GuesS Me

Chapter 9: Round 2:The Riddles

The tension was palpable as Marcus, Tim, and Ann stood frozen, each in front of a red buzzer. The wall was empty, waiting for the riddles to appear. The Host's voice boomed, "Now there's a twist in this. If you smash the buzzer and give the Wrong answer, you'd be deducted 5 points from your already existing points. If you don't have any points yet, you'd have 5 outstanding points that would be deducted from your future points. You have 5sec to answer a question after smashing the buzzer. The first person to answer 3 riddles correctly will be the winner and get 10 points."

Marcus took a deep breath, eyes locked on the riddle wall. His mind was racing, thinking of all the possible riddles that could appear. He had always been good at puzzles, but this was different. The stakes were high, and he could feel the pressure building up.

Tim bounced slightly, psyching himself up. He was the youngest in the room, but he was determined to win. He had always been quick-witter, and he was confident that he could solve the riddles.

Ann bit her lip, focused. She was the quietest of the three, but she had a hidden talent for solving puzzles. She had always been a bit of a introvert, preferring to keep to herself, but she was determined to make her mark in this game.

The Host: "5... 4... 3... 2... 1... GO!"

The wall lit up with a riddle: "It has a mouth but can’t speak, has a bed but doesn’t sleep"

The three players started cracking their brains. They had been given a similar riddle before, but they couldn't quite remember the answer. Marcus was the first to react, smashing the buzzer.

Marcus: "Pen"

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the response of the Host. The room was silent, except for the sound of the Host's slow breathing.

_Wrong sound_

Host: "Incorrect. Marcus, you now have -5 outstanding points."

Marcus' face fell, and he looked like he had been punched in the gut. He had never been one to make careless mistakes, but he had let his impulsiveness get the better of him.

The other two players looked at him with a mix of sympathy and concern. They knew that Marcus was in trouble, and they didn't want to be in his shoes.

Ann's eyes widened, and she took a deep breath. She knew that she had to be careful not to make the same mistake as Marcus. She started to think more clearly, her mind racing with possibilities.

Tim, on the other hand, seemed to be taking it all in stride. He was smiling, looking confident, and ready to take on the next challenge.

The Host's voice boomed again, "Next player, you have 5 minutes to answer. If you don't answer in time, the next player will get a chance."

The three players stood there, frozen, waiting for what felt like an eternity. The silence was deafening, and the tension was palpable.

After what felt like an eternity, Tim jumped in next, hitting the buzzer.

Tim: "Is it a River?"

Time seemed to be as slow as a sloth climbing a tree. The Host's response was delayed, and the players were on the edge of their seats, waiting for the verdict.

Host: "CORRECT! +1 riddle. 2 more to win. Seems like the child has more advantage than the adults."

Then he gave his signature laugh again that sent shivers down everyone’s spines. The laugh was eerie, and it seemed to echo through the room, making the players feel like they were trapped in a nightmare.

Ann couldn’t help but put more pressure on herself. She never imagined her life having such a twist. Being kidnapped and forced to play games with her fate unknown to her. This made her realize that being controlled and having her life in the palms of someone else is really not a good feeling.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt a sense of desperation creeping in. She knew that she had to win, no matter what it took. She couldn't let herself be trapped in this situation forever.

Tim's face lit up with a mix of relief and determination. He had done it. He had answered one riddle correctly, and he was one step closer to winning.

- Tim: 1 correct, 0 points

- Marcus: 0 correct, -5 outstanding

- Ann: 0 correct, 0 points

The game was on, and the players were ready to give it their all. The Host's voice boomed again, "Next riddle: “

The wall lit up with a new riddle, and the players stared at it, their minds racing. They knew that this was going to be a long and tough game.

The Host's voice continued, "This riddle has been puzzling players for years. It's a classic, and it's not going to be easy to solve. But, if you can solve it, you'll be one step closer to winning."

The three players nodded, ready to take on the challenge. They knew that they had to stay focused and work harder if they were going to win.

The riddle: