A Room Full of Strangers

Door 4 - Door of Treachery

The door closed when the four remaining people had set their feet on the fourth room's ground. Austin sat on the floor leaning against the door. His spirit was left in the previous room. Brett sat beside him and patted his shoulder. Austin gave him a glance then returned to staring into blankness again.
'I can't understand why you cried that hard.' Brett said as he tried to open up a conversation. Austin turned and fixed his sight to him.
'He attempted to poison you.' Brett quickly supplied.
'He's a family.' Austin said.
'But ain't it more painful to know that the one who wanted to kill you is someone from your blood line?' Brett asked. Austin was surprised with his question. He knows Brett as a man of few words and he wasn't used to him asking such intriguing questions.
'Yes it was heartbreaking, but as they say, blood is thicker than water.'
'If that's true, then why did he choose water over blood?' There he goes again. Austin thought about it for a moment.
'That's true for me. Maybe he had a different perspective. I know his reason. He had always been envious of me. I'm just too naive to ignore the fact that he was able to put me in trouble too many times before and he could further push me to the most injurious ones.' He expressed.
'The old folks were right. Being envy is deadly. Anyway, you're lucky enough. It's amazing how the tables turn.' Brett commented.
'I wish they didn't turn at all. It's easier for me to die than to witness someone else do.'
'Just be grateful. Call it a blessing.'
'Blessing,' Austin paused as he forced a sigh. 'Blessing in exchange of a life?'
'I can say that it was a blessing in disguise.'
'The Almighty saves,' Brett said sounding more like a priest preaching the gospel, 'and punishes as well.'

The two ladies stood in front of a square steel table with a tin can on each corner. There was also a white envelope at the center. Four bullets were resting on top of it. A fluorescent bulb was the only light source and there was nothing else.  Felicit is strongly convinced that this is her door so she would do her best to win Austin over.
'Bec, you should stay away from Austin' Felicit warns Rebecca. A threat dressed as a warning.
'Why would I do that?' Rebecca asked astounded.
'Your life might be at risk if you continued sticking around with him.' Felicit said, sounding stricter than Rebecca's parents.
'Please Fel, let us not be inconsiderate even just for now.'
'Didn't you know that he was supposed to be the one to die? Now look what happened. Timothy died instead of him.'
'But he needs me.'
'Don't tell me you're setting aside your own safety for him.' Rebecca opened her mouth to speak but Felicit spoke before she could.
'Remember how much you want to get out of here. If you really want to survive, then you should prioritize yourself first.' Rebecca closed her mouth and pondered Felicit's fake words.
'Okay, I'll avoid him.' Rebecca said marking her decision. 'You're my best friend and I trust you.' A wide grin was drawn on Felicit's face upon hearing it; a grin that hides a malevolent devil.
'I'm just concerned about you.' Felicit said as she hugged her tightly. She wants to squeeze her until she turns into a shade of dark eggplant violet but she managed to hold it back because she believes that the room would deliver the worst she could ever imagine in the worst method.
'I understand.'
A small celebration is happening in her mind right now. She succeeded in keeping the nuisance away. She can see the big picture of triumph coming as she enters the fifth door with Austin and leaving Rebecca behind to rot in that dungeon.
The boys went to the table and found the ladies entwined in an embrace. Felicit quickly pulled back when she saw them coming.
'What do we have here?' Austin asked right away without checking on the two. Rebecca avoids eye contact with him but deep inside she feels guilty. Austin is still vulnerable and he might need her help. That thought is pounding her chest. However, Felicit's voice is echoing in her mind reminding her; 'remember how much you want to get out of here.'
Austin didn't receive an answer but an 'are-you-sure-you're-okay?'  look from Brett.
'I'm fine everyone if that's your concern.' Austin clarified. He took a deep breath and looked at his three surviving mates. 'I don't wanna do this anymore, to be honest. I'm wondering, what if we chose to do nothing? Probably none of us would be deducted. Everyone would stay. However, staying here means being stuck and I am certain none of you would want to be stuck in here, right?' There was the silence again as Brett, Felicit and Rebecca listened to his monologue. 'And if we ever choose to stay just for the assurance of being safe, we'd be so selfish. You probably have the intuition that one might only survive and we would be depriving that one the chance to continue his or her life outside.' He continued.
'I am wishing that my brother could be the last but I'm sorry to tell, someone should really have to follow.' Austin said as he carefully pulled the envelope beneath the bullets. He opened it and took out a folded sheet of paper. He read the writings aloud.