Chapter 89: The Crates Chime

Over the next couple of hours, the four of us spoke back and forth about our differing experiences from yesterday. Forest and Hunter returned to camp a little while after Sky, Faith, Cliff, and I had gotten started, joining us. Cliff remained a quiet listener for most of the conversation, only popping in when someone asked him a question or he felt it was appropriate to speak his mind.

As for me, I saw no point in lying to Cliff about what happened to me. Frankly, I understood that Cliff’s perception wasn’t all that important, so I felt there was no reason to hide anything. As for whether or not Sky, Forest, or Hunter were thinking along the same lines as me… I couldn't tell.

While Faith and I informed Cliff about our side of the story, he didn't exhibit any noteworthy reactions. Forest and Hunter then recalled their story over the past day. During their explanation, Cliff's gaze appeared to have hardened at the quickly covered topic of Falcon losing his life… but overall, his body language and facial expressions remained more or less the same.

Then, Sky spoke. Once again, I kept an eye on Sky and Cliff… downloading each individual's state and reactions with every glimpse. To no surprise, Cliff maintained his steady outer appearance while Sky covered the main bases of what happened to her group yesterday. However, there was one singular moment where Cliff's eyes shifted from a bland look of vacancy to an engaged gleam of curiosity.

Sky was telling everybody about the tree markings she had found, which reminded me that me and Faith had somehow forgotten to recount the riddle on the plank they discovered. Additionally, for the first time since they began chatting, Cliff took the initiative to ask a question.

"Are you sure there wasn't anything else? It's just… compared to Hunter and Forest's riddle, yours is a lot vaguer," says Cliff, scratching the dark brown bristles popping up along his jawline.

Why would he ask if there was anything else? Is it because he's genuinely curious? Or are there other more obscure motives behind his question?

"No, there isn't… I swear this was everything," replies Sky, sounding slightly defeated.

Cliff only nods before adding, "Hole, deep, and you think the final word is 'swim'? Not much to go off of…"

He's vulnerable… I can see it. I can't waste this opportunity.

"Sky, may I see the notebook?" I intervene, making eye contact with Sky beside me.

"Yeah, sure," she complies, handing it over.

Opening it up and flipping toward the page I wanted to be refreshed on, I relay to the others, "I must apologize. I had gotten distracted by the earlier events of solving Sky's code and Cliff's return. My mind became clouded, which caused me to forget about an important detail from my group's journey."

Turning to the page where I had stuffed our ripped, wrinkled piece of paper inside, I resumed, "Yesterday, Faith brought along the plank. Whether she's some sort of sorcerer who can foresee the future, or she just had a hunch with incredible luck… I ain't got a clue. Nonetheless, we were finally able to put the mysterious plank to use, and a riddle materialized on one of the sides…"

Taking a second to clear my throat, I glance at each face surrounding me, explicitly focusing on Cliff's expression when it was his turn. Besides his temporary change in expression earlier toward Sky, he has returned to wearing the same sullen expression.

I guess we'll see if he is interested in this…

"The crates hold the key, if you want to be free.

As when joined each piece, a map there will be.

The route to safety will appear, as it's meant to be shown.

The choice to believe is on you, as a group or alone.

For those who choose to go, the maze is the way.

But as a warning and a threat, don't be led astray.

This means the end is nearing, for our little game.

And it'll soon be determined, which ones only played."

Lowering the paper, I pretend to act as naturally as possible, quickly surveying the scene around me to download the various reactions. Sky and Faith were already well aware of this riddle, so I paid more attention to the people who had just learned of its contents. Forest appeared in deep thought, staring at the ground before him as he fiddled with his thumbs. On the other hand, Hunter returned my gaze with a wide-eyed expression, a look that could only mean he had put something together. To me, at least, it was evident that he wanted to say something as soon as possible. Still, he continued harboring whatever thoughts he had on the tip of his tongue.

