After Herbie Floss’ twisted carnival had gotten sucked into the ether, the three of us walked in a cloud of tense silence as we headed toward my Safe Circle. While Snuggles clung to my shoulder like a rescued child, Annalise walked with her head down, clearly traumatized by everything Floss had put her through. We may have been in a game, but the psychological consequences were as real as they get. It worried me that Annalise might not ever get over her horrendous experience. If this was Earth, she would likely suffer the rest of her life, probably having to go into therapy and a regime of prescription drugs just so she didn’t take her own life out of sheer despair.

But this wasn’t Earth. There were no such support systems here. It was either get over it and move on, or perish, and I wasn’t about to let Annalise get crushed by what happened to her. Somehow, someway, I would help her carry on. Floss had done enough damage without destroying her very soul as well.

When we reached my Safe Circle, all of us went inside. The door hissed closed behind us, and the three of us relaxed our bodies in relief, knowing we were finally safe, if only for a short while.

Utterly exhausted, I collapsed onto the couch and lit a cigarette before taking the bottle of whiskey out of my inventory and taking a well earned drink.

“You have cigarettes?” Snuggles said in disbelief. “Give me one. Now.”

Lighting up another cancer stick, I handed it to him and watched him inhale a lungful of smoke, then exhale with deep satisfaction. “Ahhhh,” he said. “How I’ve missed smoking.”

“Gross,” Annalise said, moving across the room to get away from the smoke. “Those things’ll kill ya.”

Snuggles and I exchanged a look, and then we both burst out laughing. Annalise soon joined us, if only to release some of the tension that had built up in her.

“That’s fucking hilarious,” Snuggles said, choking on a lungful of smoke. “Where’d you even get these, Kade?”

“It’s a long story,” I said, taking another slug of the whiskey, before passing the bottle to him.

He took it, doing his best to hold it between his paws, then took a sip.“Goddamn, that shit is good.”

Annalise, refusing the whiskey, went to the food hatch and ordered herself a coke, which she then proceeded to drink through a straw.

“Who’s hungry?” I asked, suddenly getting up. “I could eat a horse.”

“Seriously?” Annalise said. “After everything, you’re hungry?”

“A man’s gotta eat, especially after they just dispatched a level 42 serial killer by stuffing him into his own infernal candy floss machine.”

“How did you do it?”

“Do what?” I asked, standing by the food hatch. “I’m thinking pizza. Anyone up for pizza?”

“Me,” Snuggles said, raising a paw. “Pepperoni.”

“A man after my own heart.”

“How did you know how to defeat Floss?” Annalise persisted.

“Look,” I sighed, my stomach growling. “It wasn’t really that hard. Floss was his own worst enemy, and all psychos like him are weak deep down. I just had to play on that weakness, and once I did, the bastard crumbled. He relied on people being afraid of him. Once I decided not to be afraid of him anymore, he had no power over me.”

“Maybe I underestimated you, Kade.” A slight smile appeared on Annalise’s face. “You really came through for us.”

“Just one problem, though,” Snuggles cut in. “The Second Trial has already started, and we missed it. We’re screwed now. In fact, I’m surprised we’re even still here. I thought they’d have repurposed our asses by now.”

“Yeah, about that,” I said, then decided to order the pizza first. “I want a large pizza, extra thick crust, loaded with everything you’ve got. I’m talking pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, olives, anchovies, pineapple, jalapeños, extra cheese, and whatever else you can cram onto that thing. Oh, and make sure the crust is stuffed with more cheese. And throw in some garlic knots and a side of buffalo wings while you’re at it.”

“Damn, that’s a lot of toppings,” Snuggles said. “I can’t wait.”

“What did you mean just now?” Annalise asked me as we waited on the pizza being delivered.

“Well, I went through a lot to get to you guys,” I said. “I’ll tell you about it all later, once I’ve eaten. But for now, just know that we might be given a second chance at the Trial.”

Annalise frowned. “You mean we’ll still be allowed to do it?”

“Maybe. I don’t know yet. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

“But why would they?”

“I was told if I put on a good show and took Floss down in dramatic fashion, which I did, then me and my party—that’s you two—would earn another chance at competing in the Second Trial, effectively keeping us in the game.”

