Escape by Mickael Chatelain

Present a two-foot ribbon for your audience to inspect.

Encourage them to tug on it, confirming its ordinary nature.

Next, display a deck of cards, each with a hole in the upper left corner—52 cards, 52 holes.

Inform your spectators that they will soon thread the ribbon through the cards and tie a knot, completely securing the deck.

Invite a spectator to select a card and reveal it to the group.

After shuffling, the chosen card is returned to the deck.

As stated earlier, the spectator now threads the ribbon through the deck and ties a secure knot—perhaps even a double knot for added assurance.

It becomes impossible to alter the order of the cards, a fact your audience will readily accept.

Display the deck from all angles, holding it face up for them to see.

Is the deck still intact? Is the knot firmly tied? Is the chosen card still within the deck?

As you pose these questions, swiftly pass your hand over the deck, and astonishingly, the spectator’s card appears as the top card!

Your audience can immediately examine the entire setup!

How is this possible?

How does the selected card escape from the center to emerge on top while the ribbon remains tied?

A thorough inspection reveals nothing—the mystery only deepens.

Now, imagine this…

Once the spectator has completed their examination, you pass your hand over their card once more.

And once again, the impossible occurs.

The spectator’s card is now free! Yes, it is the only card that has escaped the knotted ribbon.

Hand the card over for inspection. There’s nothing unusual—its hole remains intact.

A passage of solid through solid—an unfathomable mystery!

No manipulation required.

A completely impossible appearance and escape.