I remember the night perfectly, like a projector lighting up in my head to show me the same movie, over, and over again. It was October 21st, the fateful night I was left to be home alone, and I had decided to play a video game I had recently gotten. This wasn’t just any of the more popular horror games, no, it was something different, something no one has ever really talked about.
In the game, my character was set to find a magic staff that would defeat the antagonist, a terrifying monster that stalked you as you were seeking the very thing to destroy it. The monster was created by a wizard with the intention of it working for this wizard, but it went terribly wrong. So, the magic staff was created to have the creature become weaker so it would be easily eliminated. However, the monster created mass chaos in this wizard’s dark castle, and destroyed the wizard before he could destroy it. Now, my character is on the mission to finish what the wizard started, and get rid of this evil monster.
The premise of the game seemed interesting, and the setting in the eerie castle was good to set the mood for October, so I decided to purchase the game and download it onto my laptop. The game was called, “No Escape: The Third Batch” and I was able to get it for an undeniably good price. I opened up the game and at once I plopped down on the couch to start the game.
When the game was opened, there was a screen popped up that read,
“WARNING: Do not play this game if you meet the following criteria:
1. You are alone.
2. There are 3 consecutive lighting flashes
3. The lights go out.”
I thought nothing of it, and just assumed it was to scare you. I mean, I am alone, and it is pretty bad weather outside, but I know it’s just a game. So, I clicked “New Game” and was soon met with horrible graphics, but it wasn’t much of a surprise since it was just a cheap little game. Well into the game, my fears were heightened, but I had comfort in knowing that these were simulated fears, something of the such you wouldn’t see in real life… ever. I controlled my character through all the dark rooms of the castle, looking out for any clues that would lead me to beat the game.
“Why did I decide to play this horror game alone… at night?” I keep thinking, followed by a quick reassurance that this is just a game, and nothing bad can actually happen. The rain howled with the wind, the trees brushed against the window, and the lightning flashed a bolt of light that illuminated the room. “Hmmm, that’s just the first lighting strike, I should still be good, right?” I reassure myself once again, and instead try to just focus on the game. Suddenly, a loud CLAP! of lightning awakens the house, so I get off the couch to look out the window.
“Oh shoot, that’s the second on-” CLAP!!! With another deafening sound of thunder, the lighting immediately caused the lights to go out.
Intense and immediate fear crawls up my spine, and that’s when I know I’m in big trouble. The rational side of me tries to convince myself that this is all just a game, and nothing bad can happen, but the other side is a scared little kid that just needs some comfort. In complete darkness, I attempted to navigate my way around the living room to get to the light switches, hoping the lights would turn back on.
Then, I heard a strange sound, such as the one you would hear when a fluorescent light hums its spine-chilling tune. Scared by the strange sound, I ducked behind the couch. “This is so childish of me. This is all probably nothing, right?” I thought to myself. I peeked over the couch, when I saw it. My face turned pale, I was sick to my stomach, and I felt hot inside, yet also cold on the outside from the chill that October sent over me. That’s when I realize that this is real, and that the uncontrollable monster from the game is now out to get me.
Worry and fear washed over me, like the gloomy rain pattering on the crinkled streets outside. There’s no help. I’m all alone. A hot breath then surrounded the air around my back, and I could hear shallow breathing behind me. Adrenaline quickly pumps through my veins, seizing my entire body, and I felt a fear like never before.
As swiftly as one’s legs can carry one, I raced down the stairs to hide in the basement as the wretched monster chased me. Once I entered the basement, I locked the door as I heard the thundering footsteps above me. I’m filled to the brim with adrenaline, and quickly search through my pockets in hopes to get my phone to cast out this void of darkness, and find anything in the basement that could help me. I searched through my right pocket. Nothing in there, and I felt as if my soul jumped out of my body when I heard the petrifying monster bang against the door. So, I searched my left pocket. Some relief came to me when I felt the hard case of my phone, and when I turned on the flashlight in an instant.
Now, all that’s left to do is search for something in the basement that can defeat this monster. I search as I keep hearing a repetitive BANG! against the door. I know the monster is about to break in, so I need to think extremely quickly.
Then, I spot an old cane leaning on a corner of the damp brick walls of the basement. I thought back to the game, and how the magic staff would bring down the monster’s shield. “This is the only chance of hope I have, so I have to at least try it. If this old cane works, then I need to find another weapon to defeat the monster after I take down it’s shield.” I quickly thought even as the words were scrambled up in my brain due to the tension of the moment.
“I know there’s a hatchet in here, so I can use that to-” BAM! My thoughts were interrupted by the door broken through by the monster, and in the adrenaline rush of the moment, my mind simply brought up that I must tap the staff three times to eliminate the monster’s shield. “Three lighting strikes, the things that must happen for the monster to come out, and ‘The Third Batch’! That’s it! Oh God, please let it be three strikes on the ground!”
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! I see an odd light come down the monster’s body, and that’s when I know I’ve done it! Then out of the corner of my eye, I spot the hatchet. I run to get it, and just when the monster is about to annihilate me, I swiftly swing through the monster! At once, the monster is reduced to ashes, and a gigantic wave of relief floods over me. “The nightmare is over! Ha, I beat the game!” I think to myself, since now I realize the real game was in real life all along…