“You arranged all that?” Annalise said in disbelief, her voice filled with admiration. There were even tears in her eyes.

“I wouldn’t say I arranged it, but it happened.”

She walked over to me then and hugged me, surprising me a little. I hugged her back, enjoying the warmth of her body against mine. It felt so long since anyone had even cared about me, never mind hugged me. And I got the feeling it had been even longer for Annalise.

“Get a room you two,” Snuggles said.

Annalise pulled away from me to give Snuggles a look. “Get a grip, you little monster,” she said, smiling slightly.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“I’m just kidding. I’m glad we’re all back together again.”

Annalise leaned against the wall, a look of relief coming over her. “I still can’t believe you pulled that off, Kade. I never thought I’d be so glad to remain a contestant in this fucked up game.”

“See,” I said, grinning, “that’s where they get you. You end up caring, don’t you? At least as much as you cared in your old life back on Earth, maybe even more so. I mean, no one wants to die, do they? Or become something else, something less than they were before. We’re humans, and we strive to stay alive, no matter where we are.”

The pizza that emerged from the food hatch was a sight to behold. The crust was golden brown and perfectly crisp, with a thick, cheesy edge that glistened under the harsh fluorescent lights of the Safe Circle. The toppings were piled high, a mouthwatering mountain of savory and sweet flavors that seemed to defy gravity. There were thick slices of pepperoni, their edges curled and slightly charred, nestled alongside plump sausage rounds that glistened with juices. Mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers added a colorful medley, while black olives and anchovies provided a salty, briny contrast. Pineapple chunks and jalapeño slices were scattered across the surface, promising a tantalizing blend of sweet heat. The entire pizza was covered in a blanket of melted cheese, bubbling and golden, with extra cheese oozing from the stuffed crust. It was, without a doubt, the best goddamn pizza I’d ever seen in my whole life… and I’d eaten a lot of pizza.

The garlic knots were equally enticing, their surfaces burnished and gleaming with garlic-infused butter, flecked with fragrant herbs. They were plump and soft, promising a tender, yeasty interior that would melt in the mouth. While the buffalo wings were crispy and golden, their skin glazed with a rich, spicy sauce that filled the air with a tantalizing aroma.

I grabbed the pizza box, feeling its comforting warmth in my hands, and carried it over to the small table in the center of the room. Annalise and Snuggles gathered around, their eyes wide with anticipation.

“Dig in, guys,” I said, grinning as I pulled out a slice. The cheese stretched and oozed, the toppings threatening to slide off in a delicious avalanche. I took a bite, my eyes closing in bliss as the flavors exploded in my mouth. The crust was perfectly crisp, the cheese rich and creamy, the toppings a symphony of tastes that danced on my tongue.

Annalise and Snuggles didn’t need any further encouragement. They each grabbed a slice, their faces lighting up with pleasure as they took their first bites. For a few moments, there was only the sound of contented chewing and appreciative murmurs as we devoured the pizza.

The garlic knots were next, their soft, buttery surfaces yielding to reveal a tender, fluffy interior. The garlic flavor was intense but not overpowering, melding perfectly with the subtle sweetness of the dough. We tore into them with enthusiasm, licking the garlic butter from our fingers with unabashed delight.

Finally, we turned our attention to the buffalo wings. The skin was crispy and perfectly seasoned, the meat tender and juicy. The spicy sauce coated our lips and fingers, leaving a pleasant tingle that had us reaching for more. We gnawed on the wings with abandon, savoring the rich, spicy flavors that seemed to ignite our taste buds.

As we ate, the tension and exhaustion of our ordeal began to melt away. The Safe Circle felt like a sanctuary, a place where we could let our guard down and simply enjoy the moment. The food was more than just sustenance—it was a celebration of our survival.

Between bites, we talked and laughed, our voices filled with a newfound lightness. Annalise recounted some of her favorite memories from her old life, her eyes shining with nostalgia. Snuggles regaled us with tales of his past adventures, his furry face animated with excitement. I shared stories of my own, my voice tinged with humor and wistfulness, as if we were sitting around a campfire back home.

As the pizza box emptied and the last of the garlic knots and buffalo wings disappeared, we leaned back in our chairs, our stomachs full and our spirits lifted.

“Well,” I said, burping slightly. “If that was our last meal, then I’m happy to have had it.”

