The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings - Lot 044 : I Tested A New Online Escape Game On The Dark Web

Episode Date: May 30, 2024

Not exactly the “side hustle” you were looking for…I Tested A New Online Escape Game On The Dark WebWritten by S.G. WoodhouseNarrated by Trevor ShandStarring Dee Quintero as Lhttps://www.reddit.com/r/SGWoodhouse/comments/19b9itp/i_tested_a_new_online_escape_game_on_the_dark_web/Featuring Stephen Knowles as The Antique DealerTheme music by The Newton BrothersAdditional music byCO.AG ([e-mail])Horror Theme by Vivek AbhishekSUBSCRIBE us on YOUTUBE: https://bit.ly/3qumnPHFollow on Facebook : https://bit.ly/33RWRtPFollow on Instagram : https://bit.ly/2ImU2JV Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oh, I know who this is. I've been waiting for you. Wouldn't you know it? Something else has been, too. Ha ha ha ha ha. Hey, you ever done one of those escape rooms? Solve a series of puzzles beat the clock? Maybe pose for a photo afterwards?

Yeah, well, personally, I can be bothered with them. From certain things, there just is no escape. You, though, why you strike me as the ambitious type. Curiosity mixed with resourcefulness and a knack for the unexpected. Here, this red iron key will unlock the door to an experience you won't soon forget. What do you say we go online for? I tested a new online escape game. the dark web. I wish I hadn't. Before we begin, I want to point out some of the

customers whose names have been etched in brass on this beautiful plaque I had made above the front desk. These are some of the members of the inner circle of the Antiquarium. We go by the Obsidian Covenant. Recent initiates include Consuelo Bab, Amado Barbosa, Martha Avalho, Becca White, Jessica Hoffman, Grant Ziegler, Jennifer Warren, Greg, AMC Plus, and Natalie D. Eckman. We are ever appreciative of your devotion to The Order. Go to The Obsidiancovenant.com to receive the Saccharacterial. now. Where were we? Oh yes. Welcome to the antiquarium of sinister happenings and odd goings on. I tested a new online escape game on the dark web. You know those websites on the internet that offer you to answer questions in exchange for a few cents most of the time? If you answered yes, it's probably because

like me, you've found yourself in such a bind that you've had to do this kind of thing to finish the month. Well, up until now, I've been taking these quizzes from time to time in the afternoon. Often after screwing up yet another job interview on Zoom. When my roommate left and my rent doubled, well, things got worse. After two months of unpaid rent and letters from debt collectors arriving every week, I started to pay. I ended up using a VPN to navigate safety. on the dark web in search of easy money. That's how, one evening, I came across an ad that intrigued me.

Test our new online escape game, Master of the Key. $3,000 guaranteed for each participant. Test duration? About 30 minutes. The ad had been posted just 10 minutes ago, so I had a good chance of being among the first to see it. There was nothing else written on the ad, apart from a link to click on to sign up. I moved the arrow on my laptop, then hesitated.

It just seemed too good to be true. But Jake, my old roommate who talked to me and introduced me to the dark web when he still lived here, told me that this kind of ad was actually quite common. Generally speaking, the amount of the payment was multiplied by 10 compared to what one could expect in a legal context. So three grand seemed generous, but not excessive. Of course, what worried me most was what I was going to be. going to be asked to do.

These ads, after all, paid well for a good reason. They involved illegal or unethical activities most of the time. Without realizing it, I'd put my feet on the floor and the computer on the small table in front of me. Right next to the computer, I could see dunning letters for unpaid bills. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and finally told myself that after all, this was just an online test and I could always stop the experiment by turning off my computer. So, instantly, a new window opened and I found myself in a chat room.

A few seconds later, a message appeared. Good evening. Thank you for registering for our brand new escape game master of the key. I'm L. Your game master. Your participation will be validated once the first trial has started. Are you ready to start? It was so sudden that I felt a shot of adrenaline cursing through my body.

Good evening. Is it possible to do the test later? I hadn't planned for it to start right away, so that I could at least have time to prepare myself mentally. The answer was almost immediate. If you don't take the test now, another participant will take your place. And as the number of places is limited, you'll certainly lose the right to participate. And with it, the sum provided in exchange. i.e. $3,000. Again, I took a deep breath.

Okay, I accept to participate right now. I'll let you explain what the game is all about. Congratulations. Your participation has been validated. The game is simple. You have to get out of your apartment in less than five minutes from the start of the game, which will be given to you later. I raised my eyebrows.

Was this a joke? To begin the game, please retrieve the red key, which is located in the room you are currently in. I rested my back against the sofa and looked around. There was nothing strange. My living room dimly lit by two lamps was still the same and I couldn't see anything different. And how could it be different anyway? I'd only just registered. So there was no way someone could have had time to find my address and break in to drop off a key.

Are you sure I haven't missed a step? I've never been given a red. The key is in the room. the room, you just have to look around a bit. That's part of the game. Once you found it, take a photo of it and send it to this chat to prove you've passed the first trial. The person in the chat room seemed so sure of themselves that, stupid as it may sound, I got up and started looking around for a red key. I thought maybe this was an experiment to see if I could find the right objects and that any red key would do. I looked in all the drawers for an old key and found one,

but not red, of course. And just as I was about to go out and ask my neighbors if they had a can of red paint somewhere, I noticed a strange reflection. Near the ceiling, right next to the light bulb. It was a fucking red key, suspended by a small. I stared at my computer screen in amazement. The chat window was still there.

With no new message, I untied the cord and retrieved the key after climbing onto a chair. There in my hand, was a medium-sized, red, it was old, and seemed to exude an unusual coldness on the palm. I don't know if it was my sudden discomfort or the anxiety I was feeling, but I felt as if I could feel it tingling my skin. Brains sensation ran through my body.

I felt as if I'd lost the sense of security of being at home, as if something had suddenly changed the moment I touched that key. I took a picture with my cell phone and sent it to my computer. so I can transfer it and send it to the chat. Congratulations. You've passed the first trial. The second trial is the easiest. Take the key and use it on the lock of one of your doors.

Any door will do. But we'd advise you use it on the door furthest away from where you currently stand. I'd reach my limit. I don't know what was happening, but I felt like I'd stepped into a dangerous place from which I'd better get the fuck out as soon as possible. I'm sorry, but I'm going to... stop here. I don't know how you managed to get into my house without me noticing you put that

key there, but I've had my fill. Thank you and goodbye. I almost had time to see a reply appear as I closed my computer screen. I slumped onto my sofa as the pressure began to ease. I still didn't understand how they'd done it. And if they could do that, what would have been in store for me if I'd continued this game? It was getting late. And this experience had exhausted me more than I thought. I got up with difficulty and made my way to my bedroom. Then slowly, I grabbed my cell phone and used the flashlight to go see if my circuit breaker had just blown. Hadn't tripped. Everything was normal. So why had my lights gone out?

I headed for my front door to ask my upstairs neighbors if they still had electricity. I turned the knob and was about to step through when an icy wind hit me in the face. Back outside. Even the flashlight in my phone couldn't illuminate where the floor. Or walls of the corridor should have been. It was just... Nothing. Nothing but an immense.

Same as behind my front door. I sat up slowly and reopened my computer screen. Then I saw the message that had been sent to me just before I closed it. You can't stop the game now that it started, Daniel. I slowly swallowed and replied to the message. What's going on? Who the hell are you? How do you know my name?

How are you doing this? No answer. Please. Leave me. I just want to... want to go home. Writing these lines felt strange, but even though I was still in my apartment, I was definitely

not home anymore. Finish the game, and you'll be free to go. I looked around me. The darkness was oppressive, barely kept at bay by the light of the computer screen in my phone's flashlight, and I had the feeling that at any moment something could come out

of it and attack me, or worse, drag me with it into the dark. Okay, tell me what to do. You know what to do. Use the red key. One turn will do. So sorry, pardon the interruption.

Looks like someone is having a little trouble and may need to use one of their hints. Which would be great in theory. But the front desk staff is a little tied up right now. In fact, I really should go check on them. I'll tell you what. You keep trying to solve this thing and I'll be... right back. The message.

The head DJ from a huge nationwide radio station and I just wanted to say thank you for that old vinyl record I purchased from your shop. It was about an hour ago. You know, at first I was really skeptical. I mean, this thing was in some kind of packaging that felt like

human skin almost. When I took the vinyl out, my fingers started bleeding. But I, you know, on my lunch break, I threw it down on an old record player we have and everybody gave it a listen and it sounds amazing. I don't know what the song's called. It's written in some old handwritten language I've never heard of, but everybody seems to love it. I think it's going to be a huge hit.

Gary from McCowning, ripped his eyeballs out, Linda from HR's going around, setting things on fire. Vincent, our director, is sitting in a corner, rocking back and forth, and Vanessa from Distribution as drawing a pentagram as I speak about this sacrifice, our head producer. So, Beauty. It's a hit. I'm going to go ahead and debut the song in a few minutes, just at time for rush hour. Thank you, At Queryam. Like I said, this thing is going to go viral. Ha ha. Still working on it, huh? Let's see if we can hide that IP address of yours and get you back online. Shall we? Finish the game, and you'll be free to go.

I looked around me. The darkness was oppressive, barely kept at bay by the light of the computer screen in my phone's flashlight, and I had the feeling that at any moment something could come out of it and attack me. Or worse, drag me with it into the dark. Okay. Tell me what to do. You know what to do. Use the red key.

One turn will do. I picked up the red key that had been left on the table next to the computer. The cold sensation. had disappeared. I stood up and considered my options. They'd said any door would do, but they'd recommended the one furthest from where I was standing. I figured if I was going to try a door, I might as well try the front door and see if anything changed. Lully made my way down the corridor. The silence was disturbed by nothing but the light sound of my footsteps. Once I reached the door, I picked up the red key with trembling hands. I inserted it into the lock, and it went

in without a hitch. I slowly withdrew it. It opened the door again, praying this time to see the comforting yellow light in my building's corridor. I closed the door and returned to the computer. I did it. I turned the key in the front door lock, but nothing happened. I waited feverishly for an answer, biting my nails and looking around anxiously. Congratulations. You can now try out the third and last trial of our escape game. We hope you have strong nerves because you're going to Heart missed a beep. A timer appeared on the screen. Five minutes.

