The massiveTrolloxloomed over them in the hallway, his middle head wearing that grotesque parody of a smile—a grin full of rot and malice.
And still, they followed him because what else could they do?
Bright stayed close toBurnandNoelle, subtly positioning himself between the two of them whenever he could.Hishand brushedNoelle’sas they walked and he felt her fingers tremble.Shedidn’t grab him—not here, not now—but that tiny movement told him everything he needed to know.
She’s scared—more than scared—she’sterrified.
Thune shambled ahead of them like a three-headed ogre from a nightmare, humming a tuneless, off-key melody that grated againstBright’salready frayed nerves—especially since he knew what must be coming.
Gods, it’s like he’s enjoying this—like it’s some kind of game to him.
The corridor stretched on longer than he remembered—dark and narrow, the overhead lights flickering intermittently like they were shorting out.Thestench of the place was worse than before, too.Thick, humid air, tinged with the scent of spoiled meat and sweat and something faintly metallic—like old blood and cold iron.Thescent ofThunehimself only added to the miasma.
Bright clenched his jaw, forcing himself not to gag.
Don’t show weakness.Notin front of theTrollox.
He glanced sideways atBurn.TheDarkTwin’sface was pale, his jaw tight with pain and fury.Thememory of him falling to his knees under theTrollox’sremote still burned inBright’smind.
He’s not okay.Thatshock hit him harder than he’ll admit.
And yet,Burnhadn’t stopped—hadn’t broken.Hewas still walking, stiff but upright, his eyes burning like coals in a storm.Brightknew that look.
He’s right on the edge ofRage.Butlosing control and going into a berserker fury wouldn’t help them now—not whileThunestill held the remote to all their pain collars.
Just then, the hallway ended at a heavy velvet curtain—thick and faded red, hanging like an ominous theater drape.Thune’smassive hand reached out and yanked it aside with a rustlingswish, revealing a thick wooden door.
Thune pulled the creaking thing open, revealing a steep staircase leading down into total darkness.A cold draft flowed up from below, brushing againstBright’sbare arms like the breath of something waiting in the dark.
Noelle inhaled sharply and stopped in her tracks.Brightcould smell the spike of her fear—sharp and salt-edged like adrenaline and saltwater.
Burn stepped closer to her instinctively.Brightmirrored the motion.
“You can’t actually expect us to go down there with you,”Brightsaid toThune, eyeing the yawning blackness below.
The middle head twisted back toward them, that rancid smile spreading across its face.
“Why not, little piggy-wig?”Thunecooed mockingly.“Don’tworry—there’s no pain down in the play room—only pleasure for the piggy-wigs.”
Pleasure.
The word madeBright’sstomach twist.Thattone…that grin…the wayThunelooked at them….
I know what he wants.Whathe’s about to make us do.
He looked atBurn, then atNoelle.Theireyes met and held.Therewere no words, but they didn’t need them.
They all understood.
This wasn’t just torture—this was entertainment.Atleast forThuneand the customers who bought his porn.
“Will you come piggy-wigs…”Thuneasked, waggling the remote threateningly, “or do you want another taste of pain?”
Bright swallowed hard.Hehad to make the call.IfBurntook another hit, he might go intoRage.AndifNoellewas shocked by her collar, she might not recover—she was too fragile, too delicate to take the kind of painThuneseemed more than willing to dish out if he was disobeyed.
“All right,”Brightsaid quietly, stepping forward.“Butif you try to hurtNoelle, or even touch her?—”
“No, no, piggy-wig,”Thuneinterrupted gleefully.“Wehave no intention of touching your little female.”Themiddle head gave that horrible grin again.“We’llleave that toyou.”
