Three Years After His Death, My Roommate Summons Us to Play

My head was splitting.

The first second I opened my eyes, a bloody, nauseous taste surged up my throat.

Metal restraints cut into the flesh of my wrists.

Where is this?

I was locked at a round table with four other people.

On my left sat a man covered in tattoos;

Across from me, a middle-aged man in a suit;

Beside him, an elegantly dressed blonde woman;

And furthest right, a bald man.

Everyone was awake, everyone struggling.

"Fuck! What the hell is this place!" The tattooed brute Rick exploded first, kicking his chair legs until they creaked.

Before he finished speaking, eerie music box sounds came from deep within the tent.

A figure wearing a split-mouth clown mask emerged from the shadows, each step hitting the beat, exaggerated and twisted.

He wore a blood-red tailcoat and white gloves.

"Welcome! Welcome to Jester's banquet!"

"Hahahaha! Tonight I've prepared exquisite gifts for you all!"

"But boo-hoo~ there's bad news... there are only... four gifts."

"So~ pitiful~ boo-hoo."

His voice alternated between crying and laughing, but no one at the table dared speak.

The mask slowly swept across us five.

"There's one extra person here. Which child won't get a gift?"

My heart was pounding.

Richard—the suited man—suddenly spoke, his voice trembling: "How much money do you want? I can give you—"

"Shhh—"

"The game hasn't started yet. No talking."

He pulled out a revolver from his coat, spun it on his fingertip, and began pacing around the table.

"Who could it be... is it you... is it you... or—"

The barrel traced past each person's head.

I could feel the cold metal brush through my hair, every hair on my body standing up.

"Please—"

I heard my own voice trembling.

"I don't know anything, please let me go, I'm begging you—"

Tears poured out uncontrollably. I was truly terrified.

"Shut up!"

Rick suddenly exploded, "Do you fucking know who I am? I'm from Brooklyn—"

The clown stopped.

He turned, the mask facing Rick directly. The tent fell deathly silent.

"Found the disobedient child~"

He suddenly shoved the gun into Rick's mouth.

"Mmph—!" Rick's eyes bulged.

BANG!

The back of his head exploded, bright red liquid mixed with white chunks splattered across my face.

Warm, sticky, foul-smelling.

I screamed.

Across from me, the blonde Sarah convulsed, Richard's face turned deathly pale, and the bald man Jack's lips trembled.

The thug who had been threatening the clown just seconds ago now slumped in his chair, head lolling, like a broken doll.

"You're a bit noisy~"

The clown suddenly turned, pressing the gun barrel against my forehead.

I closed my eyes, my body shaking like a sieve.

Suppressed gasps came from around me. They were all scared, waiting for the gunshot.

"Children who cry... aren't well-behaved either~"

Click.

Empty chamber.

"Ahahahaha—"

The clown burst into maniacal laughter, throwing his head back and slapping his thigh, "Don't be so tense! I'm just a playful clown!"

He put away the gun and pulled out a deck of metal playing cards from his tailcoat, scattering them across the table with a clatter.

Each card was heavy, edges sharp as knives.

"Alright, alright, the real game is about to begin."

He leaned closer to the table, suddenly lowering his voice, "The rules are simple—Liar's Poker. Each round has a designated trump card. You play cards, you can tell the truth or lie. Those caught lying—"

He made a throat-slashing gesture.

"Losers die, winners live."

"Very exciting, yes~"

No one dared answer.

The clown straightened up, satisfied, then suddenly leaned toward my ear, using a volume only those nearby could hear:

"Oh, I almost forgot—"

"Penny sends her regards."

In that instant, everyone's expressions changed.

Richard's fingers dug into the armrest until his knuckles turned white;

Sarah's head snapped up, pure terror in her eyes;

Even Jack seemed less composed.

I remained huddled in my chair, trembling all over, Rick's blood on my face.

The clown clapped his hands.

"So then—"

"Let the game... begin!"