A final check indicated all systems functioned perfectly, including the recently upgraded video capabilities. Each combatant’s avatar functioned seamlessly, with no way for anyone watching on the dark web to find out there was an actual human being behind the projected image.
If you could call them human beings.
The addition of a thirteenth captive had required some last-minute scrambling, but the overall effect made a nice visual differentiation from the rest, who were all men. Her name was Nicola Corazón, but Gustavo Toro had called her Nikki. A deep dive into various databases had revealed she had been deemed unfit for duty and booted out of the Army. Her violent nature made her a liability as a soldier but a skilled killer.
Nemesis had decided not to hide Nikki’s gender, leaning into it instead. A female warrior would provide contrast with the others, and a little eye candy for the audience never hurt. The character depicted by the avatar was a lot to live up to for someone like Nikki Corazón, but the visual was stunning and fit the theme perfectly.
Everything would be recorded, edited for audio and video, then uploaded to an encrypted cloud-based server on the dark web. Subscribers had already signed up to participate in what they believed was a beta test of a new online interactive video game. If the next few hours went according to plan, subscribers would receive a notification with a password allowing them to log in and watch. The next phase would roll out tomorrow, and they could vote for their favorite combatants or place bets on the outcome of the game.
Nemesis figured it might be possible to add an extra layer of participation for premium subscribers, giving them the ability to influence certain parts of the environment. Much would depend on how the beta testing went.
For the audience, it was about world building and creating an immersive experience. For the combatants, it was about survival and outwitting opponents. For Nemesis, the game would serve many purposes.
First, the data collected would be invaluable. Game developers created artificial environments in which players interacted with preprogrammed actors. No matter how much research went into development, nothing could substitute for real human beings making life-or-death decisions.
Nikki’s progress down the corridor was a prime example. Even if a background check hadn’t brought it to light, it was clear the woman had military training. She moved with tactical precision, checking each opening she passed, making sure no one could sneak up behind her.
At first Nemesis had contemplated eliminating Nikki immediately but was now glad to have her in the game. A female former soldier might prove entertaining. Besides, she was as much of a degenerate as the rest of them and deserved whatever the Fates dealt her.
Thoughts of fate brought an interesting idea to mind. Coming to a decision, Nemesis typed in a few commands, shutting the lights off in all but one direction around Toro, forcing him into a room Nikki was fast approaching.
It would be interesting to see what happened when the two lovers met.
CHAPTER 29
Dani approached the next doorway, preparing to clear the room inside. The lights in the corridor suddenly went out, and the only source of illumination came from inside the room she had been about to check. Nemesis was not subtle.
She flattened her back against the wall beside the open doorway and leaned forward just enough to see about a quarter of the room before straightening again.
Empty.
That left 75 percent of the interior space unknown. Nemesis was forcing her to go in, which meant she would encounter a threat inside. The room’s entrance was a choke point, and she would be momentarily exposed when she went through it.
She waited and listened. No sounds of footsteps came from within, indicating the room was either completely empty, and this was Nemesis playing head games, or someone was waiting in silence to ambush her.
What would Nemesis find most interesting? Probably a pair of lovers in a deadly showdown. Since her cover appeared to be intact, Nemesis would wonder if Nikki and Toro would kill each other on sight or form an alliance and betray one another later.
Dani had wondered the same thing. If her guess was correct, Toro would be inside the room, but how could she be sure without risking the fatal funnel created by the doorway?
She could call out to him, but if it wasn’t Toro, she’d be giving her position away, making her vulnerable to attack. Whoever was inside would know it was her because she was the only female in the game, and she doubted she could pass her voice off for a man’s.
The thought echoed in her mind. She was the only female in the game. If Toro was inside, she could signal her presence without a word by using something unique to her.
She reached up and snatched the tactical hair clip, then tossed it inside the room and took several paces back from the opening. The tinkling metallic clatter echoed through the space.
Toro’s voice finally broke the silence that followed. “Nikki?”
None of the men wore a barrette. She had counted on him realizing it had to come from her. If someone besides Toro was in the room, she hoped the sound would draw them out, giving her a chance to respond.
When she heard Toro’s voice, she knew her assumption that Nemesis would bring them together had been correct. She had gained valuable insight into their captor and a potential ally at the same time.
Unless Toro decided to kill her. Then things were about to get ugly. Again.
“You alone?” she whispered.
“Yeah.”
Now for the tricky part. If he invited her in, was he luring her into a trap?
She tried a preemptive maneuver. “Why don’t you come out here?”
“It’s dark out there,” he said. “We can’t see who’s sneaking up on us. You need to get in here with me.”
What he said made sense, but she still didn’t trust him. He had everything to gain and nothing to lose by getting rid of her here and now.
“Listen to me, Nikki,” he continued when she made no response. “My feelings about you haven’t changed. I don’t care about this bullshit game. You’re still my mujer.”
She was still his woman. While maintaining their cover as a couple, Toro was trying to communicate that he was abiding by their agreement. She recalled the words of one of her tactical instructors during training. “When you run across an unknown, be polite and professional, but the whole time be planning how to kill them if you have to.” This was how she would deal with Toro.
She bent at the knees, lowering her center of gravity, and slipped quickly through the door without announcing herself.
He took a startled step back upon seeing her. “Damn. That was total stealth. Didn’t hear you at all.”
She scanned the room, making sure they were alone despite what he’d told her, before her gaze settled on him. “Wasn’t sure what kind of reception I’d get.”
“You’ve got serious trust issues.” He spread his arms wide. “A love like ours is . . . special.”
Aware Nemesis watched their every move, she suppressed an eye roll and worded her response carefully, speaking on two levels, as he had. “You’ve had problems with commitment in the past. You can be fickle.”
She assumed he would understand that she wanted to know if he was still committed to the plan.
“Yeah, but you’re different,” he said. “You’re that perfect mix of badass and hot that makes me go all tingly.” He grinned. “We’ll always be partners in crime.”
She stooped to pick up her hair clip. “Right,” she said, sliding it back into place. “The couple that slays together stays together.”
“Exactly. We make a good team . . . as long as you don’t change your mind about me.”
Perhaps she had kept the tone of their exchange a bit too light. Toro clearly harbored doubts of his own and wanted reassurance. She looked him straight in the eye and made the most solemn vow she knew. “I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy.”
“Well, isn’t that sweet?” a male voice said from behind them, interrupting their exchange. “I’m all choked up.”
They both turned to see Chopper standing in the doorway, holding a butterfly knife.
CHAPTER 30
Dani used her strategy of opening a dialogue while preparing for a fight. She spun to face Chopper and shifted into a fighting stance, eyeing the knife he had managed to find.
Once it became obvious Dani and Toro weren’t going to murder each other, Nemesis must have made sure Chopper located a weapon before herding him in their direction.
“You want to join us?” she said to Chopper. “We can pool our resources.”
He advanced, flicking his gaze from Toro to her. “Sounds like a good way to get yourself killed. You heard what the dude said. Only one of us gets out alive.”
Clearly Chopper had totally bought into the game, but she didn’t trust anyone who would kidnap people and force them to battle to the death.
“What makes you think Nemesis will keep his word?” she said. “If he kills the last survivor, there are no loose ends.”