Hunting In The Dark

by Nicholas H.

After the afternoon’s exhausting soccer match, the five boys and I agreed – actually, our noses told us we needed - to take a shower before going on with our games. Downstairs, Adrian showed us the bathroom, which was located at the far end of the basement: it was huge and completely made of wood, with seven showerheads. Phil then asked who wanted to go first, but Adrian suggested that we did it at the same time since we had enough shower stalls; plus, it would take too long otherwise.

“It’s okay with me.” I sensed a little discomfort from my friends so I added, “Besides, we don’t have anything we haven’t already seen!” We laughed nonchalantly and the tension was broken.

Rinsed and cleaned we returned to the room dressed in boxers or briefs. We put t-shirts and shorts on, Phil and Adrian being the only ones without them. Contrasting the warm water I had just relished, a chill ran through my body from the bare soles of my feet against a cold basement floor; I reached for my socks and shoes, but Chris stopped me,

“Better not wear them, Nick. You wouldn’t want your steps to be heard.” I was puzzled. This couldn’t get weirder! Not knowing was killing me! Nevertheless, I followed his advice and remained barefoot despite the icy floor tiles.

To my surprise, they began pushing all the beds, tables and furniture against the wall. My cousin and I joined in, until there was a big enough area in the center. All windows and doors were closed, letting neither light nor wind enter, imprisoning also any sound within. A dim lantern light in Phil’s hand was the only thing that kept the room illuminated.

 “Every time it rains and we can’t go outside, we get down here and play this game; it’s like a ritual to us,” Adam said.

Phil then, after rummaging inside his bag, handed each boy a roll of silver duct tape and a scarf.

 “I’ll explain the rules,” started Chris, “since Nick and Tyler are newbies. Actually, there’s only one: try to duct tape every walking thing – in the dark!” he proclaimed with a smile.

 “Last man standing wins!” Adam added.
“This is going to be fun,” I said to myself although I had no clue yet how difficult this would prove to be.

“But if we can’t see anything, how do we know when there’s nobody left?” Tyler asked.

“Easy. Each one of you has a scarf. These are to be tied loose around the neck. If you tape someone up, untie it from his neck and keep it. So when someone manages to get all six scarves, it’s over!” Phil replied.

I said I was worried about kicking or stumbling with any of my bound buddies lying on the floor, but Phil quickly added that all people captured must be dragged away from the center, towards the walls, and preferably placed on the beds, in order to prevent accidents.

“You’re all nuts, you know that?” I said with a grin, marveled by the whole idea.

“What? Do you expect us to sit down and play Monopoly instead?” Phil chimed in.

“Nah, I guess not. You’re too weird.”

“Look who’s talking…” he chuckled. I blushed.

“Shut up and get on with it already. I can’t wait to tape you all up.”

“Sure, Nick,” Adrian mocked.

“Okay guys. This is how it’s gonna be: everyone is on his own, no alliances, though I doubt you’ll be able to make out who’s your ally anyway!” We nodded our agreement.

“Now, everyone get to a corner of the room and make sure you find the end of the tape before we turn the lights off,” Adrian ordered.

Adrian positioned himself next to the bathroom, I was to the south, Tyler to the north, Chris to the east, Adam on the stairway and Phil to the west side of the basement.

On my way, I dropped both my scarf and the tape, and lost precious time in picking them up. As soon as I tied the scarf around my neck, I heard five tape-ripping sounds – the signal of the beginning of the game.

I was still nervously tracing the tape roll with my fingernails, when the lantern was switched off and the basement was absorbed by darkness.
“Damn!” I muttered. This was no good start.

Having no strategy at all, I slowly headed forward stretching my arms in front, careful with my steps. I had the roll on the left hand and about two centimeters of peeled tape between thumb and forefinger. After walking a few steps, my knees bumped on a metal structure; it was a bed, so that meant I was next to a wall. I turned and headed to the center, where action would probably be happening.

“Ahhh!!” someone screamed a few meters ahead. I stopped and listened. Two bodies fell on the ground - struggling, I supposed. It was followed by sounds that I clearly recognized as tape being wrapped around body. Then it paused and started again, three times. Hands, feet and mouth, I thought. One down, four to go.

Just as I turned, someone’s fingers touched my back. My heart began pouncing. A pair of arms wrapped my torso, immobilizing the upper part and trying to throw me to the floor. I reacted by squirming savagely but he managed to pin me down on my stomach, pulling my arms behind. Before he could use the tape, I rolled on my back and launched onto my attacker’s chest, both of us falling again hard, me on top of him now. I pinned his forearms to the floor with my knees and used his own roll of duct tape – I had dropped mine in the struggle – to secure his wrists above his head. Without cutting the tape, I forced his hands to his waist and wrapped some more around to attach the boy’s arms against his belly. The taping continued with his lower body, winding turns around his thighs, knees until I got to the ankles, which were restrained as well. It must have taken me about 10 minutes to tape him properly, it’s damn hard to do it in the dark and he didn’t stop squirming! I cut the strip with my teeth and touched my way through the neck where I untied the scarf and felt his face and hair. Because of the curly hair I realized it was Adam. Finally, I gagged and dragged him to a corner. Well, at least I thought it was one! Two down, three left.

