It was unbearably hot. I was sweating everywhere. I’d never felt that before. It told me something was very, very wrong before I even opened my eyes.
I started to stir and I heard voices arguing. It echoed in the room with metal walls. I saw something glowing orange running along each one. It ran around the door, too.
The door was hinged on the bottom. I counted seven other people. Only one was huddled in the corner, trying not to cry.
“SHUT UP!” I shouted. I took the short silence to ask, “Is that a heating element running along the walls?”
The floor was hot to the touch, and I stood up to avoid getting burned even more.
A crackling noise sounded in the room.
“The last one standing goes free.”
All of us just looked at each other. I checked the walls, and the floor. There were no weapons. No tools. Was this a test of endurance? Or were we meant to fight to the death?
“Stand up.” I said to the one in the corner. She stared at me with wide eyes, but obeyed me.
“Is that the first time we’ve heard the voice?”
“Yes.” Said a stocky man with thick arms. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have just woken up.”
“Shut up, Sherman.” Said a tall brunette woman.
“It’s pretty obvious, we’re in an oven.” I pointed to the door.
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no!” The one from the corner repeated, each “no” growing higher in pitch.
Time passed, and we all kept looking at each other. I kept a close eye on Sherman. Well, I kept a close eye on all of them. Thankfully, no one said a word as the oven temperature climbed higher and higher.
One by one, they all sat down. The heat made everything hazy, and I was about to join them. But then the door creaked open, banging on its hinges.
“Get out!” I shouted. Only five people were able to follow me.
“You bent the rules.” The voice on the speaker came back. “Now you pay the price.”