Nightmare Game
Copyright© 2025 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 39
“If it’s the key you’re worried about, don’t be.”
That stopped the departing chef, who turned with a scowl.
Seeing the reaction, Ethan knew he’d hit the mark. He pulled out the wooden cellar key swiftly.
“I didn’t steal Butler’s. I made a copy, so no risk of theft fallout.”
Staring at the offered key, the chef accepted this time, grabbing it.
“Name your terms.”
Ethan gestured back at the eager horde.
“Protect me from any threats in the castle.”
The chef just laughed coldly, as if amused.
“Forget whether your offer covers it; I couldn’t anyway.”
Ethan wasn’t surprised; he hadn’t pegged the chef as that powerful, but formalities demanded asking.
What if it worked?
He scaled back quickly.
“Then at least keep these things from harming me.”
This time, no refusal. The chef lumbered to the wall, swinging its cleaver in a mighty chop.
The fleshy wall split wide under the force, oozing yellow slime but no blood.
Sheathing the blade at its waist, the chef gripped the gash with massive hands and tore it fully open.
Only then did Ethan see the hidden expanse inside, a football-field-sized chamber within the wall.
“Get in, all of you.”
The monsters resisted at first, muttering incomprehensibly, eyes locked hungrily on Ethan.
But when the chef seized one, slamming it down and raising the cleaver high.
In Ethan’s view, it mirrored a chef prepping a wriggling fish on the board.
Blade fell, head rolled, blood sprayed, the body twitched briefly before stilling.
Witnessing this warning, the monsters fell silent, retreating like a wave into the space under the chef’s lethal glare.
Once all entered, the chef squeezed the gash shut, sealing the wall smooth as new, untouched.
“Deal done. If that’s it, I’m off to sleep.”
The chef seemed uninterested in Ethan, turning away.
“Wait.”
Ethan called out. “You weren’t originally from the castle, were you?”
The chef paused, giving him an odd look. “How’d you know?”
“A maid supervised that day to prevent issues, since the castle runs on strict rules everyone follows, guests and staff alike.”
“That marks you as an outsider, with some autonomy, not fully bound.”
For the first time, the chef regarded him squarely.
“You’re sharp.”
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