Chapter One: The Summons
The day started like any other. Rain drizzled softly against the windows of the courthouse, a gray canvas draping over the city. Twelve individuals shuffled into the jury room, each clutching a letter summoning them for jury duty. None of them knew each other. They were simply twelve strangers, drawn together by fate—or so they thought.
"All rise for the Honorable Judge Grimshaw," the bailiff called.
The jurors groaned in unison, standing reluctantly. Among them was Harold, a middle-aged accountant with a perpetual scowl; Mia, a nervous student with a passion for true crime podcasts; and Leonard, a retired magician with a flair for the dramatic.
"Another day, another civic duty," Leonard muttered, pulling a deck of cards from his coat pocket and shuffling them absentmindedly.
As they sat down, their phones vibrated simultaneously. Confused glances were exchanged as they checked their screens.
Unknown Number: Win the game, or lose everything.
Mia gasped. "Is this... some kind of prank?"
Before anyone could respond, the doors locked with a loud clunk.
"What the—?" Harold stood up, rattling the doorknob. "Hey! We’re locked in!"
A voice crackled through the room's hidden speakers. It was deep, modulated, and disturbingly calm.
"Welcome, jurors. Today, you will decide more than just a verdict. You will decide your own fate."
The room fell into stunned silence.
"You have been selected for a unique social experiment," the voice continued. "The justice system is flawed. You twelve will prove whether true justice can be achieved through human reasoning—or whether it is doomed to fail."
Leonard chuckled nervously. "Alright, who hired the voice actor? This is some escape room nonsense, right?"
The voice ignored him. "Each of you holds a secret. And each of you will be tested. Fail to cooperate, and the consequences will be... irreversible."
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