I was tied to a chair in the middle of a dark room. I struggled and tried to break free but couldn't. But I kept thrashing anyway. After awhile it began to loosen a little, so I thrashed wildly until the rope was loose enough to wiggle free. I stood up holding my wrists. I strained my eyes to see. Once they adjusted I could see I was merely in a closet. I tried the door. It was locked. Of course. Then I noticed a note on the door. It read, "You must solve my puzzles to gain your freedom. If you fail, you die. If you succeed, you live. It's as simple as that. Here's a little hint to help you get started. Find the key." Wow, that really was simple, they must think I'm stupid or something. I searched through every nook and cranny until I finally found a tiny blue key. I grabbed it and slid it into the door. I tried to turn it but it wouldn't budge. It wasn't the right key. I sighed and continued looking for another key. I never found it. I searched everywhere, but it still didn't turn up. Is this some kind of joke? Then I spotted something poking out of a broken lantern across the tiny little space. I hurried over to it and pulled it out. It was a golden key! Fancy! I walked over to the door and tried this key. It slid in perfectly and the door opened. Yes! I slowly and carefully trudged out the door and stood there in awe at what I discovered. It was a room filled with gold jewelry and gold rings and other trinkets of that sort. Well that explains the golden key. I walked over to the piles and piles of gold and pulled out a tiny gold ring with an amethyst on it. I slid it on my ring finger and observed my now bedazzled hand. Then, as I searched through the gold I heard a loud thud coming from my left. I looked up to see a beast staring at me with red eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED