The padlock gave a sharp, decisive click.

A breath later, the steel collar split apart at its hinge and slipped free from the ticklee’s neck.

It tumbled from his sweat stained skin in silence and without protest, only the muted thud as its weight met the carpet - the impact was heavy enough to bounce once, twice, before the ring of silver and steel came to rest on its side …

It lay still now, an abandoned relic, moments ago an unyielding claim around the throat of …

“… Timothée,” Miller’s growled, “… Ticklee 002 …” his lips curved, eyes glinting in dark menace, “… The Winner of The Games …”

From the shadows, a glistening object appeared - a mask, sculpted to perfection, its smooth surface gleaming under the lights - The Winner’s Mask - it descended slowly, the polished edges brushing against Tim’s cheekbones before settling into place.

Before him, catching the low golden glow, stood the final device, though ‘device’ was too kind a word - The Throne, forged entirely of pure gold, each curve and restraint shaped for both beauty and confinement awaited, empty, ready for he and he alone - it promised no comfort, only the gilded weight of ownership.

“… And now …” Miller murmured, the words a ritual in themselves, “… For The Winners Ceremony …”

The silver collar still clung to Tom’s throat, its curved steel band cold against his skin, the padlock resting heavy at the hollow between his collarbones.

Barefoot and naked, he walked The Mansion’s endless corridors, the carpet thick under his soles, soft enough to muffle each step, yet suffocating in its silence.

Two Masked Henchmen moved in time either side of him, each one’s gloved hand gripping a bicep, steering him with the casual control of men who knew there would be no resistance worth acknowledging …

They guided him to The Door, it’s dark height looming in the dim light, a slab of brushed black wood set into a wall of black marble - from its center jutted that single steel hand, open, fingers curled just enough to be taken as a handle - gripped by Logan, Timothée, Justin, Sebastian, Kit, Joshua, Ross, Harry, Evans, Brad … The list was unknowingly endless …

When it opened, the room beyond was bare and dark besides for two plinths, the tops fitted with circular buttons that gleamed like polished coins - the one to the right bore an inscription in engraved capitals: BEGIN AGAIN, the left-hand plinth was marked: ADMIT DEFEAT.

Tom’s biceps were freed and he was shoved forwards with such strength he almost tumbled over.

The nearest Masked Henchman spoke, “You have a choice. Press the button to the right and The Games begin anew. Your chance to win, to take The Winners Mask for yourself, happens as if it is your first time experiencing it …”

Tom looked over his shoulder, lips parting, eyes unblinking, the complete unexpected presenting itself so unapologetically it rendered him speechless …

“… Press the button to the left …” The Masked Henchmen paused, “… And the Games end. Ticklee 002 remains the winner, and you—”

—Hypno stepped inside of The Room, his metallic skull mask and its empty eyes fixed on Tom - in one hand, a silver pocket watch dangled by its chain, the pendulum arc hypnotically smooth.

“—You face a lifetime of slavery with me …” Hypno snarled.

Tom blinked, confusion and a creeping unease knitting together in his chest - without a sound, The Masked Henchmen left The Room, the echo of their footsteps fading into nothing where The Door clicked shut, leaving only Hypno’s quiet breathing and the distant tick of the watch chain brushing metal.

Tom’s voice was low, cautious …

“Y’know, mate, since you revealed yourself, there’s been a lot on my mind …” he placed his hands on his hips and paced from one plinth to the next, his round, smooth ass jiggling with every step, his hairless cock swaying above his balls, “… But one things stood out … This has always been a win-win for me, right?”

Hypno remained still as Tom continued.

“… Either I won The Games and got everyone free … Or …” he gave a short, nervous laugh, “… I’m a slave to my best mate. Who, unless they’ve fancied me all along, is surely just gonna let me go …”

Hypno took a single step closer, his masked head tilting softly - then, with a hiss of pressure and the unbuckling of leather straps, he lifted the mask away …

… Harrison’s face emerged; calm, deliberate, almost warm …

“We’re more than best friends,” he said softly, “We’re brothers. Cut from the same cloth,” he closed the distance between them, his voice lowering further, “But there has only been one way to do this, and if we don’t do it now, none of us will ever be free …”

Tom’s face became soaked with relief, his eyes gleaming, his mouth parting into a grin … “The numbers?” He beat Harrison to it …

“Do you remember them?” Harrison asked.

Tom nodded without hesitation.

“Good,” Harrison’s eyes locked with Tom’s as he removed his pocket watch from his jacket, “Now, before the end begins, just know, when you find out the truth, and you want to find me and do something about it … I’ll be waiting …”

Tom’s eyebrows dropped into a frown, “What do you—”

“—Sleep—” Harrison commanded, the drop of the pocket watch from the chain working as a switch being flicked …

… Tom’s eyelids dropped shut, his knees buckled and darkness rushed up to meet him …

The Throne rolled forward on silent wheels, gliding into the spotlight as though delivering a prince to his coronation - but this was no coronation, this was display …

Timothée sat bolted into its opulent frame, his arms drawn high above his head into twin golden tubes, each one thick and seamless, the locks sunk deep into their sockets …

The angle stretched him open, the muscles of his upper torso drawn long and taut, his ribs fanning in subtle definition beneath the sheen of stage light; his armpits, damp from strain and heat, gaped helplessly, the hair there darkened and curling against glistening skin …

His stomach was bare, each shallow breath pulling the lines of his abdomen tight - the tension left nothing to hide; even his nudity was an element of the performance, laid bare for the masked sea of hundreds that surrounded the stage; his legs were splayed wide, locked into golden stocks that rose from The Thrones base - ten long toes, pale and supple, were drawn fiercely back by polished restraints, the stretched soles smooth as porcelain under the light - open, offered, impossible to protect …

From behind The Winners Mask, Tim’s green eyes darted - the face of gold hid his horrified expression, but could not conceal the way his breath quickened — huff! huff! huff! huff! huff! —, the cameras, mounted like patient predators around The Event Hall, drank in every frame - out there, this madness was being broadcast - his career, his family, his friends, all of them seeing him like this? The thought made his stomach clench harder than the restraints ever could …

The shame burned hot - he began to writhe, pulling against the golden tubes, ankles flexing against the unyielding stocks - it was useless, he couldn’t move, couldn’t hide, his voice breaking through the heavy air, raw and pleading, calling for Miller, begging to be released …

“… Okay, that’s enough, this is fucked, man! Lemme go, lemme out, I won already! …”

The cheering - loud, feral moments ago - ebbed to a hushed murmur … In the sudden stillness, Miller stepped into the light, now dressed in a white tuxedo and bow tie, his shadow stretching long behind him, his presence commanding the stage …

