Page 63 of Seducer

“O-kay. Does that mean it’s a real thing?”

I’d never seen Tina seem so uncomfortable. “I don’t know for certain. I’m not the kind of girl to find terrifying and kinky things fun.”

“Terrifying and kinky.”

“Yes. You’ve played Dark Nights. Right?”

I laughed. “I glanced at it. I moved past the credits. Fascinating game from what I can tell. My kid brother seems to think it’s off limits for me.”

My bestie snorted. “I’d say Kyle was right. You have no clue what the game is about.”

“And you do?”

“I haven’t made it to the last nine levels, but I’ve experienced enough. Let me tell you, the game makes Call of Duty look like it was designed for two-year-olds.”

I had to admit even working at a gaming company that virtual reality games weren’t my thing. But Kyle loved them. He’d actually been the one to find a job board with the job I currently held. He was a champion game player, or so he’d told me.

“Okay, I guess I’ll take your word for it.” What I did know about Dark Nights was that it was extremely realistic, the graphics as if you were dumped on a movie set. I’d been overwhelmed with sights and sounds, so amazed at the level of detail during the few moments I’d worn the headset that I hadn’t been interested in going forward. Although I had to admit I’d enjoyed myself tremendously. I just didn’t have any time to master the game.

“Well, maybe I’ll try it again. What does that have to do with the Obsidian Society?”

She was perspiring. Really. She glanced around the empty space again as if people had just magically appeared. “Like I said. That’s how they test for candidates.”

“The game?”

She nodded. Great. That meant I’d never be a candidate. Kyle was right.

“But it’s just a precursor to what to expect.” She shuddered visibly.

“If you pass, then what?”

“Then it gets very real.”

“Very real,” I mimicked. “Care to elaborate?”

“The game becomes reality, the scenarios depicted coming to real life. Imagine the game and spin it up by ten notches. Anything can happen and everything is real.”

“I’m confused.”

“Think abduction and being chased through the woods, hunted like prey. That kind of thing. You don’t know what to expect until it’s happening to you.”

My thoughts drifted to what Kyle had told me.

“They try and scare you?”

“Yes, but it’s all very kinky. The society members who participate all wear masks. At least that’s what I was told.”

“Masks,” I whispered. Like the one Zach had been wearing. “Are the prizes what I’ve heard?”

“Oh, supposedly if you win that year, you’re set for life. I don’t know dollar amounts, but remember the designer that came on board almost a year ago? She’s on the executive floor when she’s not working in the production facility?”

“Jessica. I met her. Nice girl.”

“That’s Xander Blackwell’s girlfriend and she won last year. Or at least she was going to win. Something happened and she didn’t participate. I don’t know details and you’ll never find out. It’s all locked away. There are no details to find and no one within the society is allowed to talk. Getting an invite will be like getting a nod from the president. Forget about it.”

Forget about it.

What if I could find something? Hmmm… I had a little evil streak in me. I did work here and knew my way aroundcomputers. Plus, there had to be paper files somewhere. What I was thinking could easily get me fired, but what if?

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