CHAPTER THREE
( SHOCK THERAPY )

AYSON WAS SURPRISED to see that, before the clock had wound down, two others had survived the previous room. Two men, she noticed‒ and the last woman was left behind to scream for help as the door slowly closed. The raven-haired girl covers her ears to block out the pleads of help, before wincing as the door slammed shut, and the exasperated shouts were gone. None of them could have helped her anyway; especially when the strict rules were still in play.

And although Ayson knew she needed to keep to herself, she didn't know how she would slowly watch these people die in front of her. The previous woman, thankfully, wasn't anywhere in view when the capsule of acid burst inside her head. But the girl was left to imagine how she'd writhe in pain before the light finally left her eyes.

"I'm not sure if I can do this," Ayson shakes her head, pulling her knees to her chest. "This is already too much for me to take in."

Aidan placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, preparing to respond just as the similar raspy voice broke out around the room. The boy sighed, allowing Ayson to lay her head on his shoulder as they listened closely.

"Congratulations to those of you who have managed to escape your past. Unfortunately, Lilith wasn't able to aquire the key to her freedom, and suffered the concequences," the voice says, the same scarlet puppet appearing on a screen at the corner of the room. "But your journey isn't over just yet. Because most of you weren't paying attention as your colleagues revealed their secrets, I've decided to teach you about them in more detail than what they described to you."

It was then that Ayson, in fact, hadn't heard what everyone else was saying‒ other than Aidan. And because she hadn't, she knew she would regret that mistake.

"There is a liar among you," the voice continues, "and they have been lucky enough to escape their fate for a longer time than anyone ever should. When wronging another, always be aware that the wronging will always come back again."

Each of the people in the room were looking at each other, wondering who the liar was.

"Cameron, you have deceived many. And for that, you will pay the price. Do you remember the day‒ four years ago‒ when you carelessly proceeded with a heart surgery? Because you were mourning the break up between you and your significant other, you managed to completely ruin the life of a child who perished at your touch. A family trusted their loved one with you, and yet you wasted it. I'm here to make sure that never happens again.

"You've lied to the family more than enough times, and I'm prepared to show you how harsh deceit can affect the brain. In front of you, there is a surgical bed with straps designed to keep you in place, and a set of wires and tabs that are to be laid on your temples. Once you are strapped in, the rest of your instructions will come."

Cameron, Ayson assumed, jumped up from his spot, fuming as everyone looked at him expectantly. His jaw was slack, his eyes burning with fury. "Do you honestly believe this man? As if I'd actually have the heart to do any of that."

"Look, all I know is that something bad is garenteed to happen if you don't cooperate and follow orders," the brunette beside Ayson says, tugging at the sleeve of her pantsuit. "So get the hell up there, and we'll strap you up like we're supposed to."

"Like hell I am!" He growls. "You think I'd do something like that?"

"I don't know who the fuck you are, but I'm not about to lose my be because you want to be a selfish fuck," the other man argues, moving to stand in front of him. "Now stop being useless and lay your ass on that bed before we have to make you."

While the three of them continue to argue, Ayson makes a point to scan the room. The surgical bed was metal, and looked very uncomfortable; but looked stable, nonetheless. And the timer that she had saw earlier was lit up, and counting down from three minutes.

"Guys, the timer!" Ayson points out. "He's timing us!"

"Don't touch me Joel!" Cameron growls, shoving the blond man backwards. "I won't die for you insufficient fucks, so fend for yourself!"

The blond man and the woman begin to shove Cameron onto the hospital bed, Aidan jumping in to help with his restraints. Ayson waits patiently, her hands covering her ears as Cameron fights back against them. But he never got in a good swing; they had already tightened the bounds and pressed the tabs to his temples. The remaining people backed up against the wall, preparing for what was to come.

"You'll pay for this," Cameron grits, yanking against the binds. "Once I get out of this, every one of you will‒"

"Now that you are bound, the clock will restart for five minutes," he's cut off by the same raspy voice. "During this time, you will have to cut off the straps on your arms, legs, and torso. However, you have no knife."

As if on cue, several ceiling tiles begin to slide apart, revealing a glass full of green liquid. The glass rectangle was lowered just above Cameron's stomach, resting there by a metal bar attached to a banister. A knife is glued to the inside of the glass at the very top, as well as an opening at the bottom that was big enough for someone's hand to barely fit through.

"In order to get the knife from the box, you will be put through immense pain from the toxic acid inside. The mere touch will send shock waves through your arms, and will dissolve your skin if it's touched for too long. Unfortunately, this is the only way for you to get out," the puppet stops for a moment.

In the nick of time, laser beams shoot out in front of the four others. Joel pulls the pantsuit woman back before she leans into it, shoving her against the wall. Ayson gasps, staring at the red parallel lines that just appeared in front of her.

"Your colleagues will be of no help, as you can see. If they attempt to come too your aid, they will have problems of their own. Within the time given, your brain will be shocked every twenty seconds‒ each time will be a new level of difficulty. If you have not escaped the bed before the clock stops, you will be electrocuted, and the tank full of acid will empty."

Ayson winces, Aidan moving to grab her hand and turn her head. Neither of them needed to hear this, let alone be a part of it.

"Good luck to you, Cameron. And may this game change your ways forever."

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