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Escape Room Nightmare

About the Author

"You sure this is the right place?" Wesley asked his sister June, squinting at the nondescript building looming ahead. Its windows were blacked out, and a small, faded sign reading ‘ESCAPE ROOM' hung crooked above a steel door. 

What had seemed like a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon—solving puzzles with his brainy little 21 year-old sister—suddenly felt off as they pulled into the empty parking lot.

"This is the address," June confirmed, her blonde hair falling across her face as she checked her phone once more. "The reviews online were amazing—five stars across the board. Said it was the most intense escape room experience in the state.”

The entrance door buzzed open as soon as June pressed the intercom button. Inside, the narrow reception area was dimly lit, empty except for a desk with a computer monitor and a bored-looking man with hollow cheeks and unnervingly pale skin.

"Hansen?" the man asked without looking up.

"That's us," June confirmed, reaching for her wallet. "We have a two o'clock booking."

A thin smile spread across the man's face. "Perfect." He tapped something into his computer. "The rules are simple. Solve the puzzles, escape the rooms. Three rooms total. You have two hours. Oh, and I need your phones — no cheating.” He held up a small leather bag.

“What, no I don’t think—” Wesley objected.

“Come on, Wes, it’s two hours. I think you can survive. We’re on those things too much anyway,” June countered.

With a sigh, Wesley dropped his phone into the bag the man offered. June followed.

"Through that door," the man indicated with a nod, zipping the pouch. "Your time starts now."

The first room was larger than Wesley had expected, with bare concrete walls and harsh fluorescent lighting. A digital timer on the wall began counting down from 2:00:00. The heavy metal door closed behind them with an ominous click.

"Not exactly the elaborate puzzle setup I was expecting," Wesley observed, scanning the nearly empty room. The only features were four cameras mounted in the corners and what appeared to be metal plates installed in the walls.

June walked a full circuit of the room, running her fingers along the seams of the walls. "There must be hidden panels or—"

A loud screech of feedback interrupted her as speakers crackled to life.

"Welcome, June and Wesley Hansen." The voice was digitally distorted, impossible to identify. "You've entered a game with special rules."

The voice struck Wesely as movie-villain ridiculous. “Okay good thing that’s not creepy,” he snorted.

“Just go with it, please?” June whispered, but her face had paled.

"This is not a typical escape room," the voice continued. "This is a test of your boundaries, your morality, and your most forbidden desires."