The moment the timer began counting down, everyone in Group B started moving.
59:59
“Okay, everyone spread out,” Ethan said.
Lillian glanced at him.
He sounded confident, almost as though he had automatically taken charge.
She didn’t argue.
Instead, she walked toward the large wooden table positioned in the middle of the room.
Chloe followed immediately.
“Where are we going?”
“To look for clues.”
“Okay.”
Chloe followed her so closely that Lillian eventually looked over her shoulder.
“You don’t have to follow me everywhere.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you?”
“Because you’re the smartest person here.”
Lillian laughed.
“You’ve known me for less than an hour.”
“And you’ve already solved things.”
“We haven’t solved anything yet.”
“But I believe in you.”
Lillian smiled.
“You’re funny.”
Chloe grinned.
“I know.”
Across the room, Nina rolled her eyes.
“This is an escape game, not a friendship vacation.”
Chloe turned around.
“We can do both.”
Nina shook her head.
Ethan looked between them.
“We’re wasting time.”
The timer continued.
58:41
Lillian began examining the table.
There were four wooden boxes on it, each with a different symbol engraved on the lid.
A moon.
A key.
A crown.
And an eye.
She touched the box with the eye.
Nothing happened.
She tried the crown.
Nothing.
The key.
Nothing.
The moon.
Still nothing.
“Maybe we need a sequence,” Daniel’s voice came through the speaker from the other room, but it was only a recording.
The groups couldn’t communicate with one another.
Lillian looked around.
There were four paintings on the wall.
One showed the moon.
One showed a key.
One showed a crown.
And one showed an eye.
She walked toward them.
Chloe followed.
“What are you looking at?”
“The paintings.”
Nina approached as well.
“There’s nothing there.”
Lillian didn’t answer.
She studied the paintings carefully.
The moon painting had a small number in the corner.
7
The key had 3.
The crown had 9.
The eye had 1.
Lillian looked at the boxes again.
“Seven, three, nine, one.”
Ethan walked over.
“You think that’s the code?”
“Possibly.”
He entered the numbers into a keypad attached to the wall.
Nothing happened.
Ethan frowned.
“So it’s wrong.”
Lillian shook her head.
“No.
We haven’t figured out the order.”
“Then how do we know the order?”
Lillian looked at the paintings again.
She noticed something.
The moon was painted in the upper-left corner.
The key was lower-right.
The crown was upper-right.
The eye was lower-left.
She smiled.
“It’s based on position.”
She entered the numbers according to their position.
7-9-1-3
Click.
A hidden compartment opened.
Chloe jumped.
“We did it!”
Lillian smiled.
Inside the compartment was a small silver key.
Ethan looked at her.
“You noticed that quickly.”
Lillian shrugged.
“I like looking at details.”
Nina crossed her arms.
“Or you’ve seen escape rooms before.”
Lillian looked at her.
“I haven’t.”
Nina said nothing.
“Let’s just keep going.”
Lillian nodded.
The key opened a small drawer.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
Ethan picked it up.
“What does it say?”
He unfolded it.
There were only six words.
The answer lies beneath the king.
Everyone looked around.
“King?” Chloe asked.
Lillian’s eyes immediately moved toward the chessboard sitting on a shelf.
She walked over.
“There.”
The chessboard was enormous.
Black and white pieces stood on different squares.
The king was positioned strangely.
Lillian touched it.
Nothing.
She examined the board.
“Maybe we need to move it.”
Ethan reached toward the king.
Lillian stopped him.
“Wait.”
He looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because the pieces may be part of another puzzle.”
She studied the board.
The arrangement wasn’t random.
Several pieces were facing the same direction.
She counted them.
“Four.”
Chloe leaned closer.
“Four what?”
“Four knights.”
Nina looked confused.
“So?”
Lillian pointed toward the board.
“The knights are all facing one square.”
Everyone looked.
She followed their direction.
All four knights were pointing toward the same white square.
Lillian moved the piece occupying it.
A small compartment opened beneath the board.
Chloe gasped.
“How do you keep finding these things?”
Lillian laughed.
“Maybe I’m lucky.”
Ethan stared at her.
“You’re not lucky.”
Lillian looked at him.
“What?”
“You’re observant.”
For the first time, Lillian smiled directly at him.
“Thank you.”
Ethan smiled back.
But the moment passed quickly.
Lillian turned back to the puzzle.
Ethan watched her for another second.
Nina noticed.
She frowned.
The live audience noticed too.
@RealityWatcher77: Ethan keeps looking at Lillian.