As for the person I was most interested in... it took all I had not to crack a smirk. Just as I hoped, my riddle sparked a reaction in Cliff as much as Sky's riddle, if not more. However, this time, his countenance wasn't one of curiosity or interest…

No. His face is attempting to hide his... I don’t know? Is that... a hint of culpability? My eyes aren't playing tricks on me, right? Why would he feel guilty? What is there to feel guilty about? Wait, maybe there's something else I'm not seeing quite yet. Unlike last time, Cliff hasn't spoken up yet. What is he thinking?

"So… you're telling us that we have to go back to that god-forsaken maze?" abruptly asks Forest, his tone quiet but riddled with trepidation.

"We aren't sure yet. We are still working things out. As far as we know, this could just be a ploy to separate us again," I reply, recognizing that Forest is still shaken up by Falcon.

"But if true, the only way to safety is through the maze. The riddle also mentions that we will have to choose whether to go. Does that mean that those who stay… will Crow finish 'em off? One of the lines claimed as a warning and a threat... not to be led astray. Is that line about going to the maze? Or is it referring to straying away from the supposed 'path to safety' that a map will reveal? The riddle also said that the end of the game is nearing, which means very soon... only one of us will still be alive..." rambles Hunter, visibly attempting to work through the torrent of thoughts in his brain.

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The mood quickly matched the dormant campfire, with silence settling in as we all sat and thought about the last sentence of Hunter's brief monologue.

He's right… only one of us will be alive when this is all said and done…

Clicking my tongue, I say, "No, there must be another solution."

"I don't think so."

Turning toward the deep voice that had just spoken, I focused on Cliff, who was no longer sitting still. After reaching into his right pocket, he extends his hand out in front of him and opens up his palm, showing us three rusty, brown keys.

Fanning the three keys in the air for us to see, he backs up his earlier statement, "When I found Blue's bag this morning, these keys were lined up on the ground beside it. I was confused then but thought they might be important later on, so I took them. And after hearing your riddle, Ember, it all seemed to click. These keys must've been intentionally placed beside Blue's bag by Crow, who wanted to expedite us into the final stages of this so-called game of his."

The keys were just lying next to the bag? Come on. Honestly… under different circumstances, I would call bullshit. But considering everything else that has occurred so far, is it that far-fetched? Even from day one, Crow never put too much effort into hiding these 'pieces' to his game. Think. The numbers on the backs of the shirts we first woke up in. Flora and Grace both supposedly seeing tree markings on back-to-back days. His intervention with Ace's group. He's been playing whatever his role is since the very beginning. So, if he wanted us to enter the next phase, I wouldn't put it past Crow to just leave the keys lying there…

But that crow hiding in the trees… what was that?

A sudden breeze sweeps over my face, sifting through my hair as Sky cheerfully asks, "That's amazing, Cliff! Do you think those keys are the ones able to open the other crates?"

"Only one way to find out," Cliff hums as he rises to his feet, spinning one of the keys around his index finger as he walks toward the supply corner. "In Ember's riddle, the initial step is to open the crates. Everything following that step is meaningless until we seize the items inside, specifically the other components of what will form a map."

Something isn't right. Why would Cliff hold off on telling us that he found these keys? That fact seems like an important detail, crucial even. Why bring it up now? Is it only because he heard the riddle and realized they might possess significance? No… that can't be it. He figured out that they were important from the moment he saw them. So, what is it?

And why did he have such a guilty look earlier?

A light bulb goes off.

That must be it! The only reasonable explanation is that he already knew those keys would open the crates! Was he seriously banking on the fact that somebody else would bring up the topic of keys and crates? All so he could naturally introduce that he 'randomly' came across some on his own? Why take that gamble? Why not initially tell us? It doesn't make sense.

Rounding one of the crates, Cliff scans its surface for potential keyholes. From my position, I am the furthest away from the crates, and currently… nobody can see me. Everybody else was watching Cliff, invested in seeing what would happen. Eyeing the sword that Cliff staked in the ground a few feet away, I shifted my focus between the blade and Cliff, trying to discern an opportunity for me to grab it.

