Who Will Escape?

The First To Finish The Sweets

As they walk down the hallway, Sarah clings to Bryan's hand like a life preserver, struggling to slow her heartbeat down to a manageable speed. She still doesn't understand why she was handed over to the mercy of the gingerbread woman, but it doesn't matter. She has to live. There's still so much she wants to do with her life, and she's not going to let this house kill her. Not now. Not ever. Bryan's pulse flickers between her fingers. She misses him already. "Just so you know," says Thomas as they finally approach the baking room "the gingerbread woman's servant...his name is Sampson. He's been with her for as long as I can remember.". He smiles "I think he might be able to help you.". Sampson. Bryan can remember the pain in his big brown eyes.

Bryan
I'm sorry. If it hadn't been for us, he'd probably still have his fingers. Come to think of it, maybe there's a way for him to make it up to him...once he survives this challenge, that is.

If he survives this challenge...
"Don't accept death."
Kiersten's words ring in Bryan's ears, and he uses them to block out the constant stream of terror from his brain. He's not going to die. He'll live. He'll see tomorrow. He can't afford to entertain the awful alternative.
They reenter the bakery.

Sarah
There are more sweets than before-cupcakes, chocolates, candies, cookies, donuts, and who knows what else.

At the center of it all sits Sampson, still nursing what's left of his hand.

He gives Bryan and Sarah a piece of paper. "Is this for us?" Bryan asks. Sampson nods. If this battle has anything to do with sweets, Bryan might just puke. He already overdid it on all those chocolates (and brains!) from earlier. He's pretty sure that his stomach can't handle any more sweets.