Breathe deeply, David. You’re doing a good job. It’s okay, you’re doing everything right. You’ll be the first one to finish. Thank God, I managed to sit at this friggin’ chair before the time ran out! What would have happened, if I hadn’t done it? Would we be squashed? They would start killing us off? And again I have those horrible thoughts! God, make them go away!

“I suppose we should thank Mr. Prone for being so courageous,” Ayama said.

The guys were standing behind me silently: if someone said ‘thank you’ it would be out of place. So, there is only one sector on this wheel that can touch a nerve. Perhaps I’ll get an empty sector? Logically speaking it might mean “taking a pass”, so I won’t have to talk about myself. Or maybe it’s designed for something else? At that moment I could really use some support from Beth and my parents. I hope they are okay.

“Are you ready, Mr. Prone?” asked Ayama.

I slightly readjust my red tie that I wanted to take off a minute ago. Now I know it might come in handy: tracing my finger back and forth this tie helps me calm my nerves.

“Yes, I’m ready,” I replied quietly.

I started reaching my hand towards the wheel to spin it when I was stopped.

“Wait,” she said.

“What?”

The TV screens turned on in front of me, forming a square wall. I saw my photo on it: I’m sitting at the table with Beth in our favorite café opposite the planetarium in Chicago’s downtown. It was a beautiful winter day when I was deep in my thought, making plans for Christmas with my girlfriend. It’s hard to say the picture is perfect, but I like it.

“David Prone. Quiet and diligent student,” Ayama started talking about me, “dating a girl named Beth Andreson, has a little brother, his parents are divorced, but still keep in touch. It’s a bit hard for David to find a common ground with people, nevertheless he can make a small talk about sports, movies, TV series, and video games. Seems like a typical boy.”

It made me feel uneasy. I prefer to keep things quiet about my parents’ divorce, since it’s not a very pleasant topic for a conversation. Now there were my Internet accounts on the screen. 

“Instagram photos, posts on Facebook show an ordinary restful life,” Ayama continued, “But does it correspond to the reality?”

“Social networks show my life as it is,” I explained. “I study at university, I have a good girlfriend and friends. I get along well with my family. What else do you need?”

“It’s enough for now. So start spinning the wheel.”

I was reaching out to the wheel, when a steel mechanism came out from the lower part of the chair, tying me down. What the hell?! I start breathing heavily and panicking.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Prone,” Ayama reassured me, “It’s for safety.”

“Whose safety is it?!” I asked, dumbfounded. “Mine or yours? What are you going to do?!”

“Mr. Prone, spin the wheel, please.”

The mechanism shackled me just tight enough for me to be able to reach the wheel. Having done as Ayama said, I took a deep breath, leaned back on the chair and closed my eyes. Calm down, David, calm down, It’s gonna be okay, do you hear me? Anyway you’ll be the first one to finish, right?

I thought about how I woke up in this room. Maybe I haven’t woken up? All of these things, this unknown room made of TV screens, the guys acting strangely, these formal clothes, Ayama, emojis – it all seems unreal.

I was planning on meeting Beth and her mother today: I had to help them with home renovation.

I kept my eyes closed despite the fact that the wheel was slowly stopping: I could only hear its deceleration in that silence. I don’t wanna know what I got! This fear of unknown has been with me since the moment I woke up. Nevertheless, I brace myself and open my eyes.

Next Chapter: 16. The Wheel