The pistol glints under the artificial light, its sleek black surface daring them to move. The teens stare at it, their expressions a mix of fear, disbelief, and reluctant curiosity. The silence stretches, suffocating, as Mother's voice, cool and cutting, slices through the tension.

"This challenge will test your respect for one another. I have overheard your friendship is your strength. Well, by the end of these next challenges starting with this one. Let's see how strong your bond truly is."

Sam's fists clench at her sides. She doesn't trust herself to speak, her throat tight with unspoken words. Beside her, Maddie shifts her weight nervously, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. Henry adjusts his glasses, his hands trembling, while Lynne hugs herself, her eyes flickering between the others. Austin's jaw tightens, the muscles in his neck straining as he stares at the weapon.

Mother continues, her tone mocking. "The game is simple. This is Truth Sucks-my delightful take on your 'hot potato'. Pass the gun around until the timer stops. Whoever is holding it when the timer ends will have the honor of aiming it at another roommate of my choice. Your job? To break them. Berate them. Prove to the nation you're not the killer by exposing someone else's weaknesses."

A faint whirring fills the room as the timer's holographic display activates above the pedestal, its digital numbers glowing an ominous red: 01:00 minute.

"But", Mother adds, "if you refuse to participate, I'll make sure you regret it. Laptop access? Gone. Food supplies? Reduced. I might even make you face Keith's fate. And do be careful not to drop it. The gun is loaded."

"Is it?" Austin questions.

"Well, you just got to let it drop and find out." Her laughter is sharp, metallic, sending shivers down their spines.

Sam steps forward getting tired of this, her voice steady despite the unease in her chest. "You can't keep doing this. You're playing with lives."

Mother's light flickers, her amusement evident. "Oh, Samantha, but I can. The nation demands entertainment, and someone here is pretending. Prove you're not the killer or let them suspect otherwise. Your choice."

Sam, Henry, Maddie, Lynne, and Austin are soon instructed by Mother to form a circle around the pedestal. As each one stare at one another, the dread and paranoia starts to recoil around. The tense thick air filled with uneasiness.

"Anyone can pick up the pistol," Mother instructs. "As soon as that person grabs it, the ticker will begin."

As all five are hesitant to touch first, Sam feels like the leader but is showing reluctance. Henry keeps looking at everyone else. Maddie stares at the floor more than the gun. Austin stares intently at it but isn't the one ready to make the first move. Lynne gives off a squeamish glint. Each one still paralyzed, their hands unable to budge an inch, knowing the fact they are about to hold a live gun. And also the nagging fear growing, not knowing what would happen if any of them somehow drops it. Not taking a hasten chance as a long minute passes, they remain hesitant. None of them are making any progress. Only their anxiousness are growing.

As minutes pass, the teens remain flummoxed, exchanging reluctant glances. No one has yet to move.

"Tick-tock, I'm getting tired. The nation cannot be bored." Mother chides. "If no one picks up the gun in the next minute, say goodbye to your precious laptop privileges."

Henry's stomach churns. Elijah's messages are their only lifeline, their only connection to someone outside this nightmare. Knowing he can't lose the laptop, Henry breaks their diffident stance. His breath quickens as he steps forward, his jerky hand removes the pistol from the pedestal. The gun feels heavier than he expected, its cold metal foreign in his clammy hands.

"Good boy, Henry," Mother coos. "Now, let's begin."

The timer starts. 00:59.

Henry, hating to do it, tosses the gun to Lynne, who catches it awkwardly, her hands shaking. Without hesitation, she lobs it to Austin. He grips it tightly, his eyes darting to the timer. 00:45.

"Faster!" Mother's voice sharpens. "Don't bore the nation."

Austin throws the gun to Sam, who hesitates for a split second before passing it to Maddie. The timer ticks down. 00:30. Maddie's breaths come in shallow gasps as she hurls it back to Henry, the cycle repeating. The tension escalates with each pass, the glowing red numbers counting mercilessly downward.

Lynne catches the pistol again, her grip slipping slightly. Her fingers clench tighter as she glances at the timer. 00:10. She's frozen, her mind racing.

"Lynne, throw it!" Sam shouts.

