x
The darkness reeked of blood, death, and the sweat of fear. Only a few had survived the second round from over a hundred, now only twenty-one remained. Each bore wounds some on their bodies, others buried deep in their hearts.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5A6HHz0yG
Jayden Crowe walked at the front of the group like a man seasoned by war. His hands were wrapped in makeshift bandages strips of a shirt scavenged from the last chamber of death. All of them moved silently toward the opening in the final wall a long, dark tunnel filled with rusted stairs. No one spoke. Every breath was a testament to struggle.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33veNlSotO
At the bottom, they emerged into a large hall, dimly lit by flickering bulbs hanging from the high ceiling. Written in bold letters painted in blood on the main wall was:
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u49dqfkjJ
"CONFESSION HALL - Where the Truth Begins to Hurt"
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXX15onJOB4
They glanced at one another. Suddenly, the lights blazed on white, harsh, blinding. A familiar electronic voice echoed, this time laced with a chilling amusement:
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1zeAMZg2b
"Welcome to the Hall of Confessions. You must understand no one dies without guilt. Each of you is here because of something you hid... or something you forgot."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTabQdXlgJ
"For every person who confesses their true sin-they will live. But whoever lies... or stays silent will die."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnsrX6PFfF
The front wall slid open to reveal 21 seats arranged like a courtroom. Each person sat in the chair labeled with their name. Jayden took the center seat, with Rhea Morgan beside him. Others still breathing included:
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rUVmmxHic
Dr. Sienna Volk, a psychologist linked to the deaths of five patients each declared "suicides."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZWXIGSu6e
Connor Black, an arms dealer involved in third-world conflicts.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyyoMvL7uC
Luisa Delvane, a former art student who vanished five years ago after three of her friends died at a festival.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XkNZ9Wqyl
Father Malcom, a disgraced priest stripped of his title due to child abuse allegations yet never charged.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDLPY2V7eL
Silence hung in the air until a spotlight flickered on landing squarely on Jayden. The voice spoke again:
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotSviFkrQG
"Jayden Crowe. Tell us the truth about the death of Evelyn Mayfield or bleed it."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbiRSVPR3m
Jayden said nothing. Evelyn's voice echoed in his head. Rhea's eyes locked on his. Jayden knew this was the end of denial.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3nmgz7Ood
"I killed..." Jayden began, his voice rough. "But not with my hands. Evelyn was murdered by someone who had been following her... and I knew. I didn't tell her. I saw the messages on her phone but I was angry with her that day. I knew she was in danger, but I ignored it. She told me someone from my past was stalking her... I thought she was being dramatic. I refused to listen. She looked at me one last time... before she disappeared. I left her. I killed her with indifference."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE30zPwSriA
The light dimmed. Silence.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXUNNyYXsU
The voice calmly declared:
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0LtZVHp42
"Truth accepted. Jayden will remain alive."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb0ybSXHQC
Then the light swung onto Rhea Morgan. She trembled. Jayden gave her a reassuring glance.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4JHpXeTYp
"Rhea Morgan. Your confession, please. Regarding the case of Randall Voss."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV5anfTRnP
Rhea's face drained of color. Her lips quivered. "I didn't defend him because he was innocent. I knew Randall had been arrested on false evidence, but I was paid two million to get him cleared with a fabricated legal loophole. He walked free. And after that... he killed two women. I knew. I knew, but I wanted the money."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV684svYZqm
Jayden stared at her, taking in a slow breath.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0nJFZ4m32
The light dimmed. The voice announced:
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2403H9Pn6h
"Rhea Morgan will remain alive."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJZC0bfK9Z
Time moved on. One by one, they were called. Some spoke the truth. Others refused. Like Father Malcom. He only prayed. When the spotlight hit him, he remained silent. The voice spoke:
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAAuA1NS1E
"Confession rejected. Sentence: Death."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfPd8mLpAB
A loud hum of electricity buzzed through the room. Malcom's chair trembled violently. Bolts of electricity ripped through him until his body crumbled into a smoldering heap. The others couldn't even scream. They simply watched. And remembered.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNQwnmhsVb
By the end, only eleven remained. A large door opened before them. Ahead was a single elevator. Above it, written in blood, were the words:
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8lQ10XsGI
"IF YOU KNOW YOUR BLOOD, YOU KNOW YOUR FUTURE."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRhJOEtElt
Jayden looked at the remaining survivors. Sienna was shaking. Connor Black sat on the floor, sobbing. Luisa stepped beside Jayden and whispered:
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QUkE1y99e
"Do you think this is punishment... or cleansing?"
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGthuiw4VRq
Jayden replied, "It's war. And it hasn't even started."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRY0rs9ukQ
As they entered the elevator, the lights of the Confession Hall suddenly illuminated behind them revealing every empty chair. Inside the elevator, there was a large mirror. But when they looked into it... they saw no reflections.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqetus8oDto
Each saw someone they knew someone who hated them. One by one, they looked away. But Jayden held his gaze. He saw Det. Charles Hume the friend who betrayed him four years ago.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Hlx962cHC
The final voice echoed before the elevator doors shut:
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jZv7fUiH1
"Next round: The Chamber of Truth. Please prepare to lose something precious."
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eJyxcoArp
The elevator began to descend and showed no sign of ever stopping.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwNxfPByOJ
-------------------------------------------
Author's notes 👑
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWFNIFD5uf
Before You Go
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2NmY0w1lQ
Your thoughts matter more than you know.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqjSXAl525
If this story left you breathless, angry, in love or questioning everything...
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX5cEQSOlQ
Leave a comment. 💭
Rate it. ⭐
Let me feel your heartbeat through your words.
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwHW4wVZGN
What part shook you the most?
Which character lives rent-free in your mind?
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJNPtlLhVi
Your feedback fuels the next chapter.
And trust me... the next one will hit harder. 🔥🔥🔥
64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpemkrl4cH
