Rage simmered in me as I sat with my jaw locked tight, glaring at the person I hated most in this galaxy as he came sauntering across the studio floor, smiling and waving to the audience as most of them booed him.

This motherfucker, I thought, having to grip the chair so I didn’t immediately bounce up and slam my fist into the bastard’s face on live TV.

Floss was dressed for the occasion, flaunting a sharply cut brown suit in a 1950s style, with a bright yellow bowtie that also had red spots on it. His wispy candyfloss hair was as wild as ever, slick with sugar. When he gave that wide, grotesque smile, his pointed teeth seemed to glow under the studio lights.

“There he is, ladies and gentlemen!” Azazel announced, seeming to enjoy every second of my extreme discomfort. “Herbie Floss—Infernum’s very own sugary serial killer. He might be sweet, but he’s certainly not soft, folks!” Azazel finished, grinning as Floss took his seat, the audience’s boos fading into a low murmur.

I could feel my fists clenching involuntarily, my knuckles white as I gripped the arms of the chair. Every muscle in my body screamed to launch myself at Floss, who was now sitting across from me. I just wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face once and for all. But I forced myself to stay put, reminding myself where I was. This wasn’t the place for a fight. Not yet.

Floss gave me a sideways glance, his grin widening as he caught my glare. He licked his lips theatrically, his tongue unnaturally long, and leaned in toward the camera. “Sweet as candy,” he said, his voice dripping with mock innocence. “But I do have a bit of a bite, don’t I, Kade?”

The audience laughed, and my rage flared hotter.

So this was Azazel’s plan all along, to spring Floss on me like some sugar-coated bear trap. My eyes flicked over to Zara, who was standing by the edge of the studio floor. Seeing the rage in my eyes, she quickly looked away before slinking back into the shadows where I couldn’t see her.

Bitch. Did she know about this?

Something told me that even if she did, there was nothing she could’ve done about it. This was Azazel’s show, and everything was down to him and the executive fucks who ran this TV shitshow.

“I must say, Azazel, I’m very grateful to be here,” Floss said, projecting theatrically for the audience. “But I can’t stay long. I have other more pressing matters to attend to, if you know what I mean.” He laughed as he looked my way, practically baiting me to have a go at him.

I gripped the arms of my chair so hard I heard the wood crack. “Fuck you, Floss,” I muttered at him.

“Such foul language, folks!” He gaped at the audience in faux shock. “And here I was thinking I could come on here and have a civil conversation.”

“You kidnapped my friends, you fuck! I saw you torturing them!”

“Ah yes,” Azazel cut in. “For the benefit of the audience, Herbie here pulled a rather fiendish trick on Kade. Herbie can jump into Kade’s head whenever he wants, just so Kade can see through Herbie’s eyes as his friends are being tortured. Now how’s that for in-head entertainment, folks?” Azazel finished with a grin, clearly savoring the tension. The audience erupted into laughter, leaning into the sadistic spectacle they’d been conditioned to enjoy.

Floss’s grin stretched even wider, his jagged teeth gleaming under the harsh lights. “What can I say, Azazel? I’m an entertainer at heart. It’s always good to keep people invested, don’t you think?”

The words sent a fresh wave of rage through me, and it took everything I had not to leap out off the chair and tear his throat out. My hands twitched with the desire for violence, but I forced myself to breathe, to hold it together just a little longer. Attacking him here would give him exactly what he wanted—validation that he still controlled me. That I was just a puppet in his sick game.

Besides that, he was still stronger than I was. There was nothing I could do until I had figured out a plan to defeat him.

Azazel’s eye flicked between us, clearly enjoying the barely contained fury simmering on the stage. “Kade, it must have been... difficult, seeing your friends suffer like that, knowing Herbie was behind it all. Care to share with the audience how it felt to be so helpless?”

Fuck you, Azazel…

The audience quieted, all eyes on me, waiting for my reaction. My blood boiled, and I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears, but I forced myself to speak, knowing any sign of weakness would be pounced on.

“I’m not going to give you what you want, Azazel,” I said, my voice low but steady. “You want me to break down, give you some juicy moment of me losing it on live TV. But I’ll tell you this—Herbie’s just a coward hiding behind his tricks and illusions. Soon enough, I’m going to make him suffer like he’s made my friends suffer, and then I’m going to kill him. When I do, there won’t be enough of him left to feed the worms.”

