Nightmare Game
Copyright© 2025 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 103
“Alright,” Ethan said, agreeing without hesitation. Clara might draw a line between herself and her father, but debts of gratitude weren’t so easily split.
His quick acceptance caught Clara off guard, her cool demeanor faltering for a moment.
She’d always carried a tangle of feelings about this boy her father had saved with his life—not love or hate, just a quiet ache of sentiment.
She knew Ethan wasn’t to blame. From what he’d said, her father, Albert, was already on borrowed time, his final act of heroism reshaping the image she’d held of him.
Albert had been a smooth talker, swallowing his pride, scraping by in a tough neighborhood where gossip stung.
Clara, sharp even as a child, never scorned him like rebellious kids might. She was grateful for all he did.
To shield her beloved father from disdain, she grew cool and fierce, defending his dignity behind his back.
Still, she’d mourned his lack of fire, so unlike the invincible, towering man of her childhood memories.
Yet through Ethan, she glimpsed another side. Her father hadn’t changed; he’d just bowed to life’s weight for those he loved.
As for Ethan, she saw something extraordinary.
His absence from the club after clearing Blackwood Castle and Madam Arachne hinted at secrets.
Clara kept that to herself, respecting his privacy, partly for Albert’s sake.
“No need to jump in so fast,” she said, offering him an out. “Fair’s fair. I’ll lay out the situation, and you can decide after.”
“I’ve got intel on this Dreamplay. It’s called Abyss Prison, medium difficulty, no clear hints.”
“We don’t know the world inside, but the name gives clues.”
“Abyss might mean underwater; Prison is straightforward. Could be a word game, though, so let’s set that aside.”
“When I saw the name, you were my first thought. Any guess why?”
Ethan blinked. Clara’s reserved nature and brisk style didn’t strike him as one for riddles; this was a test.
He didn’t mind. Tests built trust fast, ensuring they wouldn’t drag each other down.
He ruled out his clears of Blackwood Castle and Madam Arachne as the main reason. While impressive, they wouldn’t make him Clara’s top pick.
If Nightmare Game was as elite as rumored, seasoned veterans would outrank a rookie like him in most eyes.
That left two possibilities.
One, she lacked trustworthy allies.
Two—
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