6
22. 5. 22, Sunday, 10:30
The lounge they had been directed too was as fancy as everywhere else in the mansion.
It resemble more of a hotel lobby than a relaxing place in a home. The monorail lights provided not too harsh, but bright enough to illuminate every part of your face. The main furniture was the round, sectional, orange-and-black sofa and the silver bunching table. The back wall was almost all glass, providing a lovely view of the surrounding forest. There was a server to the left, with platters of snacks in case anyone was still hungry after the buffet-style breakfast and a clear drink dispenser.
Everyone was sitting or perched on the sofa, though some lingered near the window to see what was outside (well, mostly trying to find the swimming pool). Most of them had their phones with them and surfing the internet or playing Mobile Legends. Very few actually weren’t using phones.
When they were having breakfast earlier, they had been told that there would be an introduction episode being shot today. This lead to quite a number of contestants – namely the girls – to rushing to their rooms to change into something more respectable/prettier.
But they had been in the lounge for thirty minutes already, and still no one had arrived.
Maybe that crew member had just been messing with them...?
Then the French doors swung open and an entire camera crew dressed in black like it was a funeral poured in. They started setting up all their equipment straight away, with barely a glance at the gaping contestants, who hastily stowed away their devices and unplugged ear buds.
Two more people strolled in, and they were the ones that caught their attention.
Damon Ashwood was an imposing figure, with an imposing height and imposing gelled hair. His suit was finely tailored, his loafers definitely Armani. He had a thick brown moustache and beard that made his narrow face look even more imposing.
Everything was sharp about the woman next to him. Her nose, the look in her dark eyes, her cheekbones, her slender body. Her curly hair was pulled into a messy bun, several strands spilling down. The lipstick she was wearing matched the red dress and jacket she was wearing over a black blouse. Her high heels were dangerously high – Emma stared in delight at them. Weren’t they pretty?
Next to her, Lana shook her head, stunned by the fact she could even walk with those stilettos. Under her breath, she whispered to Emma, “I bet those heels are six inches.”
“I wish I had them.”
“Good morning, contestants,” Damon began, facing everyone, who quickly straightened up from the limp-noodle positions they had been in. “I believe you know who I am – the director of this show – so let me introduce you to my producer and dear friend, Gwenda Shaw.”
Gwenda nodded, but didn’t smile.
Unlike some contestants, who gasped. Adonis, Jordan, Queenie, Freddie and another boy appeared to be happily shocked to find out who this Shaw woman was.
“Gwenda who?” Julian said blankly to his sister.
“I don’t know,” she said, giving Freddie a weird look.
“Holy smokes, it’s her?!” Jordan nudged Tanya, who just gave her a confused face.
“It seems that some of you already know who Ms Shaw is,” Damon commented. “For those who don’t, Gwenda here used to be an actress, starring in several films before she decided to become a producer and join my crew.”
“Moving on, I regret to inform you that we will not be having the usual tour of the estate due to lack of staff. Alas, some crew members decided to leave after the last season of the show because of some unprecedented events. However, every room is labelled, so I’m sure you’ll find your way around. The help are always there to be asked, if needed.”
“Now, while the official challenge starts tomorrow, today we’ll be recording the first episode as an introduction to viewers. I hope you already settled in, and I think that some of you are enjoying yourselves already, so this shouldn’t be an issue.”
“May we begin?”
Damon: Hello again, to all loyal Room of Fear viewers! Whether you have just started watching this series, or have been following all the seasons, I believe you are just as excited as I am to kick start this new season!
Damon: So, a quick review of the last season:
Damon: At the beginning, we had ten contestants – quite less compared to the number we have now – who, unfortunately, had been booted out of the show, despite being around for some time: Akil Youssef, Arturo Del Moral, Christopher Geller, Ezana Wolitigan, George Reeves, Hayley Stuart , Judy Cooke, Kelly Ling, Mystelle Duncan, Rachel Springer and Yvonne Guillen.
Regretfully, none of them made it to the second level.
