... Noah steps forward, eyes wide, but finds only boundless darkness in every direction. He crosses his arms, seeking solace, as he ventures through the unknown expanse. Yet, there is nothing... After miles of fruitless journeying, Noah surrenders, refusing to budge. Then, a glimmer captures his attention. Far away, a radiant green light shines like a twinkling star in the night sky. But unlike a star, it seems within reach. Noah senses it deep within and dashes toward it. As he draws near, he's surprised to discover a floating green panel.

Noah "Huh, what is this? Is this thing dangerous? No! Noah, you have to be brave! Push forward and finish this trial. Everyone is counting on me!"

He extends his hand, inching forward step by step... fingers, a mere hair's breadth away... Contact is established, yet nothing occurs. Noah lets out a sigh and brings his face closer. There, a line of text appears before him. It reads:

|Hello, Wielder of Emotion. You are the first ever of your kind to ever made it this far. How brave! How courageous of you to willingly plunge yourself into the maw of the Inferno Tower! But not fret. As there is no fire... Well, sort of. Anyway, this tower is going to test you against the eight emotive spectra. Do have what it takes to conquer Emotion itself? Yes/No|

Noah "Well, I have gone this far. Might as well proceed. But... This could be a trap... no.... umm... maybe... Fuck! I don't know! Okay, think about the other trials. All of them started off peaceful. Maybe this will as well. Okay, it's worth a shot!"

Noah taps "Yes." The letters twirl, converging at the panel's center, transforming into a smiling emoji, and the entire object vanishes.

Startled, Noah flees, only to find himself in an unfamiliar place. A lengthy, narrow corridor extends ahead, leading to what appears to be a featureless yellow room. Sniffing the air, Noah catches the scent of bacon and maple syrup tickling his nose. Yet, there's an uncanny familiarity to this aroma. He continues forward, his right hand gliding along the jelly-like texture of the purple wall, sturdy but unyielding. Noah's gaze shifts downward, revealing a sea of purple—

Noah "What the hell?! Why?! how?! This path... why is it here?!"

Stumbling to the ground, Noah retreats, shaken by the strange surroundings. He leans against the wall, hoping for some change, but time passes without any. After a few minutes, he gathers himself and resumes a steady walk toward the room at the corridor's far end.

Suddenly, a feminine voice reaches his ears...

?? "Oh, dear. You are such a sweet bear you know that. I mean look at that fluffy beard. Maybe one-day little Nowee will have one as well."

?? "Yes, honey. Our boy will have a more magnificent beard. Say! His birthday is coming up! Isn't it?!..."

Noah peeks into the room and spots the two individuals. He's taken aback by their presence, oblivious to the room seamlessly transforming into a cozy cabin. Spruce log walls and plank floors greet his eyes, along with a sofa and a fireplace before them. Above the crackling fire, a picture frame catches Noah's attention. He approaches and takes it in his hands.

The image within appears hazy... encouraging him to rub at it.

Noah " This is... is our old photo... D-Dad... M-Mom. Mom! Dad! Oh my god!"

With a burst of excitement, Noah performs a leap-tackle on the towering man seated on the sofa, the young man's smile emits a vibrant yellow aura. The immense man returns the smile, rising to his feet and lifting his son onto his shoulders. His wife applauds joyfully as he carries the young boy across the room on his back.

Dad "Oh ho, where have you been?! Your mom and I haven't seen you in ages!"

Noah "Well, I was- Wait... Dad. I thought you said that Mom was dead."

Mom "Dead? Don't be ridiculous. Little Nowee. I have always been alive. You must have gone on some strange adventures while you were away. But it's okay now! You are safe here. At home."

Noah "At home... no. This isn't right! Wait, why am I here?! Where is the yellow room?!"

The realization dawns upon him. The person standing before him cannot be his mother, for he vividly remembers that tragic day. It was during a forest fire while his family was camping, oblivious to the imminent danger. Noah found himself trapped amidst a heap of fallen branches, too feeble to escape. His mother, with courage and all her strength, sacrificed her own life to pull him free.

Noah retrieves his ax, dismounts from the man's back, and lands near the fireplace.

Mom "Aww, dear. I think Little Nowee is a bit grumpy. Come here, let Mommy give you a big old hug."

As her hands reach out to him, he severs them without a hint of remorse.

Yet, she persists, continuing to approach and hug him.

Beneath his mask, he can sense his mouth twitching and stretching, attempting to form a smile. Shaking her off, he flees, distancing himself from his parents. His father gazes at him with an unsettling grin.

