HAVANA FAMILY BANQUET (3): ESCAPE ROOM
' In this game each of you will enter a room with the same setting and the door will automatically lock you in. It will open up only after six hours or if one of you manages to crack the code and unlock the door. You will have to follow all the family's teachings to win this game. Any questions?' Grandmother Rosalind says.
Arianna raises her hand. ' So this means if we can't crack the code, we will be stuck in that room till early in the morning?' Arianna asks.
' That's right Olivia.' Grandmother Rosalind replies.
' So can we like eat something first or visit the bathroom?' Arianna ask?
' I'm afraid not Olivia. Butler Phillip, take them there.' Grandmother Rosalind says.
Ava, Arthur, Bella and Arianna were taking to their respective rooms.
Oliver, Stephen and Lily sighed telling their partners how tired and pressed they were after the six hours elapsed.
' Ashley, did you do the escape room before?' Riona asks whispering.
' Yes I did. I was 19 then, there was no single clue anywhere. I eventually gave up.' Ashley replies.
' Well, it's a good thing Arian is already asleep. If not he would have cried his eyes out when sees Arianna is not around.' Riona says.
Some maids wheel in a huge TV that could cover up the wall, they turn it on and they see Ava, Arthur, Bella and Arianna in their respective rooms.
************
I walked up to the door of the escape room assigned to me. It was white and had a green rose in the middle. Only members knew how valuable wood from the furniture here was. If not for the green rose on the door, it would look so plane and worthless just like my dress without the green attachment.
I took in a deep breath and walked into the room.
What did I notice first?
A table with four covered dishes.
I'm starting to think this escape room isn't that bad. It's like having a room for my me-time. I sat down at the table and started eating like a maniac.
When we came here I was immediately whisked off to grandmother's study and then I had a talk with my parents and then Riona and I had to add finishing touches to the dresses. I didn't get to eat anything.
The escape room can wait, besides one of our family rules says, Never waste resources.
I uncovered the first dish, it was soup. I drank the soup and stared at the bowl, I felt like licking it clean. I'm very sure that these dishes are one of dad's exclusive recipe.The next dish was Salad I ate the salad and stared at the plate, I felt like licking all the cream on the plate. I noticed the green rose imprint on the plate. I don't remember any of our cutleries having rose imprints, we just had plain white cutleries.
I brushed it aside and ate the last two dishes. I eyed the bottle of wine near the empty dishes. No I can't drink wine, I will be stuck here for six hours. What if the wine makes me want to pee.
But I so badly wanted to taste it. Arianna distract yourself from the wine. Just imagine that all toilets in the Graceland are goblins and if you have wine and need to pee, the goblins will goble you up.
That's just like Skibidi Toilet.
I once saw the video on YouTube, it had a catchy song for a video that was next to being demonic.
I stood up, lifted my gown and started prancing around the room trying to mimic the Skibidi Toilet.
' missstatis ridiculousisisisis, Skibidi dum dum dum yes yes, Skibidi dum dum yes yes, Skibidi...' I was singing till I noticed... Oh no! Blood drained from my face. A camera!!
************
The Banquet hall was bursting with laughter at Arianna's silly display.
' Oliver, your daughter is really something.' Mrs Stephen says.
' Did you see her face when she spotted the camera?' Lily adds.
' Breanna, it seems like your sister lacks your competitive and fighting spirit.' Liam says.
' And what is it to you Liam?' Ashley asks.
' Haven't you been watching? The others are working hard to find a clue whereas your sister is singing and dancing ridiculously.' Liam replies.
That was true. Ava, Arthur and Bella were working hard to find a way to leave the room. They were searching everywhere and didn't even touch the food.
Ava was at the pin lock on the door trying out combinations that had significant history in the Havana family.
The adults burst out laughing and this startles little Arian who wakes up.
Riona sees this and shivers. ' Ashley, we have a problem.' She says pointing to Arian who was looking around trying to spot Arianna.
' Oh no! ' Ashley mutters.
Arian crawls up to grandmother Rosalind who was seated behind a desk which had a microphone.
He touches her feet and she lifts him up. He sees Arianna in the TV and calls out ' Oma!!' but as expected he got no answer.
