Part 2: Exploring the Aquarium

The echoing synthetic voice that announced the 13 rules gradually faded, leaving behind a heavier silence than before. The atmosphere inside the Triton Aquarium shifted from intriguing mystery to a palpable tension ready to explode at any moment. The dim light from the giant fish tanks was the only illumination in the vast hallway, revealing faces filled with dread and confusion.

"What in the hell is this?" James blurted out first, his voice thick with disbelief and frustration. He scanned the area as if searching for the source of the voice. "Who's playing a trick like this? Open the door now!" He strode to the large, sealed door and shoved it with all his might, but it was as solid as a concrete wall. He then turned to the official who had led them in, with an accusing look. "You! What is this? Open the door now!"

The official stood motionless, his face impassive and emotionless like a robot. His eyes were vacant, and the light from the aquariums reflected in them appeared dark and lifeless. "The rules... are the only thing that will guide you," the official said in the same flat, unchanging tone. His lifeless voice sent a chill down James's spine.

"What rules?! I came here because a friend dared me to see if there were ghosts, not to play this idiotic game!" James continued to rant, his expression showing intense disbelief. He still clung to the idea that everything must have a scientific explanation and that this was all just a prank.

Gawin stepped closer to James. "Calm down, James," he said evenly. Gawin's eyes were fixed on the aquariums and the long corridor ahead. "I don't think this is a joke..." His motivation was to solve supernatural mysteries, and this situation only intensified his curiosity. "The whispers... there have been long-standing rumors about this aquarium having whispers from the unseen." He felt that what was happening was the truth he had been searching for all along.

Praewa stood silently beside him, meticulously observing every inch of the area. Her face remained calm, but her eyes held a pensive glint. She didn't believe in the supernatural, but she believed in a hidden truth. "Look closely at the floor plan," she said to everyone. "This aquarium is too vast to be a simple exhibition space." Her motivation for coming here was to find answers about her family's tragedy, and everything that was happening made her feel closer to that truth.

Miki's initial bravado had subsided slightly, but she soon pulled out her phone camera. "Okay, everyone! A slight change of plans! Looks like we're trapped in a mystery aquarium with its own rules! This is viral content right here!" She quickly began filming. Although she felt a deep sense of fear, her desire to create thrilling and unique content was stronger. She tried to get the still-fuming James to turn toward the camera. "James! Make a scared face! The audience loves this stuff!"

"Do not take photos or videos within the aquarium," the official said again, his voice flat and devoid of emotion, as if it was a voice coming from the walls themselves.

Miki froze. She instantly remembered one of the iron rules. "Oh! Rule number six! No photos!" She quickly put her phone away, regretful of the missed opportunity to document the event but still ambitious to make her video famous.

Ton, the amateur photographer, watched Miki's actions with understanding. He, too, wanted to capture the events through his lens. "I get the feeling," Ton said softly to Miki. "But it seems this rule is more serious than we thought." He looked at a mysterious shadow moving inside a giant fish tank. The dim light made it hard to see clearly, but he sensed something was unusual. He felt a pang of regret but told himself that even if he couldn't take pictures, he could observe and remember all the details to tell the story later.

It remained still, quietly observing everyone. His eyes swept over the illuminated signs above each tank, trying to memorize the details and recalling the floor plans of the Triton Aquarium he had secretly studied. "This aquarium was built for a specific purpose... it's not just a regular marine life exhibit," It thought to himself. He remembered the old documents he had collected about this place and felt that the secret he had long been searching for was about to be revealed.

Meanwhile, Ploy gazed at the giant fish tank with fascination. Her eyes sparkled with innocence and her love for marine life. She walked closer to a tank that emitted a soft blue glow, drawing her attention. "It's so beautiful..." she whispered softly. Her hand slowly reached up, as if wanting to touch the cool surface of the glass.

"Ploy! Don't touch the glass!" James shouted a warning, instinctively. He remembered Rule #1 and didn't want anyone else to violate it after what had just happened to him.

Ploy paused, turning to look at James in surprise. "Why, James? I'm just looking..." She didn't quite grasp the gravity of the situation yet.

Mhok, usually a quiet and observant person, was staring intently at the official. She sensed something was wrong with him—not just his emotionless demeanor, but also the energy emanating from him. Mhok felt that the official wasn't just a simple employee but part of the entire secret. "If everything is according to the rules... then we must try to understand them," Mhok thought. She believed that observation was the key to understanding what others didn't say.