You have five minutes to find the black key and escape unharmed. Be careful. If the timer reaches zero and you haven't got out, you'll be stuck here. Good luck. Just as the last message appeared on the screen, I heard the sound in my front door creaking open. Then slow, dragging footsteps echoed down the corridor to where I was. standing. Another sound reached me. Something sounds like it was trying to

fucking swallow, but it can't. What the fuck is that? Breathless, I stood up without making a sound. I began to look around hurriedly, making as little noise as possible. It said there was a black key here, so there had to be a key, just like last time.

The footsteps drew closer as I used the last few seconds I had left to use the light of my phone before hiding in the darkness. I couldn't find anything. There was fucking nothing. No black key. I was going to die here. or killed by this thing in the hallway or fucking worse. I was going to be stuck here forever with it. A message appeared in the chat window.

Tip, it navigates using only its sense of hearing. Just as I finished reading the message, was straight out of a nightmare. Corpsted that it started to decompose and then suddenly dried up. It stood, awkwardly, as if only part of its body was still functioning. Its arms were bent at an impossible angle and pressed against its back.

And above all, Its eyelids had been sewn shut to block its entire view. Dirty strips covered most of its body. Finally, its mouth was stuck wide, open. I stood there, motionless, and completely terrified. I slowly started to move to the other side, taking the opportunity to look at the time I had left. Two minutes.

Two minutes to search the rest of the room with that thing working around was suicide. Unable to control myself. A shutter ran through me in a sob. I escaped my mouth. Immediately the thing turned towards me. It was right in front of me, not even ten feet away. It dragged itself slowly toward me as tears rolled down my cheeks, and I bit my lips so nothing else would come out.

I saw it. Inside that monster's mouth was a black. I lowered myself. My breathing slowed. I looked at the timer. There was only one minute left. The key was standing vertically in the thing's mouth, which was precisely what was preventing it from swallowing.

I was going to have to put my hand inside its mouth. and pull it out without losing any fingers. I had no choice. I waited for it to approach again and slowly, precisely. I put my right hand up to its mouth. It was now or never. And in one swift moon, I plunged two fingers inside its mouth. In the instant I pushed the key outwards.

Its mouth closed. I screamed, pulling my two fingers out of his mouth again and again, fighting the unbearable pain. I gave a sharp tug and managed to pull them out. Not without losing the tip of my index finger in the process. Fuck! I ran to the black key that had bounced off the floor and lunged forward. Blood running down my hand.

The thing screamed and rage behind me. I had the key, but how could I use it? I didn't have time to think. I lunged for the front door in front of me. The door that was supposed to deliver me from this nightmare. I tried to push it in the first time with my hand bleeding. I could barely hold it without knocking it over. Fuck!

The thing kept dragging its feet and knocking over all the furniture and its path to insert the key while I could hear the thing taking the last few steps to reach me. The moment I turned the key, I could almost smell its breath on my neck. I opened the door and jump forward. My head was buzzing, my sense of balance completely fried. I thought I jumped into the void and now was lost forever. I opened my eyes, my head pointing downwards. A gray, stained carpet lay beneath my fingers.

I looked up to see that I was in the corridor of my apartment building. An old woman with her dog and groceries in her arms was behind me warily. There was apparently no trace of the thing left. I lived with my ex-roomate for a few days and eventually agreed to go back, at least to collect my things before moving out, but only if they came with me and the front door was left open the whole time.

I moved to a smaller apartment on the other side of town and soon felt the pressure to ease a bit. A few days ago, I received an email from an unknown recipient. Dear participant, as agreed below, you will find a code to redeem your $3,000 in Bitcoin as compensation for your participation. We hope your experience was satisfactory,

and that you will count yourself among our lucky customers when our game becomes available to all. I'm in my stomach. I even feel a shivering cold wind when I open. I'm afraid that the game isn't over. I'll find another red key. Thank you for your patronage. Hope you enjoyed your new relic as much as

I've enjoyed passing along its sorted history. It does come with our usual warning, however. Absolutely no refunds, no exchanges, and we won't be held liable for anything that may or may not occur while the object is in your possession. If you've got an artifact with mysterious properties, perhaps it's accompanied by a history of bizarre and disturbing circumstances.

Maybe you'd be interested in dropping it and its story by the shop to share with other customers. Please reach out to Antiquarium Shop at gmail.com. A member of our team will be in touch.

Till next time, we'll be waiting for you whenever you close your eyes. In the space between sleep and dream. business hours, of course, or by appointment, only for you, our best customer. The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings, Lot 044.

I tested a new online escape game on the dark web, written by S.G. Woodhouse, narrated by Trevor Shand, starring D. Quintero as L. featuring Stephen Knowles as the antique dealer. Engineering Production and Sound Design by Trevor Shand. Theme music by the Newton Brothers. Additional music by Coag and Vivek Abyshech. The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings is created and curated by Trevor and Lauren Shand. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at Antiquarium Pod. Call the Antiquarium at 646-481-717.