The players poured into the abandoned hotel — a towering, broken-down building of shattered windows and peeling walls.
Inside, the air was thick with dust. Every corner seemed ready to collapse.
Gunshots echoed through the halls.
Hunters were already moving — their boots stomping, guns firing at any player caught in the open.
"Come on, follow me!" Zoro said boldly. His voice cut through the fear.
Players scattered in panic. Many darted into side rooms, trying to escape the deadly firefight.
Ayaan and Sofia rushed into an old guest room, its door half hanging from its hinges. Danny and Rosy slipped into another.
Abdul froze in the hallway, trembling at the sound of each gunshot.
"Move, Abdul!" Zoro grabbed his arm and pulled him behind cover.
Suddenly — a sound of footsteps approached their hiding spot.
The screen flickered to a quick flashback — Ayaan's plan before entering the hotel.
---
Flashback - Outside the Hotel
"We'll use the sand path to predict where they'll move," Ayaan said.
"Zoro and Abdul, you two will distract the Hunters. Create noise, pull them away."
"I'm in," Zoro grinned.
Abdul swallowed hard. "I-I'll try."
"Danny and I will search for the card," Ayaan continued.
"Sofia, stay in a room and use the Walkie-Talkie to warn us if a Hunter comes your way."
"This is risky," Sofia said softly.
Ayaan gave a determined nod. "We want to be ALIVE when this is over. That's the plan."
At that moment, a Hunter's voice had echoed through the speakers:
"Players, you may carry up to eight pieces of equipment."
The team grabbed what they needed — Walkie-Talkies, Fire Extinguishers, Knives, and basic first-aid kits.
"This will help us fight if needed," Zoro said.
---
Back in the Hotel - Present
Now, as part of the plan, Zoro and Abdul sprinted through the halls, making noise and drawing the Hunters.
A loud gunshot cracked nearby — the Hunters had spotted them.
"Now!" Zoro yelled.
Abdul sprayed the Fire Extinguisher, creating a thick cloud of smoke.
In the confusion, Zoro charged forward, slashing with his knife and pushing a Hunter away. They escaped down another hallway.
Meanwhile, Ayaan and Danny slipped through the shadows.
In a dusty old conference room, Ayaan spotted a card gleaming under a pile of debris.
"I found it!" Ayaan gasped.
He picked it up — a glowing blue card marked with 2 points.
"We're second place," Danny whispered, pointing at a floating leaderboard.
Ayaan and Danny rushed back toward the girls' room — but just as they approached, they saw a Hunter turning toward the door.
The girls' room door blasted open — BOOM!
Inside, Daisy was already mid-attack, her fists slamming into the Hunter's armor.
The impact sent him crashing back into the hallway.
At the same time, Zoro and Abdul arrived, panting but alive.
Ayaan held up the glowing card.
"We're safe... for now."
TO BE CONTINUED…