The audience murmured in response, some gasping, others cheering. Floss’s grin faltered just a bit, and for a split second, I saw the anger flare in his candy-coated eyes before he masked it again behind that grotesque smile.

Azazel leaned forward, clearly delighted by the tension. “Bold words, Kade! But can you back them up? Herbie’s already proved he’s more than capable of keeping you on your toes. And let’s not forget, he is also tens of levels above you.”

“I think I’ve already proved that levels don’t mean everything,” I shot back. I looked at Floss directly, making sure he could see the proof in my eyes. “But you already know that, don’t you, Herbie? Because the first time we met, I blew up that precious machine of yours—and you couldn’t do shit to stop me.”

Floss’s grin faltered, and I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—anger, maybe even fear. The audience sensed the shift too, a low murmur running through them.

I leaned in, letting my voice drop, cold and dangerous. “You like to get inside people’s heads, make them watch as you tear apart everything they care about. But let me make something clear to you, Herbie—I’m not scared of you. You know why? Because I’ve already seen you run. I’ve seen what you really are when your little games fall apart.”

The smugness evaporated from his face as he tried to maintain his composure, but I could tell I’d rattled him. “Next time you won’t be so lucky. I’ll make sure of it,” I added, my words sharp as knives.

The audience’s murmurs turned into cheers and gasps. Azazel, clearly reveling in the drama, grinned wide, but Floss… his eyes darkened, the humor draining from his expression.

Smiling for the cameras, I sat back.

Two can play at this game, Floss.

“Well, it looks like we’ve run out of time, folks,” Azazel suddenly said, cutting through the tension in the studio. “I want to thank all our guests tonight. Join us next time for more thrills, chills, and plenty of spills!” The demon’s booming voice echoed through the studio as the lights dimmed slightly, signaling the end of the broadcast.

The audience erupted into applause, but I barely registered it. My focus was locked on Floss, who was glaring at me now, the fury barely contained behind that twisted smile of his. For the first time, I saw a crack in his confidence—a sliver of fear. He might be tens of levels above me, but I had gotten under his skin.

As the cameras panned away, I stood up, offering Floss one last look. “Keep watching, Herbie,” I said, my voice low enough that only he could hear. “Because when I come for you, there won’t be an audience to save you.”

Floss’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he bared his teeth, but he didn’t respond. He didn’t have to. I’d said my piece, and the message was clear.

The game had changed.

Without saying another word, I stormed away from Floss and Azazel, cutting across the studio floor as I headed toward Zara, who was standing sheepishly holding her clipboard to her chest.

“Kade—” she started to say, but I stopped her with a withering glare.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“You knew about that?” I asked her. “You knew Floss was going to be here?”

“Yes,” she said. “But I was under orders not to say anything.”

“Orders from who?”

“Orders from me,” another voice cut in.

I turned to see a figure towering behind me, his presence instantly commanding the space. He was humanoid, but taller than anyone I’d ever seen—easily seven feet, his long limbs sleek and sharp, like he had been carved from stone. His suit was crisp and tailored, but it was unlike anything from Earth. The material shimmered as if woven from liquid metal, shifting in shades of obsidian and silver as the light hit it. The design was angular, almost geometric, with sharp lines that complemented his alien form.

His face was unnervingly sharp—high cheekbones, a narrow chin, and a smile that was all cruelty. His lips stretched thin, revealing teeth that were far too sharp to belong to anything human. His skin had a slight iridescence, as though it refracted light in subtle ways. But it was his eyes that caught me—the glowing purple orbs that pulsed faintly, like two suns burning beneath a veil. They locked onto mine with a cold, predatory gleam.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” he said, his voice smooth yet laced with an undercurrent of menace. “I am Vorak, a senior executive of Infernova. I oversee... talent management.” His smile widened, as if enjoying the discomfort radiating off me.

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to step back. “Talent management, huh? And what does that have to do with you dropping Floss in the middle of this ambush?”

Vorak chuckled softly, the sound like shards of glass scraping together. “Ah, Kade, you misunderstand. Everything we do is to enhance the entertainment value. Ratings are what matter here, not your... feelings.” His gaze flicked toward Zara, then back to me. “You’ve performed admirably, stirring the pot as you have, but we needed a little extra spice for tonight’s show. After all, the audience craves conflict, and what better conflict than your little rivalry with Herbie Floss?”

