8: The First Punishment

Chaos filled the hotel lobby the second the morning announcement ended.

Guests poured out from elevators and staircases still wearing pajamas, robes, and exhausted expressions while hotel staff calmly served breakfast like nobody had just died overnight.

Winona immediately spotted Ava near the fountain.

“Oh thank God,” Ava said before practically tackling her into a hug. “You’re alive.”

“Obviously, I'm not dumb like you." Winona smirked.

"I was sure you opened the door! You CANNOT stay quiet, I know you."

"Ahem, what did you do?" Winona changed the topic before it could escalate.

“I almost opened the door last night,” Ava admitted quickly. “But after that scream, I panicked and hid under the blanket like a baby.”

Winona nodded seriously. “Good. At least your survival instincts finally contributed something useful.”

“Rude!”

The massive screen above the lobby fireplace suddenly flickered to life.

Everyone fell silent.

The elegant female host from yesterday appeared smiling brightly on the screen.

[Good morning, guests.]

[As announced earlier, one contestant has died following last night’s rule violation.]

Several people shifted uncomfortably.

[The deceased participant was actor Daniel Cross.]

A photo of a blond man flashed briefly across the screen before disappearing again.

Winona recognized him vaguely from social media. A few gasps spread through the room.

Then the host smiled wider.

[Who killed him?]

Silence filled the room.

[That is for you to discover.]

“What the hell?” somebody muttered nearby.

A woman with short curly hair folded her arms immediately. “Okay, this officially feels like a low-budget whodunit movie.”

Winona glanced toward her.

“Keisha,” the woman introduced herself quickly. “Indie filmmaker.”

A tall blond man beside her sighed. “I’m Liam. Journalist.” His American accent stood out instantly. “And my instincts are screaming that this place is deeply illegal.”

“Same,” Ava muttered.

Another woman stepped forward calmly. Sharp eyes, sleek dark hair, intimidating posture.

“Moira,” she introduced herself. “Detective.”

Several people visibly relaxed hearing that.

Moira looked toward the screen. “Do I have authority to question everyone?”

[You may investigate however you wish.]

“Perfect.”

“Honestly, everybody’s taking this death thing way too seriously,” another voice interrupted loudly.

A young man leaned lazily against one of the lobby pillars looking completely unbothered.

“Julian,” he introduced himself with a French accent. “I’m technically a college student. Though my parents would probably call it expensive failure.”

“Someone died,” Liam snapped.

“Someone we didn’t know,” Julian corrected casually before looking toward the giant screen overhead. “Actually, I have a much more important question.”

The host smiled patiently.

Julian grinned. “Can contestants bring someone into their room before midnight and keep them there all night?”

Several people stared at him.

Julian looked completely shameless as he glanced across the lobby toward a woman standing near the breakfast table.

“I already have someone in mind.”

The woman burst out laughing.

She had long dark hair, warm brown skin, and the kind of relaxed confidence that made people naturally look twice.

“Monica,” she introduced herself with a grin. “Freelancer from Goa.”

She winked at Julian openly. Winona already felt exhausted by both of them.

Before the situation could become even more ridiculous, Iris suddenly appeared between everyone carrying coffee.

“Okay,” she said firmly, “can we all calm down before the rich murder hotel gets worse?”

Honestly, fair point. The screen flickered again.

[Now, regarding last night’s violation.]

Winona’s stomach dropped instantly. Beside her, Adrian remained silent. She knew exactly what both of them were thinking.

But instead of their names, the screen displayed another face.

Keisha.

The filmmaker looked up sharply. “Excuse me?”

[Contestant Keisha Brooks opened her room door after midnight.]

“What? That’s insane. I only looked outside for two seconds.”

[The cameras recorded the violation.]

The lobby fell silent.

Then the host continued pleasantly.

[Your punishment will begin immediately.]

A new screen appeared beside Keisha displaying dozens of headlines and articles.

FAKE FILMMAKER EXPOSED.

INDIE DIRECTOR ACCUSED OF STEALING SCRIPTS.

CAREER BUILT ON LIES?

Keisha’s expression changed instantly. “What the hell is this?”

[Within twenty-four hours, you must discover Daniel Cross’s killer.]

The smile on the host’s face widened.

[If you fail, you will lose something far more valuable than your reputation.]

A sharp image flashed briefly across the screen.

A pair of blood-covered hands.