👀
@EthanFanClub: Our Ethan is definitely interested.
@NinaCarterFan: Why is everyone ignoring Nina?
😂
@LilyMoon: Lillian is carrying this team.
@NoFilterGirl: She’s smart, I’ll admit that.
@HateWatch101: Or the producers are giving her easy puzzles.
@DramaQueen88: How can a producer make someone notice tiny details?
@SerenaBaby: Serena’s group is probably already ahead.
@SerenaQueen: Exactly.
Group A is going to win.
The comments continued pouring in.
Inside Group A’s escape room, Serena and the three male celebrities were also working hard.
Their room was designed like an old library.
Lucas was examining the bookshelves.
Marcus was checking the furniture.
Daniel was studying a large clock.
Serena stood in the center of the room.
“Everyone, look at this.”
She pointed toward a painting.
Lucas walked over.
“What did you find?”
“There are four numbers hidden inside the frame.”
Marcus immediately joined them.
Serena smiled.
She was beginning to feel confident.
Their teamwork was going smoothly.
The audience cheered.
@SerenaForever: See?
I told you Group A would win!
@LucasWife: They’re already solving everything!
@MarcusFan88: Group A all the way!
@LilyFan001: Don’t celebrate too early.
😂
Back in Group B, Lillian pulled another clue from beneath the chessboard.
It was a small metal plate with several strange symbols.
Chloe stared at it.
“What is that?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Nina stepped closer.
“Maybe it’s a language.”
Lillian examined it.
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“The symbols repeat.”
“These three appear twice.”
Ethan crouched beside her.
“So it’s a pattern?”
“Probably.”
He looked at her.
“You really enjoy this, don’t you?”
Lillian smiled.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s challenging.”
Ethan chuckled.
“You’re different from what I expected.”
Lillian looked up.
“What did you expect?”
He hesitated.
“A pretty actress.”
Lillian raised an eyebrow.
“And what am I now?”
He smiled.
“Still pretty.”
Chloe’s eyes widened.
Nina looked away.
Lillian simply stared at him for a second before turning back to the puzzle.
“Focus.”
Ethan laughed.
“Yes, ma’am.”
The live audience erupted.
@DramaWatcher21: DID HE JUST FLIRT WITH HER?
😂
@EthanFan99: Ethan is falling already!
@LilyMoon: Lillian completely ignored that.
😭
@HateWatch101: She’s pretending not to notice because she wants him to chase her.
@MovieAddict: Or maybe she’s literally trying to win the game?
@SerenaBaby: I don’t see any chemistry.
The timer continued.
41:27
Lillian finally understood the symbols.
“They’re numbers.”
She arranged them in sequence.
The metal plate clicked.
A panel in the wall opened.
Inside was a small wooden box.
Chloe immediately hugged Lillian from behind.
“We found another one!”
Lillian laughed.
“Chloe, breathe.”
“I’m excited!”
Nina stared at them.
“We still have another forty minutes.”
Lillian opened the box.
Inside was a key.
But this time there was no lock.
Only a message.
The key opens what has no door.
Everyone became silent.
Chloe frowned.
“That makes no sense.”
Lillian stared at the message.
Then she looked around the room.
No door.
No obvious lock.
No hidden compartment.
She slowly walked toward the wall.
The timer continued counting down.
39:52
She touched the wall.
Nothing.
She tapped it.
One section sounded hollow.
Lillian’s eyes narrowed.
“Move back.”
Everyone stepped away.
She pressed the wall.
A section shifted.
A hidden passage was revealed.
Chloe screamed.
“We found another room!”
Lillian smiled.
But before they could enter, the lights suddenly went out.
The room became completely dark.
Chloe grabbed Lillian’s arm.
“What happened?!”
Nina’s voice came from somewhere in the darkness.
“Is this part of the game?”
Ethan answered.
“It has to be.”
A deep voice came through the speaker.
“Congratulations, Group B.”
Everyone froze.
“You have discovered the first hidden passage.”
A red light came on.
“But your real challenge has only begun.”
The timer appeared on the wall.
39:21
Lillian looked toward the dark passage.
Her expression became serious.
Chloe tightened her grip on her arm.
“Lillian…”
Lillian smiled.
“Let’s go.”
And the four of them stepped into the hidden passage.
We finally have our first real escape-room battle!
Lillian is already showing everyone that she’s much more than a pretty face, but Group A isn’t sitting around either.
And Ethan… sir, you’re supposed to be solving puzzles, not complimenting Lillian!
But that hidden passage?!
What do you think is waiting for them inside?
See you in the next chap