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TWENTY-ONE: Ball of respite.
Last Updated:
2026-02-20 22:39:43
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Survive Me, Darling TWENTY-FIVE: Tired and sick.
“Five minutes to vacate the mansion.” The voice filtered into my subconsciousness as I moved down the stairs in black leather pants, a tight-fitted combat jacket, and my hair up in a tight bun. I easily blended with the moving crowd as we walked out, while I made every possible effort to avoid Lucan. My traitorous mind did a vivid flashback to an hour ago when he’d suddenly pulled away once we were in the mansion and then I recalled how he stepped three feet away from me, no emotions leaking through him. Except I, who was a shivering mess with my lips still pulsing and every part of me feeling charged. “You’ll catch a cold if you don't get a warm bath”That was the only thing he'd said to me before walking away. I watched him disappear up the stairs as anger and an awakening need began a war in my chest.How I hated him. I hated the level of his audaciousness.I hated how he felt it was easy to jump on me and assert his dominance, something I never let anyone have over me. And
Survive Me, Darling TWENTY-FOUR: Breathless.
Stella’s death started something more than inhumane. For everyone, for the evil system itself. And for me. Something shifted in me after watching her helplessly lie in her own pool of blood. She only did what she had to do to survive here and while that god walked away unharmed, she paid with her life. By morning, her body withered away into dust, leaving only dried blood. I sat under an oak tree, numbed. The once white dress on me was now red from wine with injuries littered across my once flawless skin.The garden smelled soft and citric, a sickening contrast to the doom this place was.The sun smiled down on my face and for the first time in my whole years of living, if it was possible to rip the sun out of the clouds I'd be making haste to do just that. I turned away from its light only to see Lucan standing a few distances away with a strenuous look etched into his face as he folded both arms across his chest.“I’ve searched everywhere for you.” He muttered. I didn't resp
Survive Me, Darling TWENTY-THREE: Rot.
As soon as the locks fell and the bolts clicked off, the door pushed open by sheer force plunging everyone who had been resting against it—Not out onto land—but down a steep hill into the dark glaring mouth of a volcanic cave. My heart caught in my mouth, their screams echoing as they tumbled down.“I think she’s one of them.” A woman behind me whispered to the next player, her arrow already stretched against her bow’s string to shoot. “She has a blue…” “It doesn't matter, blue or red…shoot her.” The woman ordered. I didn't wait. There was no time to. I turned around swiftly only to collide with a tower of red wine lined up like a pyramid on a golden table. The glasses toppled and shattered over me, red wine splashed like blood onto my dress while I crashed to the ground. My palm dug into one of the broken glasses creating a deep cut into my skin.White pain flared through me. And just as I brought the injured palm up to my chest in a tight grip with blood pelting onto my dress
Survive Me, Darling TWENTY-TWO: Purging?
The moment I ran back into the ballroom, I slammed the door shut behind me, the splitting bang drawing every eye to me. My chest thumped frantically. I was out of breath, but I forced myself to straighten up, my skin itching with an ugly sensation as I recalled the man’s eyes—red eyeballs that sparked fire. Everyone was already seated at the tables, the guests in the gallery above, watching us like this was a damn cinema show. From what I’d seen earlier, they were probably not human. I stole a brisk glance at their faces. As I’d suspected, they looked unreal… yet human. “Are you okay?” Kim asked the minute I reached her table and slumped into one of the seats. She, Rick, and two other male players, were feasting on the crisp skin of roasted quail. The wild and unfamiliar scent pushed bile up my throat. “Hey,” Rick mumbled with a mouth full. “Why did you go in there?” Kim resumed eating. “I heard it’s prohibited.” “Those people up there aren’t human,” I whispered to her. “One
Survive Me, Darling TWENTY-ONE: Ball of respite.
Once I made it out of Lucan’s orbit I moved up the third floor in search of Kim’s room. It was fruitless as every door I opened had players in them and I was soon chanting ‘Sorry’ to everyone I walked in on. This was what I got for snuggling up to Lucan despite how much I had tried staying away. I stood in the middle of the hallway, conflicted. With my hands on my waist, I puffed air and kicked and whined. I probably should have just gone with Lucan. “Excuse me, are you lost?” I heard and gradually looked up to find a lady. Too beautiful to be in here, tall, slender waist, her gorgeous ball dress clung to her like a second skin with the hem stopping at her thighs. “Yes, I am.” I quickly walked up to her. “Can I use your room? I need to wear something before everyone is called down.” “Of course” She smiled, and then brought her hands up to touch my hair. “You have such great hair, it's so silky and shiny…I envy you.” My face warmed up at the compliment. This was perks
Survive Me, Darling TWENTY: Warmth before ruin.
I ran a hand through my hair—tired, exhausted already.We all got to the bus station on Harcourt Street as the voice had ordered.The road was deserted, the street sign already crashed like a thick log of wood in our path as we all walked over it to the crooked bus, with its door already wide open like a welcome. Inside, the leather seats were damp and soaked with morning dew, torn at the sides, and the atmosphere swirled with fog.I’d never seen fogs as much as I’d seen in this world, each one always had an unpleasant smell, and at this point, it was safe to call it a fog city.We were about twenty standing in the bus—clueless.“Take your seat, players.” The voice announced.As everyone moved about, I found a lone seat in the middle, walked close to it, and slowly perched down on it. The damp wetness soaked into my pants with a sharp coolness, I couldn’t help but shiver.And then there was darkness. One so thick— I couldn’t see a soul on the bus, except for murmurs that still groun
