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 chuckled, rubbing at the back of my neck—more than a bit sore, if I was honest. “Yeah, I think I’ve pushed the limits of endurance there. Gonna need a little recovery time,” I admitted with a wry grin.
We lingered in the room, each of us efficiently ticking through our morning routines, tidying up and prepping for whatever lay ahead. As we waited for the guys to finish, Aisha and Maya sidled up to me.
“You owe me so many details, bitch,” Aisha declared.
Maya nodded in agreement. “I wanna know too. I have questions. So does Liam.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “All right, I’ll make sure you two make it to the group chat when we leave. Full disclosure session, promise.”
Once the guys returned, we all exited the room together and made our way back to the main lobby. The woman who had greeted us before was there, surrounded by her friends, Juno—who I had nearly forgotten about—and a couple of other people who had apparently made it through as well.
A screen in the lobby displayed a timer along with what seemed to be a riddle about our departure. I squinted, sensing something off. “Does that make sense to anyone?” I asked, pointing at the cryptic message.
“Bravo on navigating Judicium’s maze,
Your courage and cunning truly amazed.
As you depart from our grand affair,
May odds favor you, brave and rare.
Onto the next season you go.”
A few people had brushed it off as usual Judicium cryptic-ness, but others began to take more notice.
Eryx leaned in close, his voice a low whisper meant only for our ears. “Keep sharp. This isn’t over.”
As the timer hit zero, a chorus of dings echoed across the lobby, signaling the arrival of the elevators. My attention was immediately drawn to the one marked with “616” overhead.
“We need that one,” I said quickly to my group, knowing in my gut that number meant something.
Hael and Rafe didn’t hesitate.
Like seasoned linemen, they cleared a path through the crowd, their presence alone enough to part the sea of people.
We darted through the opening they created, slipping into the elevator just as others started to notice the odd numbers. As the doors were about to close, Juno, Sanjana, and two of her friends managed to squeeze in with us, her giving us a nod as they all went to one side.
The elevator’s descent into darkness was a jolt none of us were prepared for. As it plummeted, an unsettling silence filled the space, punctuated only by the sound of our collective breaths. The abrupt stop nearly had us on the floor, a shaky jerk that suggested we’d dropped more than just a few levels. When the dim overhead lighting flickered on, the doors slid open to reveal a round stone room, its walls scrawled with writing. But one message in the center caught everyone’s eye.
“Are you ready to play?”
A small timer clicked on in the corner, its red digits ticking down ominously. As soon as we registered it, the lights snapped off, plunging us back into darkness briefly before flickering back on.
A screen illuminated with the same question—“Are you ready to play?”—surrounded by walls that seemed to close in, covered in letters and words that made no sense at first glance.
“What’s happening?” Maya asked. “I thought we beat it? We passed, right?”
I shook my head, understanding dawning as cold as the stone beneath our feet. “We passed all right,” I said, my voice steady despite the churn of adrenaline. “Straight into the real deal.”
“You don’t mean …” Juno began, her voice trailing off.
“That’s exactly what she means,” Rafe interjected, his tone bored.
Eryx’s eyes met mine, a spark of resolve flickering in them as he announced, “Welcome to Devil’s Playground.”
The game wasn’t over; it was just beginning.