It was that time of year again. Hunt day.

Ever since my country was occupied, the government set up a program where they select one volunteer hunter who will chase a random town for twenty-four hours every year.

That town happened to be mine this year.

The Hunter went to the middle of Main Street. He said in his speech he was a “hide-and-go-seek” man. That he wanted us in random buildings for him to go hunt.

A low whistle was heard, sounding the silence of us all. I could see my neighbors hiding on a roof in brown clothes, trying to blend in. Mothers had to their babies in their hands woth their hands over the mouths, shutting them up.

My hands were sweating. My family hid in the basement of the house, locking it and hiding in the closets and boxes. I opted to find a better hiding spot. They didn’t come. So it was just me and my friend, Liv.

We could see the Hunter grab a knife from his sheath, running his finger along it.

Then he clears his throat, and brought a timer out from his pockets.

“Your time is up. Better run!” he announced amd clicked the stopwatch, and immediately he ran in a random direction, jumping and smashing his fists down onto a random bench, sending splinters and wood peices into a random man who thought he could hide. A red, reflective liquid splattered everywhere, onto the Hunter’s wool jacket, the street, the concrete, _everywhere_.

We watched as he slaughtered everyone in his way. I didn’t even know where some were hiding, but somehow he saw them with genetic x-ray vision.

At one point I lost sight of him from my rooftop, that’s when a sudden coldness washed over me. Where was he?

I looked all around, then turned back to Liv to find her, but she was nowhere.

Then I heard it again. That same, low, heart-piercing whistle.

Big hands gripped my ankles, and my whole belly skin was torn up and dragged.