Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    From $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Hunt: Fractured Reality
    The Hunt: Fractured Reality
    The Hunt: Fractured Reality
    Ebook219 pages2 hours

    The Hunt: Fractured Reality

    By Edward Heath

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    In a dystopian future, justice is delivered in the form of a deadly survival game: The Hunt. Each month, six contestants—criminals, volunteers, and the desperate—are selected to face brutal environments, with their memories wiped and the world watching their every move. The rules are simple: survive or be eliminated.

    The first trial begins deep within a sprawling rainforest. Lush, humid, and teeming with hidden dangers, the jungle's predators are not only the wildlife but also the fellow contestants and the relentless hunters pursuing them. As the jungle closes in, alliances are formed—but trust is as rare as the resources they fight to claim.

    In the second trial, the contestants are thrust into the frozen wastelands of Antarctica. Here, the bitter cold becomes an enemy as ruthless as the hunters. Icy terrain and treacherous storms test both the body and the mind, forcing the contestants to dig deep within themselves to survive. As their memories slowly return, some question why they ever agreed to The Hunt in the first place.
     

    The final trial drops the remaining contestants into the heart of a vast desert, where the scorching sun and endless dunes push them to the edge of their endurance. Dehydration, heatstroke, and predators lurking beneath the sand become constant threats. With resources running out and betrayal on the horizon, only one contestant will emerge victorious.
     

    The Hunt is a brutal test of human willpower and instinct, where every choice matters and no one is safe. In these three deadly environments—rainforest, ice, and desert—the contestants must outwit the hunters, outlast their fellow survivors, and confront their darkest fears.

    But in a game where the line between predator and prey is blurred, who will claim victory, and at what cost?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherEdward Heath
    Release dateSep 22, 2024
    ISBN9798227977670
    The Hunt: Fractured Reality
    Author

    Edward Heath

    Edward Heath, a passionate digital artist and book publisher, is committed to an open-minded approach in the arts. My focus is on nurturing diverse talents and bringing unique perspectives. https://linktr.ee/IamBlu3 https://X.com/Iam8lu3

    Read more from Edward Heath

    Related authors

    Related to The Hunt

    Titles in the series (17)

    View More
    View More

    Related ebooks

    Dystopian For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • UNLIMITED

      Elf Quest

      Nov 30, 2022

      Elf Quest
      11 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Quotients

      May 7, 2020

      Quotients
      8 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Gaming Guide

      Nov 9, 2022

      Gaming Guide
      4 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Gaming Guide

      Nov 9, 2022

      Gaming Guide
      4 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Sweet Fantasy

      Nov 20, 2021

      Sweet Fantasy
      8 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Stranger Places

      Aug 9, 2018

      It began like any normal pregame in the woods. Naked, alone, hungover, a sweaty sleeping bag in the back of a dusty pickup truck, miles from civilization. Predawn in a narrow Utah river bottom, canyon country, early July. A Thermos of lukewarm coffee

      18 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Morbidity & the Miniature

      May 11, 2018

      Morbidity & the Miniature
      14 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Carnival Time

      Jan 21, 2022

      Carnival Time
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Final Truth

      Jan 21, 2020

      The Final Truth
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Chanel Miller Says 'Know My Name,' As She Reflects On Her Assault By Brock Turner

      Sep 23, 2019

      At points, it is hard to read Miller's devastating, immersive memoir and breathe at the same time. Miller is an extraordinary writer, with her sharpest moments focusing on her family and their grief.

