The Mansion of Trials and Trials

Puzzles and Argument

At the end of the maze, a vast, broad, bronze gate with antique wooden carving was sealed tight as the guardians of neverland. The spiral cutting twisted and twirled like strangling vines and climbers, an mystic illusion of enchantments and fantasy. Out of blue, on the gate, shades emerged out without warning. A leg smashed hard on the wooden carvings.

"Argh! Why does this darn gate just won't open?!" A dark-haired man named Pike shouted and kicked the gate again. It was already the fourth time since he started.

"Why don't you just calm down? Even if you kick the gate, it won't open." Keira rolled her eyes. She didn't like people who didn't use their minds.

"This is annoying!" Pike gave another blow, "The exit is just in front of us! Don't you feel anxious?!" he shouted.

"Kicking the gate will only let you seem dumber," Haddie mumbled softly, crawling near the hedges.

"Excuse me?!" Pike turned around, "What the heck did you just say?!" He reached out and snatched her shoulders. A pair of hands pulled him over.

"Calm down, bro," another man patted his back, "Sorry, Miss. He's angry about Freddie's death. He got killed by that nasty monster." Mud and dirt covered his shirt, it got crumbled and worn out. Squirts of blood painted on his name tag, 'Pax'.

"No! You idiot! It's not about Freddie. It's about you and me. It's about all of us. We are all going to die here and get killed by those crazy Residents if that STUPID GATE WON'T OPEN!"

"Not to mention, we could also be eaten by those dreadful monsters or turn into those Shadowpeople," Inga added.

"OH! Shut up! Can't you even be quiet for a second?!" Pike roared, "Or do you want me to shovel a pile of dirt into your mouth?!"

"Err.......I......."

"THAT'S ENOUGH! Just shut up, both of you!" Keira stood in the middle, "We're not done yet. Don't think about the worst scenario from the beginning. All we have to do is to open that gate," she shouted and pointed at the exit. It was close but miles away.

Not far, near the gate, Von slipped his ear to the ground with his feet crawling. His cheeks touched the stone tiles. He knocked one of the tiles with his hand. The sound was light and different. His face changed instantly.

"Hey guys. I think I found something." He stared at the tile and pushed it firmly. The tile moved downwards and slid away, leaving a wide hollow hole with a rusty metal lever. Von pulled it, of course. He lifted up his ear. The sounds of stone tiles sliding again.

A large, wide, rectangular tile disappeared, replaced by a rectangular engraved rock boulder. Letters were printed on the rock.

ARE YOU A CLOWN OR A FOOL?

FIND THE MISTAKE

"Mistake? What mistake?" Von wondered. He once had read similar words before, near the entrance of the maze. He didn't know what those words meant. Neither do he now. Confused and puzzled, he gently pressed the words.

Sounds of metal sliding away emerged.

His face changed again. Everyone's face changed. It was obvious. There was only one source of metal in here. The spiral metal cuttings crawled back behind the sides of the grand gate while the bronze surface slithered and revealed another layer of metal. Doors behind doors. Gates behind gates. Along with new antique metal carvings, four oval-shaped holes were shown clearly on the center of the new gate.

"What did you just do?!" Inga cried, glaring at Von. Von ignored him and walked closer.

"Those holes," he pointed at them, "I think we need to put something on them to open the door."