Nightmare Game
Copyright© 2025 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 81
“Lost travelers, welcome to my treasury,” it said, voice soft, laced with innate languor and pride.
Its eyes roamed the group, drinking in their reactions with quiet satisfaction.
“What do you think of my hoard? To welcome you, feel free to take any treasure that catches your eye.”
Tension gripped them. Every spider in this Dreamplay had been mute, driven by instinct alone. This effigy? No mere statue. Something powerful spoke through it, likely Arachnis herself.
Yesterday, Ethan had shared Tela’s intel, but whether the village rebellion turned Arachnis cruel remained unclear. Her power was undeniable, and Irene and Zoe’s grisly ends marked her no saint.
Take treasures? No one bought the generosity. It was a trap, ignored.
“Such standoffish guests,” the effigy sighed, a mock pout in its tone. “You wound your host’s heart.”
“Enough. If you won’t talk, I’ll leave.”
“Wait,” Ethan called as the effigy’s glow began to fade.
“You’ve never shown yourself since we arrived. Either you shun the spotlight, or some rule binds you, forcing you to use this effigy to speak.”
“Whichever it is, you’re not here for small talk. You’ve got a message, don’t you?”
His words halted the dimming. The effigy flared bright, held back.
The group watched, nerves taut. Tomorrow was the Ceremony, and their clues were thin. Any word from Arachnis’s mouth could be gold.
Silence hung, then broke.
A soft chuckle. “Clever little thing, aren’t you?” the effigy said, eyeing Ethan with amusement. It scanned the others, lingering on each face.
“Fishing for intel? Since you’re entertaining, I’ll humor you with a few answers.”
Bennett’s eyes lit up, mouth opening. “So—”
A tug on his sleeve stopped him. Oliver, behind, shook his head.
“Let Ethan handle it,” Oliver whispered. “He’s better at this.”
Bennett caught the logic: Arachnis wasn’t a pushover. A sloppy question could be dodged, or worse, corner Ethan.
He shut up. Wesley and Hazel, picking up the cue, turned to Ethan.
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.