Winter hide and seek

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. All I could hear was my friend Violet count while I hid behind a car not too far away.

-         Twenty one, twenty two, twenty three…

It was finally winter break. I waited all semester to play hide and seek with my friends. It was my favorite game after all.

-         Twenty six, twenty seven…

Violet continued to count. I for sure found the best hiding place. My friends never knew of these places. They are so oblivious! Maybe they didn’t like the game as much as me. Of course, I was the best player. Maybe they are jealous? No, let’s not think about that. Just enjoy the game.

-         Thirty! – screamed out Violet.

Now it’s her time to find all of us. My teeth are chattering so much. Why is it so cold already? It’s barely the beginning of December. The snow was never that much too. It feels like cotton is falling from the sky. I hope we can build a snowman tomorrow morning after breakfast.

-         How did you find me!? – said Lucas annoyed.

-         Don’t be mad at me for not hiding better. – laughed Violet as she slightly pushed the boy on the shoulder.

-         I just know you had your eyes open. You only find us when you cheat.

I giggled silently to myself as I kneeled back down. One less person. I’ll absolutely win this game!

-         Come on guys! It’s so cold and the sun is already setting. I want to go home! – complained Violet out loud.

-         Stop moaning, dude. Just go and find the others. – sighed Lucas as he sat on the nearby bench.

-         Okay, okay.

It was down to me, Oliver and Julie. It’s so thrilling. I really missed my friends because of school. All I’ve been doing these days is study. I’m so tired of being a 5^th grader. I wish I can just play hide and seek all day!

-         HA! FOUND YOU!

-         NO! How did you know I was behind the trash can?! – whined in defeat Julie.

-         It was so obvious you were there. You were giggling the whole time!

-         Oh, man… I’ll find a better spot next time, you’ll see. Mark my words!

-         Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say Juls. – answered sarcastically Violet as she turned back around and continued to look for me and Oliver.

The sun has already gone home. It was so dark I could barely see my friends. At this point my legs were covered with snow. I could feel my hand begin to freeze as I huged myself. The old abandoned car kept me hidden so well. Violet was still searching. No one can beat me in this game!

-         Guys I’m so cold right now.

-         Yes, Violet, we all are. Just find Oliver faster and let’s go home. – answered Julie.

Suddenly a light appeared in the entry way of the block. The footsteps of several people could be heard. They weren’t too fast, yet an anxious feeling took over us. The corridor of the building wasn’t too big, but it had 5 floors. The steps kept coming closer to where we played. All of us were silent. The sun had set so who could it be during that time.

-         Guys are you not coming home for dinner soon?

-         Mom!  I still have to find Oliver and we’ll come. Give us a few more minutes, please. – begged Violet.

-         Alright, alright. But put your hat over your ears. It’s freezing today. Do you want to catch a cold again? Don’t you remember how bad it was last time?

-         I’m okay, mom. Here. – said violet as she pulled down her knit hat over her ears.

-         Much better now?

-         Yes, mom. I’ll go find Oliver now.

-         Just be careful, dear.

Violets mom walked back into the building and went up the stairs. She was always so caring. I loved going over to Violet’s house and have dinner with her family. Her mom always made the best carrot soup. It always made me feel so warm and cozy, especially with some toasted garlic bread.

Right when I was dreaming about my beloved soup, Oliver came out from a tree close to me. He walked up to the others and sat on the bench. They watched him in shock.

-         I’m so tired from playing. It got too boring waiting for you to find me, dude.

-         Well why did you hide near the creepy car? – angrily answered Violet.

-         What are you talking about?

-         Haven’t you heard about the story? – asked Julie in surprise.

-         What do you mean? What story?

-         You just moved here a few months ago, but why didn’t anyone tell you beforehand? – questioned Violet.

-         Just tell me what’s going on!

-         Okay, okay. Listen to me. 10 years ago all of us played a game of hide and seek. Eventually it got dark and cold just like today so we went home. But all of us were so tired, we left someone behind… A little girl named Lilith. She was the best one at the game. Yet we were all so stupid and forgot her. Our parents were all calling for us, so we had to go. While all Lilith had was her ill grandmother, who she was forced to take care of. She was found on the next day… frozen to death behind that old car. – Violet told the whole story.

-         Why didn’t I know about this? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!

-         We just wanted things this year to go smoothly. – sheepishly said Julie.

-         What do you mean “smoothly”?

-         Every year on this day we play hide and seek in memory of Lilith. We found out in the worst way that when we don’t she’ll haunt us wherever we went. We would constantly hear the words “Found you” on random occasions and have horrible nightmares. – explained Julie.

-         If we don’t play things can always become worse. – added Violet.

-         Guys this is so stupid. Stop imagining things. Come on lets go inside now. I want to have dinner today, if possible.

-         You don’t understand at what risk you are. – nervously said Lucas.

-         And why is that?

-         You are the one that lives in her old apartment now. The last person that rented it killed himself. From what we know is that he also suffered from terrifying dreams, had sleep paralysis and mentioned to one of our neighbours that he kept seeing a little girl around the building. – spoke Lucas, holding back his tears as he remembered his long gone neighbour.

-         You people are crazy. If you want me to believe your fantasy story, fine I trust you. But now I’m going inside my nice and warm apartment to have dinner. I’ll see you tomorrow.

-         Oliver, you can’t go home yet! – screamed out Violet.

-         Yes, he definitely can’t. – everyone turned around in shock. - Now it’s time for me to find you. You’ll have 30 seconds to hide. Better use them wisely.

I stood up from behind the car. My friends knew my face well. I haven’t let them forget about me. They never will after what they did on that day. Now it is my time to make them regret leaving me behind.