Once more, Nicholas felt cold. A deep, biting chill that sank into his bones.
He shivered as his eyes fluttered open.
Darkness surrounded him—oh, never mind.
A faint, sickly red glow illuminated the small, enclosed space. The walls were smooth, featureless, and metallic, trapping him in what felt like a suffocating box.
He checked his pockets only to notice- 'DAMN IT! My stuff is gone… AGAIN!' He sighed and took a look around.
'Am I in a cell?'
"You are not in a cell. Welcome to my game, Unknown."
The chilling voice slithered into his ears from directly behind him.
Nicholas turned sharply, his muscles tensing—only to find himself staring at a monitor embedded in the wall. The screen flickered to life, revealing a figure dressed in a sharp gray business suit. Their face, however, was completely obscured by a mask—pure white with a swirling black pattern spiraling inward to form a single question mark at the center. He suspected it to be a man by the build alone.
'Who's this guy?'
"You may call me the Mind," the figure said smoothly. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Unknown. For the time being, at least."
Nicholas stiffened.
'Wait. Can he read my mind?'
He remained silent, waiting. Watching.
The figure didn't react, didn't acknowledge the thought in any way.
Nicholas exhaled quietly, forcing his shoulders to relax. 'Maybe it's just a coincidence…'
A small wave of relief washed over him. His thoughts were his sanctuary. The only place where he could be truly free—where he could let his mind wander without fear of judgment.
But that thought didn't comfort him for long.
Because if this wasn't a cell… then what the hell was this?
"...You mentioned a game? Mind?" Nicholas finally broke the silence.
The figure on the screen nodded enthusiastically. "Indeed! And I am delighted to have you here. Ever since I learned of your existence, I knew I had to learn more about you." His tone was unnervingly casual like they were old friends catching up over coffee.
"Sorry, but I don't feel like sharing," Nicholas deadpanned.
The Mind slumped in exaggerated disappointment. "Is that so? Such a shame! I was hoping to uncover your secrets through peaceful means… but alas, it appears I'll have to resort to the only method I truly know."
The moment he finished speaking, Nicholas felt the floor shift beneath him. The sensation was subtle—like an elevator descending too fast—but what concerned him more was the sudden cold creeping up his shoes.
His gaze snapped downward.
Water.
It was rising.
"OI! Your only way is through torture?!" Nicholas shouted, stepping back as the water climbed past his ankles.
"You wound me," the Mind sighed. "To call my masterpiece of a game torture... How cruel. But that's fine. With every comment you make, I learn more about you."
With that, the screen flickered off.
A moment later, a single line of text appeared in glowing white letters.
Nicholas narrowed his eyes, reading it carefully.
"I have no mouth, yet I speak.
I have no legs, yet I run.
I can fall from the heavens, yet rise from the earth.
What am I?"
Nicholas blinked.
What?
Was this seriously happening? He'd been kidnapped by a madman, thrown into some kind of twisted death game, and the only way to survive was to answer riddles?
'What is this, an Escape Room?' he thought, exasperated. 'No, wait—this feels more like a horror movie plot. Or... maybe a thriller?'
He sighed. Whatever.
The water was still rising, climbing toward his knees now. He needed to think fast.
Nicholas repeated the riddle out loud, hoping it would help. "'I have no mouth, yet I speak.' 'I have no legs, yet I run.' 'I can fall from the heavens, yet rise from the earth.'"
His mind worked through the lines, and then—
"Oh. Oh." He smacked his fist against his palm. "This one's kind of obvious… I mean, the answer is literally trying to drown me right now."
He let out a nervous chuckle. He had no idea what would happen if he got it wrong, but he didn't feel like testing it.
"Water?"
The moment the word left his lips, the water receded, draining away unnaturally fast. The dim red light in the room pulsed and turned green, signaling… success?
Then, with a mechanical hiss, a hidden door in the wall slid open.
Nicholas exhaled sharply. He was right. But the victory felt hollow.
