Pieces of the Puzzle

Thursday Night

Avery leaned back in her chair, the flickering glow of her laptop screen casting soft shadows across her tired face. The online dating world had been a series of disappointments. There was Ryan, who had seemed perfect in his profile photo—until their date, when he spent the entire time texting someone else under the table. Then there was Derek, who liked to call himself “adventurous” but considered a “night out” to be watching reruns of Game of Thrones while guzzling beer. And, of course, there was Caleb, who had promised her the world and then ghosted her after the second date.

Her marriage had ended two years ago, and the scars, though healing, still lingered. The worst part was the loneliness. She longed to feel alive again, for a connection —someone who shared her quirks, her love for the bizarre, and her obsession with puzzles.

It wasn’t that she hated online dating; it just hadn’t worked out. However, after another failed match, she decided to try something different. Fortunately, the app included a filtering feature. Instead of scrolling through hundreds of profiles, she was able to focus on one specific aspect: interests. That was when she discovered his profile.

Name: Graham

Age: 35

Location: Uncharted Territories

About Me: “What is black and white and read all over? If you figure this out, we can start. (If you’re into riddles and mysteries, we’re off to a good start.)”

Avery paused. She didn’t just read the profile—she decoded it. She smiled, typing her reply before she could think twice.

“A newspaper! And you’re not going to pull some ‘it’s a riddle, not a question’ thing on me, right?”

She hit send.

A moment later, the message read “Sent.” Then, something unexpected happened. A new notification popped up, but it wasn’t a “like” or “swipe”—it was a message from him.

“Well done. Most people would have said ‘a zebra’ or something equally unoriginal. I like that you think outside the box. For your second challenge, let me ask: What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?”

Avery’s fingers hovered over her keyboard. She didn’t have to think long. The answer was easy, and the fact that he’d given her a second riddle so quickly only made her more excited.

“The letter M. I’m starting to get the feeling you’re not just looking for a date. You’re looking for a worthy opponent.”

She didn’t expect an immediate reply. But to her surprise, Graham responded almost instantly.

“Challenge accepted. But if you're really up for it, I think we should take this off the screen. How about we make a date out of this? I know of an escape room that might be just your speed. It’s a real test of wits—and the kind of place where even the most clever minds get... stumped.”

Avery sat up straighter. Her heart raced, but not from anxiety—rather, from excitement. She had always wanted to try an escape room; she loved solving puzzles in real life. Among her friends, she was known for finding hidden clues in old books and cracking codes from mystery novels. The thought of an actual challenge, something more immersive than a text exchange, thrilled her.

“I’m intrigued. Tell me more. Are you trying to trap me into a

weekend of solving puzzles with a complete stranger? Because, if so, I’m in.”

She added a winking emoji for good measure, not sure if it was bold or too forward. But she didn’t care. She felt a surge of confidence she hadn’t had in a long time.

“Not a trap. A test. You’re welcome to fail, of course. But I’ll give you this much: The mansion we’re going to? It’s not your average escape room. You’ll need to think in ways you never have before.”

Avery grinned. This was exactly what she needed. It wasn’t just a date, nor merely dinner and small talk. This was an experience. He wasn’t offering her a casual meet-up; he was presenting a challenge—a chance to prove her skills and to test herself in a completely different environment.

“You’re on. I’ll see you Saturday night, Graham. But just so you know: I never fail a challenge. You might want to brush up on your riddles.”

“Looking forward to it. We’ll see if you can keep up.”

Avery leaned back, her pulse quickening. She hadn’t been this excited about a date in, well, ever—at least not like this. Graham wasn’t just another guy; he was something different. He intrigued her. The riddles, the hints of mystery, the challenges—he was setting the stage for something far more thrilling than anything she had ever experienced before. 

As she closed her laptop and headed to bed, her mind raced with possibilities. An escape room in a mansion, with a guy who spoke in riddles? This was precisely the kind of thing she was looking for. It wasn’t just an ordinary night out; it was an adventure—one where she could finally prove herself and maybe even get to know someone for real.

Saturday Night

Avery stood in front of the mansion, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. The building was imposing—a dark Victorian structure with ivy creeping up its sides. The escape room company had a reputation for creating immersive, high-stakes environments, but this was unlike any she’d seen before. It almost felt... alive. The front doors were heavy, wooden, and dark, with tarnished brass handles.

She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Graham:  I’m here. See you soon.

Her phone buzzed; he had instantly replied: Right behind you.

He was standing just inside the front gate, leaning casually against a stone column. His dark hair was tousled, and his sharp eyes glinted under the streetlights. He smiled as he approached, his expression unreadable. “Ready for your first challenge?” he asked, his voice low, teasing.

