Henry walked into the bedroom, tired and exhausted. He threw his case to the side and started to unbutton his shirt.
Elena lay on the bed, reading her book. She didn't even look up at him as he entered.
Henry glanced at her without saying anything. He started to struggle with a particular button on his shirt, then gave up from dizziness before throwing himself on the bed next to Elena, burying his face in the pillow and letting out a sigh.
"How was your day?"
she asked, normal yet lacking its warmth, still reading her book.
"Good."
Henry answered.
She let out a hum after that.
Henry woke up, opening his eyes slowly. His hand traveled to his head, clutching it in pain as he let out a grunt. Then he slowly got up, his vision blurry.
He stretched his arms, looking for something solid to lean against before suddenly the place fully lit up.
Music started playing—specifically Waltz No. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich.
The sound filled the place, not too loud.
"What..?"
Henry whispered in confusion, his vision becoming a little less blurry.
The room was spacious with no rooms or doors. Only a chair in the middle with a small table next to it.
Henry approached the chair and sat on it.
He sighed, closing his eyes.
When he opened them, he found a table with a TV above it, showing the word "coward" on the screen.
"Huh? Coward?"
The TV suddenly played a sound—the sound of a crying baby.
Henry stayed silent and seated, confused.
After a few minutes the crying stopped.
Then the voice of someone talking was heard—a man's voice.
"Hello Henry, welcome to the downhill show!"
The sound of people clapping and whistling in excitement came from the TV, cheering.
"This is the show where people's minds go downhill! My name is Truth, and let's start, shall we, Henry?"
The man's voice was filled with excitement and anticipation.
"What the hell? No, I have to go."
Henry tried to stand up, but hands quickly emerged from the chair, holding Henry back tightly.
"The only way you can leave is if you win. If you don't, you're gonna have to die unfortunately…"
The man's voice faked sadness and the audience started laughing.
"So shall we start, Henry?"
The man's voice was more serious now.
Henry didn't respond immediately. He hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
"Fine. Let's start."
Everyone started cheering.
"First game is—Liar Liar Pants on Fire!"
"Only one simple rule. Don't lie."
The crowd started cheering Henry's name.
Henry just nodded, his leg shaking as it tapped the ground.
"First question! What is your favorite color? You have seven seconds to answer."
Henry sighed before answering.
"Red."
"Correct! What an honest man!"
The man was ecstatic.
"Second question, what is your favorite food?"
Henry thought for a moment.
"Chicken fajita."
"Correct!"
People started cheering more. Henry was more relaxed.
"You've got great taste by the way."
"Third question…"
It suddenly became really quiet. Even the music playing in the room was quieter and warped.
"Earlier you said that you would kill yourself for your wife… Is that really true?"
The crowd was quiet.
Henry shifted slightly, hesitating before saying:
"Yes."
A few long seconds passed. The silence was tense. The TV's buzzing was loud.
"Liar liar pants on fire."
As the man said that, the chair Henry was sitting on started to get hot.
Eventually Henry's pants lit on fire.
Henry started screaming and writhing in pain, trying to stand up, but the hands held him down. He screamed louder.
"Stop! Stop this!!"
He kept trying to get up, unable to.
Finally, after the fire stopped, Henry kept panting and groaning.
"My legs… Seriously, fuck this place!"
The audience started cheering and laughing.
Happy music played from the TV. The music in the room became normal again but slower this time.
"Fourth question! Have you ever killed a human before?"
Henry immediately shouted:
"NO!"
The crowd's laughter grew louder and louder, the music getting louder.
"Liar! Liar! Pants on fucking fire!!"
Truth yelled out happily.
Henry screamed again as the chair heated violently.
"Why are you lying, Henry? It's the only rule you gotta follow. No lying. How can that be hard?"
Truth's voice sounded empathetic and low, but only for entertainment.
Henry clenched his teeth in anger.
"Yeah, yeah, I fucking killed somebody, happy now?! Just stop!!"
It suddenly went dead silent again before Truth whispered:
"Liar liar pants on fire, you coward."
His voice hid a hint of hatred.
Happy music played again.
Henry let out agonized screams until finally his voice was gone.
He opened his eyes and saw Elena standing in front of him with her warm smile and her adorable blue sundress.
"Elena? F-Finally… you're here… I missed you so much…"
She took a few steps toward him, extending her hand to caress his cheek.
"I was always here, Henry."
Her voice was soft and gentle.
"I'm sorry, Elena…"
He whispered.
"Henry, wake up. Henry. Henry. Henry. Wake up!"
Her voice faded into Truth's voice, and she disappeared.
"Earth to Henry. You with us?"
Henry blinked and it was the TV again, with the happy music and Waltz No. 2 playing faintly in the background.
"Fifth and final question. Do you love your wife?"
Henry nodded weakly.
"Yes…"
"Correct."
The crowd cheered and clapped.
"Now you have successfully cleared the first game out of three games! Congratulations!"
"Now you may accept this gift from us."