At that stage, I was sweating profusely so I took my shirt off, now clad only in my shorts.

A faint distant taping was happening far away from me while I got on my feet. Someone shouted in pain. Then steps approached with an amazing speed: he was running in a completely darkened room! Was he mad? He could easily fall and get hurt!

I was taken aback when the running boy crashed into me, tackling both of us to the ground.

“Mphhhhhhff!!”

I fell on my back; my friend rested on my chest. It was strange because I felt his breath on my neck and he was not moving at all. It took me a while to react; I quickly pushed him off to one side expecting an attack, but nothing happened. He just fell like a sack of potatoes next to me, so I traced up his body. I learnt he was tightly gagged; his wrists were taped behind his back and judging by his lean hairless legs and the small smooth face with disheveled hair, I assumed it was Phil. Yes, definitely. The boy was trying somehow to get up or roll away but I held him.

“Sorry kid,” I whispered in his ear as I removed his scarf; three hung around my neck now. Phil was breathing heavily and sweat covered his body, due to previous wrestling. I decided to take care of the little fellow, adding more tape. It was hard, but squirming was all he could do when I was finished. I had further restricted the youngest boy by wrapping tape around his chest and arms. His thighs, knees and ankles were also secured. Summing up, there was no chance Phil could get free by himself. I you’ve used duct tape before, you know how snug it is once well stretched around your limbs.

“Too easy so far,” I silently said to myself.

Once again, I carried my captive to a side but all of a sudden I heard muffled sound behind me, towards east, like someone was being handgagged. Then the tape, several turns were being used on a poor boy. I waited expectantly for the end, until the sound of dragging came to my ears: the fourth boy had been captured. Now it was just another boy and me. Who it was I did not know, for I had only recognized Adam and Phil. It could be any of the remaining kids: either Adrian, Chris or Tyler. It was extremely thrilling. What a rush of adrenaline did this game produce!

I jumped on my feet and walked in the direction of the recent assault. When I reached it – or at least thought I was there – I felt a breath on my right foot. “The captured boy,” I thought. Therefore, I squatted to know who it was. Using my hand to explore his face and hair I concluded it was Adrian because of his spiked hair and smooth skin. But I was a little surprised though. He was not an easy boy to catch, being a wrestler and all.

And I was right to be suspicious.

A hand unexpectedly grabbed my arm and pulled me hard to the ground.

Before I could react he overpowered me by turning me on my stomach with a knee on my back. Adrian sat on my butt and twisted my hand up while winding sticky duct tape around it and securing it to the other wrist palm to palm. My feet and knees were thoroughly bound as well. I let him tie me up with resignation - resisting was pointless at this point. Plus, I did wish to experience what he had in mind for me!

“Oh man, I tricked you good!” Adrian said.

I was such a fool! He had lain on the floor pretending to be tied up so when I reached down, unprepared, he attacked me!

 Adrian helped me on my feet. I thought he’d steal my scarves already, but he kept on taping me! He began wrapping duct tape from my shoulders to my feet, tightening each turn and using three rolls for it. Every inch of my lean body was being covered with tape as he went down, especially over my hands and fingers.  I was mummified!  I squirmed and writhed trying to escape but the tape was snug and gave no slack. All I could do was to wiggle my toes! Adrian then reached feeling for my face, my mouth, and sealed my lips by wrapping sticky silver tape several times around my head.

 “Thanks Nick. I have six scarves now!” Adrian said while he unknotted them from my neck.

“Mphhhhhhhhh!” I replied furiously. So close to victory…

I heard him getting away and about a minute after, the lights was turned on. It was an amazing sight: all my mates tightly taped – some on the floor, others lying on beds. Tyler, whose eyes were adapting to light, had been kind of hogtied. Chris had his wrists taped around a pole. Adam and Phil were just as I thought I had tied them.
 
“Wow, someone certainly enjoyed it. Didn’t you, little bro?” he said with a smile that caused Phil to blush deeply. Phil, only wearing his boxers, lay on his back showing a slight bulge.

“Well, as you can see, I won!” We all mphhhed loudly.

“Don’t worry, I’ll untie you!” he said and put an arm around my shoulders.

“Just not yet.”
Still standing, I was afraid I’d lose balance and fall but he laid me on the ground. Adrian then left us to struggle against our bonds, proud of having made us captive. 

“The prize, of course, is that I get to tickle all of you!” he announced to our detriment. Naturally, we shook our heads, pleading not to be tortured, but it was all pointless - Adrian wasn’t exactly the type of boy you’d expect to show mercy. I don’t think he even knew the meaning of the word at all!

He took his time, attacking each victim for about five minutes with everything he got; and thus we remained until he eventually decided to release us. No one ended injured. However, the tape did HURT when it was unwrapped and I thanked God hair hadn’t grown on my legs yet.

The game over, around 7pm, we dashed upstairs to assault the refrigerator. We watched a lame horror flick afterwards and then decided to play another round of what I call “Hunting In the Dark” before going to sleep. And you know what? I won that time!