Nightmare Game
Copyright© 2025 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 99
Silence fell.
The Ape set down its gourd, its drunken haze clearing, eyes sharp. “Exactly.”
It nodded, locking eyes with Ethan. “You’re the human we five chose. We pinned high hopes on you from the start.”
“You didn’t disappoint, picking up what we taught you fast.”
“Even without us cluing you in on Dreamplay, you survived Blackwood Castle on your own.”
Ethan shook his head, touching the Snake pendant at his chest. “If not for this trinket from Snake, I might not have made it through Ghost Gate so easily.”
The Snake, coiled around his neck, drooped, looking listless.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, noting the odd looks from the others. There was more to this.
The Wolf leaned back, paws behind its head, casual. “Snake went rogue. We’re not supposed to tell you about Dreamplay.”
“For your first trial, we couldn’t help at all.”
“But Snake, worried you’d get hurt, used its power to make that pendant, giving you a warning edge.”
“That broke the rules, though, and tanked your first trial’s performance.”
“The others insisted we couldn’t grant you a Blessing, leaving you defenseless in the second Dreamplay.”
The Fox giggled. “All because Snake got too attached. Our humans don’t go down that easy.”
“But that second Spider Dreamplay? No one’s getting through alone. Without Ethan rallying those Blessed folks, it would’ve been rough.”
The Wolf and Fox clearly disapproved of Snake’s move, their half-teasing complaints sinking Snake’s spirits further.
Ethan stroked Snake’s head, smiling. “That’s just hindsight. This pendant saved my skin plenty, helping me read situations.”
“I’m grateful for it.”
“Ethan!” Snake perked up, its eyes brimming with emotion, nuzzling his cheek.
“You,” the Fox huffed, jealous. “Always spoiling it.”
Ethan patted the Fox’s soft fur, changing the subject. “Speaking of, I wasn’t the only one with outside help in the first trial. There was a guy with Bear’s Blessing.”
“He was a newbie like me, and I heard Blessings aren’t supposed to show up in the rookie trial.”
“Oh, that?” The Wolf perked up, grinning. “I know all about that.”
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