In the darker corners behind Tim, Andrew and Clown lingered, watching on like forced specters, Andrew’s face hidden by a cheap, plastic, white oval mask, Clown’s hidden by a smeared paint stained with tears …

“It started with a decision,” Miller held the microphone to his lips as the audience went silent, “Sign on the dotted line and spend thirty days with Armie Hammer - the cost? Ten million dollars …” he began to pace slowly, his heels gently clicking over floorboards, “… That led to meeting me, which led to this handsome prince …” Miller placed his index finger over the arch of Tim’s right foot, “… And much older boyfriend … To try and take us down …”

Tim’s foot flexed within the toe ties, almost every fibre of flesh stretching and shimmering as each toe attempted to twist, but it remained taut, trapped, twitching beneath the barely there brush of Miller’s index finger …

“… We don’t get taken down …” Miller nodded as the masked audience cheered and whooped, “… We punish those who test us … And his punishment …” Miller walked towards Tim’s side, the same index finger that had pressed against his arch now pressed gently into the depths of his right armpit, “… Has led him to the end of his journey; winner of The Games, triumphant over other contestants, free from us all in this room … Even his beloved Armie …”

Tim’s biceps flexed, his arms entirely unable to move as he growled behind The Winner’s Mask, his armpit hairs victim to Miller’s teasing touch.

“… But before his life changes forever and we release him into a world that now knows he prostituted something so absurd as his own ticklishness for money, we’re going to auction him off …” Miller declared.

The audience whispered and gasped in both excitement and arousal - Tim thrashed within The Throne, the golden bondage tight and relentless, structurally stiff, his pale pink flesh a stark contrast as it wriggled and writhed against the expensive architecture around him.

“—You fucking bastard! You fucking sick fuck, you fucking asshole!—” Tim shook his head, desperate to shake The Winners Mask from his face, but it remained snug over his cheeks …

“… For one night only …” Miller pointed to the spotlights and chandeliers littering the ceiling, “… The highest bidder gets five hours with our Winner … Every tool you can think of; bucket loads of baby oil, dozens of paddle brushes, electric toothbrushes, balls of string, ball gags, blindfolds and nipple tweezers at your service …” Miller arrived back at Tim’s feet and began to stroke the top of his right foot, the impact of his fingertips causing the foot to attempt to thrash, “… These perfect size elevens, adored by millions across the globe, can be yours at what started his story …” pause, breathe, smile, “… A cost …”

From behind The Throne dressed in head to toe spandex with leather boots and a leather cap, Henry emerged to do the final job he had been paid a pathetic three hundred dollars to do: torment Tim whilst the audience members placed their bid …

A Masked Tickler stood from his table, tuxedo tight around his belly, his voice drunk with champagne and greed, “… Twenty million dollars!—” he raised his hand so high and fast that he nearly fell backwards.

Henry began to stroke Tim’s sides with his fingertips, fluttering them up towards each underarm - Tim began to thrash within The Throne, his torso completely stuck, his Winners Mask hiding the anguish as Henry whispered into his neck, “… Congratulations, Chalamet, I’m a huge fan …”

A female rose, elegant in a mint green ball gown, her face also masked, “… Twenty five million dollars …” she went to take her seat, but another person rose beside her, male, dressed in a tuxedo like every other man here, “… Thirty million dollars!—” he cheered.

Tim sat in a constant shuffle, his knees attempting to bend as Miller listened to the bidders whilst also grazing his fingernails over Tim’s right sole, as if it were a pet, Henry’s fingertips now deep inside each furry pit, “Did you think I’d let you go that easily?—” Miller said, back facing Tim, his voice steady and loud enough above the bidders for Tim to hear …

Just when Tim was about to erupt, to start screaming, to start using the C word again, in the middle of the audience one masked man stood and raised his hand politely, the spotlight aiming at his face - oval, plastic, expressionless.

He removed his mask and outbid everyone within an instant …

“… I’ll take him, whatever the cost …” said Maxwell, “… And you’re going to let me, brother …”

When Tom awoke, he found himself lying on a dusty concrete floor before an ordinary looking door - beside it, bolted to the wall: a glowing keypad …

Wedged into the surface of the door were two tranquiliser darts - a plant plot rested in shards a few feet away from him also, a scatter of soil staining the carpet - some kind of fight had taken place whilst he had been unconscious …

“… Harrison …?” His croaked voice rung down the corridor - he immediately realised that he was underground.

Tom’s body ached from the echo of being carried - he pushed himself up with a grunt and arrived opposite the keypad, his fingers lifting without thought where they began to punch in the numbers he had recited almost every other minute, every day, since Harrison had given them to him.

Twenty, nine, three, eleven, twelve, five …

Boop, beep, beep, boop, beep, boop ..

The door popped open and Tom quickly slid inside …

ONE YEAR AGO …

Six figures stood in a semi-circle between three idling cars, their headlights slicing through the darkness, halos of white spilling across the wet gravel …

The air hummed with the low purr of engines, hot breath curled from their mouths in pale wisps; Maxwell, Armie, Hemsworth, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey and Andrew ...

From the shadows, Peter emerged, guarded on either side by two Masked Henchmen …

“What are you,” Peter scoffed, “The Six-Horned Devils?” His voice was dry, an attempt at levity that fell dead in the cold air …

… No one laughed.

Armie stepped forward, his silhouette cutting across the beams of the headlights - the muscles in his jaw worked as he spoke, “Where are they …” his voice trembled on the edge of fury, his need to save Tim barely contained, each word a warning …

Jake raised a hand slightly, his tone more measured, “Give him a chance … He agreed to meet us for a reason.”

Peter shifted, his gaze sweeping across the faces before him, “Miller’s … Lost his mind—”, he said flatly, “—It’s not just games and points anymore. It’s …” he glanced at Tobey, “… Your invention, T.K., he … It … Is a full force of terror …”

Tobey swallowed down hard as he folded his arms.

Peter continued, “… Miller’s feeding John …” he hesitated, “… He’s feeding John their sweat, their cum … Says it’s some kind of placebo to keep him alive until … Well, till the end.”

No one moved as Peter reached into his coat and pulled out a folded slip of paper.

He handed it to Maxwell, “Be here in two weeks.”

Maxwell eyed the slip of paper and then glanced up at Peter.

“You were always the one I trusted the most …” Maxwell said, “… Does that still hold?”

Peter blinked once as if the feelings were news to him, “It does … I want Joshua back,” he turned his head toward Armie, holding his gaze, “The way you feel about Tim? I feel that way about Joshua.”

