Malefis: Her Thoughts are Silent

I awoke on a bed, alone in dimly lit room— If i had to guess, it was a room in the haunted hotel.

I sat up, assessing my surroundings. In the room, there was a single wooden table and chair, a broken analog clock stuck at 9:15, novels and books scattered across the floor, a math-themed calendar, a fridge filled with beer and chips as well as— A talking crow?

"Greetings Challenger! I am Nana, your personal assistant!"

"Huh? What the hell are you?"

"Participate in the hotel game by clearing this escape room ..."

It's totally ignoring me!

".... The door requires a 4 digit PIN to unlock which you'll input into the terminal on the lock. In this room is a hint for each digit of the code, link up clues and solve the code before it gets hard to breathe, my friend...."

"That's a vague time limit"

"..... Once you input a number, the light will flash green, indicating the digit is correct and you can continue, If it's wrong, a red light will flash. There are no repeating digits and if you get three wrong inputs, you'll be trapped in here till you die. The hint for the first digit....."

It was still ignoring me?.... perhaps it's a recording. Still though, the crow looks quite realistic

".....has already been given to you"

"Huh?!"

"Can't wait for you to come full circle, good luck challenger"

"Wait, Wait!"

The crow didn't respond again no matter how much I called out or held it. I slammed it on the table but there was also no reaction. I guess it really was just an automaton— I can't hear it's thoughts.

The idea of solving an escape room would've felt exciting if i wasn't brought here against my will—my phone was also taken while I was asleep, I'm getting a bad feeling about this place.

I took the table and tried using it as a battering ram to knock down the door but it didn't even budge an inch. I searched the room for other things I could use but no dice.

"Guess I have no choice"

I sat on the bed to think about the first hint. I had to think fast since I had no idea how long I'd been asleep, so I have no way of knowing how much time I have left. I have no idea when the poisonous gas will fill the whole room—

"Wait...haha, that sly crow, so that was the hint"

He said it will get hard to breathe, implying the gas isn't normally poisonous but gets toxic in high concentration. When you think of 'a gas' and 'numbers', the periodic table comes to mind..... A gas that is only toxic in concentration with a single digit atomic number

"Nitrogen or Oxygen... Huh? But which one? Atomic number 7 or 8?"

It's a fifty fifty shot, should I risk one red light for the answer? No, let's think a little more, there's no telling what the other hints are like, best not to waste my chances now

Let's see.....

"Now that I think about it...."

I smiled then inputed 7 and a green light flashed.

"The crow said it's name was Nana, Nana's japanese for seven, it seriously is a sly crow, geez. Now then.."

The keyword "link up hints" probably meant the answer to the previous hint is a hint for the next one. That also explains the reason for the red and green light. It makes sense if you can't solve the next one without the previous digit.

"Nitrogen....atomic number 7, atomic mass 14, N.... 14th letter of the alphabet...14...7, 7...14, hmm..."

7, 14 sounded like a date 7/14 or July 14th which drew my attention to the math themed calendar. Still though, 14 isn't a single digit number and it can't be 7 since there are no repeating numbers.

"Perhaps I'm wrong about the linking"

I muttered as I turned to calendar to July. Upon seeing the design, my deduction felt plausible.

It was a subtraction symbol

"14....one...four....minus.... 4-1, three"

I pressed 3 on the keypad and a green light flashed. So each answer points to the location of another hint in the room, noted.

"Now then, what do I get from July 14?"

July.... Birthstone ruby, birth flower daphimium and water Lily, originally called quintilis meaning latin for five

"Can that be it? Probably not, the first answer pointed to something in this room, can the answer of one really give the answer of another? Let's give it a little more thought"

July 14.... zodiac sign cancer, the second zodiac... So we have 2 or 5 to try....

"Hmmm... July 14th is also Bastille Day"

I looked through the scattered books but didn't find anything on the french revolution. It was mostly sci-fi and regression novels

"Guess not, huh? So either 2 or 5, huh?"

I scanned the room once more and realized I might be overthinking this... and there was something on the calendar I didn't consider

"Subtraction, huh?"

The analog clock stuck at 9:15.... Not just does the hands point to 9 and 3—our previous answer, it forms a perfect minus sign— a clock pointing to 9:15 would normally have it's hour hand about halfway between 9 and the midpoint of 9 and 10

The clock was deliberately tampered with to make a perfect minus sign, this has to be it

I inputed 9 and got a green light. I'm down to the last digit.

