Page 34 of Insanium
Once we were finished, we climbed into the SUV one by one, and the clown shut the door behind us with a muffled thud. It felt like we were being sealed off from the outside world.The interior of the vehicle was surprisingly luxurious, with soft leather seats and warm heat to combat the chill of the night. As the engine hummed to life, the vehicles pulled away from the carnival, the bright lights slowly fading into the distance. No one spoke; the only sound was the soft purr of the engine and the occasional shift of our bodies against the leather.
Aisha finally broke the silence. “So, where are they taking us now?” Her voice was steady, but I could hear the underlying tension.
Rafe leaned forward, his eyes on the tinted windows as if trying to decipher our route. “Somewhere we’re supposed to be. That’s all I know.”
We left behind the carnival, the manor, and eventually even the semblance of normalcy. We passed through chain-link gates that clanged shut behind us, sealing off our connection to the outside world, and descended into an underground garage more akin to a high-end showroom than a mere holding area. Polished floors reflected the soft, ambient lighting, and the walls were adorned with art that gave the space an almost gallery-like feel.
Our SUV came to a gradual stop in front of a long black carpet that unfurled towards a solitary elevator. It was framed by two figures wearing half-masks, standing as silent sentinels. Their presence was a clear directive—we were expected to follow the path laid out for us.
We exited the vehicle and made our way toward the elevator, the soft hum of conversation among us filling the silence of our surroundings. The elevator doors awaited us, gleaming under the overhead lights, sliding open as if anticipating our arrival. Inside was just as opulent as the rest of the garage, its panel absent of buttons, our destination predetermined. As the doors closed, the lift began its smooth ascent, finally halting on the sixth floor.
As the doors slid open, unveiling a lobby with plush circular couches and balloons softly bobbing in the air, a screen caught our attention, its message crafted in a rhythmic, almost poetic tone: “Congratulations. Tonight, you rest and revel in your triumph. Tomorrow, you will leaveJudiciumbehind for even greater pleasures.”
Maya was the first to step off the elevator, her eyes taking in the grand surroundings. “So, this is it? We actually made it?”
Before anyone could respond, a striking woman appeared with three others by her side, coming from a corridor. Her voice was smooth as she addressed us.
“That seems to be the case. Rooms have been prepared for everyone.”
Liam, always practical, nodded and added, “Judiciumwas never meant to last long. Only a few have for more than one night, and technically, this is our second.”
“That’s true,” I chimed in, looking around at the lavish lobby. For now, we were survivors, tucked away in luxury’s embrace.
As we entered the room, the woman introduced herself as Sanjana, flanked by her friends Alex, Leah, and Jack.
Maya, ever curious, asked, “Did you guys go through that mirror maze too?”
Sanjana shook her head. “No, they had us navigating some army-style obstacle course and trying to dodge otherJudiciumcontestants. It was like something out of a war game.”
“Ya know, I think the mirror maze really wasn’t so bad after all,” I joked.
The conversation meandered a bit more before Hael pointed out my cut again. “We should find a first aid kit.”
“It’s really not that serious,” I tried to protest.
“I’m sure there’s one around here somewhere,” Aisha volunteered.
With that, our group—me, Aisha, Hael, Rafe, Liam, Maya, and Eryx—set off to explore the expansive suite. Sanjana and her party, opting for a different kind of relief, headed for the table of champagne in a back corner.
The place was set up like a luxury hotel, with various rooms branching off from a central lounge area.
Curious, I wandered into one room at random, heading straight for the bathroom, figuring that was the most obvious place a first aid kit would be stored. I couldn’t help but appreciate the lavishness I stumbled into. The shower was an inviting haven of stone, calling to me after the grueling trials we’d just endured.
“You think they have clothes for us here?” I mused out loud, partly hoping they did.
Liam, who’d followed me in along with the others, chimed in. “Those other folks were fresh and clean, so they must have something around.”
I pointed at the shower, half-joking, half-serious. “I want to use that.”
“So do I,” Rafe declared, his voice echoing a touch of longing.
Hael, ever the practical one, nodded. “I’ll track some clothes down.”
Eryx added, “I’ll keep watch.”
Aisha wrinkled her nose slightly. “Well, I need to shower too, but I don’t really fancy a watch party.”
Maya laughed, nudging Liam playfully.