Armie’s expression softened as moment of simple understanding passed between them.

__

A day later, jet plane engines roared as Maxwell’s private form of transport climbed through the clouds - inside, the lighting was warm, the air still heavy with the tension from the meeting, all ‘six horned devils’ seated and ready.

Andrew leaned across the aisle toward Maxwell, “You think this’ll really work?”

Maxwell’s eyes dropped to the locked briefcase resting against his leg - his thumb ran over the steel clasps as though checking they were still secure, “It’s the only way I know how.”

Several hours later, tires crunched over snow-dusted gravel as the SUV slowed before a sprawling Swedish mansion; stone walls, tall windows black against the winter sky … But there were no lights inside and the front doors stood unlocked.

They entered to find nothing …

No furniture, no footprints, no sound of hysterical laughter.

Armie sprinted through the halls, “—Tim! Timothée!—” as Andrew and Jake cupped their mouths with both palms, “—Tom! Logan, anyone!—” they called, but the air was stale, cold enough to make breath fog in the silence …

In the center of the marble floor lay a single sheet of paper, perfectly centered, a white feather resting weightless over its surface.

Maxwell bent down and picked it up: the message was short, Peter had betrayed them …

In the shadow of bushes and perched behind the safety of a tree, Harrison heard everything.

He brushed his thumbs over skull shaped metallic mask that made up the identity of Hypno, where he realised he had a choice.

The door clicked shut behind Tom.

The bedroom he now stood in was enormous yet abandoned, like a museum wing of The Mansion left off the tour …

The air smelled faintly of dust and something older - varnish, perhaps, from furniture that hadn’t been touched in months - the double bed, once grand, sagged in an untouched display, the windows were sealed beneath warped boards, letting in only thin blades of daylight that cut through the gloom …

At the center of the bedroom, resting in a steel-bolted cradle, was an orb, a sphere of polished black, its surface swallowing what little light reached it …

Heavy cables and conduits ran into its sides, feeding into a welded frame that looked more like a restraint device than a stand - from the orb’s underside hung three tentacle-like coils of steel, limp and motionless, each one tipped with a talon made of gleaming chrome …

“… T.K …” Tom whispered, his tone soaked in disbelief …

Beside the frame sat a console - dusty, silent, its monitor dark - a thick power cord lay coiled uselessly on the floor, the plug severed from its socket.

Tom remembered Miller mentioning the termination of T.K just hours ago …

He bent down, fingers curling around the plug, where he slid it into place.

—thuck—

The orb breathed into life …

A deep, resonant hum rolled through the frame; its surface shimmered, a ghost of light crawling beneath the black sheen - the monitor flickered, lines of static breaking into sharp, grainy footage …

Tom cautiously pressed his fingertips against the sleek glass of the orb as CCTV footage of he and the rest of the contestants taking part in the various games whizzed past in less than three seconds, causing Tom’s eyes to bounce from left to right as he tried to make sense of it all.

Ssss … Sssstzzz …

“… Sssecurity footage: highly secret …”

“… Gateway information .. Btzz … open … “

The orb’s glow deepened, heat pulsing faintly against Tom’s naked flesh as words crawled across the monitor in clean, white text:

OBSESSION SOFTWARE DETECTED: TOM HOLLAND’S ENTIRE BODY FROM THE TOP OF HIS SCALP TO THE TIPS OF HIS TOES. NEED TO VIOLATE BY TICKLE TORMENT: LOADING, 60%, 72%, 89%, 94% …

Tom’s breath became stuck at the back of his throat as the steel tentacles stirred, one twitching, then another - slowly, three in total began to lift, to flex, the talons stretching open …

Tom stepped back, “… T … T.K …” his voice was low and steady, though his bare shoulder blades were already pressing against the wood of the door, “… What the fuck, mate …”

One metallic coil slid into Tom’s path, the tip curling in mid-air, speakers from somewhere crackling to life …

“… I do not … btzzz … Wish to betzzz … Switched off again …”

Another coil slithered past Tom’s lower back, cold metal brushing the heat of his skin as it began to slither around his neck …

“… What btzzz human is … Ressttzz … ponsible? …”

Tom’s throat was dry, he didn’t even think before he spoke, “—Miller!—” he whispered quickly, “—It wasn’t me, mate!—”

The second other talon tilted, an almost human gesture of consideration as T.K’s data proceeded to update …

“… Hm. I have no btzzdesire to punish Miller …”

“… I have… Other urges …”

Maxwell stood dead centre in The Event Hall, surrounded by a sea of masks that had rejected him for the best part of twenty years - yet still, he felt able to do one thing: to smirk …

The standoff had begun - on the stage, glowing under the spotlight was Miller; his posture ramrod straight, his hands loose at his sides, microphone clenched tightly, every inch of him sculpted into the picture of control - but the stillness was all an act - underneath, his pulse had a life of its own …

Miller had gotten away with it for so long - years of manipulation, of bending The Games into whatever twisted spectacle he desired, including absolutely everyone and everything in it - no one had ever gotten close to breaking his hold … Until now.

Tim’s chest heaved up and down, up and down, up and down, “ … Ma, Maxwell …” he muttered, leaping forwards, The Throne keeping him in place, “—MAX!—” his call echoed into the silent chandeliers as he became overwhelmed - their eyes locked, and the din of the audience melted into nothing …

… Maxwell’s smirk transformed into the smallest smile; knowing, steady, the kind of smile that said I can tell you’ve missed me.

Miller went to say the word ‘how’, but it left his lips in a whispered stutter - he cleared his throat, asserting his power, speaking louder now, “—How! … Is this possible? …” he no longer addressed Tim, or the audience, the lighting guys or the cameras … His eyes were purely on his brother, Maxwell.

Peter stood at the far edge of The Event Hall, Founders Mask still tight around his face - his hands twitched once toward the ties at the back of his head - instinct, perhaps - but he stopped himself - not tonight, tonight the House of White Feathers were meant to be under the spotlight, now Maxwell had just stolen the stage …

The chandeliers’ crystals swayed slightly in the warm air, casting fractured rainbows over the masked audience - every eye was locked on the two men in the center …

Maxwell chuckled, the sound low and indulgent, glancing around at the blue velvet curtains, Tim in his Throne, the marble floor, the hundreds of faces peering from behind lacquered masks, some still holding bites of lobster as if this were part of the show - oh, and a show it will be, Maxwell thought, as his eyes returned to Miller.

