With a hard swallow she silently entered the conference room and began quietly handing out the beverages. Black for Jim, artificial sweetener for Sue, tea for Deborah, by now she could do it blindfolded. Her expertise allowed her to pay attention to the current topic of discussion.

“Forget it!” Sue tossed out casually, “I don’t care if he has a new act. I’m not wasting my time sitting through another ‘Max the Magician’ act. I’ve sat through three of his shows already and each one was worse than the last! I keep writing bad reviews but the big dummy won’t come to his senses. And what the heck is with this ‘private showing’ business he’s proposing. He ought to be used to embarrassing himself in public by now, he’s been doing it for ten years!” Mr. Allen, the editor-in-chief, responded with a heavy sigh and a glance around the room to see if anyone else was interested in the assignment. The prospect of watching this Max fellow seemed significantly less interesting to them than their respective hot beverages. The moment was screaming for some one to step forward.

“I’ll do the review of his new act.” Kerri exclaimed excitedly, “I love a magic act.” The rest of the staff laughed. “Then you’ll hate Max’s act.” Sue chuckled, “Still, if you want the job, it’s yours.” Kerri glanced up at Mr. Allen, who simply nodded his head. Clenching her teeth to suppress a squeal of excitement, she hurried off.

That afternoon saw Kerri standing outside the back door of Newman’s Theater. Kerri glanced down at the printed invitation in her hand and thought to herself. This Max fellow had gone through a lot of trouble to promote his new act. It would have been unforgivably rude for the paper to just ignore it. Besides, how bad could he be if he’s been employed for ten years?

The door opened and a thing, haggard looking man in a cheap theatrical wizard’s costume and pointed hat opened the door. “Yes?” he intoned, a bit suspiciously.

“Hi, I’m Kerri Taylor,” she replied, “I’m from ‘The Critic’s Box.’ I’m here to do the interview.” The magician’s features hardened. “Oh,” he muttered, “I thought that Sue would be coming. She usually reviews my act, and the invitation was sent to her.”

Kerri had to think fact to save her big break “Yes, well, Sue couldn’t make it, but she told me a lot about your work, and I’m just dying to see it.” This last comment made the magician laugh. He ushered Kerri in and closed the door behind her. For a second, she swore she heard it lock, but then decided it was just her imagination. “So I understand you’ve been working here for ten years Mister, uh, Mister…”

“Newman.” Max the magician answered. Kerri blinked in surprise, which he took as a cue to continue. “Yes, I’m the younger brother of Bart Newman, the man who owns this theater. Still, you mustn’t assume that I only kept my job because of my familial relations.”

“Oh I didn’t.” Kerri lied. “Now then, I understand that you have a new act to show me.” The magician grinned in response. “Yes,” He murmured. “Just step out here onto the stage and I’ll show you.”

“Shouldn’t I be in the audience?” Kerri asked. The magician shook his head. “Why don’t you come over here, where the action is, so to speak.”

Kerri followed him out onto the stage. In the center there was an old army cot and a coil of silken rope. Kerri’s journalist training kicked in immediately and she began putting the clues together. “Let me guess, your new act involves escape artistry.”

“”What a clever girl you are.” Max answered. “Yes, you are quite right. For my new finale I escape from a situation that is almost certain to bring about a most agonizing death. Here, let me show you.” The magician led her over to the cot and invited her to lie down. Kerri did, and after a bit of searching confessed that she found nothing unusual about it.

“Of course not.” Max replied with a smirk, “It’s just an ordinary cot. The trick is in the ropes. Let me show you.” The magician calmly picked up a length of rope and began twisting it around Kerri’s wrists.

“Uh, what are you doing?” Kerri asked with a nervous giggle. The magician simply smiled and continued his work. “Nothing to worry about,” He prattled cheerfully, “This rope has been treated with a special oil. Anyone could work their way out of them in a mere ten minutes.” Kerri had to admit, they did feel kind of slippery. This was a relief, as the magician had finished binding her wrists to the cot and was working on her wrists.

“Hey, I thought this was your act, not mine.” Kerri tried to make her voice sound light and cheery, despite her mounting fear. The magician looked up from the knot he had fastened around her ankles, a cold, cruel look having appeared on his face. “Perhaps it’s time you critics learned just how difficult it is to do the things I do.” He snarled. Kerri’s nervousness suddenly made the leap to honest fear. She tested the ropes on her wrists, but they held fast.”

“Mr. Newman" Kerri said trying to ignore her pounding heart, “Perhaps you should…mmphh!” A piece of tape which the magician had drawn from his sleeve quickly ended the discussion. Convinced that his prisoner was now secured and silenced, the magician’s cold expression gave way to malicious glee. “As I said before, I expected Sue to interview me. After all, it was her mean-spirited reviews that led my own brother to fire me. But then, all of you who work at that awful rag are to blame. At least one of you will receive your just rewards!” Kerri’s eyes grew wide as the magician turned and strode off the stage. He called over his shoulder, “Oh, and I told you the truth about the ropes. They have been treated, and any reasonably fit adult could escape from them in ten minutes.” Kerri heard the sound of a level being thrown. Then a, icy, whirring noise echoed in the empty theater. “Unfortunately,” He sneered, “You have only five.”

“Mmmmppphhhh!” Kerri pleaded, but her only response was the sound of the back door slamming. She turned her heard and looked up, to see a huge blade lowering itself swinging menacingly towards her. Kerri’s fear gave way to absolute terror. She pulled at the ropes, but they held tight. She screamed through her gag, but the only response was her own echo. She was alone, helpless, and less than five minutes from being cut in half!

Kerri took a deep breath. She had to get control of herself. Max had said the ropes were treated for escape artists. That was her one chance. Now, how do they do it? Kerri closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see the descending blade and did her best to focus her mind on her task. Pulling at the ropes wasn’t helping but perhaps if she twisted instead. She tried it, left, right, left, right, her wrists began sweating from the friction. Would that help? She gave a slight tug, and her wrist came half way through, but only halfway.

The blade sounded very close now. The urge to panic was almost irresistible…almost. “I’m making progress!” Kerri told herself. “I just have to focus, left, right, left, right. Yes, it’s loosening!” Kerri pulled her right wrist again. It came loose! Her eyes snapped open with excitement, to reveal the blade only a few inches from her torso. Working feverishly she untied her left wrist. Now with both wrists free she waited until the swinging blade was farthest from her. Then, with a desperate twist, she swung her body away form the blade, causing the cot to flip over on top of her. It wasn’t a comfortable position, but it bought her the time she needed to untie her legs and free herself completely.

Kerri staggered off the stage, peeling the tape from her mouth as the blade bit into the hard wood of the stage. With a deep breath she began composing her story; “Reporter narrowly escape deathtrap.” If that didn’t make the headlines, nothing would. Yes, she had truly gone for her last cup of coffee.

Story by David

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