' 5, 4, 3, 2,' Ashley counted and then a loud cry fills the room.
Arian was stationed in front of the microphone and his cry was transmitted to the speakers in the escape room.
All the participants look at the speaker high up the wall and close their ears.
**********
I stood up immediately I heard that cry. Arian was awake.
The last time Arian was sick was when I went to get some materials for a design I was working on.
According to Uncle Tom, he didn't stop crying when he woke up and I was gone for three hours. All efforts to make him quiet proved abortive and he caught a fever and had to be taken to the hospital. Not again!
I rushed to the door and pushed and pulled it but all I saw was a stupid pin lock telling me to input pin.
' Arian! Mummy's coming.' I say as I hit the door.
Just then I heard grandmother's voice from the speaker, ' the door won't budge, you will have to crack the code.'
I kicked the door angrily.
Calm down Arianna. You have to crack the code for Arian's sake.
I looked around the room for a clue. Anything at all. I found nothing useful. I knelt on the ground angrily. This room without clues was like my dress without the green rose attachment or the door without the green rose or that plain white plate without the green rose.
Then, it hit me! Green rose. Our family's emblem is the green rose so the clue should have something to do with green roses.
I went to the table and looked for the plate with the green rose. I looked at it carefully, it was like looking at the door in a circular shape. The white background matches the one on the door. I turned the plate the other way and so a drawing. It was a drawing of a puzzle piece. Underneath the piece was the letter R and a number 8 ( like this, R - 8)
I went to the pin lock and entered the number 8. According to the clue on the plate, I needed to look for a jigsaw puzzle.
If I had a board game, where will I put it. In a drawer or a corner in my wardrobe. I checked the wardrobe but I didn't find anything but clothes, I checked the drawer and.. Bingo!
I found the jigsaw puzzle. I started playing it.
************
' I must say Olivia is really something. Her child is crying here and she's playing instead of looking for a way to get out.' Jeff ( Lily's husband) says.
' First she gets an illegitimate child now she abandons him for us to take care of.' Stephen says.
' Uncle Stephen!'
' Stephen!'
Grandmother Rosalind and Ashley say simultaneously.
' You should keep quiet while I am hanging on to the last thread of respect I have for you. If I lose my temper, the consequences will be dire.' Ashley says.
' Hey Oliver! What have you taught your daughters? They have no respect for their elders. She is threatening me.' Stephen says angrily.
' I never give threats, I gave you a warning. As for respect, respect is the only reason why you are still talking without a few broken teeth.' Ashley says.
' Breanna! Apologize to your uncle immediately.' Oliver says still trying to pacify the crying baby.
' I am sorry dad. But I will not apologize to him.' Ashley says.
' Breanna! Riona talk some sense into her.' Brenda says.
' I am sorry godmother but Ashley is right. Because he is an elder doesn't mean who should disregard the younger generation and when Arianna comes out, he'll know what he has done to himself.' Riona says.
' Olivia won't be able to crack the code. I can bet my life on that.' Stephen says with a sneer.
' Then let's make a bet. In an hour, Olivia will crack the code and come here. And when that happens, you will accept three punishment she gives you.' Riona says.
' Fine. But in an hour, if she doesn't come out you will all apologize to me and she will quit participating in any games. And I will never let her step her foot in this hall or my name isn't Stephen Havana.' Stephen says.
' Agreed!' Riona replies.
' Riona! How could you make such a stupid deal?' Ashley asks
***********
I completed the puzzle, it was a picture of a green cheongsam with a white pocket on the chest. Underneath the cheongsam was the letter O and the number 5. ( O - 5)
R, O,. I think it is meant to spell Rose.
I went to the wardrobe and started looking for the cheongsam in the wardrobe.
*************
' What do you mean by an hour? Why would Olivia take an hour to crack the code? I say 45 minutes.' Ashley says and Riona gives her a high-five
' Children of this generation are so overconfident. Agreed. It is 8:16pm now.' Stephen says.
All this while, Grandmother Rosalind was watching the screen with a complex expression.
