The Joker's pride faltered by the words of The Master of Mysteries.
'Oh god… Don't tell me you're in my head too..' the Wanderer whined.
"They aren't, just ignore them and focus on me and my games!"
'Who? Me?'
"I think they are talking about you.." said Preserver.
"Well Master of Mysteries, let me have some fun alright? I'll set it up after."
"Now then, as I was saying~, the 4th favor."
"Just go into that door—don't be scared!"
'How could I even trust you—'
"As the Fool must go, so must this Fool go now~" the Joker waved mockingly, before the Wanderer fell through the door—and blacked out.
<....>
"Hey. Hey. Hey. wake up."
The Wanderer slowly stirred from the voice—fluttering their eyes open. 'Where are we..?'
They were in a white room, flashing red lights—it was an eyesore.
"Escape room?! Wait what–"
< (Objective Window)
Objective #1/??
Difficulty: Average
Objective: Complete the Escape Room
Time Limit: 2 hours
Compensation: None
Upon Failure: Disqualification>
"Wait what the hell?! Are you seriously playing with us?" the Preserver argued.
The room was filled with paintings, scattered toys on the ground, body parts of dolls that are needed to be put together, pieces of paper, and a large keypad—where you could input the passcode in order to escape.
'Uh. uh. Uh. Help what should I start with first Preserver?!'
"Maybe try and fix the doll pieces over there maybe that might give us something?"
The Wanderer gathered all the doll pieces scattered around and managed to obtain a bottle of glue along the way. They separated the parts in each group before starting to glue them together.
"Hmm so there's 4 dolls.."
Doll 1 was a pale figure—who concealed themselves in black robes and a hood. Doll 2 a blonde messy figure, with golden eyes who as well wore golden — royal attire holding a first quarter moon of the palm of its hand. Doll 3 looked arrogant— with long white hair, magenta eyes, it wore a thick black coat that draped around its shoulders, a top hat, and it held a thick book in its hand along with a rabbit that was held on its left hand. Doll 4 who seemed intelligent, yet mischievous—had long brown hair tied messily, a floppy hat with bells, it wore bright red and black attire—similar to a jester's style, its grin was visible—but its entire face was concealed only one eye was seen and open through its mask was a pristine color of turquoise.
'What should we do with them?'
"You see those picture frames where they look similar to what the dolls look like?"
'Yeah.'
"There's a small hole where you could place something—perhaps we could place them?"
'Do you think it will work?'
"Uh I see no other option."
The Wanderer walked towards each picture frame placing each doll
in which it matches each dolls' appearance.
Ding.
A large puzzle piece appeared in the Wanderer's arms.
'You're kidding me right..'
The Wanderer quickly assembled the puzzle—in result it was nothing just pitch black and genuinely mysterious.
The Wanderer glanced around collecting the pieces of paper hoping there'd be clues.
[Tkea otu lal dllos adn mtach ti whit ehac pzlezu ouy svole]
'The fuck does this say…'
"Take out all dolls and match it with each puzzle you solve."
'Well that was quick.'
"Just hurry up and solve each puzzle around the room—I highly doubt we have any time."
< (Objective Window)
Objective #1/??
Difficulty: Average
Objective: Complete the Escape Room
Time Remaining: 1 hour and 8 minutes
Compensation: None
Upon Failure: Disqualification>
The Wanderer first placed Doll 1 on the puzzle piece they solved.
Next, they had to group and cipher each animal, star, and celestial object they find around the room—before placing Doll 2. For Doll 3 they struggled tenfold—they had to separate disciplines, and had to follow awful guidelines provided by the pieces of papers that had clues in them.
For Doll 4 there wasn't really any object that had similar characteristics to it.
<3 minutes now remain.>
'Fuck..There's literally nothing—'
The Wanderer paused turning the Doll over—it's mask was removable.
<2 minutes remain>
The Wanderer took the mask off revealing 2 pieces of paper.
[What ever your answer is from the riddle will be your code]
[You see me walking away, but you don't see what I carry. The heaviest thing I bear is what I am leaving behind.
What am I?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _]
'Oh shit, I don't know! Do you know?'
"..."
'Preserver?'
<1 minute remaining>
'It's only 3 words—goddamnit..'
The Wanderer ran towards the keypad—awaiting the Preserver's response.
<30 seconds>
'Are you not going to help me?!' the Wanderer started typing random words hoping it'll work.
<15 seconds>
'Preserver?!?!'
<10>
".."
<9>
"..."
<8>
<7>
<6>
"A Final Goodbye."
<5>
The Wanderer quickly type the words into the keypad—unlocking the door.
<5>
<4>
The Wanderer quickly ran towards the exit—
<3>
Just a few more meters—
<2>
<1>
Difficulty: Average
Objective: Complete the Escape Room
Time Remaining: 0
Compensation: None
Upon Failure: Disqualification>
The Wanderer panted heavily—choking as well.
'Fuck…What took you so long to answer me?!'
"I dunno…Sorry I was just thinking."
'How are you able to think when you're— whatever…'
"Oh you got to be fucking kidding me right now?"
'Wait what—'
"Hey! What the fuck did you—"
The Preserver shivered.
<"Don't make me repeat myself, Preserver. Now, answer this: Is it true that if you ■■■e■ someone, you'd push them through that door of light and lock yourself in darkness?>
"I-... To give everything is to ■i■a■pe■r. Is that not the truest measure of de■ot■on?"
< "I sense no deceit from you, very well in exchange for your genuine response—"
"I don't care about that! Can you now wake the Wanderer up now!?"
The Wanderer stirred, 'Ughhh…– What the hell happened?'
"Don't worry about it."