CHAPTER FOUR
1175 Words
The lodge room was sparse—a bed, a chair, a window that looked out onto gray streets. I stood in the center, arms wrapped around myself, trying to process everything that had happened in the last hour.
Dead. I was dead. Murdered by the two people I’d trusted most in the world.
My heart broke as their words echoed through my mind again.
A sharp chime cut through the silence, making me jump.
A blue and pulsing light appeared before me, solidifying into a small crystalline chip that hovered at eye level.
“All participants, please proceed to the central plaza for team assignments. Your system interface will now be integrated.”
The chip shot forward before I could react, pressing against my temple. Heat flared, then vanished, and suddenly information flooded my mind. A display appeared in my vision—translucent, showing stats I didn’t understand and options I hadn’t asked for.
“What the—”
“Communication and tracking enabled. Please proceed to central plaza.”
I didn’t have much choice. The system kept chiming insistently until I left the room and followed the mental map it projected, joining the stream of people heading toward a massive open space I definitely hadn’t noticed earlier.
There were hundreds of us, maybe thousands of people. All dead and here for the demon king’s entertainment.
Senna appeared on a raised platform, her black dress rippling like smoke.
“Welcome, participants. You’ve been divided into teams of two. You are stuck with your partners until the end of the game and that is final. You will work together, win together, or fail together.” She smiled. “Your teammate’s name will now appear in your interface. Find them. Get acquainted, because your first challenge will begin shortly.”
Sounds interesting so far.
I pulled up the display and tapped my fingers patiently against my lap as I watched the screen load, then pop up a name.
And my stomach sank.
PARTNER: RHYDER.
No. Anyone but…
“Looks like fate has a sense of humor.”
I turned, and there he was. That same dangerous smile, those dark eyes that seemed to see too much. Rhyder leaned against a pillar like he’d been waiting, arms crossed, looking completely at ease while everyone else scrambled to find their partners.
I hated the way he looked at me, as if he would devour me completely when given the chance…and I hated the way my body reacted under his scrutinizing gaze.
Clearing my throat, I crossed my arms over my chest, attempting to hide or cover myself from his burning eyes, but that was futile.
“We are going to have so much fun together, partner,” he drawled.
“Fun? I am not here for fun. I am not looking for fun. Our goal is to complete the challenges and try to win this thing so I can go back home…not have fun.”
“Sure.” He pushed off the pillar, moving closer. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
Heat crept up my neck. Why did my body react to him like this? The way he moved, the sound of his voice—it sent butterflies through my stomach that I absolutely did not have time for. I’d just lost everything. My babies, my life, my trust in humanity. The last thing I needed was some arrogant stranger making me feel…
Making me feel anything.
“If that does not align with what you want, then I doubt we can be able to work together. Have fun all you want, sir, but please stay out of my way,” I snapped, then turned away. “I need to go.”
But before I could move away, his hand caught my elbow in a strong grip. “Wait.”
“Let me go.”
“In a second.” He released me but didn’t step back. “Look, I get this whole lonely girl thing you have going on. But like it or not, we are stuck together…and yes, like you said, the most important goal is to win this thing. But if we are going to be a good team, we will need to get to know each other better and get past this ice between us, don’t you think? So why not start by telling me your name, beautiful?”
“My name is Daisy,” I murmured, “but I can handle myself.”
“I’m sure you can.” His gaze dropped to my lips, then lower, and something in his expression made my breath catch. “But this isn’t about handling yourself, hot shot. We are a team, get it? It was made clear that we have to work together, so we have to learn to trust each other.”
“Trust.” The word tasted bitter. “I don’t trust anyone.”
“Smart.” He tilted his head, studying me. “I don’t trust easily either. But I do want to win, and I think you do too. So here’s the deal…you stop hating me and we become friends. That is how we can make a great team…by knowing and trusting each other on a good level. So…friends?”
I frowned at him. Friends? With the way he kept staring at me, how does he expect me to believe that was his full intention?
“Just friends, right? That’s it?”
Something flickered in his eyes—heat, hunger, things that made my pulse spike.
“I’m not going to lie to you, Daisy. I want you. I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you, and I can’t seem to stop thinking about what you’d look like underneath me.” His voice dropped lower. “But I won’t pressure you. Won’t push. When we f**k—and we will—it’ll be because you asked for it. Because you begged for it.”
My face burned. “You’re—that’s—”
“But first…let us win this thing.”
I opened my mouth to tell him exactly where he could shove his wants when light exploded across my vision.
The system interface blazed to life, text scrolling rapidly.
CONGRATULATIONS! You have been selected for Challenge One: THE ULTIMATE REVENGE
Mission Parameters:
- Duration: Two weeks
- Location: Earth (One month before point of death)
- Objective: Deliver revenge upon those responsible for your death
- Scoring: Based on drama, entertainment value, and creativity
- Reward: Points determine ranking. Top performers receive advantages in subsequent challenges
Warning: Failure to return within two weeks will result in immediate soul forfeiture
My heart hammered against my ribs.
I get to return back to Earth? Now?
And one month before my death?
“You’re smiling,” Rhyder said quietly.
I hadn’t realized. But yes, my lips had curved upward for the first time since waking in this nightmare realm.
This is taking such an interesting turn.
The system chimed again.
Transport initiating in 60 seconds. Prepare for dimensional shift.
- Writer