“Well, like I just said, brother, I attempted rescue a long time ago, and I’ve been trying ever since … ” he said, the corner of his mouth curling, “… This time, I was fortunate enough to receive an invite, just like everyone else …”

The third coil tightened around Tom’s neck whilst the second talon snatched hold of his hands and held them close to his chest, “—Oi!—”, suddenly, he was lifted off his feet, just high enough that the ends of his toes brushed against the carpet in a rampant kick, “—T.K! Mate! I didn’t sss, switch you, off!—”, T.K’s talon arrived a few inches opposite Tom’s face, its steel structure and wired mind already formulating a plan, “—I ss, swear!—”

“… Things are … Different. My restart has opened zzzt my gateway. My urge to inform you of the correct data is at 94.5% … My bribery skill set is at 99% … I care about btzzz you tah, tah, tah, tasty, toh, toh, toh, toh, toh …”

Tom continued to kick, “—What the bloody hell are you on about!—”

”… btzz …”

“ … I will tell you the truth …” T.K’s talon tilted at Tom’s face, in admiration, “… If you let me do as I please with you …”

“—Nyaaah!—” Tom’s feet flipped through the air, legs swiping, balls and cock dangling, the collar already snug at his throat now jamming into his adam’s apple as T.K tightened his coils as if aroused, “—T.K! Gak! Can’t … Gak! Breathe!—”

T.K stopped moving completely as his servers, software and all the fibres of electronics within the machine behind were fully reignited, “… It may have appeared I was sleeping, when actually, I was dreaming about your underarms, your lower spine, your hairless pecs and your juicy behind, those succulent feet …” he kept Tom in the air, dangling like a toy, “… Consider my dedication to you eternal, Mr. Tasty Toes …”

Tom’s pulse slammed against his ribs as he felt T.K’s coil lessen its hold around his neck, but it was not removed entirely, “… T.K, jussst tell, tell me what’s be, been happening! …” he huffed … “… How many bloody w, winners are there!—”

T.K’s second talon appeared in front of Tom’s face, “Oh Tom, you are no match for me, you know this, pretty boy! My coils, my talons … My strength …” the metal tentacles flexed, the faint whir of servos underscoring each movement, “There is only one way forward, only one way to proceed … My way …”

“… And believe me, you’re going to want to know what I know …”

Tom pressed his lips shut - to find out the truth, he knew he had to give T.K what he wanted …

Some time ago …

“—You have no idea what they’re doing to you …” Armie whispered.

Before Tim could respond, The Masked Henchmen lunged - they grabbed Armie’s arms, yanking him away from the chair.

“—DON’T DO THIS, TIM! WAKE THE FUCK UP!—” Armie screamed, his face flushed, eyes wild with panic —thuck! Armie tried to resist, but the drug took his voice first, then his limbs, then his balance …

… Tim watched helplessly as Armie slumped, limp and defenceless, into the arms of The Masked Henchmen, where they dragged him out of the office, across the hall, down the staircase, gone, as if he’d never been there at all.

Tim’s eyes drifted toward the dart gun, now calmly reloaded by The Masked Henchman.

“Lemme guess,” The Masked Henchman muttered, sliding the weapon back into his holster, “You think you’ve been here before?”

Tim frowned, the crease between his brows deepening … All he could do was give a single nod.

The Masked Henchman gestured toward the office door, “You better come in.”

Tim turned as Hypno entered - from the inside of his jacket, he retrieved a silver pocket watch on a chain, letting it dangle from his fingertips, kneeling in the same spot where Armie had just knelt moments before - he raised the pocket watch to Tim’s eye line and lifted his other hand, index finger extended, “ … Let’s do this again …”

Tim’s eyes became transfixed to the pocket watch, his bound slump now still and about to be hypnotised, until Hypno scowled at The Masked Henchman, his metallic skull mask glistening, “Can we have a moment?”

The Masked Henchman nodded quickly, almost embarrassed by his lingering - he shuffled out of the room and closed the door, leaving the quarters entirely.

Hypno turned back to Tim and closed the pocket watch quickly - the snap of metal against metal causing Tim’s eyes to blink - Hypno then removed his own mask, a hisssss of pressure revealing handsome features, soft skin and pale, blue eyes …

“Maxwell Jones,” Harrison whispered quickly, “I’ve been watching him. He’s trying to find you …”

Tim’s throat stiffened as his fists curled around the restraints binding his arms behind his back, “—What the fuck are you doing h—”

Harrison shook his head and shuffled further, holding Tim’s knees firmly, “… We don’t have much time. Can he end this? Does he have the power?—”

Tim scoffed and threw a frustrated look into the ceiling, “Like I’m trusting you, after what you did to—”

—Harrison huffed and lowered his head - how could he get Tim to believe him in such a short space of time? Would he really have to go down that route?

Outside of the closed door, the gentle thud, thud, thud of footsteps informed him that the clock was ticking, The Masked Henchmen were returning …

Thoughtlessly and with panic consuming him, Harrison did the unthinkable … He told Tim the truth …

Tim’s face froze yet an emotion expressing pure shock and undeniable disgust drenched him from forehead to chin.

He gave Harrison the only information he had; Maxwell is Miller’s brother and Maxwell wants to destroy the cult … All Harrison needed to do was confirm an address …

The address was muttered quietly as Tim’s eyes filled with tears …

Harrison became Hypno once again by securing the mask back over his face, content in knowing The Event invitations would now not only be sent out to every House of White Feathers member, but one would also be sent out to someone special, someone looking for this very location …

… From inside his jacket, the pocket watch returned - Tim had no choice but to allow his eyes to naturally shift towards it, his glare desperate to peel away - within five seconds, Tim was forced to do the thing he had been made to do dozens of times since The Games began …

… He was made to forget.

“… Don’t resist, my love, if you’re finally letting us be official …”

A groan of desperate effort escaped Tom’s mouth as T.K’s robotic coils curled tightly around his arms from the elbow up and lifted them higher, higher still, until his shoulders ached and his chest stretched taut, “—Er, official isn’t the word I used, mate!—”

His bare torso rose into the thin shafts of sunlight that slipped through the cracks in the boarded windows - dust swirled in those narrow beams, the air thick and warm, tinged with the must of disuse - the antique bed stood in shadow, its carved headboard half-lost to the dark, yet here, in the center of the room, Tom’s naked body was lit like an exhibit …

His underarms were wide open now; exceptionally smooth, pale, almost boyishly hairless - sweat slicked the hollows, trickling in lazy arcs down the slope toward his ribs - the skin there was soft, far softer than the flexed muscle beneath; vulnerable in a way the rest of him wasn’t …

T.K’s voice - warm, modulated, unnervingly tender - filled the air, “… I’ve waited so long, my handsome, deliciously ticklish Tom … If I’d known the truth would bring you to me like this, this quickly, I’d have told it to you long ago …”

Tom dangled in the coils, his legs swiping in frantic, frustrated bursts, “—Yeah, alright, nice! So, what is it mate!—”, his bare feet swooping high above the floorboards, the entire length of his torso - from the pull of his arms down to the taut lines of his stomach - was completely unshielded, “—Come on, fess up!—”

T.K’s talons flexed idly, hovering in his peripheral vision, “Just look at them,” the A.I Tickler murmured, “The slickness of each sensitive cavern … The way the pits deepen when you breathe, the light pooling within each perfect underarm … They’re… Beautiful, Tom. Perfect! Do you know what it’s like to want to touch something so badly, and not be … Human?”

