Horror Game Designer

Chapter 27: Hiding in the Closet, Okay?

Becoming proficient at this game presented a unique paradox: it was simultaneously straightforward and challenging. The key was to remain fearless; those who did not succumb to fear were safe from contracting the game’s central affliction, known as “Phobia.” However, for the majority of people, conquering their fears proved to be an intimidating hurdle.

In a dark twist of irony, the game also concluded with a bleak scenario. To halt the spread of “Phobia,” the city’s leaders made a drastic decision: they commanded the elimination of everyone in areas plagued by the infection. This harsh measure left the uninfected survivors with no choice but to confront the city’s authorities about their extreme actions.

The potential real-world implications of the game were alarming. “If this game were to leap off the screen into reality, the consequences would be catastrophic,” was a common thought. The rate at which “Phobia” spread in the game was alarmingly rapid, far surpassing any traditional ghost story in terms of sheer terror. It was critical to stop the game from inspiring real-world panic by addressing its root cause.

Gao Ming, the game creator, and a psychologist by profession, emphasized the urgency of their mission: “We have to find the missing child,” he insisted. However, even as he spoke, he experienced a physical reaction indicative of acute anxiety – profuse sweating, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and an unexpected need to urinate. These were telltale signs of “Phobia,” and as a psychologist, he recognized them immediately.

With determination, he stood up and addressed everyone with a loud voice, “Listen up, everyone! Do not trust your senses – what you see, hear, or feel! Don’t let fear dominate you!” Despite his impassioned plea, he was met with only silence in response.

Gao Ming then left to check the living room, only to find Room 405 eerily deserted. A worrying thought crossed his mind: “This isn’t good. It seems I’ve been unwittingly affected by the very thing we’re fighting against.”

Gao Ming’s concern grew as he recalled that Bai Qiao and the sturdy driver had brought along all the new recruits from Investigative Team 1 to tackle this seemingly low-risk anomaly.

A total of ten investigators had entered the fray, but the anomaly they faced had a peculiar trait – it preyed on anyone who experienced fear, regardless of their numbers or strength.

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The game “Phobia,” despite lacking any traditional ghostly elements, induced such intense terror that many players chose suicide as an escape from their overwhelming fear.

“I must break free of the fear if I want to help the others.”

Determined to overcome his own fears to aid others, Gao Ming focused his mind, consciously steering clear of fear-provoking thoughts.

If he didn’t quickly identify and confront the source of his fear, he knew it would spiral into a crippling cycle that would be hard to break.

Gao Ming made a conscious effort to stay calm, deliberately avoiding the temptation to ponder the worst possible outcomes.

Suddenly, he heard desperate cries for help from the corridor. A novice investigator, apparently being chased by an unseen entity, had stumbled and was now being dragged away, his pleas for release gradually fading as he was taken to another level of the building.

Finding himself unable to open his door, Gao Ming didn’t hesitate to kick it down. The corridor was shrouded in darkness and unsettlingly quiet, despite the audible cries and sobs emanating from other rooms. Unfazed and not having given in to fear, Gao Ming forcefully opened these doors too, ready to confront whatever lay beyond. He firmly believed that facing fear head-on was the only way to defeat it.

Casting aside all worries and anxieties, he resolved to let go of negative emotions and march forward with determination.

“I am the creator of this game; I know every aspect of it. Why should I be afraid?” he thought to himself.

Neither cries of distress nor screams of terror swayed him from his mission. He employed positive self-talk and even hypnotic techniques to maintain his resolve, prepared to face an actual ghost if it came down to it.

After enduring the mental and emotional torture of the game, Gao Ming noticed that the dark, oppressive shadows clouding his vision were beginning to dissipate. The game, which proved treacherous for many players, wasn’t as formidable for someone of Gao Ming’s psychological expertise and resolve.

“It seems I’m being ejected from the game.” Gao Ming realized. In the world of “Phobia,” mastering one’s fears was synonymous with finding a way out.

Standing in a corridor decorated with graffiti, holding an unattractive, almost grotesque doll, Gao Ming was deep in thought. He knew that his departure from the game could spell danger for the inexperienced investigators still trapped inside. The nature of fear in this game was insidious—it could grow and spread like a contagion. The thought of the group succumbing to panic and disarray was a scenario he found unacceptable.

After a moment of contemplation, Gao Ming made his decision, a resolution born from his understanding of fear’s progression. He recognized that fear typically evolves through four distinct stages. The initial stage is beneficial, acting as an alert to potential threats. The second stage amplifies the fear, prompting one to prepare defensively. However, if the threat persists, the third stage, a negative feedback loop, can ensue, leading to heightened anxiety, pain, and despair. The most dangerous is the final stage, where fear completely overwhelms the individual.

Gao Ming aimed to maintain control, staying at the initial, alert stage of fear. The unseen manipulator of the game had attempted to pull him into deeper stages of fear but had not succeeded. Returning to Room 405, he realized that others might be sinking deeper into fear’s grasp. “I must confront and embrace this fear to rescue them,” he determined.

Carrying a backpack filled with obituaries, he lay inside a makeshift “fort of blankets,” adopting the role of a child, deliberately allowing the fear to spread unchecked within him.

…

Meanwhile, Zhu Miao Miao, a remarkable female firefighter from the old city district, stood out for her physical prowess, often surpassing her male counterparts. She once had a happy family life until a sudden anomaly snatched her husband and child away three days earlier. Determined to find them, she joined the Investigation Bureau as a rookie, unaligned with any team, but with a personal mission. Though mentally prepared, she quickly realized that her physical strength was no match for the paralyzing effects of genuine fear.

Huddled in Room 406, feeling cold and numb, Zhu Miao Miao clung to her bloodied fire axe. The sounds of her colleagues being dragged away and their agonized screams were a constant torment.

In an attempt to fight back, she swung her axe at what she perceived to be a monster, only to be met with the horrified cry of a colleague. The warm blood that splattered on her and the sight of a colleague collapsing in a pool of blood sent her into a state of terror.

She had lost track of the game’s rules, her mind a blank slate of fear.

“You can’t leave now,” a child’s voice eerily echoed in the room. Holding her axe tightly, Zhu Miao Miao backed up against the door, her mind racing with thoughts of accusation and guilt.

“You killed a colleague. You’re a murderer. You’ll be jailed. You’ll never see your family again.”

Challenging the voice, Zhu swung her axe at the empty air. Then, a pale child with a somewhat deformed arm emerged from the wardrobe, reaching out towards her. “I know you’re scared,” he said in a calming tone. “Let’s hide in here together.”