Page 82 of Final Vendetta

“Whatever he says, whatever he does, don’t listen to him,” I told her urgently. “Do you hear me, Imogene? Stay strong. Don’t let him break you. Promise me.”

She opened her mouth, more confused than anything. But she must have picked up on my desperation.

With her lower lip trembling, she nodded. “I promise.”

Myers clapped his hands, his tone mockingly cheerful. “Enough stalling. Let’s get this show started.”

The lights above the cage flickered to life, bathing the room in a harsh, clinical glow. The guards approached Liam first to undo his restraints before moving to me, more guards keeping their weapons trained on us to make sure we didn’t attack anyone we weren’t supposed to.

“Whatever happens next,” I continued, keeping my voice steady. “Close your eyes, Imogene. Don’t watch. Don’t let him win by making you a part of this.”

She shook her head, a tiny but defiant movement. “I’m not going to do that. I promised to stay by your side even during your darkest moments. This is one of them. No matter what happens, know that I’m with you. That I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I told her, not wanting to look away for fear it might be one of the last times I’d ever see her.

Even when the bell cut through, signaling the start of the match, I couldn’t bring myself to turn around. To say goodbye to Imogene.

It wasn’t until her expression twisted into one of absolute horror that I whirled around, meeting Liam’s wild eyes as he rushed toward me, a knife clutched tightly in his hand.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Imogene

I didn’t want to watch. This was too much. Too horrific.

Too depraved.

But I refused to let Gideon endure this alone.

So I looked on in revulsion as Liam stormed toward him, his body coiled like a predator, his movements erratic and wild. His eyes were alight with something feral, a crazed madness that chilled me to the bone. He wasn’t Liam anymore. He was a creature driven by desperation, survival, and the sick thrill of bloodlust.

With a guttural roar, Liam swung his blade clumsily but with terrifying force, aiming for Gideon’s chest. I held my breath, the seconds stretching into an eternity as Gideon deftly sidestepped the blow with fluid, instinctual movements. Relief surged through me for a fleeting moment…until he made no move to retaliate.

Why wasn’t he fighting back?

Liam snarled, baring his teeth like an animal as he swiped again, his strikes fast and frenzied. Gideon continued to dodge each attack with grace and precision, but not without consequence. The blade grazed his forearm, a crimson line blooming against his skin.

I flinched, a strangled gasp escaping my throat as though I’d been struck myself. I dug my nails into my palms, the sting grounding me in the midst of the chaos.

The room seemed to shrink around me, the cage’s chain-link walls blurring at the edges of my vision. The sickening scrape of boots on the concrete floor and the sharp clang of the blade against metal echoed in my ears, amplifying the pounding of my heartbeat.

“It’s remarkable, isn’t it,” Myers’ voice slithered into my ear, soft and mocking.

I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t. My eyes remained locked on Gideon, silently pleading with him.

Go on the offensive. Fight back. Do something.

Myers leaned closer, the faint scent of his aftershave churning my stomach. “He’s fighting against his natural instinct to kill… All for you.”

His words pierced through me like a knife, twisting and cruel.

“You should have seen him in his prime,” Myers continued, his tone dripping with smugness. “The way he practically disemboweled his opponents — it was art. No hesitation. No mercy. Just brutal efficiency. But now… He hesitates.”

“You’re disgusting,” I hissed. “These are real people. Real lives.”

“I know,” Myers said, his wicked grin spreading. His eyes gleamed with a twisted delight as he gestured toward the cage. “That’s what makes it so interesting. To see how people react when it’s life or death. I thought Liam would cower first, but look at him. Thriving. All because of that cage.”

Liam lunged again, this time feinting left before driving his knife into Gideon’s side. The blade missed its mark, but it still raked across his ribs, leaving a trail of blood just above his tattoo.

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