Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
I held his stare deliberately, not wanting to appear like some damsel rattled by his brooding intensity. I used the opportunity to take a really good look at him. His slick, neatly styled hair, closely shaved at the sides, added to his structured, intense aura. The intricate tattoos climbing up the side of his head and neck spoke of his complex past and the dark world we navigated, contributing to his formidable presence. Additional tattoos adorned his hands and fingers, each a visible symbol of his experiences and commitments.
His expression was a mixture of curiosity and a silent dare—a test of wills played out in a fleeting, charged moment.
This silent standoff was gently broken by Raphael’s nudge. “Look,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Turning my attention back to the screen, I watched as the theater lights dimmed further, and the display shifted dramatically. Animated scenes of elaborate traps and frantic participants played across the screen, depicted in a whimsically dark style that lent a peculiar charm to their otherwise grim fates. It was like watching a twisted carnival of horrors, the animation adding a strangely joyful twist to the scenes of chaos and calamity. Then, the visual narrative shifted back to show the theater lobby we had traversed, now empty.
A deep, resonant voice began to overlay the imagery, compelling in its gravitas.
“Welcome to Judicium, the pinnacle challenge of your intellect and resilience.
Within this very cinema lies a yellow door, your gateway to what awaits beyond.
However, unlocking this door requires a code.
This digit is secured in keys of three.
The first resides in this room, veiled among the shadows of those around you.
The remaining two are tucked away—one amidst the virtual thrills that deceive the eye, the other buried within the sustenance that pumps your heart.
Watch the screen and count the time.
Should you fail to be seated, the silent sentinels will promptly remove you from our game—a permanent exit.
Proceed with caution and urgency, for every decision could be your last.
Let the first Judgment commence.”
As the foreboding voice faded into silence, the theater screen flickered and transformed, now showing a precise digital replica of our current setting. Each seat was meticulously represented, with those of us in them highlighted in a bright red glow. My attention homed in on the screen as two of these seats suddenly shifted to a bright green—Kristy’s and the seat of the guy beside her, another stranger to me.
This shift coincided with the appearance of two timers on the screen: a larger one at the top set for sixty minutes and a more immediate six-minute sequence.
As the timers began their countdown, a smile spread across my face. The show was well and truly on.
“Ah, I adore this piece!” I blurted out as the haunting strains of “Danse Macabre” began to weave through the air. The classical melody, both sinister and whimsical, seemed tailor-made for this very occasion.
Raphael shot me a look, one eyebrow arching in amusement. “Interesting choice for a favorite, but hey, if this is what you’re into, I’m all for it. I’ll remember this for the future.”
That implication caught my interest immediately. “Planning to stick around, are you?”
His response was lost to the swell of music and Liam’s booming voice from the back of the room. “Tyler, come on! Move!” he called to the redhead who was paired with Kristy.
Taking the cue that was apparently needed, Kristy and Tyler rose from their seats and finally began to search through the theater under our watchful gazes, nobody daring to stand or lend a hand.
The rules were clear, as was the time they had left.
“Where could a key possibly be in here?” Kristy pondered aloud, her voice tinged with urgency that echoed around the theater.
Tyler pointed towards the rows of seats, suggesting a logical starting point. “Let’s start with the obvious. Check under the chairs first. You take the bottom; I’ll head to the top.”
With that, they began to methodically inspect each chair. I scoffed. Did they truly believe they’d have time to check every damn seat?
I watched the clock as seconds disappeared, only looking away to make sure the clown by Aisha hadn’t moved a single inch.
Without any warning, the music stopped.
The silence that followed was heavy and loaded. Both Kirsty and Tyler quit what they were doing and looked around the room as if confused.
“What are you two doing? Get back to your seats, now!” the girl with the pixie cut shouted.
Kristy reacted with the immediacy of someone used to following orders, sprinting back to her chair.
It wasn’t surprising, considering her father’s reputation—an iron fist in a velvet glove, always too eager to impress my parents, which in turn made him entirely unimpressive.
Tyler, meanwhile, seemed oblivious to the gravity of the situation until it was almost too late.
He lingered at the top of the theater, dawdling as if he had all the time in the world. By the time he recognized his error and turned to sprint down the stairs, his window of opportunity had all but closed. One of the clowns moved to cut him off, a looming figure in the dim light.