Nightmare Game
Copyright© 2025 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 44
Lucas’s face twisted in shock as he suddenly recalled the gruesome incident from their first day in the castle.
The tall guy he’d argued with had died inexplicably under Butler’s fists, just like that.
A strong hunch hit him: Ethan was trying to recreate the scene right now.
But why?
He knew full well what provoking Butler led to, so why do it? Was he suicidal?
No time to ponder; he glanced instinctively at Butler.
The man clutched his head, his features contorted as if from massive terror, eyes bloodshot.
Then...
“Baa!”
A piercing cry exploded through the hall, the high-pitched wail stabbing at their eardrums like needles. Both men clamped hands over their ears in pain.
“Goat-head monster ... goat-head monster ... goat-head monster...”
Butler ranted like a madman, repeating the words over and over, his slitted pupils contracting wildly, veins bulging on his face, looking every bit the ravenous beast.
Abruptly, he fell silent, the air thick with an ominous calm, like the hush before a storm.
In the next instant, he lunged at Ethan, fist raised to strike.
Ethan had anticipated the outburst, dodging nimbly to the side the moment Butler moved.
Without missing a beat, he bolted straight toward Lucas.
Lucas turned pale, realizing instantly that the guy aimed to use Butler against him.
His mind raced, weighing options.
He wasn’t without confidence in taking Butler down, but Berserk activated only once daily. Wasting it here left him vulnerable to any surprises later.
Better to run; no point squandering the chance.
As if reading his thoughts, Ethan smirked.
“Lucas, you sure it’s smart to let me die here?”
Lucas hesitated.
Ethan pressed on.
“Think carefully. If I go down, you’ll never learn the castle’s secrets. Even surviving today, tomorrow’s a different story.”
“So...”
Ethan’s eyes gleamed with manic certainty, like he’d already won.
“You really gonna bail and leave me?”
“You lunatic!”
Lucas yanked off his glasses, roaring as his body swelled visibly, thick fur sprouting everywhere. In seconds, his head ballooned into something massive and feral, eyes blazing with wild fury.
His arms thickened like trunks, muscles rippling, making the already tall Butler look scrawny by comparison.
He didn’t charge Butler first; instead, he went for Ethan, figuring grab and go would suffice.
But he’d badly underestimated his own limits.
Ethan had witnessed his clash with Mrs. Bennett, knowing the brute strength was untouchable, but speed lacked finesse. Plus, Lucas was an amateur, untrained in combat, making evasion straightforward.
Lucas fumed, feeling like Ethan slipped through his fingers like a greased eel. Several near-misses on the guy’s clothes, only for him to twist away at the last second.
After multiple failed grabs, frustration boiled over.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.