Tabula Rasa

To the naked mortal ear it seemed erratic, sporadic, almost. But not to me. In a fortuitous twist of fate, I was proficient in Morse code, and after several days of non-melodic taps, I trickled into the realisation that they weren’t random knocks and bumps, but snippets of communication. I’d gleaned from yesterday’s scrapes and raps the word ‘inside’, but to you I’d waved them off as the accidental pattings of the fumbling buffoons one room over. I could not draw your attention to my possible discovery. When today’s nonverbal delivery arrived, I tilted my head towards the wall, contorting my face in a way that felt blasé and casual. “Are you okay?” “Yes, meditating.” “Shouldn’t your eyes be closed, or something?” You were right. “Yes, you’re right.” I shut my eyes and was granted a universe of mental clarity. I followed the drums and pauses. ‘light’ Caution thrown to the wind, I ran to the corner of the room, unscrewed the light bulb and found it. I beat you. I was officially the 2020 Global Escape Room Champion, albeit with the illegal assistance of my aural accomplice. I screamed EUREKA as the doors parted to a blare of cheering.