Jack Thompson's pupils suddenly contracted, a low whimper escaping his throat, as if he wanted to defend himself but couldn't manage to speak.
The cold voice continued, "Now, I want to play a game with you. The game is called 'No Screaming.' The rules are simple: as long as you stay silent, you can survive. There is a key tied to a fish hook in your stomach, which is the only tool to unlock the collar on your neck. You have one minute to grab the fishing line outside your mouth and pull the key from your stomach. If you fail, the bomb in the collar will explode, severing your neck and silencing you forever."
"But be aware," the voice paused with a hint of mockery, "the timer next to you is equipped with a sound detector. For every ten decibels increase in sound, the time on the timer decreases by ten seconds. When the timer hits zero, the bomb will explode. How much of a sacrifice are you willing to make for your life? Your life or death is up to you."
