I'm sitting at my desk, and getting mentally ready to turn the page of the Book. This Book. THIS F***ING BOOK.
You must read it all aloud.
Finish within the allocated time.
If you make too many mistakes you have to start from the beginning of the current chapter.
I somehow got through the first few chapters, but not without a severe strain on my psyche. There was that chapter where each sentence was written in a different font. Then it was each word. Then every letter. Last page of the chapter was half in emoji. I didn't cry. There was that chapter where they made spelling mistakes. Intentionally. To screw with my rhythm. I had to pronounce the words as they were written. I didn't cry. There was that chapter where the sentences on each page were in a random order, with the key changing every time. First it was in alphabetical order for the first letter in that sentence. Next page it was reverse alphabetical. Next page it was reverse alphabetical for every second letter, then every letter remaining going forward, then... I better not think about that one. I didn't cry, but I felt I was close.
Now it's the chapter of the tongue twisters. It seemed like they assorted every possible one in the English language and put them in order of increasing difficulty. I'm done with three pages. I hold my breath and turn one over. A quick glance tells me they are the same ones as before, but something is wrong. It looks like the words have mistakes again, but there seems to be a pattern here. What am I missing? My heart sinks to my stomach as I finally notice the instruction: "Read in a Scottish accent". I look at my Jailer as he watches over me with kind eyes. I want to ask whether there might be something I misunderstand. There isn't. I just want to stall. As soon as I open my mouth, he notices, and with a smile says 'Ready? Go!', before starting the clock. 'No! Wait!'. I freeze. What I said already counts as a mistake. I've just tripped over my own legs at the start. My eyes dart to the top of the page. I still have a chance. I find the first one and try to catch up 'She sells seashells by the...'. 'Stop!' my Jailer exclaimed, 'Nice try, but you forgot the accent there, sport'. I grind my teeth. I got one more attempt. I try to stay positive. I can do this. Just have to channel my inner Connery. In the middle of that my Jailer jovially continues 'We got that? Great! Another go!'. He wasn't even asking. I want to scream, but I hold back. Instead I focus my attention on the page and try my best imitation of a Scottish accent while maintaining correct pronunciation. I got through the first one and half through the second, before my Jailer clapped his hands together with a loud 'STOP!'. The book slammed itself shut in front of me, and opened at the start of the chapter. Like many times before. Now I have to redo the first three pages of tongue twisters. I barely got through the third page this one time. It might take a few tries to do it again. For what purpose? To flub a few words at the fourth page for 10 seconds before starting over? Why am I even doing this?
I look at my Jailer for an escape. He only stares blankly with a smile. It's no use. I know I can walk away at any time, but I don't. This is my choice. Reluctantly I ask how many pages does the current chapter have. 'Six' he answers. My vision went dark. My mind reached for images of what could be worse than doing tongue twisters in Scottish. I feel sick. The voice of my Jailer brings me back from the darkness. 'Do you want to stop now?'. Two more pages worse than Scottish tongue twisters. A voice in my head screams "Say 'Yes!'". 'No' I finally menage, and as the word leaves my mouth I feel a single tear leaving the corner of my eye. I pretend it's not there, even as I know my Jailer surely noticed it. He could berate me, but he won't. Because I have just given him what he wanted. And in that moment his mask cracked, and for a split second I could see the beast behind it. The beast was just fed. It's craving was satiated, but that only gave it a greater hunger. 'Turn the page when you are ready, and we shall begin'. The polite smile is back, and so is my test.

I wake up drenched in sweat. I try to catch my breath as I look for my phone. Seems I slept through my alarm again. It's time to get up. I have a date with another boss in Furi today. As I contemplate that I start to wonder whether getting back to the cozy reality of my recent nightmare isn't a better option... If only Furi were as forgiving...