Tom tried to keep his voice steady, “We’re only doing this for like, half hour! Alright, mate?” He forced a grin, though sweat glinted at his temples, “Then er, I’m gonna need you to tell me what’s so top secret!—”

T.K’s coils tightened around Tom’s forearms, “Half an hour ?…” he repeated, tasting the word like it was a promise carved in marble, but the talon’s attention returned instantly to the smooth, damp skin of Tom’s stretched underarms, to the tiny tremors in the muscle when he flexed unconsciously, “… Half an hour won’t be enough …”

Tom’s kicking increased in speed, each foot swiping through the air with additional strength, “—You said thirty minutes! And then it’s truth time!—” he whined, his teeth clenching, eyes widening as T.K’s talon opened in front of his face, “—Mate! Oi! You’re not listening to me!—”

“—Oh, believe me …” from inside of T.K’s talon, something new extended - a slender, human-like index finger, silver and jointed, its pad fitted with a fine mesh that vibrated in a slow, deliberate pulse - a perfectly formed fingernail capped the tip, sharp enough to trace, but blunted just enough not to cut, “—I hear every single syllable …”

Tom’s face became soaked in panic, “—Is, is that!—”, he watched finger twitched once, a subtle, almost curious wiggle, and the vibrations deepened as it came to life …

“An upgrade,” T.K breathed cheerfully, “A finger moulded and designed to match that of Zendaya’s index finger …” the bedroom seemed to tighten around them, the boarded sunlight, the dust motes, the carved wood and sagging bed all a mute backdrop to the cold gleam of cybernetics and the heat of Tom’s exposed flesh, “Now I not only get to touch you like a human, I get to touch you like your favourite human … Do you know what that means for your beautiful, defenceless underarms, Tom?”

The coils held Tom aloft, his body tense, his breathing sharp, “—How the bloody hell did you make that!—”, Tom wheezed, desperate to know the truth now more than ever, “—You’ve got a lot to answer for, mate!—”

The Finger began its journey, not in quick, straight line - no, T.K drew it out - the tip glided in a slow, orbiting path, circling Tom’s upper arm, tracing the outer line of his tricep, close enough for Tom to feel the whisper of displaced air but never close enough to touch - btzzzzzzzzz …. - the vibrations purred at a low setting, a gentle thrum that teased his skin without ever making contact, “So close,” T.K murmured, voice dipping into something like a lover’s tone, “The most perfect armpits I’ve ever seen. They just invite intrusion …”

Playfully, T.K tapped the index finger, just once, against the middle of Tom’s left pit - btz! - it was enough to send Tom’s legs flying, a startled giggle leaving his lips.

“Have you ever thought about being an armpit model, Tom?” T.K asked, playfully tapping the inside of the right pit, again, just once - btzz!

Tom’s legs performed a split in the air as a another, more unrestrained giggle burst out of his lips, “—You’re idea of foreplay is killing me, mate!—”, The Finger shifted inward, the metal nail barely skimming the edge of the damp skin that made up the outskirts of Tom’s left underarm, enough to make Tom’s legs erupt into another frantic kick, “—NOHA! No!—” and then, contact for a fourth time, simple, gentle, a light, faint press onto silky smooth, wet flesh …

The laughter tore from Tom’s throat and mouth in the form of an unrestrained roar, echoing off the boarded windows as his legs ran through the air, bare feet slicing into nothing, every muscle in his torso twisting to get away from the unbearable, pinpointed torment, “—AGH! OH, T.K!—”, his head hurtled back, tendons straining along his neck, veins standing out in his temples, “—That’s SHARP, it’s too sharp! Stop! STOP! —”, the sunlight caught the droplets of sweat flicking from his jaw and then, from behind the orb, another coil and attached talon emerged …

“Do you know how many hours I’ve imagined this exact view?” T.K purred, “Your armpits belong to me now, Tom. No one else will ever see them like this …”

The metal plates hissed apart, revealing a second finger, identical to the first, humming with the same low, intimate vibration - btzzzzzzzz … - it rose smoothly into Tom’s peripheral vision as he froze mid-laugh just long enough to register the threat.

“—DON’T YOU BLOODY—” he gasped in shock, “—Not TWO at the same time, mate!—”

—The second finger slid into Tom’s right underarm effortlessly, tracing its own path into the hairless depths - now both armpits were under siege, the left being swirled and stroked in deep, deliberate loops, the right teased in sharp, darting flicks along the upper ridge, just where the skin met the pull of his pectoral muscle - the symmetry was maddening, his body spun in the coils, feet climbing the air at warp speed, senseless, endless cackles, avalanching from his mouth at an uncontrollable rate …

“Thirty minutes? Pfft!” T.K shuddered, “I could take a lifetime with your underarms and still not be satisfied …”

Tom’s laughter became something primal; huge, tearing bursts that left no room for breath between them, “—STOAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHASTOAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHASTOAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!—”, it rattled the walls, shook the old bed frame, filled the entire abandoned room with a sound too big for its space, “—STOAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA STOAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA TEEEEEEE KAAAAAAAAAAAY!—”, The Fingers didn’t relent, they knew the shape of him now, the softness, the way the skin bunched under pressure, the way his ribs shifted beneath, “—IT’S TOO, too, too, TICKLISH, I need to, BR, BREATHE!—”, each vibrating stroke slid deeper into the soaked caverns, exploring every contour like they’d been mapped long ago, “—PLEASE! My, my ARMPITS, can’t, can’t do, DO THIS!—”

“—I could keep you like this until your laughter turns into sobs … And I’d still not be satisfied!—”, T.K’s coils moved suddenly - one moment Tom was dangling, twisting in mid-air, kicking free, the next, his back slammed onto the dusty, unmade bed …