"It must be on the bottom…" says Cliff, scratching the back of his neck. "You guys mind giving me a hand here? These crates won't be easy to push over."

"Yeah, I got you," voluntarily replies Hunter as he hops out of his seat.

Forest then stood up after him, as did Sky. I then looked at Faith, who remained seated while the others joined Cliff, and the two of us made eye contact. She gave me a curt shake of the head, tucking her lips in as if to tell me she wasn't suited for the task. I suppress a giggle and quickly nod a few times back, agreeing with her. Fixing my attention back on Cliff, I narrow my gaze as the four of them coordinate a group effort to flip the heavy crate over.

This is my chance!

I casually approach the sword, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention. Upon arrival, I wrap my fingers around its grip and pull. At first, it hardly budged, but after a few more concentrated attempts, it shifted a decent amount. Now broken free from its rivet, the rest of the job was easy. After a few more seconds, I hauled the head of the sword out of the ground. My first impression was of surprise, taken aback by how much heavier this stainless steel sword was than our wooden ones, even though I expected it to be. Faith and I then made eye contact again, and I quickly brought a finger to my mouth, signaling to be quiet about this. I was worried about what she might say, but thankfully, she only nodded, offering her trust in me by doing so.

Relieved, I started inspecting the sword, carefully gliding my fingers along its dull edge as I thought about my next move. Unfortunately, I was suddenly interrupted moments later when I heard a massive thud. Glimpsing back at the others, I quickly recognized they had managed to flip one of the crates over. And luckily, the entire group still had their backs turned away from me, keeping me out of their line of sight.

After a few seconds of them catching their breath, Sky exclaimed in excitement, "There it is!"

"Hold on, we don't know which one unlocks which crate. Give me a few seconds…" notes a winded Cliff as he lumbers over, the keys rattling against one another and making a series of 'clinking' sounds as Cliff seizes them from his pocket and places them on the ground beside him.

I then noticed that the keyhole was almost camouflaged into the outer grey strip bordering the perimeter of the crate, specifically located off to the left side. Lowering the sword, I silently watch the group as they attempt to unlock the crate.

Cliff briefly inserted the first of three keys and fumbled with it inside the keyhole for a little while before shaking his head and informing the others, "Not this one."

He then swapped the first key out, bending over and snagging another from the ground beside him. However, before he even attempted to use the second key, I felt this was correct. As he slotted it into the gap, he toyed with the mechanism a little, slightly adjusting it until a loud 'click' chimed.

Then, turning the key to the right, Cliff takes a step back as he clasps both hands around the key and starts to heave the heavy door toward him, grunting as he initially unfastens it. Then, only once a tiny gap had formed between the door and the perimeter of the crate… did Cliff go down on a knee and reposition his hands to attain a better and more efficient grip, swaddling his fingers along the door's outer frame.

I can't waste another second! If I want to learn the truth, I must move in now!

Creeping up behind the group while Cliff steadily opens the crate door more and more, Forest must've heard my footsteps as he glances back in my direction. His face instantly grew alarmed as he saw me threateningly clutching Cliff's sword, but it was too late for warnings. I couldn't be stopped. I was already too close to him.

"Stop. Don't move another inch," I order as beads of sweat drip off my face, the sword I was firmly wielding only a few inches away from Cliff's neck.

I couldn't see his face, but I could immediately tell by his body language that he fully understood the threat I imposed.

I locked him into the one spot where he didn't have any sort of advantage over me. He can’t stand up and run because he is already down on his knees. And he can’t reach for his bow without me striking him first. If the others attempt to intervene, I could kill Cliff and seize control of the keys before the others could do any significant harm to me. I'm the one carrying the weapon here, after all. Perfect. This is all going a little too well.

"Let me make myself clear. No more lies," I utter, my voice somber and unwavering. "If you lie to us again, I'll kill you here and now. So tell me, Cliff… what really happened to you yesterday?"