I gritted my teeth, my fists clenching at my sides. “You think this is a game? My life isn’t just some storyline you can tweak to boost ratings.”

Vorak’s smile didn’t falter. If anything, it grew sharper. “Oh, but it is, Kade. Every moment of your existence in Infernum is part of a grand narrative. A narrative that we control.” He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “Remember, you’re here because we allow you to be. If you want to continue playing this game of survival, you will learn to accept your role.” He straightened, brushing an invisible speck of dust from his suit. “And who knows, Kade? Play your cards right, and maybe one day, you’ll be sitting where I am. Though I doubt you’ll ever be that lucky.”

“You’re right,” I said. “I won’t be.”

His smile faltered slightly as he looked at Zara. “Zara, come see me after your done taking out the trash. There’s something I’d like to… speak to you about.”

When Vorak walked away, Zara stood with her head dipped low as if she was trying to compose herself.

“Are you okay?” I asked her. “That guy’s a fucking dick.”

“He’s also my boss,” she said, straightening up.

“Is he… harassing you?”

Zara laughed slightly. “You don’t know how things work around here. Just forget it. Let’s go.”

She escorted me back to the green room without saying another word, where Grik was waiting.

“Kade, my boy, what a performance!” Grik said excitedly.

“Hang on, Grik.” I turned to Zara, who was just about to leave. “Thanks for looking after me.”

“For allowing you to get ambushed, you mean?”

“That wasn’t your fault. Maybe you should get a different job instead of working for that asshole Vorak.”

Zara sighed. “Stick to the Trials, Kade. This side of things doesn’t concern you.” No, not yet it doesn’t. She paused for a second, then said quietly, “I… appreciate the concern, though.”

With that, Zara left the room, closing the door behind her, leaving me to wonder what kind of life she led. Was she happy? She didn’t seem too happy, especially when it came to that arrogant prick Vorak. Sure as shit he was using Zara for his own amusement, making her do god knows what. Bastard. I’d like to get two minutes alone with him, then I’d show him what this “trash” was really made of.

With Zara gone, I turned and glared at Grik. “Tell me you didn’t know about that little stunt they played on me out there.”

Grik placed a clawed hand over his chest. “I was as surprised as you were, Kade. If I’d known what they were going to do, I would’ve warned you.”

“Hmm.” I wasn’t convinced. It seemed like Grik would do anything to get my ratings up. “What do you get out of this, Grik? Do you get a promotion or something if you make a star out of me?”

“Well, I’d be lying if I said your success in the Trials wouldn’t help me move on from my current position—”

“I knew it.”

“But Kade,” he cut in, stepping toward me, “you have to trust that I will always have your best interests at heart.”

“Forgive me, Grik, but if tonight’s taught me anything, it’s that I can’t trust anyone. Far as the assholes around here are concerned, I’m just a stupid pawn to be used as they see fit.”

“That may be true, Kade, but that doesn’t mean you have to act like a pawn. My goal is to make you into a knight. And then who knows, you might even become a king.”

“I won’t be anybody’s pawn, I can tell you that.”

“Good. Glad you haven’t lost that rebellious spirit, Kade. That will keep you alive and help you go far. But please understand, I would never betray you. I’m always on your side, and I hope you come to see that for yourself.”

With a sigh, I pulled out my cigarettes and lit one up, taking a seat near the dressing table as I allowed myself to relax for a moment. “So what did I get out of this shitshow? How’s my ratings?”

“Check for yourself,” Grik said excitedly. “I think you’ll be pleased.”

Bringing up my HUD, I went into the Ratings Menus and checked my stats.

Views: 1.2 million

Watchers: 25,000

Favorites: 1,500

Sponsors: 1

“Not too shabby,” I said, surprised at the numbers. “That’s a lot of watchers.”

“A mere drop in the ocean compared to how many you will get,” Grik said. “There are trillions of people watching the Trials of the Damned. Now that you’ve made your mark, your numbers will continue to go up. And you have a sponsor already!”

“Yeah, I see that. How does that work?”

“If you click on the sponsor, you will see their name and where they’re from. You will also see if they have gifted you anything yet.”

