As the participants gathered in Trial Room Number Three, the ominous voice of the mastermind crackled through the speakers once again, sending a wave of tension across the room.
"Welcome to the next trial," the voice began. "This trial will challenge your ability to deduce multiple possibilities, communicate effectively, and, most importantly, trust your teammates. Only those who are truly resourceful and cooperative will prevail."
A brief silence followed, heightening the suspense before the voice resumed. "Each of you will be provided with a tablet, your primary tool for survival in this trial. For those without one, tablets are placed in front of you. But there's a catch—these devices are locked. The password to unlock your tablet is your own birthdate, a reminder that the key to success lies within yourself."
Participants exchanged nervous glances as they approached the tablets, aware that the stakes had risen significantly. "The instructions for this trial are being transmitted to your devices as we speak," the mastermind continued, "and I advise you to pay close attention. The tablet you hold is more than just a tool—it is your lifeline. Should you lose it or fail to keep it on yourself, the consequences will be dire. Your tablet is, quite literally, your life."
The room grew even quieter as the reality of the situation sank in. Hakim clenched his tablet, quickly entering his birthdate to unlock it, while others hesitated, fumbling with their own devices.
The mastermind's voice cut through the silence once more. "This trial will not only test your individual intelligence and strategic thinking but also how well you can collaborate under pressure. Trust and betrayal will shape the outcome. Good luck... you'll need it."
With that, the screen on each tablet flickered to life, displaying cryptic instructions and tasks tailored for each participant. The instruction of the trial has been given right now.
*
Trial Number Three: Trust, Deduct, Lock (TDL)
Objective: Each participant works individually, but the team's overall performance is evaluated collectively. Participants will be placed in separate rooms, with one participant per room. The goal is to gather the correct birthdates (day and month) of four different participants, excluding their own. However, among the group, one room will contain a fake birthdate. After gathering the required birthdates, participants must submit them through their personal tablets.
Win Condition: Successfully submit at least one birthdate from four different participants across different groups, with no duplicates.
Lose Condition: The trial has a seven-hour time limit. Submitting an incorrect birthdate results in elimination. Participants can argue but are prohibited from physical fighting or causing injury.
*
After glancing at Rizman's tablet, Hakim quickly understood the objective of the trial. His mind started racing with possible strategies. Rizman, noticing Hakim's expression, gave him a curious look.
"Why are you looking at my tablet like that, Hakim?" Rizman asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.
Hakim just smiled calmly. "Nothing," he replied.
"Hey, you're making me nervous," Rizman said, still unsure about Hakim's intentions.
"Relax," Hakim said casually.
"Hmm, alright. Let's focus on this trial and get it done," Rizman replied, trying to stay optimistic.
"Exactly! That's the spirit," Sarah chimed in, determined to keep the group motivated.
"Alright, let's get this over with," Hakim said, though a flicker of doubt lingered in his mind. He tried to mask his uncertainty, knowing this trial would be more difficult than the previous ones.
Moments later, the mastermind's voice returned over the speakers. "Now that you've all familiarized yourselves with the rules, let the roulette wheel determine which room you will be assigned to."
*
Room One:
Danish
Rizman
Rebecca
Rik
Room Two:
Emily
Sarah
Mira
Rayyan
Room Three:
Yao
Hakim
Jay
Eliza
*
The voice continued, "You have been assigned your rooms. Please proceed and begin the trial."
"Good luck guys." Rizman said to Hakim and Sarah.
"Yeah. Good luck too." Sarah said.
"Yeah." Hakim said.
Hakim took a deep breath, steadying himself as he made his way toward Room Three. The stakes were higher now, and trust was a fragile thing in this environment. Yao, Jay, and Eliza were not people he knew well, but he had to work with them if they were going to succeed.
As he was inside the room and all of the people there, the door clicked shut behind him. The dim light cast long shadows on the walls, and each participant put a tablet on a round table in front of them. Hakim sat down at one side of the table, his fingers hovering over the tablet screen, waiting for further instructions.
The voice of the mastermind echoed through the room once more. "Now, the trial begins. You all know the rules: gather at least one birthdates from members of different groups. You cannot submit your birthdate. But beware—lies and deceit are just as effective as honesty in this game. Trust is your greatest asset and your greatest weakness. Good luck."
Hakim glanced around the room, noting that everyone was focused on their tablets. "If this goes on too long, we might all fail this trial," he thought. "Why did they have to include a traitor system in this challenge?"
After two hours of tense silence, Hakim noticed Yao and Jay whispering to each other in hushed tones. Their secrecy made him uneasy, and he suspected something was about to happen. Moments later, Yao called him over. Hakim approached cautiously, bringing his tablet with him, leaving Eliza alone at their table.
"So, Hakim, how about the three of us share our birthdates?" Yao suggested.
"Are you not worried that I could give you a fake birthdate?" Hakim replied, turning the question back on them.