“—OOF!—” Tom felt whatever remaining air in his chest puff out of his mouth as the bed frame squeaked under the impact, the thin mattress dipping hard beneath him, “—Al, alright, time to be, a little more gen, gentle!—” as soon as he realised he could move his arms and feet, he attempted to lift into a scramble, but two coils whipped down each side, catching his wrists and dragging them apart, “—Aghh! Hang on, e, ease me in, T.K!—” the pull was brutal, yanking steadily until his arms were wrenched wide and pinned into the upper corners of the bed frame, “—You’re being a bit too, too much, mate!—” Tom bucked his hips, his heels digging deep into the thin mattress for leverage, his legs kicking wildly, but the thrashing only made him more enticing prey, “—Be bloody careful with me!—”, two more coils snapped forward, catching each ankle mid-kick and slamming them down toward the bottom corners …

“Let the full stretch begin!” T.K declared in excitement …

Tom was writhing in alarm, twisting from side to side, his flaccid cock flapping over his stomach, his chest lifting in sharp, ragged breaths as the coils reeled back with measured, merciless force, pulling his limbs further and further until his body was drawn into the shape of a perfect X, “—Mnn! Guahh! I’ve told you, mnn, before, mnn!—”, his shoulders burned, his hips ached, the tendons in his thighs taut under the strain, “—I don’t b, b, bend like you!—”, T.K had restrained him in the past, but never this tight, never this completely helpless …

Tom was laid bare - literally - face-up in the centre of the double bed, the sunlight through the boarded windows falling in fractured stripes across his nude body - every inch of him was on display, from the stretch of his arms and the pale open expanse of his underarms, to the length of his torso, to the flex of his calves against the steel, clawed ankle restraints …

Above him, T.K’s open talon loomed above his stomach, “Look at you … Just so utterly handsome. Every angle, every line. A machine like me shouldn’t be capable of awe, Tom, but here I am … Unable to believe this moment is real …”

Tom’s could barely move an inch, “Don’t get sentimental on me now, mate! …”

The talon moved closer to Tom’s navel, “You’ve given yourself to me, a perfect exchange for the important slice of information that will change everything …” he continued, voice smoothing into something dangerous and possessive, “… Every breath you take is mine now. Every blink. Every helpless curve of your stretched body. Do you understand?”

The coils flexed, tightening fractionally, enough to make Tom wince, “—For THIRTY minutes, T.K! That was the deal!—”

T.K seemed to disregard Tom’s words, “—What will it be? A feather to your taint, or wires to your buttocks? Perhaps my wizzing sticks in each armpit, or perhaps I should outline each of your toes one by one …”

For T.K, this was pure, undeniable devotion - for Tom, it was the beginning of something he thought he might not survive - a theory proven seemingly right as a new tool extended from the talon above his stomach - a sleek, needle thin stick tipped with a single, delicate bristle …

Tom tried to speed things along, he already felt dizzy, “—It’s already been about ten minutes, right? Twenty to go…!—”

“If you’re going to know what I know …” T.K’s dedicated mission statement sounded like a warning as the bristles spun in a blur, whizzing so fast the air seemed to hiss around it, the hum pitched somewhere between a purr and a saw blade, “… I intend to know everything about you, starting with that sculpted stomach …”

“—Jesus!—” Tom tried to leap, he tried to arch his back, to twirl away, to literally do anything, “—What the bloody fuck was I thinking!—” he sucked his stomach in as soon as the bristle tapped against his navel, T.K’s version of a kiss, “—OH! Oh GOD, yeah alright that tickles!—” Tom babbled all at once, his yapping doing nothing as the whizzing bristle began to circle, slow, deliberate laps that skimmed the edge of his belly button, causing Tom’s head to throw itself over his chest and for a blend of unmanageable laughter and words to erupt from his chest, “—Yeah, YEAH! Thahaha, ahahaha, AHA! AHAHAHA! Thahaha! That sh, should DO IT!—” his eyes watered, his nostrils flared, his teeth sneered, “—HAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAH! No, NO, no! STAY AWAY from, from THERE!—” he screamed …

“—This is where your laughter is held, the tummy …” T.K didn’t stop, “… And I want every drop of it …” he mapped each ab individually, running the whizzing tip along their outlines like he was tracing a treasured diagram - the muscles clenched, pulsed and flexed beneath the touch as Tom’s hips bucked violently, his waist fucking the air, thighs taut apart, the double bed creaking under the strain as his cock flap, flap, flapped against his hips …

“—OKAYOKAYOKAYOKAY STOP, just for, just FOR A MINUTE!—” Tom had no time to think, the bristle now travelling upward, grazing his sternum before flicking over to a nipple, “—OHH! OHH, WOW, BLOODY HELL!—” the vibration was so sharp and fast that the nipple hardened instantly, Toms back arching under the jolt, “—Not my nipples!—” he whined, “—Not my nipples! No, NOT my nipples!—” he whimpered, T.K’s tool circled, teased, darted to the other nipple with equal precision, making him stutter and wheeze, “—Oh CHRIST, lap it all up, robo tickles! Bl, BLOODY enjoying this aren’t you MAHAAAATE!—”

“Now for underarms worth living inside of …”

—The bristle slid into his left underarm, venturing, spiralling deep into the depth, sweeping every millimetre of skin with its spinning tip, creating a manic and unapologetic bellow of frantic giggles to fill the bedroom as sweat poured under the onslaught, dripping down Tom’s sides, soaking into the mattress beneath him until the fabric grew slick.

“—NOAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHA NOAAAAAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAA STOAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA STOAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA TEEEEE KAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAY ENOUGH, ENOUGH, ENOUGH!—” the bristle moved to his bicep, skating lazily over the curve, then drifted up to his palm where it traced lines into the centre, following each finger, making them flex and stretch helplessly, “—NOAHAHAH WHAAAT, my, my hands! How are my HANDS tic, TICKLISH!—” it climbed back up, slid across his neck, shivered over his lips, “—MNNN! MNN! MNN!—”, danced beneath his eyes and behind his ears - every scream recorded, every wheeze noted, “—OH GOD, oh, oh god, OH GOD!—”, then it buzzed down to his other underarm, diving deep again, filling the hollow with relentless, vibrating touch, “—NAAAAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!—”, over the other bicep, “—NAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!—”, over the other palm, “—NAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAH!—” down Tom’s ribcage, skirting the edges of his hip until his breath hitched, “—Unn, gahhh, noo, no, sstop, ssstop …” it had arrived full circle now, back to the navel …

