Chapter 27

Chapter 27 – Trapped in the Game

Ariana woke up with a pounding headache. She blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light illuminating the room. The walls around her were made of cold concrete, and the rough floor beneath her suggested she was in a warehouse or a basement.

Her heart pounded as she realized her hands were tied behind a chair. Her breath quickened as she struggled to recall what had happened. Sleeping gas. Daniel. Samantha. Richard—

"Richard!" Ariana gasped, scanning the room frantically.

Across from her, Richard sat slumped in another chair, still unconscious. His face was bruised, evidence that he had fought before being subdued.

"Wake up, Richard!" Ariana called, but he barely stirred, his head hanging forward.

Before she could say more, footsteps echoed through the room. Ariana stiffened.

A figure she knew all too well stepped through the heavy steel door.

Daniel.

He strolled toward her casually, dressed in a dark suit that made him look like a man completely in control. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"You're finally awake," he said, his voice dripping with amusement.

Ariana bit her lip, forcing down the fear creeping into her chest. "What do you want, Daniel?"

He smiled and crouched in front of her, his gaze locking onto hers. "I want to give you a choice, darling."

Ariana swallowed hard. "What choice?"

Daniel leaned in, whispering near her ear. "Be with me… or be destroyed."

Rage flared inside her. She glared at him with pure hatred. "I'd rather be destroyed than be with you."

Daniel sighed dramatically and stood up. "Interesting answer. But I hope you won't regret it."

He clapped his hands, and the door swung open again. Two burly men dragged someone inside, someone who made Ariana’s blood turn cold.

Samantha.

Her hands were tied, her face bruised, but her eyes burned with defiance.

"Samantha!" Ariana struggled against her restraints, but the ropes were too tight.

Daniel watched with amusement. "I know you and Samantha have secrets. I also know she was trying to tell you something before you passed out."

Ariana froze. He knew.

"What do you want from her?" she asked, forcing her voice to remain steady.

Daniel smirked. "I want to know what she knows. And I want to find out… who the traitor among us is."

Ariana met Samantha’s gaze. Her friend looked unfazed, but Ariana could see the tension beneath her defiant expression.

"I won't say anything," Samantha finally said, her voice firm.

Daniel sighed. "Such a shame."

With a nod from him, one of the men stepped forward and slapped Samantha hard across the face.

"Stop!" Ariana shouted, shaking with fury.

Samantha staggered but didn’t back down. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet she still glared at Daniel with pure contempt. "You can do whatever you want to me, Daniel. But I will never bow to you."

Daniel chuckled. "You’ve always been stubborn, Samantha. One of the things I liked about you."

Ariana's voice was sharp. "If you think violence will make us afraid, you're dead wrong."

Daniel shrugged. "Maybe. But I have other ways."

He turned toward Richard, still unconscious.

"Wake him up," he ordered.

One of the men grabbed a bucket of water and threw it over Richard’s face. He jolted awake, coughing, his gaze unfocused.

"Ariana…?" His voice was hoarse.

Her heart clenched. "I'm here, Richard."

Daniel crouched beside him, patting his cheek mockingly. "Finally awake. How does it feel to sleep for so long?"

Richard glared at him with raw hatred. "Let us go, Daniel."

Daniel chuckled. "Why would I do that? I’m just getting started."

Richard struggled against his restraints, but he was too weak. Ariana could see the injuries on his face, fueling her anger.

Daniel turned back to Ariana. "Now, let’s play a little game."

Ariana’s stomach twisted. "What kind of game?"

His smile was cruel. "I’ll give you one chance to walk out of here alive. But you have to choose…"

He gestured between Samantha and Richard. "Who will you save?"

Ariana felt her entire body go cold. "What?"

"You can only save one, Ariana," Daniel said lightly. "Samantha or Richard. Choose one, and I’ll let them go. But the other… will die."

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

"You’re insane," she whispered.

Daniel shrugged. "Maybe. But I want to see how far you're willing to go for someone you love."

Ariana looked between Samantha and Richard, her breath shallow. Neither of them begged to be chosen.

"I won’t choose," she finally said, her voice trembling.

Daniel sighed. "Such a disappointment. That means… I’ll have to choose for you."

He pulled something from his pocket—a knife.

Ariana stiffened. "Daniel, don’t do this."

His eyes gleamed. "Too late."

Then, with a swift motion, he moved toward Samantha—

"No!" Ariana screamed.

But before Daniel could strike, something happened.

A loud noise erupted from outside. The steel door burst open, and someone rushed in.

"Stop!"

Everyone turned, and Ariana’s eyes widened in shock.

"Nathan?"

The man stood there, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his face filled with fury.

Daniel looked just as surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Nathan’s gaze was locked onto him. "I’ve seen enough of your madness, Daniel."

Ariana couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Nathan, who had been working for Daniel all this time, was now standing against him.

"What do you mean, Nathan?" Daniel’s voice turned cold.

Nathan inhaled sharply. "I can't let this happen. I’ve been part of your games for too long, and I won’t let them suffer any more."

Ariana’s mind spun. Betrayal, lies, and now—a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

But the real question was—could they make it out of here alive?