Da "Honey. I think you are right. Let's give him a hug. Naughty little children love hugs. Come here, sport."

Noah attempts to strike his father's wide arms with his ax, but the cuts are too shallow. He notices his mother approaching from the right and swiftly dodges her, causing her to stumble and fall. Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly severs both of her legs.

However, his father intercepts him, restraining him in a tight hold.

Noah "Fucking shit! Let me go! You damn imposter!"

Dad "But Noah. Remember before you left for your adventure. I said that I got an important meeting! This is what I meant!"

Noah "You mean to tell me that Mom was alive this whole time! Why didn't you just tell me outright instead of keeping it all a secret?!"

Dad "Well that's be-be-becau- Remember before you left for your adventure. I said that I got an important meeting! This is what I meant."

His father's grip transforms into an aggressive hug.

Noah feels his flesh tearing as his forced smile stretches even wider.

He gazes at the imposter before him, who mistakenly believes he is his father.

The resemblance is uncanny, from those eyes to the familiar beard.

Noah "How dare you... HOW DARE YOU TRY TO IMITATE THE TWO GREATEST PEOPLE IN MY LIFE! YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"

Consumed by an inferno of hatred, Noah's entire being seethes with rage, scorching the imposter before him. With relentless fury, he plunges his ax into the creature's face, relentlessly hacking at it until nothing remains but a charred and shattered corpse. Suddenly, a gentle touch grazes his feet. Noah glances downward, only to find his mother's visage, a mix of both smiles and tears. For a fleeting moment, he almost succumbs to the emotional turmoil, but then he senses his smile growing wider, more twisted that it begins to hurt. The axe's head rises high...

Noah "I'm so sorry. But you are not my mother. She died... a long time ago. But she was proud of what she did to save a life. Not just any life but the life of her only son. It was my life and I won't forgive anyone who tries to mimic her!!!"

SPLASH. A spatter of blood splashes across the room, extinguishing the fire.

Noticing a tunnel concealed behind the fireplace, Noah crawls inside. The space appears tight but navigable. He ventures forward, finding the interior transitioning from metal to dirt halfway through. Finally, he reaches the exit, emerging into a serene grassy field. On the opposite side of the room lies another field, but the grass appears withered, and a one-sided bronze door adorns the wall. However, a vast lake stands between him and his destination. He sprints towards the water's edge...

Noah "Okay all I have to do is swim across and open the door. That sounds easy! Let me just-

On his left, a peculiar sight catches Noah's attention— a wedding? A girl stands adorned in a pristine white dress. Initially, he dismisses it, shaking his head and focusing on his feet, preparing to remove his boots. Yet, an undeniable curiosity tugs at him. Yielding to its allure, Noah slips his boots back on. Step by step, he approaches the scene, revealing the presence of a priest. And...

Noah "What the?! Why do I have a suit?! Okay, this is weird! I'm leaving!"

?? "Are you sure you want to do that, Noah? I thought you weren't a wuss. Well, I guess I was wrong."

This voice... it can't be.

Noah spins around and dashes toward the bride. He circles around her, his heart pounding, until he reaches out and lifts the veil of her gown.

Noah "No.... there's no fucking way! Sarah! Why are you here?! Wait, a minute! This is part of the trial! You are not real!"

Sarah "Sure. You can say it that way. But think for a moment, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Who knows maybe you would never have something like this in the real world. Noah, I am your dream. Your everything."

A surge of emotions clenches Noah's fists. She is right. Her words hold a lingering truth, suggesting that such a scenario may never unfold in reality. Perhaps he is not her ideal match, and she might find love with someone else in the future. However, in this trial, this Sarah embodies everything he has always desired. No efforts are required, just an immediate leap to the end. Sarah draws near, welcoming him tightly in a warm hug.

Sarah "Let me seal it for you. Here have this... you know what to do next."

Noah's gaze falls upon a small black box and he leads him to open it. Inside rests a blood diamond ring, evoking a faint smile upon his face. He shakingly removes it from the box and slides it onto Sarah's finger.

Sarah "Now, Let's kiss."

As she leans in, aiming for a kiss, Noah instinctively blocks her advance with his hand. Doubt reflects in his eyes, and Sarah responds with a mischievous grin. She tugs at him, guiding him towards a peculiar pink house situated farther to the left of the room. Noah attempts to break free, but her grip proves unnaturally strong. Beads of sweat form on his forehead...