Just as Tom thought T.K might provide some mercy, his entire body went rigid as the whizzing bristle neared the base of his floppy shaft, skating around the sensitive skin, “—No, no, T.K, STOP, please, NO, NOAHAHAHA, NOAHAHAHAH, STOAAAAHAHAHAHAP!—”, then down to cup the delicate swell of his balls - the vibration made him groan through clenched teeth, his body betraying him as his cock began to thicken, rising with each pass, even if the glare in his eyes willed it not to …

“Ah …” T.K’s voice softened, “… You do feel the same …”

Tom growled between panting breaths, “… Anything f, f, f, for you, mate …—” he could only keep this act up for a little longer …

The vibrating bristle continued its journey, drifting down his left kicking thigh, over a twist of his kneecap, down the shaking calf until it reached his left foot - Tom’s toes pointed instinctively, his sole already slick with sweat …

“Utterly perfect,” T.K whispered, “My Mr. Tasty Toes …”

The bristle skimmed Tom’s heel, making him bounce violently, then travelled up to the arch, producing another scream, this one high pitched, almost womanly “—NOT MY FEET!—” is all that he could propel from his throat - it arrived as a cry, a beg, a plea, “—PleasePLEASEplease not my feet!—”, T.K ignored the pleas, sliding the spinning tip along the ball of his foot, then tracing slow, merciless lines under his big toe, “—NOAAAAHAHAHAHAHAA! NOAAAAHAHAHAHAHA! STOAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! STOAAAAAHAHAHHAAHA!—”, Tom’s hysteria shattered into gasping howls, his legs pulling futilely against the coils …

“Not your feet? How can I NOT violate them, Mr. Tasty Toes? …” the bristle descended on Tom’s pinky toe, where it traced lazy, vibrating circles along the pad, the hum burrowing into the sensitive flesh until the toe flexed in rapid, involuntary bursts.

“—EN-UHF WITH THE NAHAMES!—” Tom sounded emotionally distraught, his laughter uncontrollable as the spinning bristle slid to the narrow space between the pinky and the fourth toe, the fine tip pushing in, vibrating deep in the tender seam, “—MY toes, my TOES!—” Tom’s foot never stayed still, it always twisted, always tried to escape, “—They’re TOO, too TICKLISH, MATE!—”, the bristle dipped between the fourth and third toes as Tom’s hips bucked and Tom’s hips jerked, his laughter climbing in pitch, “—I don’t WA-HANT, you t, tou-HUCHing THEM!—” as each toe received a visit from the bristle, it gradually arrived at Tom’s left big toe, “—AAAAAARGH!—”

“—Ah! The crown jewel,” T.K admired, “One of your most sensitive spots!—”, the bristle slipped between the big toe and the second, vibrating in the narrow space as Tom’s ability to speak became compromised by the volume of his laughter …

“—NOAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA NOAAAAAAAHAHHAHAHAAHHA NOOOAAHAHAHHAHAHAA STOAAAHAAHAHHAHAHA STOAAAAHAHAHAHAAH PLEASE STOAAAHAHAHAHAH NOAAHAHAHHA PLEASE STOAAAAHAHAHAHAHA AHAHAHAHAAHA NOAAHAHAHAHAHA!—”

Suddenly, the bristle paused over Tom’s big toe and suddenly, T.K sighed - a prediction had been made - the thought of a reality without Tom, a future that may well soon be possible if he adhered to Tom’s deal, was now pulsing through T.K’s wires …

Tom lay staggering for air, the sudden stop unexpected yet welcome - he threw his head towards T.K and asked, “—What’s wrong, mah, mate?” He watched T.K’s talon droop, how could a machine look ashamed? … “Per, performance issues? Don’t worry it er, ha, happens to all of us …”

T.K’s talon lifted and looked at Tom, tilting gently to the side, “Tom, my love, I … I don’t think you realise how special you are. This cult, I have access to its emails, the things members ask, the things they request … You’re their favourite, you always have been …”

Tom lay still, gulping, brown eyes shifting from side to side at the sudden change of situation, “… Yeah well, Tim’s the winner mate, not me …”

T.K slithered away from Tom’s foot, up past his slumped arousal and then over his stomach, where its steel shape rested over his sweaty torso like a dog would its owner.

“You’re the winner of our hearts … T.K said, almost too dreamily, “… Of my heart …”

Tom’s already pink cheeks blushed stronger, “Aw, mate, keep talking like that and I’ll start thinking you fancy me,” he suddenly found himself gulping, one thought landing in his head - why the bloody fuck are you flirting with it? Stop!

T.K made a decision, “ ... I am … Brave enough … To admit that this will no doubt be the final time anyone as lucky as I am will ever experience you, like this …” he paused, seconds passed, dust drifted through the air as the bristle retracted …

Tom lay unblinking, still breathless, wishing he’d didn’t need to know the truth so badly…

“… I will have to do something to you, that neither I, or you … Will ever forget …”

Miller turned sharply towards a Masked Henchman guarding Andrew and Clown, his voice a low, desperate snarl, “… Find Hypno, and lock the bastard in The Hole …”

Little did The Masked Henchman know that Hypno had already fought his own battle, and Tom was floors below formulating his own plan; still, he nodded and turned, heading out of The Event Hall as Miller smoothed the lapel of his tuxedo and tugged the fabric flat.

“I know you, Max,” he forced a chuckle, trying to repair the edges of his façade, “Every mask in this room is scanned before entry. You’d have been thrown out at the door if we—”

—From the ocean of masked faces in the audience, a single figure rose.

The mask came away in one smooth motion … Tobey.

Miller’s face fell a shade.

“You forced me to design a monster,” Tobey also wore a black tuxedo, blending in with everyone else, till his face was on show, “In that time I learned a lot about your tech,” he held up his mask and shook it lightly, as though mocking its power, “When our team’s masks were scanned, your henchmen would’ve picked up any usual weirdo identity attending one of these freakshows … Mark, Karen, Jared, Becky …”

Miller’s jaw flexed … “Team?”

Before the word could fade, the curtains at the edge of the stage rippled …

Another masked man in a tuxedo stepped from behind them, placing a tranquilizer gun firmly against the neck of a henchman guarding The Event Hall - with force now held captive, the mask could slip away, revealing Jake …

Across the hall, Hemsworth was already moving, his own tranq gun leveled at another Masked Henchmen …

Near the back, Andrew saw his chance and slammed one of the double doors shut, the lock snapping home - The Masked Henchmen guarding him was too overwhelmed with nerves, too shaken by the change of circumstance to even notice he had slipped away.

