Hello! Finally got around to updating again! Many of you (one, but I know many were thinking it) have asked if we will be seeing anyone other than Shawn and Juliet. Answer to that question: yes we most certainly will. I have to have them be found at some point! lol Note: I will not be revealing that at this time. They will most likely appear in the next chapter. :)

"Uh, are you going to fill us in now?" Shawn asked. "Because this is very confusing. I think Jules here agrees with me."
"There are going to be several challenges. Each challenging you mentally or physically. If you loose you get a handicap, making the next challenge more difficult for you. Looks like Shawn already has a handicap." the Host explained. "Loose five challenges and you don't get out of here alive. Like I'm going to let that happen anyway."
"This sounds like a really..." Shawn paused trying to find the right word to explain it, "I don't know, disturbing? Nah, that doesn't fit. How about spine-chilling? Hair-raising?"
"Shut up." The Host said calmly and pushed them both forward. They didn't have anything available to brace their fall and they landed hard on the floor. Shawn cried out in agony as he landed on his arm. If it wasn't broken before, it was now.
"Hey!" Juliet shouted.
"Oh, what? You going to do something about it?" The Host laughed again, something about this was funny to him. That was the worst part about psychopaths: their laughs.
Juliet's gaze fell on Shawn, whose eyes were already locked on hers.
"Okay, enough. Get up." he pulled Shawn up quickly, ignoring the whimper that just barely escaped his lips.
It pained Juliet more than anything to see Shawn like that, and if her senses were correct, this was going to get a lot worse.
He left the two standing there for just a moment to close and lock the door, while the pair stared at each other.
The Host turned back to face them and smiled with an evil glare in his eyes.
"The first challenge will be a physical one. You both fight crime, you are both well built. This will put your strength to the test. You may think this is silly, but it will be tough. One thousand jumps with a jump rope."
Shawn laughed, "Are you serious, man? Guys don't do jump ropes! That's for like, teen girls and whatnot."
"I'm quite serious. And you won't be laughing when you fail this challenge." he went to a wall and pulled off some, what could now be called, wallpaper, revealing two counters and a drawer. "This is your counter, it will keep track of your progress. And," he pulled open the drawer and pulled out the ropes, "Here are your ropes."
He then proceeded to uncuff them both and give them the ropes, "Where you are standing, there are sensors, when you jump, it will add a number to the count. To fail this challenge, you either don't make the required time, or you just, well quit."
"Time? There's time?" Juliet questioned.
"Oh I forgot to mention that? You must do the 1,000 in 7 minutes." he went back to the wall and peeled off more paper, revealing a timer set at 7 minutes. He pressed a button and it started counting down, "Starting now."
Shawn and Juliet exchanged quick glances, but didn't hesitate to start jumping. For a moment, Juliet was grateful she had chosen not to wear heels that day, or night. What time was it?
Sure it sounded like an easy task, but boy was it not.
Shawn had the most trouble, his broken arm not helping the situation.
As each second ticked by, each jump adding to their total, the more tired they got. Sweat was pouring off both of them, Shawn's hair was completely drenched.
The challenge proved it's toughness, but nevertheless, it was no match for the strength each person had.
Juliet was the first to pass one thousand, her legs nearly giving out when she stopped. Shawn wasn't that far behind her, with just a few seconds to spare as he went over the one thousand mark.
When it ended, with the little strength she had left, Juliet ran to Shawn, who had collapsed from exhaustion. He was not used to 'exercising' that much.
He was breathing heavily, clutching his broken arm as sweat dripped from his chin.
"Shawn, calm... down." She said as she knelt down next to him. She, too was breathing heavily but she wasn't going to let that stop her.
"Well, looks like you passed the first challenge. The next one won't be so easy, I'll make sure of that. I want to have my fun." The Host said from his place in the corner of the room.
But Juliet didn't pay any attention to him, she put her hand on Shawn's forehead, moving the hair that now lay flat against it. "We're going to get out of here." she whispered. "I promise."
"Jules," he whispered, still breathing hard as he tried to speak, "No one knows where we are. No one knows we're missing. No one knows we are in danger. I-"
"I hardly think of this as danger, Shawn. Think of it as, what I told you before, a game." The Host was now in front of them, looking down on them.
"A sick game with a sick host!" Juliet shot up with anger, "What do you want with us?!"
"Oh, let's see... I want to see how far you will go. How far it will take to tear you into pieces. Right. Before. Your loved one." he said through gritted teeth.
Juliet took a cautious step back, her foot brushing against Shawn's leg briefly. She suddenly felt very weak, she didn't know if it was from the 'challenge' or from The Host's words, maybe both, but she would have fallen if Shawn wasn't there instantly to catch her.
As Shawn held her he whispered in her ear, "We will get out of here alive, I promise."

I know, everybody says this... Thank you all so so much for reviewing and everything. It means SO much to me! And like I said before, all suggestions on challenges are also appreciated. lol ^_^ Speaking of challenges, what did you think of mine? I'm totally serious when I say it was the most challenging I could think up at the time I wrote it.