      4 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Four Poems

      May 1, 2022

      —after Gerrit van Honthorst’s “Samson and Delilah,” c. 1621 They’ve made a monster of me, marring my namefor eternity. I’m not Delilah,but Laila. I loved him. Each night, in bed, after our bodies became one body, he would succumb to sleep, resting hi

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Final Countdown

      Apr 1, 2024

      by Stuart Turton (Raven Books, $34.99) There are 125 people at the end of the world, and one of them is dead. In the more dystopian apocalyptic narratives, that loss might be primarily one of capacity: losing the only remaining doctor, or the one p

      2 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      100-WORD-STORY COMPETITION Winners

      Aug 16, 2022

      We’ve been delighted by the huge response to our 100-word-story competition. The entries have flooded in thick and fast during the past few months, but while we’ve enjoyed reading every story, only a few can come out on top! You, our readers, voted t

      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Then the Birds Began to Die

      Jul 22, 2021

      Then the Birds Began to Die
      8 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Lost In Time

      Oct 5, 2022

      Lost In Time
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Anthem Of Our Crazy Age

      Nov 2, 2022

      MY old friend Ena planned every detail of her funeral. When she told me that she had written the eulogy to be delivered by her daughter, I said: ‘Don’t you think that’s cheating?’ ‘No!’ She snapped. ‘I want to set the record straight. I was a very go

      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Hunt

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      The Hunt - Edward Heath

      The Rainforest

      In a not too distant dystopian future, the world has been reshaped by the aftermath of a Second to US civil war and a third world war. Governments as we know them have collapsed, and in their place, fractured states and new regimes have risen to power. Society has adapted to this harsh new reality, where personal freedoms have been exchanged for security, and entertainment has become a dark reflection of humanity’s brutal tendencies.

      In this new world, laws and morality have shifted. Once frowned upon, the concept of televised violence as entertainment has evolved into a powerful tool for control. The ruling elite have found ways to channel the public’s desire for justice, bloodlust, and survivalism into something that serves both governance and commerce: reality game shows where convicted criminals fight for their lives.

      What began as small, underground events has now become a worldwide phenomenon. These brutal contests, where human life is reduced to spectacle, are embraced by the masses. They offer a dangerous proposition: freedom for those who survive, but a televised death for those who fail. The most popular of these is simply known as The Hunt, where criminals—whether guilty or not—enter a deadly arena, facing not just each other, but professional hunters and the unforgiving elements of the world itself.

      With the advent of advanced technology, society has normalized the use of GPS implants, constant surveillance, and memory wipes, all to ensure the entertainment is pure and untainted by fear of repercussions. To the viewers, it’s the ultimate thrill. To the contestants, it’s a fight for survival they didn’t even know they volunteered for.

      And so, with the stage set and the world watching, six contestants wake up in a place they don't recognize, with no idea who they are or why they're here.

      But the cameras are always rolling.

      Waking Into Fear

      In a not-too-distant dystopian future, society has shifted into something almost unrecognizable. Screens across the world flicker with the familiar logo of The Hunt, a televised event that has become more than entertainment—it’s a spectacle of survival. The host's voice, smooth and practiced, draws the audience in.

      Six contestants, six stories, one chance for redemption.

      The broadcast cuts to the sterile interior of a facility, a sharp contrast to the chaos that will soon unfold. Each contestant is brought in, one by one, their faces captured by multiple cameras as the lights flare bright.

      The first contestant, a man in his mid-thirties, stands rigid in the chair as he’s processed. His name flashes briefly on the screen: Cameron Steele, convicted of armed robbery. He’s all sharp edges, cold stares, and clenched fists. The interviewer asks the same detached questions to each contestant, with no hint of emotion.

      You know why you’re here?

      Cameron’s eyes flicker with annoyance. I know. Doesn’t mean I agree with it.

      That doesn’t matter, the voice replies, dismissive. Your memory will be wiped. Once you’re in the enclosure, you’ll remember nothing but your name. You’ll wake up, alone, confused. Only your instincts will remain. The cameras will track you, the audience will watch you. You’ll have one chance—survive.

      He barely flinches as the subdermal GPS implant is injected into his arm, the cold metal of the tracking device embedded beneath his skin. Then, a technician places the chest and back cameras onto his vest, the final touch before his fate is sealed.

