284 Hunter and the Russo family 5 (1/2)
”There are five stages you need to go through.” Fabricio started explaining to Hunter. ”Each stage has an elegant way to pass, which includes cracking the code so that you can remove the dangers, or you can use brute force and rely on your luck. In the second option, it is highly likely you will trigger the traps.”
”The first option is using your brain and the second one is using your muscles and reflexes.” Mia summarized. ”When you enter the room, stand at the door, and observe before deciding which approach you want to take. There are no rules and you win by reaching the exit.”
”I got it.” Hunter nodded confidently. He was excited because he loves escape rooms. The ones he visited so far are low on danger and are mostly using secret codes and tricks to be conquered, and this challenge ahead is raising his adrenaline level.
”Be careful.” Mia said desperately even though she knew that Hunter is not listening.
Hunter winked. ”Wait for me at the exit. I will be out in no time.”
”Boast about it once you are out.” Fabricio said while shaking his head. ”Our best operatives take half an hour.”
Hunter walked out after Keith, who will show him the main entrance to the escape room, and Mia could not hide her concern.
”Don't worry…” Fabricio comforted her. ”Keith picked this, but the difficulty is set on easy. Even if Hunter fails, he will not be seriously hurt.”
”I will stop worrying when he is out.” Mia said and moved toward the monitors.
She knows that easy difficulty does not mean that it's not dangerous. One example are traps in the first stage. Easy means that one arrow will be shot when the trap is activated, medium difficulty means two arrows, hard is three arrows, and extra-hard is five arrows with poisoned tips. The poison will not kill a person, but it will numb the body, so going through the next stages will be much more difficult assuming that the arrow didn't hit a major organ or an artery. Ah, she is nervous!
Keith was giving some advice to Hunter while they walked down the stairs, but Hunter didn't listen. Knowing Keith, he is probably lying in order to make it more difficult for Hunter.
Keith gestured toward the door. ”Here it is. Open and step in whenever you are ready. If you have the guts.”
Hunter could not believe the childish provocation.
”Is this the best you can do? I guess now that you lost your chance with Mia, you are reduced to cheap tricks.” Hunter said smugly and entered the room without waiting for Keith to respond.
Hunter looked around and wondered what are the clues to get through this safely? The walls are concrete with some rocks visible, but there are no instructions, poems, or riddles, or anything that can help him.
He squatted and observed the tiles. The dim light allowed him to see that some tiles look newer than the others (based on the way they reflected the light). Why would some tiles be newer, if not for the fact that they were broken, or damaged when the trap was triggered? That means that the older tiles are safe… or traps that were not triggered.
Well, just by avoiding newer tiles, he eliminated two-thirds of the tiles, and that is a progress. Anyway, he has no intention of lingering here. In the worst case, he will trigger the trap and rely on his reflexes (and luck).
Hunter decided on fifteen tiles he will use to reach the exit and stood up.
He took a deep breath and stepped on the first one… safe!
He lifted his leg and hopped over two tiles to land on the second one… safe!
With every next safe step, his confidence swelled.
Mia was doing her best not to panic while watching Hunter move in an almost straight line toward the exit of the first stage.
”Interesting...” Fabricio mused. ”How did he see the symbols on the tiles without turning off the lights? The symbols should glow only in complete darkness.”