Uncle Daeng leaned against a wall, his eyes fixed on the locked door. He didn't say much, but his gaze hinted at some hidden knowledge. He had driven employees for this aquarium before and had heard stories of unethical experiments, disappearances, and seeing mysterious shadows in the fish tanks. Uncle Daeng looked at the giant aquarium as if searching for something familiar.

"We have to find a way out!" Gawin was the first to suggest a way out. "We don't know when this crazy game will end or what's hidden here." He walked to the aquarium floor plan mounted on the wall. It looked simple, but some zones were marked with strange symbols.

"Where is the exit?" Praewa asked, her voice calm but laced with worry. Praewa was starting to see that this situation was not just about solving a mystery, but about survival. She wanted to protect herself and the others, and she wanted the truth about her father.

"That official definitely knows everything," Miki whispered to Ton. "But look how still he is."

"Or maybe he's the one in control," Ton replied thoughtfully.

The official remained motionless, not answering any questions, as if he were unaware of their existence. The dim light from the aquariums cast long, distorted shadows of them on the floor, making the atmosphere even more chilling.

Gawin began to walk down the long corridor. Everyone exchanged glances before slowly deciding to follow. There was no other choice but to move forward.

"Deep Sea Fish Zone"

The sign above the large tank read. A deep blue light shone from inside, revealing the murky silhouettes of strange-looking creatures swimming behind it. A chilling cold began to permeate the air.

"This is the first zone we're exploring, huh?" James walked closer to the tanks. He leaned his face against the glass, peering inside, and asked in a frustrated tone. He was still unhappy with the situation.

"We need to understand this place first," Gawin replied, also stepping closer to the tanks. His eyes held a mix of excitement and caution.

"James," Praewa called out in a steady voice.

"..."

"James!"

"Huh!"

"Let's go! You're staring so hard I thought you fell asleep." Praewa grumbled, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

"Sorry, I was just mesmerized."

They walked through the deep-sea zone, which was filled with huge tanks containing bizarre-looking deep-sea creatures. Some glowed, while others looked so terrifying it was hard to believe they were real. The faint sound of flowing water came from all directions, like a mysterious whisper.

"Did you guys hear anything?" Praewa asked softly. She felt like she heard a faint sound that wasn't water, but a voice trying to say something.

"The whispers... it's coming from the tanks," Gawin murmured. He remembered the rumors also mentioned these whispers.

"No way! I don't hear a thing," James replied, rubbing his temples. "Are you guys trying to prank us?"

Miki turned to James. "You still don't believe this, James? This is real now!"

"I hear it too..." Ton added. "The sound is so soft, like someone whispering in your ear."

Fah closed her eyes slowly. She could feel a strange energy within this aquarium—an ancient and dark power. "Something is trying to communicate with us," she said. "But I don't know what it is."

As everyone was focused on the whispers, Ploy noticed a small fish tank in the corner of the room. It stood out from the others because a luminous emerald green light shone from within, as if something precious was hidden inside. "Wow! What's that?" Ploy walked toward the tank without hesitation.

"Be careful, Ploy!" Gawin warned.

But it was too late. Ploy gently placed her hand on the glass of the glowing green tank.

Suddenly, the faint whispers became clear and more violent, almost turning into a roar that echoed from all directions.

"Do not touch the aquarium glass!"

The synthetic voice returned, and this time it was filled with fury.

The emerald green light from the small tank began to flicker rapidly before shining so brightly it hurt their eyes. Ploy screamed as a red, burning mark quickly appeared on her hand where she had touched the glass.

"Ploy!" Gawin rushed to pull Ploy away immediately, but the burn on her hand was not a normal burn. It was a burn in the shape of a strange, peculiar-looking seal.

"Ouch! What is this! It's so hot!" Ploy cried out in pain.

Everyone was stunned by what had just happened. This was clear evidence that the rules were not just threats, but a dangerous reality.

It looked at the burn on Ploy's hand with a pensive expression. He was now convinced that the secret he had long been searching for was about to be revealed through the events unfolding in this aquarium. He knew this was just the beginning of a game, and no one knew who would survive.

Meanwhile, the official remained motionless, just as before. He had no reaction to the events that had just occurred, as if he were merely a spectator to the creeping death.

Gawin hugged the still-sobbing Ploy. He now realized that this aquarium was a living entity playing a game with them, and they had to understand its rules before it was too late.

"We have to find a way out... no matter the cost," Gawin murmured to himself, his voice filled with a mix of determination and fear.

And in the dim light, the whispers from the surrounding tanks began again. This time, they were not just faint sounds, but voices that sounded like they were laughing at their futile attempts.