The excitement in the room faded.

"Why do we need to make a wisdom saving throw?" Sam asked.

"You'll see," Malcolm said.

Laura helped me press the right button. The die landed on a 1. Laura squinted. "Oof, a natural one. You totally failed."

"Failed what?" I asked.

Laura shrugged. "I don't know yet."

All the players announced what they rolled, Laura coming in at the highest with a 17.

"Very well," Malcolm said, interlacing his fingers. "While all of you were focused on the wolf attack, none of you noticed the hooded man on the other side of the trail, who casted charm person on all of you... and you all failed to resist his spell."

Everyone--except me--gasped in unison.

"Who is this guy?" Sam asked. "Do I recognize him?"

Malcolm shook his head. "You can't see underneath his hood."

"Now hold on," Gary said, dropping the high-pitched voice. "Are you sure I wouldn't have seen him behind us? We didn't even do a perception roll."

Malcolm shook his head again. "His stealth roll was higher than all of your passive perception."

Gary grumbled. "Well why are we facing such a powerful spellcaster this early in the game? He has to be at least level--what...--9 to do that spell on 5 creatures? And we're only at level 3!"

Malcolm nodded. "I understand your frustration, but I have a plan. And right now, all of your characters think this man is an ally."

Gary ground his teeth. "Fine."

I didn't understand Gary's frustration. This was all in our imaginations. No need to get worked up about something that isn't even real.

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"The mysterious man persuades you all to form a circle and hold hands," Malcolm said.

Laura raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Malcolm shrugged. "He just tells you to do it." He rolled two dice. "And you all obey, since you're charmed, and because he rolled a 28 on persuasion."

Jesse blew air through her lips. "Does this freak want us to sing Kumbaya?"

"Maybe he's just toying with us before he EATS US!" Sam said with a laugh.

Malcolm sat up straight and gazed at each of us. "The man begins a ritual incantation. He draws runes on the ground, places a peculiar forked wire in the dirt, and then takes your hands and joins you in the circle."

"Oh no..." Gary uttered, his eyes wide.

"What?" Sam asked.

"He's about to plane shift us. That forked wire is the main component for the spell." Gary eyed Malcolm. "That means this spellcaster is much higher than level 9."

"In order to make this moment more realistic," Malcolm said, "I request that all the players stand and hold hands, in a similar manner to that of your characters."

Malcolm pulled something out of his bag and placed it on the table. It was a metal wire that forked into two wires near the tip. Just like the one he'd described in the game. He then stood at head of the table and stretched out his hands.

"This is so cool!" Jesse said, jumping to her feet. "It's like we're actually doing it!"

Gary and Sam were more reluctant, but they stood and held hands. "I just hope he sends us someplace dark," Sam said. "The Shrieker fights best in the dark."

Jesse grabbed my left hand and pulled me to my feet. "Come on, Jake, join the circle!"

I stood slowly, feeling extremely awkward again. But things grew even worse when I turned to Laura on my right. She stood up, grabbed Malcolm's hand, and then stared at my stub of a right hand.

The last two months, I had missed my right hand terribly. I wished I could play sports, or video games, or use my dominant hand to use a pencil. I wished I could be the star who I used to be. But I couldn't. And now... I couldn't even hold Laura's hand.

My heart plummeted, and I averted my eyes to hide my shame. Why did this have to happen to me?

But then... I felt gentle fingers wrap around my forearm, just above the stub. I turned to see Laura, smiling at me.

Warmth filled my chest. I smiled back.

"And now..." Malcolm said. "The man makes his final incantation. Kishinvajo ixix chiva Aelindia k'a tzk'in jai."

I rolled my eyes. These guys take this game way too seriously, I thought. At least their not--

What was that?

I narrowed my eyes at the forked wire on the table. I thought I'd seen a sparkle of light emit from its tips. The other players also stared at the wire with perplexed expressions. Did they see it too?

Suddenly, the wire ignited with sparks, making us all jump. A burst of white light filled the entire room, followed by a surge of electric energy. A deep hum vibrated between our fingers--and stump--which grew louder and higher in pitch into a brilliant crescendo until...

Bamf!