Chapter 6

Ethan gave a nod.

“Traps come in all shapes and sizes, some physical, others more like mind games, but either way, we need to stay on guard.”

“Rosie gets one shot a day to give us orders, and we can turn them down, but probably no more than three times total.”

“Cleaning the rooms doesn’t sound too risky, and I doubt anyone here would blow a valuable refusal on something that minor. The real trick is figuring out whether we’re truly accepting or rejecting it.”

Serena’s eyes lit up as the pieces clicked for her.

“You mean someone might inspect our rooms?”

“More than likely,” Ethan went on. “There has to be some standard for what counts as fulfilling the order. If they check and spot any mess left behind, it could count as us ignoring the command, wasting a refusal for nothing.”

“Plus, the guest rooms might hold clues or even traps tucked away somewhere. Bottom line, I think we all need to take this cleanup seriously.”

Ethan had stayed cool as a cucumber from the start, even while everyone else was still reeling from the death threat Butler had dangled over them. He kept his own steady pace, quietly sizing up the surroundings and piecing things together.

It was a relief, really, having someone step up like that in a pinch. It boosted their sense of security and eased the tension hanging in the air.

“You’re one sharp cookie, Ethan, gutsy and thoughtful all in one,” Albert said, flashing him a thumbs-up. But a second later, his brow furrowed again. “Still, I’ve got this nagging worry. The task says we survive seven days here, but with only two refusals, that means we have to obey five times at least.”

“What if he hits us with three straight orders to off ourselves right away? Wouldn’t that trap us from the jump?”

His words landed like a gut punch, and everyone’s faces darkened.

This creepy castle was home to a sheep-headed monster in Butler who could crush their skulls with a single swing.