Annalise smiled. “Same here. And also—” She stopped, almost embarrassed to continue.

“What?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I’m just glad to have had it with you two. My friends,” she added, almost sheepishly.

A wide grin crossed my face. “Stop it, you’re gonna make me cry.”

“Too late,” Snuggles said, wiping a paw across his eyes, which didn’t seem as glassy anymore. He seemed to be becoming less plushy by the day, and more… monster, I suppose.

“I’m sorry you guys had to go through all that with Floss,” I said. “It must’ve been horrible. I could see, you know. Floss kept hijacking my mind and showing me you two getting… you know, tortured.”

“It’s over now,” Annalise said, “and I don’t ever want to speak about it again.”

“Yeah, same here,” Snuggles said.

“Okay,” I said. “We won’t then.”

We sat for another while, chatting idly about nothing, until we could no longer ignore the elephant in the room.

“What the hell, guys,” Snuggles said. “Are they gonna let us know if we can—”

Before he could finish the sentence, Grik suddenly materialized in the room, surprising Snuggles and Annalise. Grik was back in his octopus form, thank god.

“Grik,” I said, standing up. “What are you doing here? I hope you brought good news.”

“Why is there a floating octopus in the room?” Annalise asked.

“This is Grik,” I said. “He’s my Game Guide… or whatever.”

Grik didn’t introduce himself. Instead, he just stared at me with a deadly serious face, or as serious as an octopuses face could be. “I’m sorry to have to tell you all this, but—”

He paused, and as he did, I felt my heart sink through the floor. Looking at Annalise and Snuggles, I saw their faces drop as well. It was goddamn heartbreaking.

Fuck…

“But you did it!” Grik then said loudly. “Your party has earned a second chance!”

We could only stare at him for a few seconds. “You mean—”

“Yes, Kade! You may each compete in the second Trial! How could they refuse after that wonderful performance earlier. Have you checked your ratings? Go ahead. I’ll wait.”

Bringing up my screen, I checked the numbers and then whistled. “Holy shit…”

Views: 95.6 million

Watchers: 373,436

Favorites: 47149

Sponsors: 2

“Jesus, Kade,” Annalise said, clearly able to view my numbers on her own screen. “That’s crazy.”

“A lot of people tuned in to see if you would defeat Floss,” Grik said. “And you did, Kade! In spectacular fashion. The way you broke him psychologically was genius, and feeding him to his own candy floss machine was just the pièce de résistance. It’s all that’s being talked about on the shows.”

“Have you checked your own numbers?” I asked Annalise.

Both her and Snuggles took a second to check their ratings, a look of surprise coming over their faces as they did so.

“Damn,” Snuggles said quietly. “People out there actually like me. Not as much as you, Kade, but shit… I have over 200,000 watchers!”

“My numbers are less than half of yours, Kade,” Annalise said. “No sponsors, though.”

“Get through the next Trial and the sponsors will come rolling in, my dear,” Grik said. “The viewers seem to like the Damned & Dangerous party. As long as none of you get killed in the Trial, I think you have a bright future ahead of you.”

“A bright future? In this place? Steady on there, Grik.” I allowed myself a smile nonetheless. “So when’s the Trial?”

“Right now,” Grik said. “The arcade portal is right outside.”

“Jesus, already? My food hasn’t even digested yet.”

“No rest for the wicked, Kade, I’m afraid.”

“No, clearly fucking not. So will this Trial be a team event or an individual event?”

“Individual, of course.”

“Shit. I was hoping we would all stay together.”

“Really, Kade,” Grik said, laying a tentacle on my shoulder. “This is Infernum. Hope doesn’t exist here. I thought you’d learned that by now.”

“I beg to differ,” Snuggles said, standing up, his belly extended from all the pizza he ate. “I think Kade here proved that hope still exists, even in this shithole. He saved us, didn’t he? And here we are, getting a second chance.”

“I agree,” Annalise said. “Hope isn’t dead just yet.”

“That’s the spirit then,” Grik said, changing his tune. “Hope it is. Now, get out there and kick some ass in your Trial. Then we can all move on to the Second Circle.”

The Second Circle, I thought. With who knew how many more Circles of literal hell to complete. God fucking help us…