' What are you saying? Stephen they are youngsters, why would you give in to a squabble like this.' Oliver says as he continued his attempt to pacify Arian.
' Godfather, don't be worried. I know my best friend very well. When it comes to her son, Olivia can move the earth's core.' Riona says.
' Do you think it's a joke? You..' Brenda is saying till Lily squeals,
' Olivia found something!'
They all rush to the screen,
************
I found the cheongsam and reached into the pocket. There was a sheet of paper with a drawing. It was a picture of a portrait of someone I couldn't recognise. Underneath the picture was the letter S and the number 9. I typed in the number in the pin lock and looked around for a portrait. I saw one on the wall at the other end of the room. I picked it up and looked around the portrait. At the back was a letter E and the number 5.
I jumped up excitedly and screamed, ' Arian, mommy is coming for you.'
I inputed the last number and then the pin lock opened and gave me a key. I heard rumbling and I turned around to see that the wall the portrait was on had opened up and there was another room there. I spotted a door and I grabbed the key and ran to the door and inserted the key.
**************
Everyone was stunned. Arianna was the person they least expected to crack the code.
An undescribable emotion flashed through Rosalind eyes. It disappeared as quickly as it came.
Riona broke the silence in the hall.
' She did it. She cracked the code. She did it. She cracked the code. In your face all you haters.' Riona chanted as she meaningfully glared at Stephen.
' She actually did it. Hurray!' Oliver says as he joins Riona in chanting.
' She did it! She cracked the code.'
Ashley smiles at Liam and says, ' Looks like my sister is a fighter afterall. Your sister didn't inherit your fighting spirit.'
Ashley joins the Oliver and Riona.
Lily says, ' The door isn't opening.'
This grabs everybody's attention. Arian sat in his stroller still crying.
*********
The door unlocked but it refused to open. I turned to the camera and say, ' Grandmother! The door is jammed.'
' It must be faulty. It hasn't been opened in over three decades. I will arrange for a locksmith.' I heard grandmother say.
I can't wait for a locksmith, it will take too long.
I spotted a window and looked down. That's a long way down.
***********
Ava was stunned. The microphone transmitted sounds to a the escape rooms and she heard what grandmother said. Didn't that mean that Arianna cracked the code. Ava was red with fury. Why was it only Arianna?
**************
Everyone saw Arianna looking down the window.
' Don't tell me she wants to jump.' Riona says worriedly.
' It seems like luck isn't on your side. It will take time to call the locksmith and look it's already 8: 35. Be prepared never to step your foot in this hall ever again.' Stephen says mockingly.
' Thirty minutes is a long time uncle. Look, she's found a way out.' Ashley says.
Stephen looks at the screen and is shocked.
**************
I pressed the button on my hairpin and it transformed to a dagger. I took the curtain and slashed them into 8 pieces.
I tied the pieces together. I secured one end on the wardrobe handle. I had just finished tying it when I tripped on my gown. This dress will get in my way I tore the lower hem of the dress, I took of my heels.
When last did I sneak out? On my 18th birthday. Let's do this, fingers crossed 🤞.
I started my descent and held tightly to the curtains.
*************
Arianna disappeared from the camera's view and Brenda began fretting.
' My poor baby. What if she falls?' Brenda says.
' Don't worry godmother, Arianna has lots of experience. She won't fall that easily.' Riona says.
' But what... Experience? What experience?' Brenda asks.
Riona hides behind Ashley and says oops!
Just then Arianna comes running in ' Arian!! Where's my baby?' She says. She spots him seated in his stroller, tears stained his face and his blonde hair stuck to his forehead.
She immediately lifts him up and showers him with kisses.
Arian stops crying and says, ' Oma! Tabu babi gago moty' And some more gibberish while pointing at everybody.
Arianna cleans his face and let him crawl on the floor.
' Olivia, I'm so proud of you.' Brenda says as she and Oliver hugs Arianna.
' Thanks Mom, thanks dad.' Arianna replies.
' Ooh Bestie you are too good.' Riona says as she and Ashley congratulates Arianna.
The locksmith comes in and is taken to open all the doors.
' Now there's an unfinished business at hand.' Ashley says staring at Stephen.