"True, you could have the fake one," Jay said, his tone thoughtful.
"Jay's from Mira's group... Does he know I have the tablet given by the mastermind?" Hakim wondered.
"This trial is all about mutual trust," Yao continued. "If we're going to figure out who has the real birthdate, we need to work together and discuss things more thoroughly."
"That's a good point," Yao agreed.
Hakim raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you invite her to join the discussion as well?"
"Well, we're prioritizing the boys right now," Yao replied with a smirk. Something about it gave Hakim goosebumps.
"Is this one of his quirks?" Hakim wondered
"You shouldn't be so biased," Jay suddenly interjected.
"Weren't you both just whispering to each other earlier?" Hakim thought, his suspicions growing.
"How about we bring her into the discussion at the table?" Hakim suggested, glancing over at Eliza, who was sitting quietly by herself.
Yao hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, sure. We need to clarify things with her."
The three boys returned to the table, sitting down across from Eliza, who looked up curiously as they approached. Yao, attempting to soften the tension, leaned forward slightly. "We're sorry for excluding you earlier," he said with a slightly awkward smile. "It wasn't right of us to leave you out of the conversation."
Eliza met his eyes, her expression calm and composed. "It's okay. I don't mind," she replied, her voice steady but thoughtful. "Everyone has their own motives in this trial. I understand the stakes. It's alright."
Hakim watched her closely, try to notice from her reaction. It seems like she is kind of mature girl. "Although she seems scare, she does not show it. But, does this mean that she does not having a fake birthdate?" Hakim wondered.
"So," Jay broke the silence, eager to steer the conversation forward. "If we're going to pass this trial. We need to eliminate the suspicious person in this group first."
"That's the problem here. Even you eliminate the suspicious person from starts, what if he has a correct birthdate?" Hakim said.
Eliza folded her arms, looking thoughtful. "It's a game of trust and deduction. We can't verify anyone's birthdate until the very end, but we need enough information to cross-reference things. How do we do that without risking giving away our own?"
Yao leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the table. "That's the problem. If we're all too cautious, we'll get nowhere. But if one of us is hiding the fake date, we could end up sabotaging ourselves."
Hakim nodded, his mind already working through possible strategies. "We need to come up with a plan that forces the fake birthdate into the open. Something that will make it harder for whoever has it to keep hiding."
"I agree," Eliza said. "But the question is, how do we do that without any solid proof? We could all be lying to each other right now."
"Then let's not focus on proving who's lying just yet," Jay suggested. "What if we share partial information? Enough to cross-check, but not enough to give ourselves away completely. Like... the day of our birth, but not the month."
Hakim considered the idea. "That could work. It gives us a starting point without putting anyone at too much risk. If someone slips up, we'll have more to go on."
Eliza nodded slowly. "Okay, I'm in. But if this backfires, we need to be ready to pivot and find another approach."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the trial pressing down on them. Trust was fragile, and one wrong move could lead to elimination. Despite their doubts, they agreed to share hints about the day of their birthdate.
Jay spoke first. "I'm twenty four."
Yao followed suit. "sixteen."
Eliza's voice was steady as she added, "eight."
Hakim hesitated for a moment before saying, "seven."
The brief silence that followed was palpable, everyone assessing the numbers in their heads. Jay was the first to speak up. "Hmm... something feels off. This seems suspicious."
Yao furrowed his brows. "What do you mean by that?"
Jay leaned forward slightly, his expression serious. "Well, don't you notice the pattern? The numbers are in descending order. Doesn't that strike you as odd?"
Yao shook his head. "I don't see what's so suspicious about that. It just happens to be the way it worked out."
Hakim stayed quiet, but he could feel tension building in the group. Eliza, who had been quietly observing, suddenly chimed in, her eyes narrowing as she thought aloud. "Wait a second... Now I see it. There's a pattern here. It's eight, sixteen, twenty-four... that's multiples of eight—except for Hakim."
The others looked at her in surprise as she continued. "Think about it. Jay's day is 24, Yao's is 16, and mine is 8. But Hakim's day is 7. It breaks the sequence."
Hakim stiffened slightly, feeling their eyes on him. "It's just a coincidence. Not everything follows a perfect pattern," he said calmly, but the suspicion in the air was undeniable.
Jay crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes at Hakim. "A coincidence? Or are you hiding something? Maybe you're the one with the fake birthdate."
Yao looked between the two of them, uncertain. "Could be, but we still don't know for sure. This pattern thing could be a red herring."
Eliza remained composed, but her voice took on a sharp edge. "We're running out of time, and we can't afford to waste it pointing fingers. If we can't trust each other, we'll lose this trial."
Hakim kept his tone steady. "I get that the numbers don't line up perfectly, but let's not jump to conclusions. The fake birthdate could belong to any of us. We need more information before we can make that call."
