The only one who hadn't put on his watch yet was Jasper. He was biting on his lower lip, hands trembling as they were squeezed into a ball, eyes red from frustration. Like the rest of the participants, he had a lot to say too, but he was still trying to test the waters first. A normal reaction after being suddenly shoved into an unfamiliar world with a talking humanoid rabbit, especially right after an emotional high.
"Can I back out still?" he asked after much hesitation, and bit his lips hard, drawing out blood. "I don't know what came to me that I signed a contract I didn't even read, but had I been in my right mind, I wouldn't have signed that at all. Backing out. Is that possible?"
Dexter slowly grinned and said, "You can," in a most nonchalant voice. "Technically speaking, the game still hasn't started officially and you haven't put on your watch yet. So, yes, backing out is still absolutely possible."
A flicker of hope illuminated in Jasper's face, along with the other participants, and his eyes regained their spark. "Then I'd like to back out, please."
"Me too! I'd like to back out too!" It was Donna, the pink-haired woman.
But to everyone's surprise, Dexter suddenly bent his back and laughed. He laughed so hard he started coughing. And then he spat, "But aren't you gonna regret that though?" His voice dropped to a dangerous level.
*Clap! Clap!
Dexter clapped twice, and one of the mirrors suddenly distorted. The sound it made could be described as a strange, squishy, gelatinous noise, as if the fabric of reality itself was rippling and bending in response to the clap. As the surface of the mirror calmed down, the reflection changed into an alleyway. Jasper could be seen walking, carrying a grocery in one hand.
Jasper continued to walk until he reached an apartment complex, rode the elevator, and stopped at a certain room as he rummaged through his pockets for the key.
Everybody's focus was on the mirror while Jasper could be seen slightly trembling. It was because he knew exactly what would happen as soon as he got inside that door. He wanted to tell Dexter to stop it, but words wouldn't come out of his throat.
In the mirror, Jasper successfully opened the door but then he froze just as he was about to enter. In the living room, he could see his sister holding a knife. "Don't touch me! Don't touch me! Don't touch me!" she repeatedly yelled at the man lying on the floor. It was their uncle. He had a stab wound on his left side, blood gushing out.
Jasper was overcome with horror as he asked his sister, "A—Aria, what did he do to you?" He asked this despite knowing all too well that his suspicion might be true. It was written all over his face.
As Aria heard her older brother, her knees instantly collapsed as she broke into sobs. Watching her tiny tee shirt torn from her abdomen to her chest, her pajama pants pulled down to her knees, all the blood in Jasper's body rose to his head as rage consumed him.
He took off his jacket and wrapped Aria with it. He took the kitchen knife from her and told her to go hide in her room and wait for him. He then proceeded to skin their uncle alive until there was no more blood to bleed and he died.
The next scene was very familiar to everyone in the room. A stranger suddenly arrived to where Jasper was, and then it abruptly cut. The mirror returned to normal, reflecting strange and distorted images.
*Clap! Clap!
As most eyes were still focused on the mirror, Dexter clapped once again, "Do you wish to know what would have happened had you not signed the contract?" This question was obviously directed at the now horrified Jasper.
"Because of your country's flawed judicial system with officials' corruption, lack of transparency and accountability, bias discrimination, and inconsistent application of immigration laws, your uncle's family will win the case. If I remember correctly, you and your sister are immigrants, right? The verdict ended up with you committing perjury, false accusation, obstruction of justice, and manslaughter. Your sister is then taken by the authorities to undergo therapy. And you? You will be sentenced to death."
The room became drop-dead quiet. Not a breath could be heard. And so Dexter continued. "So, Mister Jasper? Do you still wish to back out?"
Jasper was gnashing his teeth, his thoughts unknown.
"If… and only if," Jasper paused, choosing his words carefully, "If I participate in this game of yours and… and I win. Will I meet my sister again? Erase that traumatizing memory out of her mind? Make it so we wouldn't have to work for the rest of our lives again? Have a big house all to ourselves and give her the best the world has to offer? And our uncle be brought back from the dead and make him suffer all kinds of torture every day?" At this point, Jasper was just rambling, but Dexter answered him seriously.
"The Great One can grant you anything. But with you asking me that, do I take that as you agreeing to participate?"
"Yes," Jasper answered lifelessly.
"Then put on your watch."
Jasper did as he was told in a soulless state.
"Well then," Dexter continued, satisfied. "Let me bring you to each of your rooms so you can take a rest. Follow me."
He then snapped his finger, and all of a sudden, a large key, about as long as an adult's forearm, materialized in the air with a poof. He took it and dragged it as he walked towards the shape shifting plant. He shot out his hand and choked it like he would a human and it started coughing. After two seconds, the plant spat out a swirly pink and black door with an enormous keyhole. It looked like it was made with marshmallows.
"Thank you, Miss Erin," he thanked the plant. And using the key in his other hand, he opened the door.