Lynne snaps out of it and tosses the gun to Austin, who holds on to it.

"Come on, give it to me!" Sam eggs him.

The timer ticks...00:03... 00:02... 00:01.

Austin gulps as he hangs on it tight, refusing to give it to Sam. Suddenly as the timer ticks down to 0:00 seconds.

The siren blares, sharp and deafening as it stings the teens' ears. Austin's heart pounds as he realizes the timer has stopped, and he's still holding the gun. His knuckles turn white as he grips it, unsure of what to do next. The others stare at him, their expressions a mixture of relief and dread. Austin carefully cradles the gun as he soon sees Sam, who slowly shakes her head. Austin doesn't know why would she need it.

"Congratulations, Austin," Mother says sweetly.

"What's next." Austin says vexed.

"I appreciate your feistiness." Mother purrs happily. And sort of hisses this could be the start of the end of the teens' bonding experiences.

"You've won the honor of pointing the gun. But not at just anyone. Let's make this interesting." A pause hangs heavy in the air before she continues. "Lynne."

Lynne's eyes widen, her breath catching in her throat. She shakes her head, backing away instinctively. "No...no...please."

Austin hears her name and looks a bit startled, as his hand starts to shake still holding onto the gun.

"Austin," Mother's voice hardens. "Point the gun at Lynne. Now."

"You're insane!" He grumbles.

Mother pushes him. "Do it!"

Austin freezes. Sam tries to interrupt him and tells him he doesn't have to do it, even though she's still pissed. Austin glances at Lynne, who's trembling, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. He looks at Sam, whose expression is a mixture of anger and pleading. His heart aches as he struggles with the decision.

"Austin," Lynne whispers, her voice breaking. "Don't. Please."

"I..." His voice falters. He wants to throw the gun away, to end this sick game, but Mother's threat looms over him.

Slowly, reluctantly, he raises the pistol, aiming it at Lynne. Her eyes fill with tears, her breath hitching.

"Good," Mother says, her tone dripping with satisfaction. "Now, let's begin. Break her, Austin. Prove you're not the killer."

"I'm no killer!" Austin makes clear.

"Neither me nor the audience know that." Mother says slyly, "Do any of the other roommates? They don't know. You need to prove to everyone you're not the killer, berate Lynne."

Austin tries to fight the handle as Mother urges him to do it. Yet Austin hesitates. "I...I..." He stares at Lynne as she stares back him with a downtrodden look.

"Let's sweeten the pot." Mother says with a spurious caring manner, "I will reward time to talk to your so-called love of your life, the girl you cheated on...or the father who have ignored you since you was a baby."

Austin hears those words and hates how she described them. But in a twisted sense, she's right. His throat tightens. As Sam, Henry, and Maddie stay in the sidelines helpless, wishing Austin don't do this. Lynne tries to do anything she can, but even her silent pleas proves useless. Directing the gun at Lynne, Austin begins to hate himself for what he's about to do, but he forces the words out.

"Lynne..." He says his voice trembling. "You... You're so obsessed with making your dad happy, you've forgotten who you are. You're pathetic."

Lynne flinches, tears streaming down her face.

"You cook because you're too scared to face him," He continues, his voice rising. "You dance because you think it'll make him proud. You can't make him happy. You can't even make yourself be happy. Nothing more than an embarrassment."

"Stop it!" Lynne shouts, her voice cracking.

Sam looks on with a pained reaction. She wants to say something, feeling like she should rush and take the gun away from Austin. However, she like Maddie and Henry, are forced to stay aside. Forced to listen Austin chewing out on Lynne.

"Tell us the truth!" Austin yells at Lynne, his anger masking his guilt. "Did you kill Keith?"

"NO!!" Lynne cries. "I didn't! I swear it wasn't me!"

Her sobs fill the room, and Austin's grip on the gun loosens. He lowers it, his hands shaking violently.

Mother's voice cuts in. "You can stop now. Well done, Austin! You've proven yourself... for now."

No one moves. They're terrified in the aftermath, the bevy of Austin's words lingering in the air. As Mother's red light fades down, there are only Lynne's broken sobs which echoes through the room. Austin stares at her, the tears in her eyes cutting deeper than anything Mother could ever orchestrate.