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Noah "Where are you taking me? What are you going to do?"

Sarah "Since you won't give me your lips then that means I just need to entice you. I promise... you are gonna love it."

Noah gulps hard, his eyes fixated back on the bronze door— It's shrinking! A surge of panic courses through him. In a desperate attempt to free himself, he throws a punch toward the back of Sarah's head, but she remains unfazed. They both enter the pink house, discovering a single large room with a heart-shaped bed. The sound of clothes being shed fills the air, causing Noah to glance towards Sarah. Blushing intensely, he tries to shield his eyes beneath his mask, yet they are out of reach. Standing before him is Sarah, clad in fishnet stockings, black lingerie, and red heels. However, his initial embarrassment quickly morphs into anger.

Noah "No. Sarah would never in her goddamn mind wear something like that! For an imitator, you are pretty bad. For a slanderer, I say that you are a grade A! And besides... I'm not a stranger when it comes to sexual stuff!"

Noah's ax radiates a fiery red glow as he forcefully cleaves open the wall. He starts sprinting, propelling himself into a daring leap, diving headlong into the river. The sound of thunderous splashes echoes around him as he hurtles through the lake's length. It becomes clear that the source was the fake Sarah, her appearance now taking on a devilish appearance. The lower half of her body transforms into a fishtail. Noah had believed these creatures were confined to fairytales.

They are known as Sirens!

Noah "Shit! She is coming closer! Fuck! Think! Wait... maybe that can work!"

Noah retrieves his chainsaw, positioning it just above the water's surface. Activating the weapon, he attempts to use it as a rotor to propel himself forward, but to no avail. However, his keen eye catches sight of a button on the chainsaw. Without hesitation, he presses it. The chainsaw's head transforms, spinning like a wheel, and launches him across the lake. Triumphantly, Noah grabs onto the grass on the other side, pulling himself up. The Siren, conceding defeat, retreats into the depths of the lake. Immediately, Noah dashes towards the bronze door.

His hand reaches for the knob, freezing the shrinking process.

Noah "Oh! Thank fucking god! Just made it! Please. Please! Let the next one be normal! I'm sick of this imposter shit!"

He twists it, and as he enters.... his bedroom? Yet, there is one notable difference. Letters spelled out on the wall read, "Please, relax for now. The next challenge will begin in ten minutes." However, Noah finds the message lacking in trust, pressing him to sit on the floor instead. He watches as the timer's digits steadily decline until they reach zero... Click.

Noah rises to his feet, surveying the surroundings. Strangely, nothing seems to have changed. He glances back at the door he entered through, only to discover that the knob has transformed into transparent glass.

Noah "Here we go. Shit. Each room seems to fucking have an emotional theme to it. The first one, I think was happiness. And the second is probably, Love. The next would be... Fuck! I don't know! I just... hope it doesn't involve mimicking someone I know."

Noah cautiously opens the door and steps inside, immediately sensing that the floor beneath him feels off... causing him to focus his gaze through the darkness of the room. To his surprise, he discovers that the floor consists of glass tiles, revealing a vast, unfathomable abyss below.

Suddenly, rows of rectangular shapes illuminate, turning into an array of screens.

As Noah surveys the walls and ceiling, he realizes that the room is adorned with too many TV screens, all displaying nothing but static. Across from him, the screens' static begins to pour onto the floor, coalescing into a small ball.

This peculiar mass takes on a form, resembling an identical copy of himself, save for a small blue triangle adorning the center of the clone's white mask.

Noah "Oh shit. Seriously! I have to fight myself now! Fine... if Amelia could do it, then so can I!"

Noah positions his ax to the right side of his body and charges forward. The clone, wielding an ax conjured from its blue triangle, raises the glass weapon high and charges toward Noah. The blades of their axes meet in a resounding clash, both parties exerting equal force against each other.

The background panels display a word that is subsequently crossed out before vanishing.

The clone's ax grows three times its original size, overpowering Noah's guard. The clone swings its enlarged ax toward Noah's chest, but the blow is deflected, albeit at the cost of a cut on the underside of his lower right arm. Sensing the loss of control in his injured limb, Noah retreats, and the clone mirrors his movements, replicating his every action.

Noah "Shit. What the hell happen?! We were in a tie a couple of minutes ago. Maybe I was too distracted. No! Something happened! I'm sure of it! Okay, time for a different attack. First, I need to heal this wound. Man, not feeling pain is good and is also kinda shit. I need to be careful. I could die if I don't pay attention to my wounds."

