Halloween 2019: Choose Your Spooky Outcome: Chapter 6
You may not know a lot, but you’re pretty sure it’s better to be the one doing the testing than a guinea pig. Racing with all your might, you set a course for Styne’s stairs. Unfortunately, a lot of people had the same notion you did, meaning there’s a surge of crowd all aiming for the same steps. Just when it feels like you’ll be swallowed up in the herd, a strong hand grabs you by the cheap robes and pulls you forward.
Thanks to Thad’s help and ability to maneuver, the pair of you make it onstage just in time, cutting off a pair of children, who glare angrily at you both, to secure the final two spots. Taking a moment to scope out the competition, you nearly teeter backward and fall from the stage as you instantly recognize the over-sized backpack.
Looks like Jim ended up on the test subjects’ side, though there’s really no way to be sure if that was intentional or not. Near his side of the stage, you catch Victoria, who looks mildly winded. Maybe she wasn’t close enough to make the cut, which is scary mostly because it means she really is feeling weak. Normal Victoria would have terrified everyone out of her way, and willed her way onto the stage.
Silver lining: that means whichever side wins, you’ll at least get something, but if the prize is shared then you and Thad’s side winning would mean double the payout. Ideally, you could coordinate that thought over to Jim. Since he’s currently chewing and swallowing really fast, like he needs to get rid of evidence, odds of successful communication aren’t looking hot.
“Oh my, we’ve got quite a scary crowd of test subjects over here!” Frankie sways into view, twirling around with exceptional acrobatic talent, yet making no mention of her effortless grace. “Test subjects, let me hear your best monster roar.”
She’s met with the usual array of makeshift monster noises from the participants, right up until Jim begins to emit a low, guttural moan. It rises, in both volume and undulation, a hideous wail that speaks of untold torment and countless devoured souls. To his credit, it’s an exceptionally good impression of that corpse-cruncher you two faced last President’s Day, although for the crowd it’s just deeply disturbing.
“What an… effective howl,” Frankie says, recovering quickly. “I’ve got some top candidates tonight, how about you, Styne?”
“I think we can give your team what-for. How about it, my scientists? Let me hear your best mad laughter.” Styne falls into a brief villainous cackle, like she’s about to call to an assistant for lightning, likely to set the tone after Jim’s performance.
The rest of your team follow the lead, you included. This time, there’s no monstrous noise that spews forth, instead, it’s the opposite problem. Thad’s attempt at mad laughter just sounds sincere and hearty, like he’s heard a great joke from a dear friend. It’s entrancing, and the crowd starts to lose interest in the show, caring more about keeping their eyes on your big brother.
Styne nips it in the bud, clapping loudly, causing the audience to follow suit out of habit. “Amazing job, my scientists! I think that should be about enough time for our helpers in back to have things setup. Frankie, why don’t you tell everyone about the game.”
“Sure thing! Tonight’s event is a race between strength and smarts, brains and brawn, scientists and their subjects.” Frankie points to the test subjects’ side, where a trolley with what looks like eight huge garbage bins all overflowing with foam cubes are lined up. On top of each is a bracelet with a keyhole, which the helpers begin affixing to the contestants. “For our test subjects, they’ve got to try and find the right keys to their lock and escape before the scientists have the experiment ready. There’s more than one key in each bin though, so they’ll have to be quick or lucky.”
On your side, the helpers are wheeling out another trolley, this one with eight stations, covered surfaces that reach a bit higher than your waist. Frankie shuffles over, pointing to your team’s trolley. “Meanwhile, our scientists will be attempting to finish their formulas before the subjects break free. They’ll have a puzzle to solve, and it might take quite a bit of brain power to manage.”
“One last thing.” Styne’s voice comes from behind the curtain, but you can see her when it swings the right way, she’s obviously about to re-enter. “A team is only as strong as it’s weakest member. That’s why the last one to finish for each side will be the contestant who can run over here and claim one of, in my humble opinion, science’s greatest inventions.” The curtains part to reveal Styne, now with an oversized purple phone receiver in her hands. You look away only long enough to check Victoria’s face in the crowd. As expected, she’s nodding her head toward the item, making sure to catch your eye. Definitely magic, then.
“The first one to come claim the Phantom Phone will get to keep it, as well as earn ten Pristine Points for every player on your team.” Styne sets it down on a podium equidistant from either team’s side. “And with that, I think we are ready… to begin!”
Helpers yank the covers off your puzzles at the same time you see the test subjects turned loose. A piece of you wants to see what Jim does, but far more important is getting your team the win. Not only is there an enchanted item on stage, your hunch about the prize sharing was spot-on. For a split-second, you spare a thought to wonder how Thad’s doing, glancing briefly to the side.
The answer, as it turns out, is that Thad has already finished his puzzle, first among your team to do so. He moves toward you, however a helper intervenes, directing Thad over to the side to wait. With only one path to victory, you focus on the puzzle, a simple metal challenge that requires sliding square plates in a locked pattern around to form a picture of a jack-o-lantern. Childlike and safe, just like the rest of this place.
As you work, you worry that the other team will finish. Thankfully, you’re given occasional indicators that at least Jim is still not done by the harried voice of some poor stage-hand.
“Sir, please don’t gargle the foam.”
“Sir, we do not think that foam is flame-retardant.”
“Sir- SIR! The foam is not suitable for use as a bathroom!”
Having been the one trying to corral Jim countless times, you have some sense of empathy for the poor guy, but not enough to slow down your efforts. At last, the final piece of the puzzle slides into place, and for a moment you’re looking at a completed jack-o-lantern. Then, without warning, it winks at you. You feel unsteady, like the world turned slippery, and then it’s over just as fast. The span of a wink, that’s how long the sensation lasted.
“Looks like our last test subject is finally free!” Frankie’s voice snaps you out of the fugue, drawing your eyes to the stumbling form of Jim heading for the Phantom Phone.
You take off, but there’s a lot of gap to close. Jim is part of your team though, you could try just calling out and telling him to slow down. That assumes he listens, understands, and remembers what’s going on, not things you can necessarily count on. There is another option, you realize, taking note of his unsteady gate. Getting to the phone first requires turning and care, you could just run full speed into Jim, then grab it while he’s down. Tackling a friend isn’t the nicest move, but you’ve seen your roommate do worse to himself making a sandwich, he’ll be fine after you buy an apology beer. Of course, there’s also the tactic of just letting Jim get the win. While it’s less Pristine Points overall, you’d still get the prize and some points to add to the pile. Assuming Jim doesn’t accidentally set off the magic once he touches it, of course.
Whatever you decide, better choose fast if you want to make it in time.