      The next contestant is a woman in her early twenties. Her name, Kyra Mitchell, flashes onscreen as she’s led in. She’s convicted of credit fraud, though the way her eyes dart around the room suggests she has more secrets than that. She’s thin, wiry, and her lips press into a thin line as she listens to the same briefing, but unlike Cameron, she looks ready to bolt. Her foot taps nervously as the interviewer speaks.

      You understand that once the game begins, you’ll remember nothing?

      Kyra looks up, trying to meet the interviewer’s gaze. I understand. But... what if I don’t want to play anymore?

      You agreed to this, the voice says coldly. Now, there’s no turning back.

      Kyra’s shoulders tense as the needle injects the tracking device into her arm. The cameras are fixed to her, and she winces as the process is completed. Her only response is silence.

      One by one, each contestant is processed. A wide variety of crimes are listed beneath their names, from assault to petty theft. And then, there’s Elias Carter, the last to be interviewed. His file reads murder, though his hollow eyes and slumped posture tell a different story. He looks broken already.

      I didn’t do it, Elias mutters, almost to himself, as if repeating the phrase enough will make it true.

      The interviewer offers no sympathy. The game doesn’t care what you did or didn’t do. The audience won’t either.

      Elias winces as the tracking device goes in. His cameras are fitted, and his head droops forward, resigned to whatever awaits him.

      Then, darkness.

      One by one, the contestants are sedated. Their memories are wiped clean, their only remaining anchor a tattoo on their forearm—both their name and a small QR code. Everything else is gone.

      Cameron wakes first. His eyes blink open, disoriented, and all he knows is the oppressive humidity and the dense foliage around him. His breath comes in short bursts as he scrambles to his feet, scanning his surroundings. Nothing is familiar—he doesn’t even recognize himself. But there, on his forearm, is the tattoo: Cameron Steele.

      He says his name out loud, as if it will center him.

      Cameron.

      Nothing else comes to him. No memories. No idea why he’s here. He hears rustling in the distance, but there’s nothing visible yet. The jungle around him feels both alive and hostile, and instinct kicks in—survive. That’s all that matters.

      Kyra stirs next. She’s tangled in vines, half-buried in damp leaves, her heart racing as she pushes herself up. Her eyes dart around, taking in the thick trees, the buzzing of insects, the distant roar of something she doesn’t want to identify. She knows her name—Kyra Mitchell—but nothing else.

      She gets to her feet shakily, feeling the weight of the cameras strapped to her vest. She doesn’t know why, but it feels like she’s being watched. Somewhere in the back of her mind, there’s a nagging sense that something is terribly wrong, but there’s no way to piece it together yet.

      Meanwhile, the audience watches all of this unfold in real-time. The host’s voice is smooth, almost excited as the show begins. The camera zooms in on the contestants waking up, each disoriented and alone in different corners of the jungle-like enclosure.

      Here we are, folks! Our six contestants, wiped of their memories, dropped into the wilderness. They have no idea where they are, or what’s coming next. Let’s see how long they can last!

      The scene cuts to a commercial break, the bright lights of corporate logos flashing across the screen as viewers sit in anticipation of the chaos to come.

      Cameron moves through the underbrush cautiously, every step deliberate. There’s no sense of direction—only survival. He doesn’t know what he’s looking for, but the tension in his muscles tells him to stay on alert. Somewhere, far off, he hears a rustling. He’s not alone.

      In a different section of the jungle, Kyra is already moving. Her smaller frame allows her to slip between branches and foliage more easily, though her movements are erratic. She pauses every few steps, her breath catching in her throat, eyes scanning the trees. Every sound feels amplified.

      Elsewhere, Elias stirs, his hands shaking as he grasps at the ground. He doesn’t speak his name aloud like the others. He simply stares at the tattoo, feeling the weight of something he can’t explain pressing down on him.

      The jungle seems alive, closing in around them, as if daring them to move. And all they can do is try to survive.