Avery smirked. “I hope you’re ready for me to beat you at your own game.”

He chuckled softly, a sound that sent a shiver down her spine. “We’ll see about that.”

As they approached the mansion, Avery noticed another couple walking up from the opposite direction. A man and a woman. The woman, tall with sharp features, was wearing a stylish coat, her expression both nervous and excited. The man beside her had a quiet, reserved demeanor. He looked vaguely familiar to Avery, but she couldn’t place him.

“Looks like we’re not the only ones on a first date tonight.”  Graham said, motioning to the couple.

The woman smiled awkwardly. “First date,” she said with a slight laugh, though there was something in her eyes that seemed off. “We thought an escape room might be... interesting.”

Graham gently nudged Avery in a manner that suggested, "I told you so”.

“Same here,” Avery said, glad to have another couple there. “I’m Avery. This is Graham.”

“James,” the man replied with a tight smile, offering his hand. “And this is Kara.”

The group exchanged introductions, and Avery caught a flicker of recognition between Graham and James, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. James turned his attention to Kara, adjusting his glasses and leaning in to say something quietly to her.

They were all led inside by the mansion’s staff, an older woman who didn’t say much beyond the basics: "Welcome. You’re here to solve the puzzles. There’s no time to waste.”

The mansion’s interior was dimly lit by chandeliers that flickered in time with the thumping of their shoes on the creaky wooden floors. The air was thick with dust, and the scent of age and mystery hung heavy. As the door behind them closed, Avery felt an unsettling chill run down her spine. “We’ll begin shortly,” the staff member said, her voice low and slightly unnerving. “Please, gather in the parlor.”

The room they entered was precisely what Avery had envisioned—a study, with dark mahogany bookshelves lining the walls, filled with old tomes, maps, and rare, unusual objects. In the corner, a fireplace crackled, casting eerie shadows on the walls. A large, ornate rug covered the floor, and a grand grandfather clock ticked louder than it should have. Graham led Avery to one of the couches, settling next to her, while Kara and James sat on the other side of the room. Avery noticed that Kara was fidgeting with her hands, her fingers tapping nervously against the armrest.

“The game is simple,” the staff member continued, but her voice grew distant, as if coming from farther away. “You’ll work together, solving puzzles in this mansion. But beware: the puzzles are not just about riddles—they are about the mind. Trust no one. Not even yourself.”

Avery frowned. That was odd. She exchanged a glance with Graham, who was watching the woman intently. She could tell he was trying to read her, too. It was clear that there was more to this game than he’d let on. Suddenly, the door to the study slammed shut, and the room plunged into darkness. The soft hiss of electricity crackling filled the air, and the low hum of an old-fashioned projector flickered to life. The staff member’s voice echoed once more. “Your time begins now.”

The lights flashed back on. The room was exactly as it had been, but the atmosphere had changed. The shadows were darker, the air thicker, as if the house itself was holding its breath. On the wall, a large, framed picture appeared. A haunting portrait of a man and woman, smiling faintly but with eyes that seemed too sharp, too knowing. Avery’s pulse quickened. It felt like they were being watched.

“We should start,” Graham said quietly, moving toward the desk. Avery followed, feeling an odd sense of urgency, as if they were expected to solve the puzzle right away.

The first riddle was simple, but it made her hesitate. The answer came to her easily, but it was followed by another: and then another, and another. Each puzzle seemed to follow the last in quick succession, as if the house was testing them, pushing them to move faster.

Meanwhile, Avery noticed Kara and James working on a puzzle in the corner. Their movements were synchronized, almost too coordinated. At one point, their hands brushed against each other, and Avery caught the faintest smile pass between them—a smile that lingered just a bit too long.

Something was wrong. Avery felt it in her gut, but she couldn’t quite place it. Was it the mansion’s eerie atmosphere? Or something else?

As they worked through the riddles, the atmosphere grew more oppressive. The grandfather clock’s ticking grew louder. The walls seemed to move in closer. Each time they solved a puzzle, the room seemed to shift, the furniture becoming a little more distorted, the shadows stretching just a little further.

Finally, they reached the last puzzle—a complex lock on a wooden door. It was the final test before they could leave. Avery stepped forward to help Graham, but just as her fingers touched the lock, the door creaked open on its own. The room beyond was dark, and an overwhelming sense of dread flooded over her. As she turned to look at the others, she caught a glimpse of Graham’s smile—a twisted, knowing smile. “You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?” he said softly, his voice shifting in tone. It wasn’t playful anymore. It was something else entirely.

