Disclaimer: I do not own hunterXhunter… but I wish I do.

Message from the author: Thank you SOOO much for the helpful reviews. Thank you for reading my fic. If you didn't like it…. sorry. But I'll still do my best! I wasn't able to put a disclaimer and a message in the 2nd chapter… I got confused with the buttons and- I don't know… I'm a computer illiterate for god's sake! Anyway… I look forward to your reviews… Please be nice to me.

Most of the participants panted hard to catch their breath from running non-stop for several hours. A wall slowly descends by the opening of the tunnel which trapped everyone, who weren't able to catch up to the exam instructor, inside the dark hall.

"Now, everyone." The man with no mouth called for attention. "What you need to do now is-" But the instructor was cut when a bruised man suddenly appeared callin everyone's attention while dragging a beat-up monkey at his right hand.

"Stop! Don't listen to him!" he called. "That man who claims to be your instructor is an imposter! He is one of the monkeys that lives here in this mountain! They ambushed me when I had my back!"

XxXxX Ricku's POV XxXxX

Everybody got confused with the unexpected turn of events. I, myself, didn't even know what's going on! I looked at the monkey, that the bruised man was dragging, and it looked similar to the guy with no mouth. It was so weird!

Suddenly a creepy looking man, wearing a clown's garments, stepped out to settle the confusing state of affairs. He gave me the hives! He suddenly laughed as he licked his upper lip. It was like he was ready to kill for pleasure.

"There is only one way of settling this circumstance." He grinned with his eyes squint. He threw a playing card towards the bruised man and the "imposter" instructor. The cards flew like spinning blades as it cut through the flesh of the bruised guy. As for Mr. no-mouth… He caught the card before it could reach him. It was amazing yet terrifying…

"Hn… I guess that guy didn't have any business in our affairs." The creepy man smirks."He was too weak."

I look towards Gon and saw him trembling in fear. I wouldn't wonder. That man right there was not human. He's a monster. No one in the right state of mind can ever find pleasure in killing.

"Continuing to what I was saying." The instructor called as if nothing happened. "What you need to do now is escape from this forest… If you can. This place is called the Swindler's swamp; a home to viscous mystical creatures. If you survive this challenge then you will proceed to take the second part of the hunter exams."

Everything was going too fast! Before I know it, we were just dealing with some guy who claims to be the instructor and now I got separated from Gon and the others… AGAIN! How absent minded could I be!

So I started running. Nothing will happen if I just stand there thinking about what's happening.

"You must be wondering who that creepy guy was just now." A familiar irritating voice suddenly approached me. It was the Tompa guy! GREAT! Just great! (Sarcastic tone)

"That guy was Hisoka." He continued even if I didn't seem to be listening. "He was actually one of the participants of the hunter exams last year. Even though he's strong, he was not able to get a hunter's license."

The fat guy's topic caught my curiosity. "Why? What happened?"

"I wasn't able to reach the last part of the exams (expected), which he failed, but I heard that he killed one of the instructors which caused him disqualification."

GULP. That part in bold letters highlighted in my mind as I recalled Hisoka's attempt to kill the instructor.

"It's better if you don't involve yourself with that guy. A newbie like you wouldn't stand a chance." The fat guy smirked. This guy was actually underestimating me! What a moron! Why I ought to-

"Speak for yourself fatty." A teasing voice butted in from behind. It was Killua.

"Tch. Just be grateful that I have no time to get back at you! " Tompa left as he got his pacing faster.

"It seems that you're running alone." I said to Killua. "Where are the others?"

Killua followed with my pacing as I looked at him. "Actually, I didn't even bother myself to follow them. I work alone."

"Hn. Later on… you might think otherwise." I looked at front.

"huh? I don't think so." And there was silence.

Then a loud scream was heard that resonated throughout the forest. I suddenly paused as killua continued running. He noticed my sudden pause as he stopped a couple of meters away from me.

"Why'd you stop?" he asked

"Somebody might be in trouble. I need to go."

"But you might not be able to reach the goal in time."

"But somebody needs help!"

"Suit yourself. If you're not able to finish the challenge… That's not my problem."

"Fine." I left Killua and went on to the source of the loud scream.

XxXxX killua's POV XxXxX

I continued running as Ricku went away.

'What the hell is that guy? He's acting similar to that Gon Kid.' I said to myself. (note: Killua also thinks that Ricku is a boy.)

"how troublesome."

XXxXx end of killua's POV XxXXX

Ricku's POV

'What the hell is going on?' I shouted in my mind as I hid myself behind a bush while watching leorio get beaten up by Hisoka.

"How in the world did it became like this?"

"Hisoka is trying to act as an instructor." A voice came at my back

"Kurapika!" I exclaimed. I didn't really understood what he answered to me but…

"Keep it down." he demanded as he covered my mouth. "Hisoka might feel our presence."

"umhp-" I broke free from his hand. "sorry."

"ARGH!" we heard Leorio scream in pain as Hisoka held on his head like a basketball.

Hisoka then said "As much as I want to kill you now… I-" **pak!***

A red shiny ball suddenly hit Hisoka's face. It was Gon. The sides of Hisoka's lips curved as his eyes glared at the trembling boy. He was terrifying. A shiver went through my spine as I watched Hisoka approach Gon.

"Gon! Get away from here! " Leorio shouted. "It's dangerous!"

Hisoka then kicked Leorio which caused Leorio his consciousness

I didn't know what to do! As much as I want to help… my body won't move. All I can do is watch… I was so useless! I hated myself. For the first time, I have found people that can be called my friends but now… I just watched them be killed by this psycho! What should I do?

Gon suddenly charged towards Hisoka. He tried to kick the man's face but he was just thrown away as Hisoka slashed him with one of his cards. Gon backed away and wiped away the blood from the wound Hisoka inflicted on his face. Once again, he charged towards his opponents but was hit on his abdominal with Hisokas knee… It was a horrible sight. Gon coughed out blood as he lied on the ground.

"Hn… You weren't too bad." Hisoka grinned. "You pass."

He then went to Leorio and carried him "You pass as well."

Gon stood up as Kurapika Ran towards the battlefield.

"Where do you think you're bringing him!" Kurapika called to Hisoka.

Hisoka looked over his shoulder." Hn…" He smirked. "If you want him… Then follow me."

Hisoka ran towards the forest bringing Leorio along.

"Come back here!" Gon shouted.

I stood up from my post as I stared at Gon and Kurapika running to follow Hisoka.

I was so useless. I was not even able to show up even at the last minute. I just watched the whole scene. The whole going 'back thing' to help was just discolored to nonsense.

That's it…. Eheheh.. sorry for updating late. Hope you liked it.