Page 12 of Insatiable

“I don’t get how that’s a trial,” I reply, puzzled.

“Because if anyone touches any of the food, or gets up out of their seat, they are immediately out of the games. The twenty that can resist the longest get to go through to the next trial. They also get the pleasure of eating the banquet when it’s over while those that left the table or tried to eat are caged up and forced to watch what could have been theirs. Of course, no one will know that until all but twenty are left. But you know now.” She sidles up to me, pressing her body against mine. “The question is, Felix. Will you be able to resist?” She licks her lips and runs her hand down to my crotch. I swallow the last of the sandwich as she squeezes lightly.

“That’s right. Eat up. You’ll need to get your strength up for what I have planned for you.”

Reaching around her, I grab a box of cookies from the countertop.

“I’ll help you when I get through the first trial,” I say, hiding the cookies under my jacket. Annoyance fills her features as I back away from her, but I promised her help, not access to my cock. She can find cock somewhere else for all I care. I don’t look round as I head back outside and start the long journey down the thousands of curved stairs to my room.

7

AT LEAST IN LUST THEY COULD FUCK LIKE BUNNIES…AND EAT

JULIETTE

Eight hours, thirty-seven minutes and twelve seconds since I was informed that I wouldn’t be eating anything for the foreseeable future and I’m slowly going crazy. Ok, not so slowly. I’m sitting in the canteen, or what was a canteen in the other circles. I messaged Rowena and Quinn five minutes ago to meet me down here.

Rowena gets here first. “Don’t bother complaining about food to me. I know we’re friends, but if I even think about food, I’m going to throw up.”

“I’m having hallucinations,” I admit, finally dragging my eyes from the giant floating ice creams and chocolate cakes. Rowena follows my line of sight over her shoulder. “That’s the big screen. They are showing food to mess with us. You’re totally fine.”

“Fine?” I grit out, frustration evident in my voice. “I’ve tried every diet there is—keto, Atkins, intermittent fasting, Weight Watchers. You name it, I’ve done it. And you know what happened after each of these diets?”

“I’m guessing it didn’t result in you wearing a couple of dress sizes smaller?” she responds with a hint of sarcasm.

“No,” I snap. “After just three days on each of them, I was ready to murder the first person who dared look my way and ended up binge-eating chocolate cake. Every diet I tried only made me go up a dress size. And now, the chocolate cakes are floating past my eyes. I can even smell the damn things. I wonder if I lick the screen, I’ll be able to taste them.”

“Hey,” Quinn says as she sits next to Rowena, and I immediately realize my mistake. I should have sat where they are sitting, so I wouldn’t be forced to watch the cakes. “What’s going on?”

“I’ve spent the whole day with my head in the toilet,” Ro explains, “and Juliette is about to murder someone.”

“Anyone in particular, or can we nominate someone?” Quinn quips sullenly.

“You can have Felix,” Rowena snaps, a venomous edge in her voice. “You can cannibalize him after you’ve murdered him if you like. At least I won’t have to see his face again if you eat him.”

“I’d rather eat mouse droppings, thanks,” I shoot back, a grimace twisting my lips. “Oh fuck. That’s going to be one of the trials, isn’t it? We’re going to have to eat one of the other contestants.” I shrug, trying to shake off the rising dread. “I’d probably do it gladly by the time the first trial starts. Just not Felix,” I add quickly. For starters, he’s a prize douchebag, but mostly because Ro obviously has some bizarre hang-up on him, and who knows where that’s going to lead.

I glance at my friends, and my heart sinks at the misery etched on their faces. Quinn’s eyes are puffy and red, as if she’s spent the entire day crying, while Rowena’s skin has turned a sickly gray.

“Fuck Dade, who I’m assuming you’re also offering up as a sacrifice and fuck Felix.” I turn to Ro. “How are you throwing up? We’ve not eaten for over twenty-four hours.”

Ro shrugs. “It’s like magic. I think it might stop and then I’m rushing to the toilet again. Did you get morning sickness with your kids?”

It was such a long time ago that I was pregnant. I have grandkids now. “I did a bit, but that’s because I ate. You know. Food!” I rub my eyes. “Let’s change the subject. Quinn. What has His gorgeousness done now?”

Quinn looks around and lowers her voice. “He’s refusing to go down to the demon level anymore. Says he’s scared I’ll get hurt.”

Ro shrugs. “At least he gives a shit.” She sits back in her seat and folds her arms, a grimace on her face. “Why are we talking about men… again!? We’re like a group of complete losers that can only ever talk about men and how crap they are.”

“Talking of crap men…” I nod towards George, who’s just appeared from one of the elevators with a huge grin on his face and a giant cupcake in his hand. He nods cheerfully at a couple of skeletal people who nod back pitifully. Their eyes never leave the cupcake as he walks past shoveling the whole thing in his face, leaving pink buttercream smeared around his mouth. If he wasn’t so repugnant, I’d fantasize about licking it off him.

“So we know it’s possible to actually murder people in here.” I say nodding toward George who’s licking his lips, depriving me of even that pathetic fantasy. “Look at Lucia and whatshisface that died in the Purgatory. We just have to rip his head off, right? He might be built like a brick shithouse, but I’m fucking hungry and I know I can take him. I’m actually out of my seat before Rowena casually puts her hand on my arm to stop me.

“You kill the leader of the games and we’re all stuck in here forever. Do you really want that? Imagine it. You’ll never see a cupcake ever again.”

The thought doesn’t even bear thinking about so I sit down, cross my arms and pout instead. “I hate when you’re right.”

“Let’s go and explore downstairs,” Quinn suggests. “Who knows, that might be where George came from. I’m sure there was a cupcake store on the entertainment level in Purgatory.”

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