Jay was still skeptical, but he seemed to back off slightly. "Fine, but we'll keeping our eyes on you."
Eliza leaned forward, her voice firm. "Let's focus. We need to work through this logically. If there's a fake birthdate among us, we'll figure it out, but we can't turn on each other so easily. Agreed?"
The others nodded, tension still simmering beneath the surface, but they knew they had no choice but to continue working together—at least for now—to uncover who had the fake birthdate.
The room fell silent again, until Hakim suddenly spoke up, his eyes narrowing with realization. "How about we share the password for our tablets?" he suggested.
Eliza raised an eyebrow. "What's the point of that?"
Hakim leaned forward, his voice low but confident. "Think about it. A lot of people use their birthdate as a password. It's a simple way to check if the birthdates we've mentioned match the ones we've actually used. If someone's password doesn't line up with the birthdate they gave, we'll know who has the fake one."
Yao nodded, intrigued. "That... makes sense. How about we try it?"
But Eliza shook her head immediately, folding her arms across her chest. "No way. Why would I share something so private with people I barely know?"
Hakim sighed, knowing it was a delicate situation. "I get it, Eliza, but we're running out of time. We need full cooperation if we want to figure out who the imposter is. If we don't eliminate the person with the fake birthdate, one of us will lose the trial to the one with fake birthdate."
Yao chimed in, his voice calmer. "Hakim's right. It's not just about trust anymore. If we don't work together, one of us will fail."
Eliza hesitated, her expression conflicted. She glanced at the others before speaking. "I understand the logic, but it still feels... invasive. Is not it same with the person with the fake birthdate?"
Jay, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "Yeah it is true, but do you want to get eliminate because of submitting the wrong answer? The only way to move forward is to be transparent. We need you with us on this, Eliza."
Eliza exhaled deeply, her resistance wavering under the pressure. "Alright... but this better be worth it."
Hakim smiled slightly, relieved that Eliza was beginning to come around. "Thank you. Trust me, this will help us figure it out."
Yao nodded, tapping on his tablet. "I'll go first then. My password is 1604, matching my birthdate."
Jay quickly followed. "Mine's 2409, just like I said."
All eyes turned to Eliza. She hesitated for a moment, her fingers hovering over her tablet before finally unlocking it. "Alright… 0807. It matches."
Hakim let out a soft sigh of relief. "Good. Now, here's mine—0703."
'wait I can unlock my tablet? So, my birthdate is the 0703. I thought it is not working. But how could it is unlocked just right now.' Hakim thought. Then, Hakim hovering over his tablet and look at something. 'now this is interesting.'
Jay leaned back, thinking aloud. "So, everyone's passwords match their birthdates... which means none of us here have the fake birthdate. Now we're back to square one."
Yao frowned. "But that doesn't add up. If we're all being truthful, how can there still be a fake birthdate?"
Hakim's brows furrowed as he processed the situation. "The mastermind mentioned that the fake birthdate is among three rooms… We're four people. So maybe someone else outside of this group has it, or… one of us could still be lying."
Eliza shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "But if all our birthdates and passwords match, then what's the point of this? Are we chasing a dead end?"
Hakim stood up, pacing. "No, there's something we're missing. The mastermind wants us to trust each other but also think critically. What if… the fake birthdate is intentionally designed to seem real?"
Yao's eyes widened. "You mean like some sort of decoy?"
Hakim nodded. "Exactly. Maybe the mastermind planted the fake birthdate with someone who seems completely innocent."
Eliza bit her lip. "So what do we do now? Just keep guessing?"
Hakim stopped pacing and looked at each of them. "No. We need to start eliminating the possibilities. We're all playing into the mastermind's hands, second-guessing each other. But if we keep calm and focus, we'll figure this out."
Jay leaned forward. "So what's the plan?"
Hakim grinned slightly, a glint of determination in his eyes. "We don't need to prove who's lying. We need to prove who's telling the truth. And once we do that, the fake birthdate will reveal itself."
The group sat in silence for a moment, contemplating Hakim's words. They knew the clock was ticking, but for the first time, they had a direction. They were no longer blindly navigating the trial, but beginning to take control.
"Alright, let's get this work." Yao said.
Hakim's eyes darkened as he glanced around the room, the tension thickening with each passing second. "You sure you don't want to know how we're going to catch the imposter?" His voice was low, almost daring someone to challenge him.
Eliza narrowed her eyes, her curiosity piqued. "Alright, I'll bite. What's your plan?"
Hakim leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent chills down their spines. "It's simple, really," he said, his gaze flicking between them. "But once this plan goes into motion, there's no turning back. We'll know who the real culprit is… and there'll be no escape."
A heavy silence fell over the group, the weight of Hakim's words sinking in. Eliza swallowed hard, a flicker of unease crossing her face. "And if you're wrong?"
Hakim's lips curled into a tight, humorless smile. "Then, that person win."