"This last one might actually be simple, a broken clock, stopped time...."

While rummaging through the books earlier I noticed a regression novel about a guy who stops time. It was called Time Stop: 6 ways to survive the apocalypse.

I inputed 6 and got my first red light

"Huh?... So that wasn't it, huh?"

I sat down thinking about the different variations of "clock" and "time"..... while there were a myriad of solutions and numbers, it didn't point to anything in the room.

"Guess I'm stuck.... Hey, stupid crow! Can't you give me some ideas"

A last ditch effort to the crow who stood there like a rock, emotionless and speechless.I held the black crow which, contrary to popular belief, smelled kinda nice.

A scent which reminded me of Sara for some reason

"Huh?! Why am I thinking of her at a time like this?! Now I feel crazy for even trying"

I said as I lay on the bed before getting up instantly upon realizing there was a method to the madness. I walked up to the terminal and inputed the number 8. I got a green light

"A sly crow right till the very end, aren't you?"

The hint from the clock wasn't the time or numbers, it was the shape of the surface— a circle.

What it was pointing at was the crow's final statement in the beginning "I can't wait for you to come full circle". Coming full circle implies returning to where you started at the end

At the start of the game, I was in a dilemma between 7 and 8, then went for 7. Since there are no repeating numbers, the last answer is 8.

"Congratulations challenger. Level upgraded from 0 to 2"

The crow finally spoke and I noticed a small tattoo on my left wrist—it had the number 0 but quickly changed to 2. I ignored it and opened the door, thereby exiting the room.

I stepped into a hallway with rooms on both side, judging from the room numbers, we were on the third floor as the room were numbered 30X.

I noted that each door had a terminal on the outside as well with a writing "open the door; cost: 1 level" — guess this levels are more like currency in this....."game" . More importantly, I could hear the thoughts of the people I came with in each of the rooms.

I decided to explore the floor I was on before deciding to free anyone.

I walked down the long hallway taking note of my surroundings— I noticed a snack bar, some random games and a treasure chest on the ground, I didn't touch the chest though out of caution.

After strolling for a while, I arrived at a four way intersection. I looked to my right and saw something that made me turn back.

I powerwalked till I was out of sight of that.... "thing" and stopped to rest at a slot machine installed on the wall that I passed by a while ago, it read.....

Napmoth slot machine. Cost: 1 level

Gives a random tool to assist a player in the game. Can only be used once per player

After what I saw, it wouldn't hurt to have that advantage. I used 1 level to try my luck

Level 2—1

Obtained: Appraisal magnifying glass

A magnifying glass popped out of the machine. It was one weird thing after another, but a hypothesis about our situation was starting to form.

I tested out the magnifying glass on the treasure chest earlier and it's appraisal was rather ominous

"Holy shit!.... good thing I didn't touch it earlier"

I headed back to the my starting point to release a companion. Upon reaching there, I saw Michelle step out of her room with a crow like Nana on her shoulder. I guess she cleared her escape room. Although, from her thoughts, she apparently got two red lights

"Adam?"

"Seems like you made it out okay, good for you. Tell me, why did you bring that thing with you"

"Hmmm? You mean Pluey, isn't he the cutest?"

Pluey? Who the hell named that thing? Still though, that probably means her escape room was different.

"Toss it"

"Huh? Why?"

"It's a liability. The mastermind could be watching us through it"

Which means he'll know of any plans we formulate and will have the opportunity to stop them. Michelle looked a bit confused

"M-Mastermind?"

"You think you materialized in that room by yourself? You think the escape room and terminals just spawned from the moon?"

"You have a point. Still though, he might come in handy later"

"Hmmm... You have a point, but it's risk far outweighs the—"

Her thoughts were adamant about keeping the crow and getting her to leave it behind would waste precious energy I don't have. Guess It should be fine as long as I don't have one on me.

"*Sigh—fine. However, you have to obey all my instructions without question"

That way, even if the crow has a spycamera attached, I can limit the mastermind's information.

"And why do I have to do that? I should be the one to lead in this situatio—"

"—It's the only way we'll get out of here alive. While I admit you're kinda smart, you took way too long with the escape room and got two red lights on top of that. If we're judging by actual thinking capabilities, I'm superior..."