Now, allow me to proudly introduce this brand-new season’s contestants:
Adonis Makylov: arachnophobia, the fear of spiders.
Adonis: (grinning) Yo, wassup?
Alex Chang: astraphobia, the fear of thunderstorms.
Alex: (pulling a ridiculous, ugly face) Hello guys.
Anne-Marie Talmadge: mottephobia, fear of moths.
Anne-Marie: Hi.
Ben Dover: arachibutyrophobia, the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of one's mouth.
Ben: (chewing rapidly) Don’t shine that light at my eyes!
Denver Stein: hydrophobia, the fear of water.
Denver: Hey.
Emma Barbara Vincent: entomophobia, the fear of insects.
Emma: Heyo, hope you enjoy the show!
Glen Woods: ailurophobia, the fear of cats.
Glen: (waving) Oh, hi guys!
Jordan King: autophobia, the fear of being alone.
Jordan: Hey, girls and boys!
Julian Travis Vincent: agoraphobia, the fear of wide open spaces.
Julian: Um…hi…?
Kyler Naughton: cyannophobia, fear of dogs.
Kyler: (blinking and has a frozen smile) Welcome to Room of Fear!
Lana Jensen: thanatophobia, the fear of death.
Lana: (does a smug-smile face) Wassup?
Leo Finley: acrophobia, the fear of heights.
Leo: (smiles awkwardly and waves)
Queenie Sower: entomophobia, fear of bugs.
Queenie: Er, hi everyone!
Ricky Selfors: geliophobia, fear of laughter
Ricky: (Forced, awkward grin.) Uh, ha-ha, hello.
Shauna Cash: pyrophobia, the fear of fire.
Shauna: (excitedly) Hi! I’m Shauna – but you already know it!
Sherry Olsen: ornithophobia, the fear of birds.
Sherry: HI!!!
Tanya Roswell: nyctophobia, the fear of the dark.
Tanya: (beaming) Hello.
Winifred Thompson: automatonophobia, the fear of statues.
Winifred: (ominously) Hullo viewers.
Damon: Well, aren’t they a lovely bunch of contestants? I’m sure we’re all hoping that they make it to the second level! Though, perhaps their families are already predicting that they will make it, he-he.
Damon: Now that we’ve introduced the contestants, let’s review how Room of Fear works.
Damon: (small pause) The contestants will be put in an escape room especially designed. It works like any old escape room too.
Damon: But, the contestants will have to confront they’re phobia-related objects or even the phobias themselves to find the clues. An example here would be – (pulls Kyler over) – that Mr Naughton here will be placed in a room full of dogs. But not to worry, the first level is always the easiest, as they say, hmm?
Kyler: (visibly gulps) Of course.
Ben: (burps)
Damon: Not only that, there will also be a time limit of one hour to make it of the Room. Do you think that they’ll be able to do it? Let’s see what the contestants think.
Alex: Definitely. I’m a professional.
Sherry: YES, YES, YES!
Lana: Well, probably not, but no harm trying.
Ricky: I don’t know.
Anne-Marie: I think so.
Jordan: Eh, hard to say.
Damon: Well, time will only tell. All of us are certainly excited for tomorrow, that’s for sure. But, it starts, let me announce an exciting new change.
Damon: (clears throat) Combined Rooms are the same concept, except that the group of contestants in there will have to face all their fears. Let’s say that – (Shauna, Queenie and Emma are pushed forward) – these three want to do a Combined Room, in there would be fire and bugs, ha-ha.
Damon: It used to be that Combined Rooms were only allowed once contestants were near or on the second level, but this season my producer Gwenda Shaw and I have decided that Combined Rooms are free for all first-levels!
Adonis: (loudly) What?!
Freddie: Awesome sauce. Wait…huh?
Glen: Are we allowed to do it with friends, or are you going to pick it for us? ‘Cause I think I want to pick myself.
Damon: And that concludes the first episode of this season, everyone!
Damon: Good luck to all new contestants!