Noah stows his axe into his trusty inventory. Retrieving a bandage, he skillfully dresses his minor wound. His fists spring into action, dancing in the empty air as he lands blow after imaginary blow. His eyes catch sight of his twin mirror image, copying his moves. Striding towards him, Noah unleashes a devastating uppercut. One, two uppercuts... and a jaw shatters. Noah backflips, landing with his hand cradling his chin.

Noah "Again?! Why was his punch stronger so much stronger?! That's it! I'm bringing out the chainsaw!"

Ripping a strip from his shirt, he binds it around his battered jaw. Diving into his inventory, Noah retrieves a roaring chainsaw. His clone kneels, pressing a hand against the glass floor. A glass chainsaw rises from the clear abyss.

Noah bursts into applause— who knew such a thing can exist! The duo locks eyes, their fingers squeeze the triggers. The room quakes under the deafening roar of the dual engines. With a violent crash, they meet, exploding into a storm of shards. The clone snatches up the glass chain and slashes forward, carving a chunk of flesh from Noah's feet.

Noah "You can do that! Fuck you!"

Noah retrieves the serrated chain of his dismantled weapon, sharp edges biting into his skin as he stows it away in his inventory. From it, he pulls out a pair of syringes. One finds its mark on his bruised jaw, the other breathes life back into his damaged feet. Noah sinks down, lost in his thoughts.

Suddenly, his gaze drops. An enormous, omniscient eyeball is emerging from the abyss below.

An icy wave of terror engulfs Noah. He scrambles to his feet, his panic-stricken hand lashing out at the nearby TV screen.

Noah "Come on. You have to do something. There must be a reason for you to be here. Come on! Just tell me... the goddamn answer."

Despite his frantic efforts, the screen remains indifferent, unresponsive. As he grips the icy screen, he steals a glance at his clone, only to find it not mirroring him. A sly grin creeps across Noah's face as an idea strikes. He retrieves his ax, hitting it against the screen.

However, his vicious swing leaves only the faintest trace of a scratch.

Noah "Well, fuck. Now, what do I do?! Ummm... maybe if I."

Noah hurls the ax at his clone. It stands motionless as the weapon buries itself deep within its chest. He notes the screen shifting display— the word "Hesitation" boldly slashed out, only to dissolve into nothingness moments later.

Noah "Ha...Haha... AHHAAHHAHAHAHHA! Holy shit! I get it now! So that's what this is about! This room is testing my confidence! Isn't it?! Fuck, you must have had it really easy being an emotionless fucking clone. Well, you aren't going to like what's going to happen next."

Hands diving into his hoodie pockets, Noah saunters nonchalantly toward his wounded twin. He wrenches his ax free, slashing at the clone. The blow is parried, but rather than persisting, Noah crumples onto the cold ground. To the clone, Noah seems to tremble, his grasp on the ax unsteady and faltering. As the clone lunges, its blow meets only resistance. Pushing back, Noah rises, driving the clone until it teeters against a TV screen. Beneath his mask, Noah's smile widens. With his free hand, he shatters the glass ax into glittering pieces.

Noah "Game over. You fucking freak!"

With a quick, ruthless stroke, he beheads the clone.

Its body, along with the severed head, adhere to the screen. Noah watches as the TV frame morphs, expanding into a portal-like form. The static transforms into hypnotic black-and-white swirls. Glancing down, he sees the colossal eyeball has surfaced closer. A pang of unease surges through him, but victory over his enemy eases him. With prideful strides, he steps through the doorway leading to a slide.

A thrilling ride later, he plunges into the depths of a vast ball pit. Surfacing, he scrambles out. The space is a playground wonderland, a blend of indoor and outdoor fun areas like a sand pit abutting the ball pit.

Noah "Okay. This looks nice. Man, I wished Mom and Dad took me to this sort of playground. They only took me to carnivals which didn't feel the same."

Energy surges through Noah, casting a radiant yellow glow around him. He charges at the monkey bars, traversing them with remarkable agility. Next, he flings himself from the swings to a climbing wall. At its peak, Noah discovers an unusual round potion bottle. Inside, a clear yellow liquid sparkles with red specks like cosmic dust.

Noah "If Kanji was here, he would say no to drinking this. But I don't see anything in this room that can help me escape. I might as well try it."

Uncorking the bottle, he gulps down the mysterious potion. His stomach roars in response and he succumbs to sleep. Soon, he is roused by the unnerving melody of a jack-in-the-box echoing throughout the room.