A harsh way to put it but I don't have time for this.

"Hey! Are you calling me dumb? You don't even do that well on tests"

"Exams tests ones knowledge, not strategic abilities. Ofcourse, I never said I wanted to lead, only that you in particular will follow my orders"

"That's the same thing!"

"A leader requires the social skills and charisma to inspire confidence in their subordinates, that's probably the only thing you're good for which is why that'll be your job..."

"Only thing I'm good for? The nerve of y—"

"— I'll be in charge of strategy and you'll have to convince everyone else to follow my plan, leader"

"I never agreed to this!"

I copied Sara's cold glare when giving my next statement

"Then get rid of that crow. There's no one around aside from you and me, the others are still in their rooms. I can easily overpower you and destroy that thing, you've seen me defeat Brock many times, haven't you?"

"You're resorting to intimidation now?"

She retorted with a slight fright in her voice. I returned my face to normal and let out a sigh

"I wouldn't have to if you weren't so damn stubborn. If you want to keep that thing around, we risk your plans getting leaked to the mastermind. Which means, we can't discuss strategy but instead have to follow one person's orders so the mastermind only gets bits and pieces to work with"

"I see.....why didn't you say so sooner?"

"*Sigh— If we're being wiretapped, the mastermind now knows we'll be trying to control information and he'll be more conscious of our every move"

"Teeheehee.... Sorry about that. Still though, shouldn't I be the one giving the orders?"

"The fact you didn't catch on to my intent or even consider that possibility yourself proves you're not the right person for the job"

"I guess you're right"

This girl's going to give me a migraine!

"So, I'm guessing we should free our friends now"

"Nope, we're only freeing one person"

"Huh? Why?"

Did everything I just explain go in one ear and leave the next? Well, I guess I can explain the part that doesn't affect our strategy

"What's your level?"

"1"

So two red lights gave her a level one and 1 gave me a level 2. So 0 should be a level 3, huh?

"Then how'd you figure? It costs one level to free each person"

"Oh? Weren't you just bragging about how smart you are a second ago?"

"If you tell me you'll release one and have that person release someone else till everyone's free, I'll trash that crow"

"Huh? Why? It's a good plan"

"First, there's no guarantee the freed person will have a level since he didn't solve his escape room. Second, even if it did, It's a waste of resources, I'm pretty sure those levels have another significance in this game, blowing it all to save everyone is asinine. "

I'll keep the third, fourth and fifth reason to myself for now

"But saving our friends is always the right thing to do! Besides, it's best to do this with everyone"

"Oh yeah? And why exactly is it best with 'everyone'?"

"Hmmm? So we can look out for each other, and it's more fun doing it with everyone"

"A smaller group can look out for themselves better since there aren't that many to keep track of. As for it being more 'fun', that's just your subjective opinion built on platitudes"

"It's not platitudes. Everyone knows it's better to include everyone"

"And who exactly is this 'everyone' who knows? I certainly don't. Geez, social bees like yourself always assume their beliefs are law. What they believe to be good should be good everyone and what they believe to be weird should be weird for everyone. Who the hell do you think you are? God? Sigh—"

She couldn't refute my statement because she's experienced it herself in middle school. She quickly switched gears to maintain her facade.

"But it's dangerous to leave the others alone in a locked room"

"They are perfectly safe precisely because it's a locked room. Nothing can get in to harm them"

"Nothing? Like what?"

I've said too much

"Just leave a note out here for anyone who exits their room telling them not to wander off. I'll pick up a pen and paper from Adrian's room"

Our rooms locked when we closed it

"You know who's in what room? How?"

"That's need to know. And you don't need to know"

I replied, pointing at the crow. She pouted a little then continued

"Why Adrian then?"

"Has anyone ever told you you talk too much?"

"Well, the only reason I think you'll choose Adrian is for extra muscle, right? but in that area, wouldn't Brock be a better choice?"

I didn't respond. She let out a mischievous grin, poking me with her finger.

"Oh? You don't wanna free Brock because the two of you don't get along, isn't that right? Who's being illogical now?"

"Glad we're on the same page. Once I open the door, I'll step inside and close it, try opening it after I do"

"Huh? Hey!—"

I opened Adrian's room door and closed it as I entered. As expected, the door locked and the escape room inside was active.