      First Steps, First Dangers

      The jungle is a labyrinth of noise, shadows, and unseen threats. For the contestants, disoriented and confused, each step feels like a plunge into the unknown. The air is thick with humidity, and the sound of distant rain mingles with the rustling of leaves, giving the impression that something is always watching.

      Cameron wipes the sweat from his brow as he pushes through the dense foliage. His muscles ache, his senses on high alert. He doesn’t know where he’s going—there’s no clear path, no signs—but instinct tells him he needs to keep moving. His breath comes in heavy bursts as he steps carefully over the uneven ground, scanning the area for any sign of danger.

      He moves cautiously, his hand brushing the hilt of the knife strapped to his side. Something primal, deeply embedded in his mind, tells him to stay ready, stay alert. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig sends a shot of adrenaline through him. He passes by a vine-covered tree and nearly steps into a shallow pit concealed by leaves. His foot hovers over it for a split second, his muscles freezing, before he jerks back just in time.

      A trap. Not deadly, but enough to injure him if he’d been careless. He kneels beside it, peering into the camouflaged pit. Sharpened sticks at the bottom would have made sure he couldn’t walk for days. Cameron’s eyes narrow. Whoever set this up knew what they were doing. As he stands and continues moving, he starts piecing things together without realizing it—there’s more here than meets the eye.

      Kyra’s movements are quicker, her slim frame allowing her to duck and weave through the trees with surprising agility. Her heart races with each step, her senses heightened by a growing sense of danger she can’t quite place. The sound of buzzing insects fills her ears, the hum almost deafening in certain patches of the jungle. She slaps one off her arm, grimacing as she feels the sting of its bite.

      The buzzing gets louder. Swarming. Kyra’s breath catches in her throat as she catches sight of a cloud of insects moving through the trees. They're fast, aggressive, and headed her way. Without thinking, she darts behind a nearby tree, pressing her body flat against the bark, holding her breath.

      Stay still, she whispers to herself. The words come naturally, like muscle memory. She doesn’t know why she knows this, but it feels right. She listens as the swarm passes, just barely missing her. When the buzzing fades, she lets out a shaky breath, heart still pounding.

      Kyra continues on, her eyes darting from shadow to shadow, but there’s a growing awareness in her movements—a sense that she’s done something like this before. Whatever that was, she was prepared for it.

      The camera shifts to the next contestant. Maya Chen wakes up slowly, blinking against the brightness of the sunlight filtering through the trees. She pushes herself up, her head swimming with confusion. Her fingers brush over the tattoo on her arm—her name, Maya, and the strange QR code. It’s the only thing she has, the only anchor to who she is.

      Her muscles tense as she hears something behind her. Slowly, cautiously, she turns her head. It’s a snake—brightly colored, coiled around a nearby branch, watching her with unblinking eyes. Maya’s heart races, but her body remains still. She doesn’t know why, but some buried instinct tells her not to move. The snake hisses softly before slithering away, disappearing into the underbrush.

      Maya breathes out slowly, relieved but shaken. The jungle feels alive, hostile. She gets to her feet, moving forward carefully, her eyes scanning for other potential threats. The landscape is dense and difficult to navigate, the uneven ground and thick trees making every step a challenge.

      A few feet ahead, she spots something—a small metal box half-buried in the dirt. She moves toward it cautiously, her mind racing. Is it another trap? Or something useful? She kneels, brushing away the dirt to reveal the contents—a small cache of emergency supplies. Water purification tablets, a compact knife, and a flare gun.

      She grabs the supplies, grateful, though a part of her wonders why they were left there. The thought leaves her uneasy, but she doesn’t have time to question it. She packs the items and continues, her footsteps careful and deliberate.

      The show cuts to the audience, where the host’s voice provides commentary.

      "And here we go, folks! Our contestants are getting their first taste of what The Hunt is all about. Cameron Steele narrowly avoids his first trap, while Kyra Mitchell evades a nasty swarm of jungle insects. But look at Maya Chen, already scoring some extra supplies! Looks

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1