'It's not like I want to play some maniac's game… but I don't exactly have a choice, do I?'
His hands clenched into fists. He hated this. Hated feeling trapped. Hated being forced into a path just because it was the only one available.
Steeling himself, he stepped forward.
Beyond the doorway was another room.
And inside, glowing on the far wall, was another screen.
The Mind's masked face flickered back into view. "Ah, very good, Unknown. You're sharper than you look."
'That riddle was just simple.' Nicholas scowled. "Gee, thanks. That means so much coming from my kidnapper."
The Mind chuckled. "Aw, but we're only just getting started. You'll find that my games are far more… intricate than a simple riddle."
Nicholas widened his eyes. Wha-
As if on cue, the door behind Nicholas slammed shut.
Then, with a mechanical whirr, thin red lines flickered into existence on the far side of the room.
Lasers.
They began moving toward him, slow but relentless, cutting effortlessly through the air.
Nicholas felt sweat trickle down the side of his face. Isn't this a bit excessive?
He forced himself to ignore the looming death beams and focused on the screen. Another riddle appeared.
"I race forward with endless speed, yet I am not alive.
I cut through steel with ease, yet I make no sound.
I travel straight, yet I can be bent.
What am I?"
Nicholas frowned. Really?
His gaze flicked toward the glowing death wall, creeping closer. Is it the same principle as before? The thing currently trying to kill him was the answer?
"The answer should be 'laser,' right?" he muttered, rubbing his fingers against his palm. But is it really that easy?
It felt… lazy. Too obvious. What if it was a fakeout?
With no time to hesitate, he decided to take the gamble. "Laser?"
The moment the word left his mouth, the red glow of the room pulsed ominously. Instead of stopping, the lasers accelerated toward him.
Nicholas's stomach dropped.
"Oi! What the hell is it then?!" he yelled. His mind raced.
Speed yet not alive. Cuts through steel but silent. Straight yet can be bent…
His breath hitched. "Damn if I know… Is it light?!"
The screen pulsed green.
The lasers deactivated instantly, vanishing into the walls as if they had never been there.
Nicholas let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He glared at the monitor.
'This is bullshit.'
A new door hissed open, revealing yet another room bathed in eerie green light.
As he stepped inside, the Mind's voice echoed once more. "Very good. But let's see how well you do when the questions… aren't so straightforward anymore."
Nicholas scowled. "Oh, great. So now you're actually gonna start trying?"
The Mind laughed. "Oh, Unknown… I was always trying."
The next room… was peculiar.
It was still small, but one of its walls was now made entirely of glass. On the other side of the glass was an identical room, though Nicholas immediately realized it was not a mirror.
Because the person staring back at him… wasn't himself.
It was Gin.
Nicholas tensed as he met the demon's gaze. Gin, for his part, looked just as irritated to see him.
His eyes drifted around the room, quickly analyzing their surroundings. Each chamber had a monitor placed against the far wall, positioned so that neither of them could see the other's screen. Below the monitor was a shelf holding a keyboard.
Nicholas frowned. What now?
The screens flickered on. At the same time, the Mind's voice filled the room.
"Now, I shall be performing a social experiment."
Before Nicholas could react, Gin's response was immediate—he slammed his fist into the monitor with a loud thud, followed by another. It was clear to Nicholas that the demon did not like being an experiment. Well, he couldn't blame him all that much.
Nicholas chuckled as he watched the demon bang his head against the glass. The demon reminded him of himself… but if he were an unhinged, hormonal battle-loving maniac.
The Mind continued, unfazed. "Both of you will be given the option of answering the riddle via the keyboard. However…"
The screen flashed.
"Only Unknown will see the riddle."
Nicholas's brows furrowed. Oh.
That explained the setup. He glanced at Gin, watching as the demon scowled at his blank screen, and then at Nicholas's monitor.
Testing his limits, Gin pressed himself against the glass, squinting his eyes to catch even a glimpse of the text.
