The Rule Book Novels & Stories

He said with a smile. "She's abnormal, she really wants someone to die." I heard Rain say. "So, what I want to say is ... Good luck students, have fun running away from the monsters." She said, a loud applause could be heard as he handed the mic to an announcer. When the surroundings became quiet, the announcer spoke. "In every game, rules will never lose. Rules that need to be followed. That is why the MLA Rule is strictly enforced by all." It says and from the big screen pops up two rules.

I push myself up on one elbow, squinting at the paper pinned beneath the metal clip. The bold red-inked heading: Rules. Dozens of them. Typed out in neat black font. They must have crept in here while I was dead to the world, pasting this little manifesto to my wall like I’m some kind of prisoner in a reform school. Stupid house. I kick the heavy duvet off my legs, slide my bare feet against the cold hardwood floor. I don’t read them. It’s useless. I just head out of the room, letting the anger carry me down the long, silent corridor and straight toward the kitchen.

I lower the wall in my mind and wait for another spirit to pass some remarks, but everything remains silent. To think about, those spirits have been silent for a while. This gives me a hint that something else is wrong too — which I don’t know just yet. Shaking my head, I drop the towel and wear the dress and go to sit down on the chair placed on the left corner of the room. With a snap of my fingers, the rules book appears in the air and then drops down on my lap. It has a brown leather cover, bland but interesting. I open the book and turn the pages. One rule is written on each page in golden cursive writing. The pages are yellowish.

Aby replied smugly. Suddenly, Chris grabbed my book from the table. My eyes widened in shock as he lifted it, clearly about to throw it at Aby. I immediately stood up. “No. Do not even think about it,” I warned seriously. Nah, definitely not my books. “Gently put it back on the table, Christian,” I said firmly. He looked at me and smiled widely. He knew me well enough to know that I hated anyone messing with my books. “Haha, sorry, Reign,” he apologized and carefully placed my book back on the table.

Four minutes. The room somehow seemed darker than normal. It was even worse than when the window got smashed and was boarded up with planks of wood for weeks. Adira remembered the way Brax would move around the room, chasing the minimal light let in by the board’s cracks. It wasn’t a lot but it was something at least. Back then, the slightest sliver of light felt like a privilege, a blessing among the darkness both physical and spiritual that consumed them.

I did break so much of rules for him and I never regret that. And now when I see him, I feel proud that I broke those rules of my own. When I feel him on my arms I feel that sometimes breaking your rules bring you happiness in life along with the risks and sometimes when you break the rules, unexpected result might show up and might take your life to next level.

Rule 3: 90 days. Rule 3: Gone. End

Thankfully, it is empty. As I look around, I notice it isn’t merely empty; it looks unlived in. “Don’t you have a roommate?” He smiles, but the smile resembles pain, not joy. “Nope.” Everyone has to have a roommate. It’s one of Aton’s rules that no one should be alone. I can only grunt, “Hmm.” I pluck the bottle from his grip, setting it on the table. The photo of me and Timothy kissing flashes in my mind, accusingly, and I push it away.

That evening— back home— Ava sat qui⁠etly. Liam walked in. ‍P⁠laced something down. She l‍o⁠oked.‌ A notebook. Sh‌e‍ frowned. ‍“What’s t⁠hat?” He sat. Opened it. First page. RU‍LES. She blinked. He pointe‍d. Rule 1: Tell somebody. Rule 2: No pretending okay. ‌Ru⁠le 3:‍

CHAPTER 01 "All students are required to stay on campus until five o'clock in the afternoon. Wearing a complete uniform is also mandatory..." I rolled my eyes as the principal droned on through his endless list of rules. What was the point of making them if everyone was just going to break them by the end of the day anyway? "Boo!" I closed my eyes in annoyance before turning toward the person who had just tried to jump-scare me. "Try harder, Adhaya," I said flatly, shoving my hands into the pockets of my blazer.