but laugh. "This game is ridiculous," I muttered.

"What’s the dare this time?" Tae asked, peering over my shoulder.

I showed him the screen, and he burst out laughing. "Oh my God, that’s actually hilarious. Do it, I dare you!"

"How is this game coming up with this stuff?" Mark wondered, shaking his head.

"Beats me," I said, but I was already heading toward the teacher’s lounge. If I was going to play this game, I might as well have fun with it.

I slipped down the hall, doing my best spy impression as I peeked around the corner. The lounge door was slightly ajar. I could see the principal’s desk from where I stood. I reached into my backpack and pulled out the banana I’d packed for lunch.

"Showtime," I whispered to myself, sneaking inside. I tiptoed over to the desk, placed the banana right on top of a stack of papers, and snapped a quick picture for good measure.

As I darted back out, my phone buzzed:

> "Well done, Kai! A+ for creativity. Ready for the next one?"

I grinned, half expecting the next task to involve putting googly eyes on the science skeleton or something equally stupid. I headed back to my friends, feeling like a mischievous kid who just got away with a prank.

"So, did you do it?" Mark asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

"Of course I did," I said, showing him the picture.

"You’re a madman," Tae laughed. "What’s next? Hijacking the school announcements?"

"Wouldn’t be surprised," I said, glancing at my phone as it buzzed again.

> "Task 2: High-five every person you meet in the next 5 minutes. Let’s spread some joy, Kai!"

[TIMER STARTS: 05:00]

This app was something else. I shrugged. "Guess I’m on a high-five mission."

I spent the next few minutes sprinting through the halls, slapping high-fives with everyone from freshmen to seniors. Some people looked at me like I was insane, others laughed and high-fived me back. By the time the timer ran out, my hand was stinging, but I was grinning like an idiot.

Mark and Tae were cracking up by the time I got back to them. "You’re like the school’s personal hype man now," Tae said, still laughing.

"It’s kind of fun," I admitted, still riding the high of the ridiculous task.

But just as I was enjoying myself, my phone buzzed again. I pulled it out, expecting another silly dare. Instead, the screen went dark, and a new message popped up:

> "Level 4: Time for a little fear, don’t you think?"

"Task 3: Head to the old storage room alone. Don’t tell anyone."

The smiley face looked different this time—it's grin was sharper, almost sinister. The lighthearted tone from before was gone, replaced by a dark, unsettling vibe.

"Uh, Kai?" Tae’s voice snapped me back to reality. "What’s up? You look like you saw a ghost."

I forced a smile, shoving the phone back into my pocket. "Nah, just the app being weird again."

Mark frowned. "Weird how?"

"It wants me to go to the old storage room," I said, trying to sound casual.

Tae’s face twisted in confusion. "Isn’t that place locked up?"

"Yeah, but maybe it’s just trying to freak me out," I said, shrugging. "Whatever. I’m not doing it."

But as I said the words, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning, and that smiley face had more than just jokes in store for me.

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