A moment later, the screen tilted slightly, likely programmed to shift just enough to obscure its contents whenever Gin tried to peek.
Gin scowled, then slammed his fist against the glass. Probably cursing.
Nicholas wasn't sure if he was cursing at the Mind or Unknown.
Then, without warning, Gin backed up to the far wall.
Nicholas blinked. 'Wait, he's not seriously—'
Gin charged at full speed and slammed into the glass.
It didn't budge.
Instead, the impact sent the demon crumpling to the floor, where he sat for a long moment, either in pain or stewing in his own frustration.
Nicholas snorted.
"Pfft…"
Then he laughed.
"Hahahah!"
He really laughed.
He laughed at his adversary. The same adversary that had nearly killed him. Just thinking back to their fight made him wince, but the sight of his adversary on the floor had only made him laugh harder.
Gin noticed. His gaze snapped to Nicholas, who was clutching his stomach, shoulders shaking with laughter.
In response, the demon lifted both hands and flipped him off.
Nicholas wiped a tear from his eye. "Oh, yeah. Real intimidating," he muttered, still grinning.
But now… it was time to focus.
He exhaled and finally turned to read the riddle. But before the riddle itself, a line of text caught his eye:
"Should you be the one to answer the riddle, you will be able to move on to the next game. Should the other one answer, both of you will be able to move on."
'So that's the idea, huh?' Nicholas mused, placing one hand under his chin as he absentmindedly scratched his fingers with the other.
He then read the riddle aloud:
"I am given freely, yet held dear.
A key to hearts, a bridge to fear.
Broken, I may be mended, yet never truly repaired.
What am I?"
Nicholas narrowed his eyes. The wording was ambiguous, but he had a strong hunch about its meaning. He glanced at Gin. The demon had pushed himself off the floor and was now glaring at his blank monitor as if it had personally offended him, drumming his fingers impatiently against the keyboard, waiting for a response.
Nicholas looked at his own keyboard idly. 'So if I answer, I move forward alone. But if Gin answers, we both move on.' The Mind was clearly toying with them.
His lips twitched slightly. It would be far too easy—too easy—to leave Gin behind just to mess with him. Yet something about the riddle nagged at him.
Nicholas exhaled and muttered under his breath, testing the words.
"...A choice?" No, that didn't quite fit.
He ran through it again in his head: Given freely yet held dear, a key to hearts, a bridge to fear, broken but never truly repaired…
Then it clicked.
He glanced at Gin once more and noticed that the demon was now kneeling before the screen, hands folded together as if in prayer or pleading for forgiveness.
Nicholas sighed, knowing he would likely regret this moment. But he had no choice.
He moved toward his keyboard, his hands hovering over the keys. Then, with a sudden motion, he yanked the keyboard free from the monitor, ripping the cable in the process.
'The Mind never stated any rules against breaking his equipment, so hopefully, he doesn't mind it. Even if he does, how else was I supposed to communicate through this soundproof glass?' Nicholas thought, defending his actions silently.
He positioned himself in front of the glass where his keyboard now faced the demon's monitor. After a few seconds, the demon took notice and tilted his head in confusion.
Nicholas pointed at the letters on the keyboard: T-R-U-S-T.
The demon's eyes flickered as he seemed to process the gesture. He nodded his head with enthusiasm, then, with an eager haste, he hopped over to his own keyboard and typed in the word "Trust."
A door swung open for both of them. They exchanged wary glances, their eyes filled with unease and suspicion, but nonetheless, they nodded in silent agreement.
The room beyond was largely identical to the previous one—sterile, bathed in that eerie green glow, with the same minimalist layout. The only difference was that now Nicholas had to trust that Gin would provide the answer so they could both proceed.
But...
When Nicholas turned to look at Gin, he found the demon striking exaggerated poses, his movements overtly mocking Unknown. Gin's antics made it seem as though he were performing for an audience rather than engaged in a deadly game.
Nicholas frowned. "I'm already regretting it," he thought bitterly.