Chapter 56 Bright
brIGHT
They didn’t have a choice about doing “play time,” Bright thought. Not really.
The massive Trollox loomed over them in the hallway, his middle head wearing that grotesque parody of a smile—a grin full of rot and malice.
And still, they followed him because what else could they do?
Bright stayed close to Burn and Noelle, subtly positioning himself between the two of them whenever he could. His hand brushed Noelle’s as they walked and he felt her fingers tremble. She didn’t grab him—not here, not now—but that tiny movement told him everything he needed to know.
She’s scared—more than scared—she’s terrified.
Thune shambled ahead of them like a three-headed ogre from a nightmare, humming a tuneless, off-key melody that grated against Bright’s already frayed nerves—especially since he knew what must be coming.
Gods, it’s like he’s enjoying this—like it’s some kind of game to him.
The corridor stretched on longer than he remembered—dark and narrow, the overhead lights flickering intermittently like they were shorting out.
The stench of the place was worse than before, too.
Thick, humid air, tinged with the scent of spoiled meat and sweat and something faintly metallic—like old blood and cold iron.
The scent of Thune himself only added to the miasma.
Bright clenched his jaw, forcing himself not to gag.
Don’t show weakness. Not in front of the Trollox.
He glanced sideways at Burn. The Dark Twin’s face was pale, his jaw tight with pain and fury. The memory of him falling to his knees under the Trollox’s remote still burned in Bright’s mind.
He’s not okay. That shock hit him harder than he’ll admit.
And yet, Burn hadn’t stopped—hadn’t broken. He was still walking, stiff but upright, his eyes burning like coals in a storm. Bright knew that look.
He’s right on the edge of Rage. But losing control and going into a berserker fury wouldn’t help them now—not while Thune still held the remote to all their pain collars.
Just then, the hallway ended at a heavy velvet curtain—thick and faded red, hanging like an ominous theater drape. Thune’s massive hand reached out and yanked it aside with a rustling swish, revealing a thick wooden door.
Thune pulled the creaking thing open, revealing a steep staircase leading down into total darkness.A cold draft flowed up from below, brushing against Bright’s bare arms like the breath of something waiting in the dark.
Noelle inhaled sharply and stopped in her tracks. Bright could smell the spike of her fear—sharp and salt-edged like adrenaline and saltwater.
Burn stepped closer to her instinctively. Bright mirrored the motion.
“You can’t actually expect us to go down there with you,” Bright said to Thune, eyeing the yawning blackness below.
The middle head twisted back toward them, that rancid smile spreading across its face.
“Why not, little piggy-wig?” Thune cooed mockingly. “Don’t worry—there’s no pain down in the play room—only pleasure for the piggy-wigs.”
Pleasure.
The word made Bright’s stomach twist. That tone…that grin…the way Thune looked at them….
I know what he wants. What he’s about to make us do.
He looked at Burn, then at Noelle. Their eyes met and held. There were no words, but they didn’t need them.
They all understood.
This wasn’t just torture—this was entertainment. At least for Thune and the customers who bought his porn.
“Will you come piggy-wigs…” Thune asked, waggling the remote threateningly, “or do you want another taste of pain?”
Bright swallowed hard. He had to make the call. If Burn took another hit, he might go into Rage. And if Noelle was shocked by her collar, she might not recover—she was too fragile, too delicate to take the kind of pain Thune seemed more than willing to dish out if he was disobeyed.
“All right,” Bright said quietly, stepping forward. “But if you try to hurt Noelle, or even touch her—”
“No, no, piggy-wig,” Thune interrupted gleefully. “We have no intention of touching your little female.” The middle head gave that horrible grin again. “We’ll leave that to you.”
Bright felt sick—he knew what that meant.
He means to make us perform.
Noelle’s soft breath hitched beside him. Burn’s body tensed like a spring drawn too tight.
Goddess, help us, Bright prayed.
And then they descended the stairs, one creaking step at a time, the darkness swallowing them like a beast swallowing its prey