CHAPTER 5 : A SENSUAL TOUCH 🥩🚫

Week One, Monday Morning

[Raven’s POV]

A mechanical sound chimed, awakening me from my slumber.

[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]

All participants are to appear in the game room within the next ten minutes for the first game of the week.

Find a box containing your required weekly costumes outside your room door.

(Repeat)

I stirred in bed, still half asleep. Leo, however, was wide awake, sitting on the arm of the chair.

He stood abruptly and walked to the door to retrieve the box. I sat up, sleep clearing from my eyes as my mind fully slipped into game mode.

This game might be sabotaged. My ex, Zade, could show up at any moment. But right now, I didn’t care. I wasn’t backing down because of Leo’s insecurity or some ex who never truly cared about me.

Leo placed the box in front of us and opened it. The first costume was a short net gown paired with a black, body-fitting pants-trouser. For the men, it was a net singlet and short black pants.

We got dressed immediately. Just as we were about to head out, Leo stopped me, worry etched across his face.

“So… are you following in on my plans or not?”

I sighed helplessly. “I’ll just try to survive, Leo.”

The game room was built in full sci-fi mode — a scientific arena bathed in red blazer lights, unbearably hot.

[SYSTEM]

— Welcome, Aphroxites.

A robotic voice echoed across the room as the figure at the center came to life, its eyes glowing. If it had emotions, I’d say it looked bemused.

We lined up in a circle around the arena, waiting for further instructions.

Different sections of the arena were enclosed from view. Two assistants carrying a sleek black box walked toward a veiled area and unveiled it, revealing a long tube.

[SYSTEM]

— For the first game of the day, players are required to pair up with their partners, put on the straps connected to each other, and navigate the tube to retrieve the ball at the end that matches each couple’s strap color.

— Failure to retrieve the ball results in punishment chosen by the Game Master.

— Winning is determined by emotional spike rate, point attribution, and cooperation between partners.

— Couples are allowed to sabotage other couples while maintaining their own spike levels and points.

****

All players moved to their starting points, collecting their straps. Ours was blue.

Leo helped me fasten mine, and I did the same for him. We were connected at the waist.

“This is going to be difficult,” he said. “But we can do this. Just follow my lead and the original plan.”

I ignored him.

[SYSTEM]

— Let the games begin.

We carefully entered the tube. It wasn’t as smooth as expected — slimy, thick, and filled with a smell that made my nose wrinkle.

Cum?

I turned to Leo. He wore a strange smirk, one I almost mistook for amusement.

“This is crazy. You seem to be enjoying this all of a sudden.”

“Well… I’m impressed.”

He slipped beneath me.

“Just lie on my back. We’ll take it slow so the others can get ahead. We don’t have to make it obvious. We’ll still get the ball — just slowly.”

I nodded.

We moved gradually through the long, dark tunnel. The substance was slick but smooth enough to glide through.

I lay against Leo’s back. With his slow movements and the thick scent surrounding us, my wrist suddenly beeped.

[PLAYER DETECTED: RAVEN HART]

[SPIKE LEVEL: 50%]

“What’s that?” Leo chuckled.

I pressed the watch tightly, as if that would silence it.

“Nothing… just this watch misbehaving.”

“You sure it’s the watch,” he teased, “or do you find my back and movements sexy?”

I rolled my eyes, though my body stiffened. “Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Yeah, Raven. We need at least an average spike level, right? You need to help me achieve mine too.”

I groaned softly as we glided forward. “How do I do that?”

“I don’t know. Anything is fine.”

A smirk curved my lips. I leaned forward, breathing hot against his neck, kissing it slowly. I pressed my firm breasts against his back, rubbing shamelessly.

“Tell me if you want this…” I whispered.

[PLAYER DETECTED: LEO HART]

[SPIKE LEVEL: 80%]

“What the fuck?” we both laughed.

“Raven, I said average — not a winning spike level!”

“Must be the watch misbehaving again.”

We laughed as we continued toward the end of the tunnel.

“There — I see it!” I pointed. The blue ball sat at the far end.

I grabbed it, and we slowly turned to make our way out.

“Easy,” Leo whispered. “We don’t want to outpace the others.”

It took about five minutes to crawl out. To our surprise, the arena was empty.

“What’s going on?” Leo murmured.

[SYSTEM]

— Congratulations. Raven and Leo are the first couple to arrive at the arena with their winning ball.

— Please await the other players.

— Spike levels, speed, and emotional compatibility will be considered.

We exchanged glances. We knew we had deliberately delayed in the tunnel.

So how were we first?

One by one, the other players emerged, bodies completely covered in slime which was unlike ours. Some had their balls. Some didn’t.

I suspected their tunnel were overly filled with slime and ours slightly less.

[SYSTEM]

— Welcome back, players.

— Please await the final results.

The room fell silent.

[SYSTEM]

— Results will be announced based on the top five couples, sequenced from lowest to highest.

— Points are calculated from highest individual partners and combined performance.

— Eve & Spencer Reid placed fifth with a total score of 180/300

(Spike Level: 60%, Emotional Compatibility: 70%, Speed: 50%)

They didn’t look impressed — only frantic and hopeful. The tension was already spreading.

— Betty & Finn placed fourth with 200/300

(Spike Level: 90%, Emotional Compatibility: 40%, Speed: 70%)

— Claire & Maxton placed third with 250/300

(Spike Level: 80%, Emotional Compatibility: 90%, Speed: 80%)

— Fiona & Ken placed second with 270/300

(Spike Level: 90%, Emotional Compatibility: 95%, Speed: 85%)

— Raven & Leo placed first with 280/300

(Spike Level: 80%, Emotional Compatibility: 100%, Speed: 100%)

[SYSTEM CONT’D]

— Winners would receive bonus points for the next round and executive dinner dates.

— Losing couples will perform a compulsory punishment task in front of the entire house.

— All players advance to the next game in two days.

— Well done, Aphroxites. The world is watching, and your emotions are speaking for you.

“What the fuck,” I whispered.

Leo and I exchanged a look that confirmed his fears.

This game was rigged.