Chapter 5

“We’ve worked out what he likes. What about what he hates? Someone will die if they choose it.”

I raised my hand.

“I found a photo album in the library. Birthday pictures of a little boy, year after year, right into his twenties. The cake was untouched in every one. I think the Boss hates fruit cake.”

That left us with a worse problem.

If everyone had to offer a dish, someone had to take the cake.

We drew lots. The guy with the buzz cut drew the losing one.

He looked at his slip, then glanced at me.

When the banquet started, Vanessa went first. She carried the creamy stew to the Boss with a practiced smile.

[Congratulations. You have presented the Boss’s favorite dish.]

[You have earned his favor and another wish.]

[Please state your chosen cause of death.]

Vanessa drew a quick breath.

“I choose to die beyond this dungeon’s power to harm me. No Boss, curse, disaster, or accident within this dungeon may hurt me. Even if I break this world’s rules, those rules cannot harm me.”

The others stared at her.

She’d promised to get us all out. That was why they’d handed over their clues and given her the stew.

She hadn’t mentioned any of us.

The Boss inclined his head.

“As you wish.”

Vanessa met the others’ furious looks with a sneer.

“Please. It’s every man for himself. This is a horror game. If you’re stupid enough to trust someone with your clues, that’s your problem.”

The banquet continued. Three players offered the escargot, the salad, and the lamb chops. None received a reward or a punishment.

When my turn came, someone shoved me to the floor.

The buzz-cut guy rushed past and set the seared cod in front of the Boss. My dish.

He looked down at me. “Vanessa’s right. Why should I obey some stupid draw and die? If you can’t protect your dish, that’s on you.”

No one helped me. They just watched.

[Here we go. Players turning on each other. Happens every time.]

[Survival of the fittest. If you can’t keep up, you don’t belong here.]

[Told you the newbie wouldn’t last. Anyone still betting on her?]

[The last guy who offered the Boss a cake became one. What do you think he’ll do to her?]

[Player Daphne Cole, it is your turn to present a dish to the Boss.]

I got up and looked at Adrian. He’d sat there through the whole thing without moving.

For some reason, that irritated me more than anything.

Fine. If I was about to die, I wasn’t going quietly.

I took a cherry from the cake and popped it into my mouth. Then I dragged my fingers through the cream frosting and walked toward him.

The mist thickened around us until I could no longer see the other players.

I smiled at him.

“What would you like first? The cream, the cherry… or me?”