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.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡty62iZXnQe
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.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1s51hyInl
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:
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAAUebmL3J
"CONFESSION HALL - Where the Truth Begins to Hurt"
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJcapVXqvX
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:
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpGssVzj3Q
"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."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7oFemPpq7
"For every person who confesses their true sin-they will live. But whoever lies... or stays silent will die."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8w1y7Hz3Vv
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:
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5m3vdO2bk
Dr. Sienna Volk, a psychologist linked to the deaths of five patients each declared "suicides."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGuPcd1ml8
Connor Black, an arms dealer involved in third-world conflicts.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTV1SXFUY0
Luisa Delvane, a former art student who vanished five years ago after three of her friends died at a festival.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuiAezcnkE
Father Malcom, a disgraced priest stripped of his title due to child abuse allegations yet never charged.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUffnVzxaQl
Silence hung in the air until a spotlight flickered on landing squarely on Jayden. The voice spoke again:
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqofnES994
"Jayden Crowe. Tell us the truth about the death of Evelyn Mayfield or bleed it."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6zEE3frlL
Jayden said nothing. Evelyn's voice echoed in his head. Rhea's eyes locked on his. Jayden knew this was the end of denial.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VHD7Bor9a
"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."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIjyfDbk0u
The light dimmed. Silence.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyQafXbuov
The voice calmly declared:
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAwCijdOgY
"Truth accepted. Jayden will remain alive."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVehOgs5mxp
Then the light swung onto Rhea Morgan. She trembled. Jayden gave her a reassuring glance.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNbz9Qb5yF
"Rhea Morgan. Your confession, please. Regarding the case of Randall Voss."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zvwzx1Yed
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."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjKbcdJ1pG
Jayden stared at her, taking in a slow breath.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHDhZsev2X
The light dimmed. The voice announced:
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe3X82FSHG
"Rhea Morgan will remain alive."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrUUcBr2L9
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:
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4MOzhYZ7u
"Confession rejected. Sentence: Death."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhQPCl7FEC
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.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfGmKJFOfl
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:
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdC5vMHdn7
"IF YOU KNOW YOUR BLOOD, YOU KNOW YOUR FUTURE."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjq6gxA1KV
Jayden looked at the remaining survivors. Sienna was shaking. Connor Black sat on the floor, sobbing. Luisa stepped beside Jayden and whispered:
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeFHMprVWN
"Do you think this is punishment... or cleansing?"
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlhghnapFx
Jayden replied, "It's war. And it hasn't even started."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKcuyIcDBz
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.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FzmyDVXFO
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.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41IeVMB7u6
The final voice echoed before the elevator doors shut:
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzpTnsQprl
"Next round: The Chamber of Truth. Please prepare to lose something precious."
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe16YjrHZRz
The elevator began to descend and showed no sign of ever stopping.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNUHj7Pmoe
-------------------------------------------
Author's notes 👑
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz01HRNq60
Before You Go
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKq94WxW1Wd
Your thoughts matter more than you know.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDEdaWZFEB
If this story left you breathless, angry, in love or questioning everything...
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnLD9QldUv
Leave a comment. 💭
Rate it. ⭐
Let me feel your heartbeat through your words.
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIwJ3Jbpzx
What part shook you the most?
Which character lives rent-free in your mind?
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUxESwGlgk
Your feedback fuels the next chapter.
And trust me... the next one will hit harder. 🔥🔥🔥
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzfxexlsqo
