In The Dark

Chapte 18

When I wake up I'm surrounded by other emaciated looking girls and I throw up. He comes up behind me playing with my hair.

"You didn't think it would just be us did you my dear? Although you are my favorite player yet a game is no fun with just two players."

"What kind of game is this?"

"Well since you've been so good at it I'll tell you, it's a testing game. You see the first test was to see how well you could survive the dark I mean I also starved you because the ones who survived before because I fed them... They weren't as worthy as you." I'm disgusted by his words, knowing many girls must have died for his pleasure. "Once you survived that Mason made you weak, I thought you wouldn't pass the next test, so I gave you incentive."

My eyes widen thinking of the folder. He looks at me with wide beaming eyes.

"What is the prize?"

"Why, my love, of course! I've always wanted a family but I needed to find a worthy partner. As soon as I saw you I knew it would be you," he says playing with my hair. It disgusted me to have him turning something that Mason would use to comfort me into something I hate. "But I had to be fair to the other girls and make you play the game. If you lose I will be sad but you can still be my mistress. I couldn't imagine giving such a delightful creature as you up."

"What about freedom shouldn't I be allowed to choose my prize?!" I yell, disgusted and frightened tears rolling down my face. He softly wipes them away.

"You will come to love me my dear, and see me as your freedom." I slump to the ground sobbing and he walks away.

Most of the girls here have a dead look in their eyes while a few look determined. I wanted to make friends hoping together we could overpower him but the ones who would be able to help are the determined girls and they're constantly glaring at me. They must assume the prize is freedom like I did.

His voice booms loudly out of the speakers surrounding us.

"Welcome ladies to the game of hearts, well my heart really." I roll my eyes as he chuckles. "You have been selected because of tests you passed, but this game will be harder than those! Right now is the test of strength, a gladiator show of sorts. You will fight each other until five are left standing. There are no rules ladies, show me you want to win more than the rest!"

With that a buzzer goes off and everyone runs at each other. I stay back partially in shock and also unwilling to hurt any of these innocent girls for his sick pleasure. I feel a tug on my hair and look to see a pitifully thin girl who looks like four years younger than me. She's been trying to land a blow on me but all I had to do was grab her fists. She gives up on me and runs back into the fray getting knocked out immediately. I wince as I watch this. More come at me but I don't fight back eventually they all stop fighting each other and come for me. There were 25 women I estimated to begin with. Now there are 15 laying on the floor, dead or unconscious I'm not sure, and 10 surrounding me. Deciding I would rather die than fight for him, I let them hit me. Eventually I'm thrown to the floor and one is on top of me laying into me. Instinctively I cover my face with my arms but that is the only defense I put up. Soon a buzzer is sounded and he comes in angrily throwing the girls off me. He gently picks me up, careful of any wounds I might have, and I pass out as we walk out the door.

When I wake up I am in a really comfortable bed. I sit up groaning in pain a little and see him pacing. He stops and looks at me a small frown playing on his lips.

"You're cheating, that's not fair," he says pouting. "And yet you still showed you were stronger than them!"

"I will not hurt anyone for you." When I say this he starts pacing again muttering to himself. Suddenly he stops and looks delighted.

"You won't have to my dear! The next game is a mind game and it is okay that we have ten plus you instead of five. The more the merrier! See I knew you were perfect you knew just how to make my game even better! Just for that I will reward you with food." I start shaking my head knowing I couldn't eat while they starve.

"If you really want to reward me stop starving them," I say but continue knowing I would have to play into his psychosis. "It's not a fair game if they're already on the brink of death right."

He taps his chin thoughtfully. "You are right! Hmm I will feed them!" He grins and kisses me on the lips before skipping out. I wipe at my lips angrily unable to get rid of the disgust that fills me.

Walking around I realize this must be his room. It has a bookshelf and was decorated with a modern touch. The color palate used was gold and white, shocking me with how such bright colors could surround such a dark twisted man. Much to my chagrin the door is, of course, locked. I refuse to sleep in a bed that he has been in so I curl up on the floor crying for the home I found in Mason.