Page 35

“Your life, gamified.” He pushes the plate back toward me. “Eat or you’ll see those numbers drop more. Trust me, you won’t like what happens when they hit critical levels.”

I stare at the screen, then back atRyker, rage building inside me. The gamification of my captivity is sick—a twisted extension of the online world we once shared.

“This is insane,” I mutter. “You can’t just?—”

“Can’t what?” His voice remains calm, almost gentle, which somehow makes it worse. “Can’t make sure you stay healthy? Can’t care about your well-being?”

“This isn’t caring,” I hiss, clenching my hands into fists. “This is control.”

Ryker’seyes darken, and his finger hovers over his phone. “Test me if you want.”

I glance at the screen again. What happens at critical levels? Punishment? Force-feeding? Something worse I can’t even imagine?

“You know what? Go ahead.” I cross my arms, finding unexpected courage. “Drop my health to zero. Show me what happens. Because I’m not playing your sick game.”

Surprise flickers across his face, quickly replaced by something that makes me believe he has ice running through his veins. “You don’t want to do this,Kira.”

“I didn’t want to be kidnapped, but here we are.” I hold his gaze, refusing to back down. “You think gamifying my captivity makes this okay? It doesn’t. It makes it worse.”

We stare at each other, locked in a silent battle of wills. Then, to my surprise,Rykersets his phone down.

“Fine.” His voice is tight. “But next time I offer you food, you’ll eat, or there will be consequences.”

A small victory, but I cling to it. I’ve established a boundary, however minor. I’ve shown him I won’t be completely compliant.

“Now come with me.” He grabs my arm, his grip firm but not painful. “It’s time for Level Two, whether you’ve eaten or not.”

He leads me through the kitchen to a heavy steel door I hadn’t noticed before. The contrast between it and the replica of my apartment is jarring—a reminder that this entire setup is a prison.

“Where are we going?” My voice sounds small, even to my own ears.

“Down.” He punches a code into a keypad beside the door, and it swings open with a metallic groan.

A staircase descends into darkness. My heart rate spikes, and I instinctively pull back.

“No. I’m not going down there.” The basement. It’s always the basement where the worst things happen.

Ryker’sexpression hardens. “It wasn’t a request.”

“I don’t care.” I plant my feet, refusing to move. “I’m not playing your game anymore.”

His patience snaps. In one fluid motion, he throws me over his shoulder. I scream, pounding my fists against his back, kicking wildly.

“Put me down! Let go of me!”

He ignores my struggles, carrying me down the stairs as if I weigh nothing. The stairwell is concrete and cold, the fluorescent lights flickering to life as we descend. My struggles are useless against his strength, but I don’t stop fighting.

At the bottom, another steel door awaits. WhenRykerpushes it open, I glimpse what lies beyond and momentarily stop struggling in shock.

“What the actual fuck?”

Before us stretches an elaborate maze with walls nearly reaching the ceiling. The space is far larger than should be possible in a residential basement. This isn’t a house; it’s a compound.

Rykersets me down but keeps a firm grip on my arm. “Welcome to Level Two,” he says, pride in his voice. “Do you like it? It took a long time to build.”

“You’re crazy,” I observe. “This is... this is...”

“Impressive? Thank you.” He steps beside me, scanning the maze entrance with satisfaction. “The rules are simple. There’s a prize waiting at the center—something you’ll want. You get a five-minute head start.”