Page 44 of Daemonium

The cannibal flung the chain towards us. Carol and Lana darted out of the way, but Lana's head collided with the wall as Carol shielded her.

"Ow, damn it," Lana hissed.

Ciaran immediately halted what he was doing and went to her, slipping behind the dumpster to reach her quicker.

“I've got it!” Dion exclaimed, narrowly avoiding a Molotov cocktail that was thrown from above. “Hey man,” he yelled at the person responsible as Brody pulled him out of harm's way.

I could see the key in the lock, but we were stuck in a dangerous game of dodgeball, trapped between two crazed individuals. Another flaming bottle flew towards us, this time landing right beside Earl. He screamed as the flames engulfed him, pushing me away in a panic.

Ky was there to catch me before I hit the ground, pulling me away from Earl and towards the door.

“Get down!” Mel shouted at Earl, but he didn't listen. Instead, he ran past us, screaming in agony, his entire body engulfed in flames. He collided with the dumpster and pitched to the side. The metal lasso flew through the air and wrapped around Earl's neck, dragging him across the pavement towards the cannibal.

“Get down!” Mel shouted at Earl, but he didn't listen. Instead, he ran past us, with a blood-curdling scream, his entire body engulfed in flames. He collided with the dumpster and pitched to the side. The metal lasso flew through the air and wrapped around Earl's neck, violently dragging him across the pavement towards the cannibal. The stench of burning flesh filled the air. Earl's body flailed in agony, a helpless sacrifice.

CHAPTER TEN

As we made our way through a narrow, crimson-lit corridor, a sense of unease consumed me. Ky's tight grasp on my hand was the only thing keeping me grounded. Earl had saved my life, and that realization twisted painfully in my gut. He didn't have to help us, but he did. I couldn't help but wonder how much longer we could retain our humanity in this forsaken place. The boys had already lost a significant part of their own, particularly Kyrous, and I couldn't be certain if it was solely due to the Playground's influence.

“What just happened?” Dion exclaimed, still processing what had transpired.

“Earl had a bounty on his head. By taking him out, the Cannibal gained merits,” Ciaran explained nonchalantly, as if it were just another normal occurrence in their twisted world.

"So you all have an honor system?" Lana retorted sarcastically, rubbing her head where she had hit the wall.

Ciaran stepped closer to her, gently brushing his fingers over the spot she was nursing. In the dim, eerie light, it was hard to see much clearly, but the tenderness in his touch was unmistakable.

“Let’s get upstairs,” he said, not giving her a chance to protest.

“Where are we?” I asked as I took in the rest of the dimly lit hallway, bathed in an unsettling red glow.

“Kink’s Cirque De Sol,” Maverick replied with a flourish.

"She has a whole building?" Hayven asked skeptically yet curiously.

"This is much more than that, you'll see," Brody added, his voice hinting at secrets yet to be revealed.

We reached the end of the hall, where a sleek black lift awaited us. It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie—shiny, featureless, and ominous. Ciaran stepped forward, placing his finger on a small scanner beside the door, followed by entering a code. The door slid open silently, revealing the lift's dark interior. We all piled in, the door closing behind us with a soft hiss. There were no buttons inside, no way to choose our floor. The lift moved on its own, the quiet hum of machinery the only sound.

It felt like an eternity, but it was only seconds before the door slid open again, revealing another hallway—this one much grander. We stepped out into what appeared to be a foyer, although unlike any I had ever seen before. Red chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting an eerie light over the room. Intricate carvings adorned the walls, their shadows dancing in the dim glow of the chandeliers.

The soft hum of music drifted toward us, its eerie melody just loud enough to be unsettling. The further we walked, the more I began to notice the details—the luxurious textures of the walls, and the polished black floors that reflected the crimson light. The hallway finally opened up, and I stepped into an expansive, dimly lit room. The sight made me pause, my eyes widening in surprise.

"A penthouse?" Lana muttered under her breath, echoing my thoughts as we both took in the luxurious surroundings.

The room was sleek, modern, and bathed in the same red glow that had followed us from the hallway. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the space, offering a stunning, if not slightly unnerving, view of the sprawling city below. The glass felt like a barrier, separating us from the world outside as if we were trapped in some kind of twisted snow globe. The kitchen area was a study in minimalism, with black countertops and red underlighting that gave it an almost futuristic feel.

The glossy surfaces reflected the light, making it seem as if the entire room was pulsating with a faint, crimson heartbeat. To the left, a sprawling sectional couch sat in the center of the living area, its dark fabric almost blending into the shadows. Plush cushions were scattered across it, inviting yet somehow unwelcoming at the same time.

“This place is… something,” I said, my voice tinged with both awe and caution.

Across from the sectional, a wall of flat screens displayed various scenes—the outside of the building, the rooftop, and what looked like the interior of a nightclub.

People were inside, mingling, while various clowns went about mundane tasks like stocking shelves and adjusting props.

A soft whir came from the far side of the room. Another lift opened, and three women stepped out, followed by three men. Among them were a blonde, one with lilac hair, and a familiar dark-haired woman—Kinks. As soon as she spotted us, her eyes lit up. She dropped the axe she had been holding and flounced across the room, a wide grin on her face. “You’re here!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around Charon first and then Ky, hugging them both tightly.

The sight of her—dressed in her typical theatrical style—made the situation feel even more surreal. Kinks glanced back at the people behind her, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Look, they’re here!" she announced gleefully.

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