Nightmare Game
Copyright© 2025 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 23
“Get out of the way!”
The pig-headed figure gripped the kitchen knife tightly, as if trying to intimidate the maid.
She wasn’t particularly tall, probably under five foot seven, and compared to the towering, bulky pig-head, she looked like a sheep facing down a ferocious tiger.
Yet even against such a formidable opponent, she didn’t back down an inch, her pale face showing no emotion at all.
“As the castle’s chef, you can’t lay a hand on the guests.”
“I don’t care about those rules!” the chef bellowed like thunder. “It’s been ages since I’ve tasted human flesh!”
“You lot might be fine without it, but I need it. I’m sick of these lowly livestock day after day, and now that one’s delivered right to my door, you’re telling me I can’t eat?”
The maid ignored his rage completely.
“I’m here to ensure the guests’ safety, and as the chef, you can’t override my authority.”
The chef exploded in fury, veins bulging as he gasped for air, looking ready to tear the seemingly fragile maid to shreds at any moment.
Albert trembled in terror at the sight, sweat pouring down his back, silently praying the maid could actually protect him.
Ethan, on the other hand, felt a wave of relief. Sure, the pig-head looked scary, but he caught a flicker of hesitation in its eyes. He was certain the chef was just bluffing and couldn’t actually get past the maid to harm them.
As expected, under her firm stance, the chef held back. He swallowed his anger and lowered the knife.
“When can I eat, then?”
“I can’t promise anything. It all depends on the master’s will.”
“Hmph!”
The chef stormed off in a huff.
With the crisis averted, the maid didn’t linger either and went back to mopping nearby.
“That scared the hell out of me...” Albert wiped the cold sweat from his hands.
“You didn’t see this guy on the first floor before?”
Ethan asked suddenly.
“Huh?” Albert blinked, then forced a bitter smile once it sank in. “Of course not. If I’d run into that monster, no way I’d stick around to investigate this place.”
“You didn’t spot his room in the staff quarters either?”
“Nope, nothing.”
Albert shook his head vigorously.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “That’s odd. No room on the first floor, none on the second or third. So where does he live? And where did he even come from?”
“Uh...” Albert trailed off, stunned by the question.
“Never mind for now. Let’s finish these dishes and get out of here before something else happens.”
Albert nodded in agreement.
They worked together quickly and wrapped up, then returned to the lobby under the maid’s escort, with the chef glaring daggers the whole time.
Back on the second floor, they found Serena knocking on room 203 alone, her face etched with panic.
“Ethan!” Her eyes lit up when she saw him coming up, and she stopped knocking to approach them.
“What’s going on?” Ethan asked.
“I’m not sure.” Worry creased Serena’s features. “After I finished tidying up, I saw Grace come back alone, but no sign of Daisy.”
“I asked what happened, but she wouldn’t say a word, just locked herself in her room.”
“And she looked so strange, like she’d wasted away suddenly, all pale and gaunt, as if she’d suffered some massive shock.”
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