No Sleep After Dark

Story 9: Paid for Hell

They paid me $5,000 to go through hell. It sounded like a joke—an online ad for "extreme psychological experiment." Needing money, I applied.

The lab was in an old warehouse. Dr. Hale, slick hair, explained: "Virtual reality simulation of hell. For research on fear. One hour, $5,000."

I signed waivers, strapped in. The machine hummed, and reality faded.

I woke in fire. Skin blistering, screams around. Demons tore flesh. I ran, but endless.

Time stretched. Hour? Felt days.

Broke free, woke in lab. But something wrong. Dr. Hale smiled: "You did well."

Home, nightmares. Then, burns appeared on skin.

The sim wasn't virtual. It was a portal. They send people to harvest fear.

Now, demons follow. The $5,000 was blood money.

I'm trapped in loops of hell.

The ad was on dark web. Interview: they tested fear tolerance.

In sim, details: brimstone smell, tortured souls begging.

I saw loved ones suffering.

Woke, but lab empty. Money wired.

Home, mirrors show demons behind me.

Called Dr. Hale—number disconnected.

Found online: others disappeared after.

It's real hell. They sacrifice for power.

Demons whisper: "Come back."

I can't sleep. The machine calls.

Don't take easy money. It costs your soul.