I clicked on the Sponsors tab, and a new window popped up, revealing the details of my first sponsor.

Sponsor: Gulnara Voxis

Origin: Rhenok IV

Gift: Gold x 1000

Next to the information was a small profile video of Gulnara Voxis, an alien species I had never seen before. The video depicted a figure with striking, iridescent skin that shifted in color from emerald green to deep violet, as if the creature were constantly bathed in twilight. Their face was long and angular, almost feline in nature, with piercing yellow eyes that seemed to glow from within. Three thin, delicate antennae sprouted from the top of their head, swaying slightly, giving the impression of constant motion. Instead of hair, the top of their head was adorned with what looked like shimmering feathers, cascading down like a mane. Gulnara’s expression was unreadable—calm, almost bored—but the intensity in their eyes hinted at a calculating mind.

“Well, would you look at that,” I muttered. “My first sponsor is from Rhenok IV. Wherever the hell that is.”

Grik chuckled. “You’re catching the eye of the upper class already, Kade. It’s a good sign. If Gulnara Voxis is watching you, it means you’ve got potential. The Rhenokians don’t waste time on players they think are boring.”

I nodded, still processing. “And they gifted me a thousand gold coins. If only I knew where to spend them.”

“You’ll get to spend them in the next Circle. There are plenty of shops and merchant stalls there.”

“Hmm. I think y’all are forgetting one thing. I probably won’t make it to the next Circle. In fact, I know I won’t.”

“Don’t be so sure, Kade,” Grik said cryptically.

“What does that mean?” I asked, blowing smoke into the room, causing Grik to cough slightly.

“It means the countdown timer isn’t everything.”

“What are you saying? That it’s just there for show?”

“Not exactly. Most players will forfeit the game if they don’t make the Trial in time. However, in past games, some players have been allowed to continue despite running out of time.”

“How?”

“By proving they are worthy of being allowed to continue,” Grik said.

I sat and thought about that for a moment. “So how do I prove I’m worthy?”

“In your case, Kade, I’m afraid the only way would be to defeat Herbie Floss.”

“You mean kill him.”

“Yes.”

“And what about Annalise and Snuggles?”

“Luckily for them, they are members of your party, so they should be allowed to continue along with you.”

A sigh of relief left me as I blew out more delicious smoke. But my relief didn’t last long once I thought about the herculean task of having to kill Herbie Floss, who like or not, was still many levels above me, as well as being a fiendish fuck. “So I still have a chance… however slim.”

“Yes, but only if you manage to kill Floss. And I don’t need to tell you how hard that will be.”

I nodded. “You don’t need to remind me.”

“I have faith in you, Kade. If anyone can kill Floss, it’s you, my boy.”

“I wish you’d stop calling me your boy, Grik. I’m not a kid.”

“Compared to me you are. And besides, I’ve grown rather fond of you, Kade.”

“How many contestants have you mentored anyway?”

“Four hundred and sixty-six, including you.”

“That’s a lot. Why the hell am I so special?”

Grik came forward and laid his creepy claw on my shoulder, doing his best to avoid the smoke rising from my cigarette. "Because you're different, Kade. Most contestants who come through here are either broken by their first Trial or drunk on the power they're given. They either give up or become exactly what the system wants them to be—mindless entertainment for the masses."

He removed his claw and stepped back, his eyes gleaming with an intensity I hadn't seen before. "But you... you've maintained your humanity while refusing to break. You've shown compassion to others even while fighting for survival. Look at how you stood up for Zara just now. And yet you've also demonstrated a cunning that most lack—you didn't just rage at Floss tonight, you got under his skin, made him doubt himself."

Grik's voice lowered, becoming more serious. "In four hundred and sixty-six contestants, I've never seen someone who could balance humanity with the ruthlessness needed to survive here. That's why you're special, Kade. You're not just playing the game—you're changing it. And whether you realize it or not, that terrifies people like Vorak far more than any amount of brute force ever could."

I took another drag of my cigarette, letting his words sink in. Part of me wanted to believe him, but another part wondered if this was just another manipulation, another way to push me toward whatever agenda the system had planned.

If tonight had taught me anything, it was that the only person I could trust from here on in was myself—and Annalise and Snuggles, of course.

The Damned & Dangerous Party.

Fuck everybody else.