"Adam? Thank God you're here. For the life of me, I can't figure out this riddle"

"Don't worry I'll get you out of here, but before that..."

I locked in

"....Tell me, is Sara in anyway involved in this?"

"Huh? I don't think so"

"Okay, let me change the question. Did Sara or anyone else in the club say anything to you that you should keep in mind or you found strange at the time? Preferably within the past week or so?"

He couldn't think of anything. Bringing Adrian with me was my own conscious decision, if Sara really did set this up, she would've at least told him something to make sure he was at Michelle's party in case I didn't think to involve him or something to make sure he didn't show up, depending on her intentions. After all—

I explained the things I saw then threw one of Liz's vials at Adrian who caught it easily.

"We'll need your curse to escape this place, that okay?"

"No problem, you can count on me!"

I raised my right palm

"By the way, I want you to punch here with all your strength"

*POW

"OW!"

"You said full strength"

He replied, shrugging and I sighed in response

"Yeah, sure"

I helped him solve his escape room which was far easier than mine, by the way and he inputed the code.

[Escape Room Clear, Level upgraded from 0 to 3]

Does that mastermind have something against me or something? Well, I'll find out once I meet him and serve a super deluxe knuckle sandwich.

"Why did you close the door?!"

Michelle said, strategically leaping into my arms.

"To solve the escape room and net him three levels"

"I see... just don't do that again, you.... had me worried"

She said blushing . I freed my arm

"If your concern was actually genuine, my heart might've skipped a beat. Adrian, you stay here and make sure not to keep this door open. The two of us are going to take a walk"

"Got it"

Michelle had a confused look on her face but I ignored it and started walking, ignoring her cries for explanation. I wish she'd quit this ditzy girl act she's got going on in the situation were in and stop asking unnecessary questions, but then again, old habits die hard, I guess.

We passed the napmoth machine and I stopped to get Michelle an item. I didn't anticipate her escape from the escape room so it wasn't factored into my original gamble, but since she's here, we might as well make the most of it.

"It's a loaded shotgun.... and 4 bullets" She said

"Hmmm.... unrelated question, how fast can you run?"

"Huh? Well I am the ace of the track team, so I am pretty fast"

"I see.... And do you have any experience with a gun?"

"Ofcourse not! Guns are scary!"

Another lie.

"Sigh— Nevertheless, you're going to hold on to it. You'll probably need to fire it, so prepare yourself"

"Huh?! You can't expect an amateur to fire a shotgun! With improper aim he bullet could ricochet in a narrow space, hurting someone, not to mention the recoil—"

"And? How do you know that?"

"I-It's common knowledge, I'm an honor student, after all"

She said, turning her head away after being caught in a lie.

"Sigh.... Remember when you asked me if I found any treasures, expecting me to get defensive about the lingeries you left lying in your room with the door wide open?"

"*Gasp"

"Fact is... I saw them. Along with your trophies— one of which was for marksmanship. So don't lie to me"

She put her head down, partly frustrated I saw through her.

"Let's go"

I said, taking her to the game room. I tried playing before but my level didn't increase, probably because I didn't have a crow.

"You're going to play 3 games here while I observe"

"Huh?! Why aren't you playing?"

I sat down and didn't answer. She reluctantly headed to play against the dealers stationed at three tables while I watched— using my mind reading to ascertain her train of thought then giving her hints at intervals to make her think of the winning strategies I had in mind and avoid the dealer's traps.

We cleared the three games and lost one, Michelle earning a level from each.

"Ah! I lost!"

"Might as well put that frustration to something useful"

I raised my left palm

"Punch here, with your full strength"

"Huh?! Why?"

"Will you get an aneurysm if you don't ask a question? Just do it"

She channeled her rage and swing her fist

"I see....C'mon, let's go"

"Aren't you going to tell me what all that was about"

"To relieve stress"

"Huh? R-Really?"

"I was talking about my stress"

Upon completion, we headed over to that 4 way intersection and I stopped just short of it, holding Michelle's arm

"A-Adam?"

"Listen, once I throw you, take ten steps back. If they chase you, shoot them, if they chase me, try to shoot only one from behind, got it? Good"

"Huh? What are you talking abou—"

I lifted and flung her across the hallway to the other side, then stepped into the intersection for the two zombies to notice me.

That's right, honest to goodness, deadman walking zombies. This wasn't some trick with wires, it truly was a haunted hotel after all.