Something feels off. He scans the area, his eyes darting from left to right.

Lowering his gaze,... are those his legs?... why do his arms appear so tiny?...

Noah "What the fuck?! I'm a kid again! Shit! Wait... what's that thing down there?"

A lanky jester-like figure pirouettes, prancing across the room in a gleeful jig, seemingly searching for someone. Noah opens his inventory, struggling to haul out his axe but it is too heavy. He shoves it back in and, upon looking back down— The jester is gone.

?? "Hello. Hello. Hello! Little boy, you want to play. I got games. Games! Games!!! Oh, what games shall we play today?"

Noah "Ummm... are you evil? Where are my parents? I'm scared! I want to get down!" "Please, buy this act! Please, just buy it."

?? "Evil. HAHAHA! No, silly boy! I just want to play some games. Some excitement! Yippee!... Oh, I see. You missed your parents. Not to worry! They will be here soon! I'm sure of it as my name is Jester o' Jester. So lets us play some games while we wait! Games. Games! Games!!"

Noah "Okay, I can play some games. But can I get down please?"

Jester o' Jester appears from nowhere, spinning in front of the diminutive Noah and flashing him a thumbs-up. Wrapping his elongated arms around Noah, he carefully eases the boy down onto the floor.

Noah "Okay, what game should we play?" "Maybe this guy isn't so bad. Maybe the point of this room is to have fun."

Jester "Yes. YESS!!! That's the spirit! Oh, what fun! Let's play. Play! The sand castle game it shall be. Little boy! Are you ready?!"

Noah raises his tiny hands skywards, his body shimmering with a vibrant yellow glow. The Jester's grin widens. In one swift move, it scoops up Noah, its gangly legs spinning comically as it whisks him off toward the sand pit. Noah plunges his small hands into the sand and catches— The sound of a bucket. Looking up, he finds the Jester placing a yellow plastic bucket beside him.

Taking a peek inside, he nearly retches, finding it brimming with organs and various body parts.

Jester "Aha! Got you good! Oh, I love Twists! Twist! Twist!! Twist!!! Well now, let's make a bloody sand castle! Shall we?!"

Left with no other options, Noah nods. He fishes out all the eyeballs, setting them aside before commencing his sandcastle construction. The Jester notices the lack of yellow glow around Noah and curiously prods his mask with a bloody finger.

Jester "Why no yellow? My fellow. Are telling me that this is no fun?! NO FUN AT ALL!"

The Jester's words echo in Noah's mind, rendering him frozen in fright. With an involuntary swallow, he clings to the remnants of his resolve, forcing himself to envision the body parts as belonging to a loathed adversary. His thoughts drift back to the events prior to entering this tower, the memory of a detested cultist surfacing. Grinning at the thought of holding that cultist's eyeballs, his body radiates a vibrant light as he bestows the ocular trophies onto his sandcastle towers.

Jester "Bravo. Bravo! You win! Awesome! Okay. Next game! Next game! Let's play! Rock Paper Scissors!"

Noah watches the Jester carefully arrange six dismembered hands, poised to symbolize two rocks, two papers, and two scissors. He draws in a steadying breath, the limbs now associated with other abhorred cultists in his mind. The hand signifying scissors becomes the representation of the cultist who had bested Sarah. This twisted thought brings an even wider smile beneath his mask.

His yellow aura intensifies, transforming to fiery orange and producing writhing tendrils that instill concern in the Jester.

Noah "What's wrong? Let's play!"

Jester "Ummm... you may want to slow down there, bud. Too much excitement-

Noah "I thought you want to play games. Come on! Throw your hand! LET US PLAY! PLAY!! PLAY!!!"

Jester "I-I-I-I d-d-d-d-d-don't w-w-want to play-

In a sudden burst, the Jester dissolves into a shower of sparkling glitter. Noah steps over, combing through the shimmering remnants. His hand closes around a green, slimy key. Despite his attempts to wipe it clean, the key persists in oozing slime. A scan of the room yields nothing of interest.

Noah "Okay. Just where is the entrance to the next room?! Wait a minute! That Jester of all the play space in this room. Why did he choose the sand pit first? Why? Maybe..."

Noah sprints to the sand pit, furiously excavating the sand with his bare hands. He unveils a hatch constructed from green wooden planks, a lock securing it. Inserting the slimy key, he descends through the hatch, emerging once more in his bedroom. The familiar words decorate the wall. This time, with newfound confidence, Noah eases his tired body onto the bed.

(To be continued)