She had always loved escape rooms, but lately she had a problem. She was so practiced at the mental gymnastics required that even the toughest ones offered little challenge, and even less novelty.
Which was why this one had intrigued her. A solo experience. The signing of a waiver to allow physical restraint added a new element to the mix, and she had gladly signed, skim reading the small print as we all do, eager to begin.
The chains clinked around her as she settled in to the chair, and the staff snapped shut all the padlocks, tossing the keys into a bowl with many others that they assured her all served a purpose, unlocking the various clue boxes around the room and ultimately, the final door to escape.
The bowl was place near her feet, over a vent and the staff removed her shoes and socks for her.
"OK, we're almost all set. Try not to drop the keys in the vent, that can REALLY hurt your chances of escape. Any questions?"
She shook her head, and the staff member produced a roll of tape.
As he placed a strip over her mouth, he said "You know you're the first customer who didn't tick the "no thanks" box for the punishment at the end, if you fail to get out. Which reminds me, there's one more thing..."
Her eyes widened quizzically. She really should have read the waiver properly.
"Here we go. We don't keep them in the room usually, but you might be needing them" he chuckled. "Time starts... now" and with that, he left, and locked, the room.
She eyed the stocks the staff had placed opposite her.
Punishment..? She gazed around the room, noticing for the first time the words carved into the door frame opposite.
"THE TICKLE MONSTER IS GOING TO GET YOU"
Panicking, she started sifting the bowl of keys with her toes, grasping one and trying to lift it round to her hand-
It fell, rattling through the grate. There must be fifty keys in the bowl, the chances were it was a phony one.
But she had a bad feeling it wasn't.
