Chapter 223 - Growing Stronger Together

Scarlet's mood was at its lowest. Today marked the seventh day that she hasn't seen or heard about Edward ever since their fight. In order to lift her spirits, Alex suggested that she met up with her after classes and the writer agreed.

The location was slightly weird but Jasper said that he managed to clear his schedule for the day to give her a lift. Seeing as there was no reason to refuse, Scarlet agreed.

It was a quarter to three when they arrived. Scarlet had completely no idea what her sister planned but everyone else, including the surprise guest, knew about it. Orita got everyone together to prepare the surprise but nobody was more nervous about this than Edward who was waiting by the entrance of the escape room lobby with a bouquet of flowers.

He couldn't understand how the blonde mother and daughter combo could spend hours arguing about the theme of the escape rooms when they both eventually settled for the worst kind that Edward pleaded them not to go for. What part of "please don't choose anything with guns or confined spaces" did they not understand?

He was very certain there were other more interesting themes such as a lost pyramid mystery trail, escape the nuclear facility and even the classic zombie apocalypse. Heck, Edward would have preferred it if they chose the boring puzzle room themes over this. Why did they have to choose a prison escape theme with a combined murder case to solve? Wasn't this setting the bar too high for a bunch of rookies?

The lobby receptionist smiled behind her monitor. Edward looked very nervous and that bouquet of flowers in his hand and she thought that it was cute. The bouquet of flowers wasn't the usual kind for confessing because she spotted some lilies and tulips among the roses. If that wasn't a bouquet for an apology, she would tender her resignation next week.

Scarlet wasn't prepared to see the person she'd been longing for all week when Alex opened the door for her. The writer was frozen outside in disbelief, happiness but also with some hesitation. It felt slightly awkward to see him after how they parted and she didn't know what to say. There were simply so many things she planned to tell him but they left her brain the moment she saw him standing there, reflecting her expression of longing.

"I missed you," the words unknowingly came out of Edward's mouth. It was the voice from his heart. For one painfully long week, he dedicated his hateful self into work. If there was one thing he learned from being away from her, it was how much he hated it. He couldn't understand how his father was able to leave his mother for years and only be content with exchanging snail mail. He doubted that he would ever be able to do that.

Scarlet felt her eyes getting hot and Alex nudged Jasper in the background as her sister ran over to give Edward a jump hug. Edward welcomed her with open arms and carried her effortlessly even though the bouquet of flowers was still held tightly in one hand. The lovers embraced for a while and Scarlet sniffed, trying to minimise the stupid tears. It had only been a week but she was acting like she hasn't seen him in a year.

"I'm sorry," Edward whispered in a hushed tone hoping to soothe his distraught girlfriend. Elfie chewed him out enough about not contacting Scarlet and he was wrong for not listening to the hacker. If he'd known she would be so affected, he wouldn't have wasted time sleeping at all so that he could get back to her side faster.

Then again, if he did that, Edward would have missed out a lot. Claire's interrogation brought Edward more good than bad. With someone understanding his situation better and the boys on the roll, he didn't have to constantly worry about his back and if someone was targeting them. After meeting with Orita and agreeing to play this Escape Room game on a double date, Edward actually had a chance to talk to the Cyborg to improve security details.

Scarlet shook her head slightly in his arms. "I'm sorry too. It's mortifying to know how much trust I lack."

From behind, Alex grinned. Her boyfriend was checking them in at the reception so the model decided to tease the couple that made up. "It's alright, sis. This is why mom proposed that we went on a double date, to build back that trust and also to understand our boyfriends better. You've not seen Edward at his most charming, be prepared to be blown away today!"

Edward swallowed when he heard that and refused to meet Scarlet's eyes.

"What did mom plan? Was playing an escape room game her idea or yours?" Scarlet couldn't help but feel suspicious. She loved her family but sometimes... just sometimes she couldn't help but feel as if she was a lamb they raised to push off a cliff.

"Nothing?" Alex replied with a sly smile and a sing-song voice. Honestly? She couldn't wait to see the action unfold. She knew that her darling would do swimmingly in the challenge but where would the fun be if they didn't let Scarlet and Edward struggle a little? Edward might know about the double date and escape room theme but he didn't have all the details that Alex and Orita had. They'd already bribed the game master for the roles in the game. Scarlet and Edward's relationship will only grow stronger after this game. Absence made the heart grow fonder but adversities made it stronger.

After the couples settled down and placed their belongings in the designated lockers, the game master took them to a briefing room to explain the rules of the game and introduce their company.

"Welcome to the Escape Room! I'm Nook, the gamemaster and also an NPC actor for the game. Has anyone played anything similar before?"

There were some head shakes and some blank stares but Nook wasn't discouraged. If anything, he thought that his primary client was a great actress. Alex knew what was going to happen but she didn't give anything away with that clueless look. Edward looked uneasy. He slowly reached for Scarlet's hand to confirm that she was really there with him and did not feel uncomfortable with the idea. Scarlet blushed when she felt their hands touch but it wasn't exactly unwelcomed as she returned the gesture and locked their hands together in between them while Nook introduced the company and game's concept.

"The theme is slightly more complicated, it's an advanced game with a time-limit of 90 minutes. You will be split into two teams with one team getting locked together in handcuffs until the other team gets to them. The first part will be to solve a murder case and the second part would be to rescue the trapped couple in handcuffs. Here is how the game will go."

Nook switched to a PowerPoint slide.

Time Limit: 90 mins

Teams: 2. Team A locked with handcuffs starting in the prison cell. Team B stuck in an elevator that is both the starting and ending point.

Objectives:

1. Solve all puzzles to gain clues to the murderer.

2. Avoid getting caught by patrolling officer NPCs. If you are caught and have special "free-pass" items, you may proceed. If you get caught, you will be put in a special cell for a 5-minute time-out.

3. Find the murderer & provide evidence to clear stage 1.

4. Free and rescue the "wrongly accused" trapped couple and escape to the elevator without getting caught by patrolling officers to clear stage 2.

Edward was slightly concerned when he saw that the "trapped" couple will be locked in a cell. Scarlet had many PTSD triggers and one of them might be claustrophobia when she was trapped in a janitor closet as a child with a broken leg while armed pursuers were searching for her. It's a story Claire shared with him and Edward grimaced.

"We will be Team B," he told Alex and Jasper. There was no room for negotiation. Alex didn't object and Jasper simply went with the flow. Nook was satisfied that the couples decided on the teams quickly and hurriedly went through the slides to explain some basic rules before they got into positions to begin.

"Some basic rules here are to always follow the instructions of the game master. We want to prevent any injuries during the game. No damaging the props, please. You may brisk walk but not run. All our staff including patrolling officer NPCs will be walking. We do not want anyone getting injured. You may talk to NPC actors but please exercise respect and follow their instructions for a good game experience. If you feel unwell at any point of the game and wish to rest, please inform any of our staff on standby. Any questions?"

Nobody answered and Nooks clapped his hands with a smile.

"Let's begin. Team B, please follow me. Team A, please follow my staff to get into position. Remember, safety first, everything else second and good luck!"