Avery’s breath caught in her throat. She spun around, her eyes wide, but before she could ask anything, the door behind her slammed shut, plunging them all into darkness again.

And that's when she realized: there was no way out.

The mansion had fallen silent after the door slammed shut. Avery’s pulse thudded in her ears, drowning out everything except the sense that something had gone terribly wrong. She spun around, her hand still on the cold metal lock. "What the hell, Graham?" she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended. "What’s going on?"

Graham stood a few steps behind her, his gaze unsettlingly calm, too calm for someone who was supposed to be enjoying a game. His smile had disappeared, replaced by something colder, something predatory. It was as if the mansion itself was sucking the warmth from the air.

"This isn't a game, Avery.” Graham said, his voice low, almost amused. “You were never meant to win."

Avery’s stomach lurched. The air felt heavy, thick with dread. She could barely breathe. "What the hell are you talking about? We’re just here for an escape room!"

Behind her, Kara gasped. She was standing by the desk, her hand clutched over her mouth as if she were trying to hold something back. James stood motionless next to her; his expression unreadable.

"I knew something was off," Kara murmured, her eyes flicking nervously to Graham. "I knew it the moment we got here."

Graham’s lips twitched into something like a grin, but it wasn’t comforting. "You’ve both been brought here for the same reason. To test your limits. To see who’s clever enough to escape the mansion."

James stepped forward, his hands outstretched, palms facing Avery and Kara in a placating gesture. "It’s not... exactly what you think. But it’s what we agreed on."

Avery’s eyes flicked between the two men. "What do you mean 'agreed'? You—you two—know each other."

James hesitated before nodding; his expression strained. "We do. But it’s not what you think. We’re... we’re connected to this place. And you, Avery, and you too, Kara, are the next pieces in the puzzle."

Avery felt the floor beneath her sway, and she grabbed the nearest chair for balance. "Connected? What does that even mean?"

James glanced at Graham, then back at Avery, his voice growing softer. "It’s not about just solving puzzles. It’s about becoming part of them. This mansion feeds off people who think they’re in control. But in reality... they’re the ones being controlled."

Avery felt the blood drain from her face. "No... no, this can’t be happening. This is just some elaborate—"

Before she could finish, Graham’s eyes darkened. He raised his hand, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. The grandfather clock that had been ticking in the corner chimed loudly, its deep, sonorous strikes echoing through the room.

"This is no illusion, Avery," Graham said, his voice growing colder, sharper. "This mansion has been around far longer than you or I. It’s not just a building. It’s a being. And you’ve been chosen to play the final game."

Avery’s mind raced. She turned to the door, but it was no longer there. The entire room seemed to shift—bookshelves sliding against the walls, the rug twisting beneath her feet. The room wasn’t just changing; it was alive. The walls pulsed, as though breathing, as though the house itself was feeding off her terror.

Kara screamed. "We have to get out of here!" She rushed toward the door, but when she reached it, her hands slammed against an invisible barrier. "What the hell?!" She recoiled, her face pale with fear.

Graham didn’t move. "You can’t leave, Kara. You never could."

James stepped toward the locked door; his expression unreadable. "The puzzle isn’t just the door. It’s everything. We are the puzzle."

Avery backed away slowly, her mind in turmoil. "What are you talking about? You—you're not real. You can’t be real."

The two men exchanged a brief look, a flicker of understanding passing between them.

"We are," Graham said quietly, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light, "but not in the way you think."

Before Avery could react, the mansion shuddered. The walls groaned as though they were being pulled in two directions at once. Then—darkness.

The lights went out completely.

Avery stumbled, her breath coming in gasps. Her hands shot out to steady herself against the nearest piece of furniture. When she opened her eyes, the room had changed again—no longer the study, no longer a room at all. She was standing in an open, endless hallway, stretching far beyond the reach of the lantern light that flickered in her trembling hands. The air was thick with the smell of decay. The echo of the grandfather clock continued to tick, louder now, reverberating in her skull.

"You never solved the puzzle, Avery," Graham’s voice whispered from behind her, colder than before, far too close.

She spun around, but he wasn’t there.

"Now... you’re part of it."

The last thing Avery saw was James’s face. He stood silently in the shadows, eyes wide with something unspoken. A warning? Or a confirmation that she was too late?

She felt a sudden, overwhelming pull—the kind that tugs at your chest, drags you toward something you know you can’t fight. The mansion was alive, and now, so was she.

And just before the darkness consumed her entirely, she understood: The mansion didn’t just trap people. It changed them. The puzzles weren’t games. They were traps for souls. And the only way out… was to never leave.