Page 28 of Corrupt Game

You couldn’t be prepared for an attack in the dark. There was an element of surprise that had always bothered me about the dark.

I sighed in relief.

This was the basement of Ian Holdt’s cabin.

That shouldn’t have been a reason to be relieved.

He hadn’t hurt me. Yet.

Unsure of what time it was, or how long I had slept, I made my way to the restroom to answer nature’s call.

Finished and clothed again in the same outfit from yesterday, I sat on the sofa, wondering when he was going to make a move.

The intercom crackled.

I turned, curious until Mr. Holdt’s voice filled the room.

“Good morning, Ms. DeLandro. I hope you used the time allotted wisely to familiarize yourself with your surroundings.”

“Yeah, I did, you asshole. I learned there isn’t anything to eat or do in this godforsaken room. If you are paying me to be tortured, then you are on the right track,” I yelled, unsure if he could hear me.

I had been very calm until this point. This was a game after all and I had to play my part. He needed to think that I wasn’t some pushover. I needed to show a little spunk and fight or he might decide that I wasn’t worth the effort for whatever game he was playing.

Intercoms were generally used for one way communication, and I wasn’t going to push that button to try to speak with him.

This was his game. Let him play it. I wanted to see when he was going to tip his hand to me.

I felt a little better having yelled. I was just about to congratulate myself when his voice rumbled through the room again.

“You are able to walk away at any time. Just push the call button, and you’ll be released. There is no shame in not wanting to continue.”

His voice faded, and I could tell that I’d managed to win this round. I didn’t let the glee that filled me show.

The room was plunged into darkness.

“What the fuck?” I scream. “What are you doing?”

“You chose this,” he reminded me as if that answered all of my questions.

The intercom went silent.

Not a single ray of light was left anywhere.

Chapter 10: Collette

The darkness made the silence more deafening.

I sat there for what felt like hours. Who knew it could’ve been?

Everything that he had said to me replayed in my head. Everything I knew first hand about Mr. Holdt, I played out.

The video was the first interaction where I’d had a chance to watch his face.

Andy had been intent on his point. Using his hands to explain whatever he felt needed the extra emphasis.

Mr. Holdt had received his words and held a conversation with him. He hadn’t seemed angry. Either he had a perfect poker face or he was okay with everything that Andy had told him.

They didn’t appear to have any bad blood between them. Andy had seemed normal, not scared.

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