The Stranger’s Invitation

The golden light dimmed behind them as the heavy door clicked shut. A low hum vibrated beneath their feet, followed by a soft mechanical whisper that echoed through the vast, empty room.

Mirrors rose from the floor—eight in total. In front of each mirror stood a plain metal chair. The rest of the room disappeared into darkness.

Sameena took a step back. "What is this?"

Zayan rubbed his arms. "It's cold again..."

A voice, soft and smooth, echoed around them:

> "Welcome to the Room of Truth.

You've worn masks your entire lives. Today, you must decide—will you remove them, or let others suffer for your silence?"

Each mirror flickered. For a moment, they didn't reflect the person sitting before them—but showed someone else. A crying girl, a broken trophy, a hallway full of whispering students.

Lina's heart jumped as her mirror showed a classroom—a scene from years ago. Her younger self, standing still while a classmate was humiliated. She'd done nothing. The memory burned.

> "You must sit. The game will not begin otherwise."

One by one, the players took their seats. As soon as they sat, their mirrors lit up with an eerie blue glow.

> "You will each witness a truth—a memory you've hidden. Then, you must answer:

❝Confess it, or let another suffer?❞

Confess, and move forward.

Refuse, and another will pay the price."

Iqbal clenched his jaw. "This is messed up."

> "First player: Haider."

His mirror glowed.

A younger Haider stood in the school canteen. A food tray fell. Everyone laughed—except for one boy who helped clean up. Haider snatched that boy's notebook later and tore out pages before a big test.

Haider's face paled.

> "Confess it, or let another suffer?"

"I did it," he muttered. "He got detention. I never told anyone. I was afraid he'd do better than me."

The mirror dimmed.

> "Haider may proceed."

His chair slid back. A door opened to the left, glowing with light.

> "Next: Saira."

Her mirror flickered to life.

A classroom again. A girl leaned over and whispered, "Can I see your paper?" Saira handed hers over. Minutes later, the teacher caught the girl. She was suspended.

> "Confess it, or let another suffer?"

Saira swallowed hard. "It was my idea. I told her to copy mine so I could blame her. I never told the truth."

The door opened for her.

> "Next: Tariq."

The mirror showed a science fair. Tariq watched another student's model burst into sparks—he had loosened the wires hours earlier.

He shrugged. "He deserved it."

> "Confess it, or let another suffer?"

Tariq leaned back. "Nah. Not my problem."

Suddenly, Neha screamed. Her mirror shattered. Her chair jolted with a small shock, sparks dancing across the sides. She collapsed to the floor, gasping.

Lina rushed to her side. "Neha! Are you okay?"

Neha slowly nodded, still shaking.

> "Next: Lina."

Her hands trembled.

The mirror displayed a playground. A student clung to a climbing rope, crying. Lina had watched… and walked away.

> "Confess it, or let another suffer?"

"I hated her," Lina whispered. "She always made me feel small. I thought… maybe if I ignored her, she'd fall. And she did."

The mirror dimmed.

> "Lina may proceed."

> "Next: Areeba."

The mirror displayed a group project. Areeba stood in front of the class, presenting. Her partner sat quietly. Areeba had erased the partner's name from the slides.

She looked down. "I didn't want to share the credit. I presented her work as mine."

> "Confess it, or let another suffer?"

"I confess."

The mirror dimmed.

> "Next: Zayan."

His mirror played a clip of a torn essay in the trash. Another boy blamed for it. Zayan had taken his place in a competition.

He winced. "I wanted to win so bad..."

> "Confess it, or let another suffer?"

"I confess."

> "Final player: Sameena."

Her mirror showed a school locker. Sameena slipped out a glitter-covered notebook. She used it to win a contest. The girl it belonged to had cried for weeks.

Sameena stood up. "That's in the past. I'm not going to ruin my life over something that helped me rise."

> "Very well."

Tariq jolted upright as his chair buzzed. He fell with a scream, clutching his arm.

> "All confessions are complete. But one among you… lied."

The players looked around, stunned.

> "Vote. Point to the one you believe deceived us."

Three pointed to Tariq.

Two pointed to Sameena.

One pointed at Lina.

One stayed frozen.

> "You have chosen… poorly."

A loud clang echoed.

A trapdoor opened beneath Iqbal. He gasped—and dropped into darkness.

Lina cried out, "No! He didn't even speak!"

> "In this room, lies weigh more than silence."

The mirrors vanished.

The far door opened.

> "You may proceed."