' Did I miss out on something?' Arianna asks.
' A LOT! Let me tell you, I love a good gist. So Uncle Stephen said that....' Riona tells Arianna what happened.
Arianna's face darkened as she stared coldly at Stephen.
' So it's time for me to give a punishment, my first punishment is whenever you see Breanna, Riona, Arian and me, you will have to lower your head and greet. The same way you do when you see Grandmother.' Arianna says.
' Olivia! What are you saying? He is your uncle. Is this what I have taught you.' Oliver says.
' This is exactly what you have taught me dad. You taught me that as a Havana, a spoken word of mine is worth more than all the precious stones on earth. And number 3 of Havana ethics states that we should never go back on a spoken word. And this deal was made in my name and Uncle concurred with it. It will be a shame to the family's teachings if I don't utilise this principle. Moving on to my second punishment....' Arianna is saying but is cut in by a voice.
' Who do you think you are to give my father punishments?' Ava says angrily. She walks to Arianna and raises her hand to slap her but Arianna twists the hand and pushes her to the floor.
' Nobody will interfere, this is between me and uncle. As I was saying, Your second punishment is: You will have to pay a fine of ten million. I was put under so much stress and my son was slandered so you will have to pay for it.
As for your last punishment, you must apologize to Riona and Breanna with folded hands.' Arianna says.
' Outrageous! I have been silent does not mean I am a fool. Mother, can you believe this?' Stephen says turning to his mother.
' Stephen.' Grandmother Rosalind says.
' Yes mother.' Stephen replies.
' What does number 5 of Havana ethics say?' Grandmother Rosalind ask.
' Never Slander, never fight.' Stephen says.
' Good. What does number 3 state?' Grandmother Rosalind ask again.
' Never go back on a spoken word.' Stephen replies.
' Olivia what does number 7 of Havana ethics say?' Grandmother Rosalind ask.
' Respect the authority above you.' Olivia says.
' My final decision is Stephen you will not greet them each time you see them.' Grandmother Rosalind says.
Stephen smiles triumphantly at Arianna.
' But you will apologize to them and you will give them compensation of fifteen million.' Grandmother Rosalind says.
Riona snickers while Arianna smiles mockingly at Stephen.
' Yes Grandmother.' Arianna says.
' Dear uncle, shall I give you my account number?' Arianna says. Stephen sends the money and apologizes to them.
' Hey girls, are you up for shopping and makeover when we return to Parkville?' Arianna whispers to Ashley and Riona.
' You bet! The look on his face is priceless.' Riona says.
Stephen sits down with a dark expression.
Grandmother Rosalind clears her throat and all eyes turns to her.
' Thirty years ago, I had the escape room installed and up until a few moments ago, noone was able to crack the code. Congratulations Olivia, I would like you to tell everyone how you cracked the code.' Grandmother Rosalind says.
Arianna stands up with all eyes on her.
' Well, it started with the door. It was different from any other door in the house. The white door is common but a door with a rose imprint is not. Then I saw the food laid out on the table. To be honest I ate the food because of hunger not because of the game. I justified my actions by quoting number 9 of Havana ethics: Never waste resources. I ate the food and I noticed that one particular plate wasn't plain white like all the cutleries here in the Graceland, it had a rose imprint just like the door. I didn't think anything of it till I had to leave the room.
I had said, " This room without clues was like my dress without the green rose attachment or the door without the green rose imprint or the plate without the green rose imprint."
Then it hit me. Our family's emblem is the green rose so the clues should be associated with the emblem. I took the plate and at the back was......' Arianna explains.
A few moments later,
'... and that was how I cracked the code.' She says.
Oliver starts clapping and the others join him.
' Come on then. Let the feast begin.' Grandmother Rosalind says. Everyone sits at the dining.
' Olivia sit next to me.' Grandmother Rosalind says.
Arianna sits.
Ava glares at Arianna with envy. Nobody had sat down on the seat close to grandmother ever since grandfather died.
Stephen was silently fuming, he would settle the score with this brat. Soon.
Grandmother Rosalind stared at Arianna.
She had finally decided on the heir to the Havana Empire. She has chosen the next matriarch of the family.