The second beast's corpse convulsed again. The jagged wound Argon had carved into it pulsed, flesh tearing wider, bone splintering into wet shards. Then—something inside shifted.
A bulge pressed outward from the beast's chest, swelling like a grotesque balloon. The skin stretched to tearing, veins snapping one by one until the bulge split open, spraying a fountain of black blood across the floor.
From inside, something larger, darker, and more abominable forced its way out.
Argon's stomach turned. "No… f*ck no…"
The third horror crawled free—its body elongated, skeletal yet somehow muscular, with a second ribcage splitting open along its spine, revealing a gaping, tooth-lined maw that screamed louder than anything Argon had ever heard. Its claws were jagged blades, each one dripping with viscous ichor. Its face—or what could pass for one—was a mask of twitching eyes and grinding teeth.
The stench was unbearable. Sulfur. Rot. A thousand corpses crammed into one breath.
Argon gagged. He was already weak from blood loss, but the sight and smell nearly dropped him to his knees. His shoulder throbbed, his ribs screamed, and his vision blurred at the edges. He knew he was running on fumes—any second now, his body would betray him.
The Predator's Gaze
The creature froze, its multiple eyes snapping toward him. Its body bent in a way no living thing should, joints cracking as it hunched forward. Every bone in Argon's body screamed run.
But his legs? His legs trembled and refused to move.
The beast lunged.
Argon dove sideways, but his body was sluggish, and pain stole the speed from his limbs. The claw sliced across his back, tearing deep into muscle. He hit the floor with a wet smack, blood spraying from his wound.
He coughed violently, blood bubbling in his throat. His hacksaw clattered out of reach.
"Fck… fck… not like this…"
Vanessa's Wicked Seduction
The beast roared, shaking the room. But instead of leaping for the kill, its glowing eyes flickered toward Selene, as if sensing the forbidden power crackling at her fingertips.
Vanessa took that moment to kneel beside Argon. Her perfume mixed obscenely with the stench of gore. Her hand pressed against his bloodied chest, not to heal—but to tease.
"Mmm," she purred, dragging her fingers down his sternum, smearing his blood. "Look at you, darling. Broken, breathless… so close to death. You're beautiful like this."
Argon groaned, trying to push her hand off. "Are you—ngh—insane?!"
She leaned closer, lips brushing his ear. "Completely. And I want to see how long you can last… before you break."
Her voice was intoxicating. In the middle of blood and death, her teasing stirred something dangerous inside him—a distraction he couldn't afford. His body trembled, torn between survival instincts and her wicked temptation.
Vanessa's laugh was low, sultry, cruel. "Don't die, Argon. If you do, I'll have to play with your corpse instead."
His heart lurched. "You're f*cking twisted."
"And you love it."
Selene's Strain
"Enough!" Selene's voice cracked like ice breaking.
Her hands shook violently, shadows writhing around her fingers. The forbidden power surged, lashing out in jagged tendrils that slammed into the beast's ribs. The monster shrieked, staggering backward as its flesh sizzled under the black energy.
But Selene was faltering. Her breathing ragged, her skin pale as death, sweat slicking her brow. The shadows weren't just eating the beast—they were devouring her too.
"Selene!" Argon tried to rise, but pain stabbed through his chest, forcing him back down.
She met his eyes, her own filled with something between fury and desperation. "Don't… look at me. Just survive."
The shadows exploded outward, slamming the beast into the far wall. Black ichor sprayed, sizzling holes into the wood.
Argon's Last Stand
The reprieve was short. The beast surged forward, faster than before. Its claws slashed, cutting through Selene's shadows like brittle threads.
Argon forced himself upright, every muscle screaming. His hacksaw lay a few feet away, gleaming wetly under the dim light. He crawled for it, fingers slipping on his own blood.
The beast roared, shaking the walls. Argon's ears rang, blood dripping from them. He snatched the hacksaw, spinning around just as the beast lunged again.
He swung.
The blade connected, slicing deep into the creature's arm. Black blood sprayed in torrents, coating his face, his chest, soaking into every wound. The monster shrieked, jerking back violently.
But Argon's strength was gone. His knees buckled. His lungs seized. His vision swam with black spots.
"I… can't…"
Vanessa's Whisper
A hand steadied him. Vanessa's.
Her lips hovered dangerously close to his, her voice low, wicked. "Yes, you can. You'll fight. You'll bleed. And if you die—" she smiled, sharp and cruel—"I'll make sure it's the sweetest death imaginable."
Argon's pulse spiked despite himself. Rage and adrenaline surged.
He shoved himself upright, gripping the hacksaw tighter.
Cliffhanger: Catastrophic Evolution
The beast convulsed suddenly, its body splitting down the middle. With a sound like wet canvas tearing, its ribcage tore open wider—revealing dozens of smaller, writhing shapes inside.
Argon froze. "Oh… you've got to be kidding me."
One by one, the smaller horrors began clawing their way out—half-formed abominations with twitching limbs and gnashing teeth, shrieking in unison.
The room shook. Selene staggered, her shadows flickering. Vanessa laughed softly, eyes glittering.
"Darling," she whispered, licking blood from her finger, "it seems the game… just leveled up."
Argon's breath caught in his throat. His blood-soaked hand tightened on the hacksaw. He knew one thing for certain: if these creatures fully emerged, he wouldn't survive the night.
And yet, the dares had only just begun.
Next Chapter Preview
The horrors multiply. Selene's forbidden power reaches its breaking point, Vanessa's twisted games escalate, and Argon must face an impossible choice in the blood-soaked room. Death is no longer the greatest danger—the Fatal Game itself is evolving.