The Judgment Chamber

I opened my eyes to a dark, windowless room. Overhead, a voice crackled from the speakers.

“Welcome to The Judgment Room. Each player will state the crime they committed. Do not lie. After all six of you speak, you will vote. The one with the most votes will be eliminated.

“The game starts now.”

In this deadly game, whose sins weighed the least?

It was late at night when a group of hooded figures in black robes burst into my home.

They dragged me out of bed and hit me with some kind of drug, then I blacked out.

When I came to, I was inside a dim, sealed chamber. My arms and legs were chained down, and my entire head was locked inside an empty glass tank.

Before I could react, someone screamed nearby, "Where am I? Let me out!"

In the glass tank next to me was Cheryl Stevens, a young woman with big curls and dressed in flashy clothes. She slapped her hands against the glass, the chains on her ankles clattering.

And I quickly realized we weren't the only ones trapped.

In the third tank was Dwayne Malone, a man in a suit wearing gold-rimmed glasses. "Help! Help! Someone, please get us out!"

The fourth tank held Oliver Carlson, a heavyset bald man.

The fifth was Helen Dolton, a chubby girl with glasses.

The sixth was Rebecca Burke, a pretty pregnant lady.

As all six of us woke up, the silent chamber suddenly became noisy.

Then, the speakers above us buzzed with static.

"Welcome, players, to The Judgment Chamber. There will be five rounds in this game. One player will be eliminated each round. The final surviving player will be the winner.

"The rules are simple. Each player will state the crime they committed, no matter how big or small. But remember, do not lie. After all six of you speak, you will vote. The one with the most votes will be eliminated.

"The game starts now."

As the voice faded, a ten-minute countdown appeared on the wall.

Oliver immediately started cursing and slamming his fists against the glass. "Cut the damn act and let me out!"

Cheryl's fancy composure vanished. Her bright red lips trembled nonstop. "Help! Somebody, help us!"

I pulled at the chains on my legs. They were solid. There was no breaking them with brute force.

Then, the empty glass tanks suddenly began to fill with water.

"Please follow the game rules."

Our already cramped space instantly became life-threatening.

Rebecca's face turned sheet-white. She held her stomach and begged desperately.

Dwayne, still trying to maintain his polished calm, looked straight into the camera. "Please let us out. There's a pregnant woman here."

All we heard in response was the crackle of static.

"Please follow the game rules."

The moment the words ended, Dwayne convulsed violently, as if shocked by a live wire. He screamed, his entire body spasming uncontrollably.

I could almost smell his clothes burning through the glass.

"Eight minutes left. Players, please hurry."

They were actually serious!

Helen, who hadn't spoken once until now, finally whispered, "We should start the game. Otherwise… We're all going to die here."

Oliver suddenly snapped at her. "You zit-faced idiot. Did you bring us here? Talk! What do you know about this stupid game?"

Helen only shook her head in terror.

Six minutes left.

The numbers on the wall kept ticking down.

The water had already risen to our chins. If this continued, we would all drown.