A tongue dropped from the ceiling into Henry's lap.
Henry stared at it quietly, hesitating a little before grabbing it and putting it in his mouth. He gagged a little before swallowing it.
His injuries quickly healed. His legs healed completely and so did his voice.
The hands holding him back disappeared and he quickly got up.
Drums started playing from the TV, anticipating an announcement.
"Now for the second game… called… Truth or Dare!"
The crowd started screaming in excitement.
"How can I start?"
Henry asked.
"First off, I want you to stand on the red circle."
A red circle on the floor started glowing a few feet away from the TV.
Henry walked up and stood on it.
"Now you may choose between truth or dare… but ooo, there's a catch. You don't know which one is which! Isn't that exciting!"
A hole opened in the ceiling.
A black creature fell from it—completely black, faceless, with only long legs, arms, and a visible flared ribcage. It made no sound and was already moving toward Henry on his left side.
On the right side was a little girl, about five years old.
The music stopped.
Then Truth said, his voice no longer just from the TV but loud as if the room itself were speaking, warped and disturbing:
"Kill someone."
Reality set in on Henry.
"Wh-what?"
The music started playing again, much louder.
"Wait, no… I…"
He took a step back, his heart pounding intensely.
He glanced at the monster nearing him by the second, then at the little girl sobbing in fear.
"Oh God no…"
He took a hesitant step toward the child, shut his eyes tightly, and finally made up his mind.
He ran toward the little girl and reached her.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
he repeated desperately to himself.
The little girl screamed in fear and tried to crawl away, but Henry grabbed her legs and pinned her down.
"I'm sorry!!"
He struck downward.
He kept repeating the apology through tears until the room blurred around him.
Finally, the black monster was gone.
Henry lifted his head, taking a deep breath, staring at his shaking hands.
The music played.
"Second game is cleared… Congratulations Henry!"
The crowd clapped happily.
"Now for the long awaited finale. The third and final game! The game is called… Husband and Wife!"
Henry quietly stood up, walking toward the TV.
"To start the game, stand on the red square, then cover your eyes and count to three."
Henry walked up to the red square and covered his eyes.
"One… two… three."
He opened his eyes.
The music had fully stopped.
The room was black except for a red light from above.
There was a huge axe next to him.
A bed stood in front of him with Elena laying on it, wearing her sundress.
"To win the game… you must split your wife in half."
Only the faint sound of Truth came from the TV.
Henry completely broke down, shaking his head frantically.
"I can't… I can't do that… This is impossible…"
Henry dropped to his knees next to her bed, burying his tearful face into her belly.
"Oh Elena, my love… where do I even begin… I'm sorry for what had happened. I really, really want to join you soon."
He hiccuped.
"Elena… can you wake up? I really want to talk to you…"
"Please?"
He begged desperately.
"I just want to make things right… Please just listen to me… I promise it'll all be okay after… just for one minute…"
No response.
The red light buzzed loudly.
"Come on, Elena… I promise…?"
He grabbed her hand and kissed it gently.
"Come on Henry. Grab the axe. She won't feel anything. The more you wait, the harder it will be on you."
Truth's voice was soft and understanding.
Henry shook his head slowly, bringing Elena's hand to his cheek.
"I know what you're feeling right now, Henry. I know you want her right now. But I'm afraid she won't ever wake up. Accept me, Henry. Embrace me."
Truth's voice was compassionate.
"No… I can't…"
"Henry, it's the only way."
"NO!"
Henry shouted desperately.
"Henry, if you love her, let her go. To love is to let go."
"NO! Shut up!"
he shouted loudly, his voice cracking.
Then he started sobbing softly into Elena's hand.
"Please come back, baby… I need you… Don't go…"
An hour passed.
Henry was laying down next to Elena, cuddling her.
"Will you wait for me, Elena?"
"Will you still love me?"
"Will you stay with me?"
Silence.
Henry quietly got up and grabbed the axe.
"You've finally decided to get on your feet, huh?"
Truth mocked.
"It's going to be okay, Henry."
Henry sniffled before tightening his grip on the axe and swinging as hard as he could.
He brought it down on Elena.
He immediately dropped the axe.
His body froze as Elena suddenly woke screaming, clutching at him in agony.
"What the hell?!"
Henry stumbled backward in horror.
"I-I-I didn't mean to! I'm… I'm… sorry! Please stop this!!"
He screamed.
He shoved her away and collapsed to the floor.
"Henry… Henry…"
Elena whispered painfully as she dragged herself toward him.
Henry hugged his knees, burying his face in them, shaking in fear.
"Congratulations…! You have successfully completed all three games!"
Henry slowly opened his eyes.
The room was well lit again.
Music was playing again.
Elena wasn't there.
No bed. No axe. No child.
As if nothing had happened.
He slowly stood up, his legs trembling.
The crowd cheered him on.
The sound didn't last long before the TV stopped working.
In front of Henry, a set of stairs leading down appeared.
"I gotta… find… someone?"