Page 170 of Intense
Or it’ll burn me alive.
Chapter 57
FINN
Song, Counterpart, take luck.
https://takeluck.komi.io/
This morning was harder than I imagined.
I never anticipated her slipping past my walls so fast.
How did she know something was wrong? Am I that easy to read?
I shouldn’t be. Not when I’m this numb inside.
But the worry etched into her face cracked something in my chest.
Just for a second, it stole my resolve.
No. I can’t afford weakness, not when I want answers.
Not when this could be nothing more than her game. A way to fuck with me.
She could be my enemy.
I might have delayed the Decadence Trials this year, but this trial… this one matters more than any other.
This one decides if she’s worthy of my heart that she stole.
We’re both on trial here, and I don’t know which of us will break first.
Because if she answers wrong… that’s game over. For both of us.
I lead her through my home, straight to the back of the mansion, punching in the code until the lock clicks.
That familiar chemical tang hits my nose.
No one needs to know about this, as it’s not an official Decadence Trial.
“Finn, are we at work?” she asks.
I grin. “No.”
Short answers. Keeping myself controlled. I won’t give myself away again.
The second door on the right yields to my code, and I guide her inside.
White walls. White floors. It’s clinical and instantly instills fear in most people.
Chains hang from the ceiling, ending in a leather collar designed to wrap snug around a throat. The chain has just enough give for her to complete tasks, but not enough to roam.
A constant reminder I’m here; there’s no escape from me.
To my left, three metal trays wait. Each one holds part of the trial. I go to the second and pick up a scalpel.
I never planned for Stephanie to be my one and only contestant. And each game is usually pre-planned to each contestant that Enzo selects for me. Now, I’m going to have to think on my feet. I had all night to get some ideas together.
