Page 138 of Inferno

But the darkness, the restraints, the fucking dildo beneath me—it’s overwhelming.

Focus.

Remember why you’re here.

“The guards will help you into position. And then they will start the games. Remember, you need to survive hell to get a taste of heaven. The golden ticket is so close you can almost touch it. Two more rooms to survive. I’ll be seeing one of you very soon.”

The speaker cuts off. Silence follows like a scream muffled beneath a pillow.

The girl beside me yelps as she’s dragged to her bench.

Then Richard moves to me.

“Position yourself,” he says, motioning to the saddle.

I hesitate. But I climb up. Slowly. My arms do the work, my legs trembling. I lower myself onto the dildo, gritting my teeth. It’s slick, at least.

“Hold up your arms.”

I obey.

The cuffs snap onto the chains above, yanking my arms high. Cold metal bites my wrists. My shoulders scream in protest.

Pain radiates with every breath.

I am completely restrained.

Powerless.

Exposed.

There is no escape.

Just the hope that one of the others taps out before I break.

I won’t look at them. I can’t.

That’s how they get in. How you lose your edge. You make it personal.

The lights cut out again. The darkness swallows us whole.

I close my eyes.

Two more rooms…

Just two more.

Chapter 52

DECLAN

The night vision on these cameras is top of the line, providing crystal-clear images even in near-total darkness.

In that moment, before her eyes fluttered shut, I felt the culmination of five years of anticipation.

Terror.

Her demons are in this room, and I intend to hunt them out.

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