Trapped Together
by Andrew Rueda
Time to wake up.
The phone you’re holding contains one other number. This is your companion. You’ll need her help to escape- but can you trust her?
You may begin now. Good luck.
Hello?
Who is this
Where am I?
What do you see
I’m in a dark room
Me too.
How did we get here?
I only remember going to sleep in my bed
I don’t remember anything
GOD WHERE ARE WE
Is there anything you can see around you?
The ceiling is so low I can only crawl
I’m shouting, can you hear me?
I don’t think so. Try going around the room.
This floor is disgusting.
I’m using this phone as a flashlight
Okay that works
Do you see anything?
No.
Wait
Yes! I found a door.
Can you open it?
There’s a lock
I need a number combination.
Hmm
Where’d you find the door?
I crawled straight to the far side of the room.
Hold on
I have a door here too, also locked
What if we can’t get out??
Reread the text we got. it’s a game
We can figure this out
But I’m awful at games!
I see five number keys. Right now they’re at 9-7-2-6-2
Okay let me look.
I have 4-4-8-3-1.
Do you think our combos would be the same?
Let me think
Okay
My first three numbers are gold, the last two are silver
Oh oh oh!!!
Mine is the opposite!
Your last two numbers are gold?
Yes!
Alright we can both try the combo 9-7-2-3-1
It worked! Did it work for you?
Yeah I’m through
Now I’m in a corridor. I’m guessing you are too
Yeah it seems really long
This building or whatever we’re in seems symmetrical
Let’s figure out a way to get to the center, this will be easier if we can meet up
Damn.
Good idea.
Okay walk down the corridor
Alright.
There are two turns I can go down
What’s your name?
Candace. You?
I’m June. Did you ever do a corn maze when you were younger
Every autumn. You want me to keep my right hand on the wall until I make it through, right?
I always used my left hand, but yes
Text you on the other side :)
fifteen minutes later
I think I’m clear.
Alright. Is there another locked door in front of you?
Yeah and there’s a note.
Really? I don’t have one. What does it say
“You and your companion’s electronic locks are synchronized.
Enter on the pad your companion’s computer password and both of your doors will unlock.”
This one’s really easy! What is it?
I don’t remember
What?
This is very strange. I used it yesterday but I’ve forgotten the password
They must have done something to you.
My head hurts trying to think about it
Okay… Just start from scratch. What would you put as a password right now?
idk
What are your interests?
I collect minerals
I have a mineral collection
I have to sit down for a little
We can do this. Hm.
What year were you born?
1995
Just my mother. My father wasn’t there
He never came
What is your mother’s name?
She’s sick now
She supported us my whole life but now she can’t pay the medical bills
I think she’s dying but she won’t admit it
She needs the surgery
June, what is her name??
Margarita
My door opened.
Did yours?
???
It did
I’m starting to feel a little better
Take deep breaths. You did a really good job.
Thank you, Candace
We wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without you. :)
Let’s walk through together.
I’m walking- what do you see?
Not much.
Oh!!!! I see light!!!!
Me too. It’s daytime. Let’s walk toward it
Oh no. Do you see what I see?
There’s a giant pit between where I’m standing and the exit
Also… a desk? It has two levers
Yeah me too.
OMG
DO YOU SEE THIS
DIAMONDS IN THE DRAWER
These are an extremely rare cut
I’m almost positive they’re worth millions
I have a note again
What does it say?
Oh god. No no no
What
Don’t make any decisions before we discuss it, okay?
???
“Keep the diamonds in the drawer or no lever will move. Pull either the left or right lever.
If you and your companion both pull the right levers, the diamonds will be incinerated and a bridge will appear for the both of you.
“If one of you pulls the left and the other the right, The left-puller will have a bridge appear and will be able to keep the diamonds.
The right-puller’s platform will fall out beneath her.
“If both of you pull the left lever, both platforms will fall.”
...Thank you for repeating it to me honestly
You had the opportunity to trick me
June, let’s just talk it through.
We both just want to get OUT of here, right?
We made it this far, we just want to survive!
You’re right
Okay, good. I’ll be your friend for LIFE if we both just pull the right lever. Let’s just both pull the right one and get out okay?
Alright
Okay, go!
Okay
Nothing’s happening.
It might take a while
What’s that sound?
Hey Candace
It means everything to me that we got through this together. I don’t have many friends...
...but you helped me in the scariest situation I’ve ever been in
I’ll always remember you
But I’m sorry, I need to save my mother. I need the money to save her life
She’s the only person I have
Forgive me
WHAT
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Game over.
App