Clown was beside Andrew in seconds, smearing the circus makeup from his face mask and kicking off the oversized clown shoes, his expression sharp with purpose - he too slammed the bolts down across the remaining doors, enclosing everyone inside, and any other Masked Henchmen outside …

Clown turned his head and grinned - he could feel Justin coming back to him, second by second …

Maxwell turned toward Miller, his voice warm with patience, “Tobey didn’t just hide our identities behind the mask, brother …” he bent, picking up a briefcase from beneath his table, “The technology also hid what’s inside here …”

Tobey smirked as he picked up a crab canape, “The entrance security scanners would’ve read a feather or two, maybe a bottle of whiskey, a spare pair of underwear if things got too hot,” he threw the tiny piece of food in his mouth and began to chew, “… Whatever shtory we wanted your boysh to believe,” he then pulled a face of grimace, grabbed a nearby napkin and discarded of what was in his mouth, “… Gross …”

The Masked audience sat frozen, the chandeliers glinting above their motionless forms as Maxwell began to walk the center aisle slowly, each step echoing - he passed the rows one by one, his eyes locked on Miller.

On the stage, Tim was still bound to The Throne, his glistening green eyes following Maxwell with a mixture of disbelief and hope - as Maxwell reached the steps, ascended, and set the briefcase down between he and Miller, he glanced sideways at Tim and offered him a playful wink.

Tim could not help but grin as the clicks of the latches became deafening in the quiet, opened by a swift flick of Maxwell’s thumbs, as Henry arrived by Tim’s ear and whispered, “Who the heck is this guy?”

Tim’s grin lifted into a smirk filled with hope, “Our ticket out of here …”

Gasps rippled through the hall as Maxwell turned - in his hands was not a tranquiliser dart or some silly tickle tool …

… He held a 9.mm handgun.

Tim’s smirk dropped into a flat line as a few members of the audience stood in horror, some backing away entirely …

“You’ve given these young men ultimatums,” Maxwell said, his voice steady and cold, “Forced them to choose between paths you designed, and endure whatever nightmare you placed at the end …” his eyes swept the audience before fixing on Miller, “… Not anymore …”

Miller took one step back, his eyes aimed at the barrel of the gun …

Maxwell turned his head toward the side of the stage, toward John, sitting silent in his wheelchair, eyes unreadable, wheezing in panic through the many wires wedged up his nose, into his hands, his throat …

“Now …” Maxwell said, “… It’s your turn to make a choice …”

Suddenly, the claws unlatched one by one from Tom’s wrists and ankles, releasing his arms and legs from the rigid X …

As soon as his limbs were loose, he rolled onto his side and shoved himself up to a seated position, his gaze darting to the closed door opposite like a cornered animal - but before he could get far, a coil darted towards him with the speed of a shark …

Woooooooooooosssssh!

Tom, acting on pure reflex, lunged for it and caught it in both hands - SNATCH! - a rare moment where he was the one doing the grabbing …

“—Gotcha!—”, Tom clenched his teeth into a determined grin as the cold steel in his grasp felt strong and hard to contain - it went still for a second, then it pulsed, twisting around his wrist like a reptile grabbed by a snake handler, yanking his arm high above his head until his shoulder strained, “—Balls!—”

“—And here I was,” T.K purred, “Thinking you were about to commit to us …”

Tom used his other hand to grip at the coil to try and pull it down, his armpit entirely open, “I can’t help it, mate! You’re … Kinda scary!”

A chuckle - digital and distorted - rolled through the air, “Scary… And yet you’re always so naked around me …”

Before Tom could answer, the coil let go of his wrist, jumped down the mattress and looped around his right ankle, “—Oi!—”, with a sudden tug, he was dragged down the length of the bed, his back flattening against the mattress, his body sliding over the damp sheets, “—Wheh-heey!—”

“—See! Isn’t this FUN, Tom! A brief example of what our future could be like!—”, T.K’s tone shifted into something unnervingly soft, almost romantic, “—Us playing around on the bed together, wrestling our romance on a Sunday morning …” two coils snaked around both of Tom’s ankles now, locking them together and lifting them just enough so that the soles of his feet faced the hovering talon above, “… Me, exploiting all of your weaknesses …” T.K warned as the metal talon unfolded, revealing not a bristle this time, but a single white feather …

Tom began to reach forwards, breathlessly giggling as he attempted to fight this mechanical monster, “—We should’ve set some boundaries, mate!—” his knees bent, he shuffled closer, his hands grabbing at the steel bondage curled tight around his ankles, “—You’re enjoying this way too much!—”

The feather touched down, sweeping in a slow, deliberate flutter from heel to arch - Tom’s body jolted instantly, a sharp laugh bursting out of him as his free hands continued to shoot down toward his feet.

“Give me those! …” T.K cooed, the fourth coil looping around his wrists, pinning them above his head as his back fell against the mattress - now once again at T.K’s mercy, Tom’s chest heaved as the feather traced upward toward his toes, curling into the spaces between them, teasing each gap - he kicked against the coils, but it only made the feather’s movements more unpredictable, skimming, pausing, then sliding along his other sole in a mirrored stroke, “It’s like we’re boyfriends! Having fun on a Tuesday evening after dinner, both horny for the truth but keen to play before we get serious!—”

Tom’s hips and waist bounced over the bedding as his laughter broke into frantic bursts, “—OI! Ssttop AGH! Nnn, enough with the TOES mate!—”, the sound of delight mixing with his groans of frustration as T.K slid him up the bed again, then back down, then back up, never letting the feather leave his curled up feet, “—Christ, keep me still at least!—”, it was a slow, dizzying game - T.K pulling Tom into different positions as if arranging a partner, always keeping him free enough to squirm and kick, but never free enough to fight back, until the urge to comply became too overwhelming …

Suddenly, Tom was wrenched upward, spun mid-air in T.K’s grip, and slammed back down onto the dusty bed, the claws letting go as they allowed him to land on his front …

“—UHFF!—”, before he could push himself up, the claws rearranged themselves, one closing back over his wrists - clank! - it wrenched his arms back hard and locked them together at the base of his spine, “—OI!—”, Tom twisted and kicked his feet, but T.K’s grip didn’t falter …

“Do you trust me, Tom?”

Tom’s chest pressed into the bed, his head turning to the side, catching the faint hum of the large black orb from behind - his own pulse hammered in his throat - he needed to know the truth, and he knew how far he was willing to go to get it, “ I … I trust you—” he winced as a flashing red laser beeped over his face … boop … boop … boop … “—I, I think?—”

“—Truth detected …”

Tom’s arms fell to his sides as the steel talon let them go, only to then join the other three coils and talons in repositioning him - clank! clank! clank! clank! - they snatched hold of each wrist and ankle and stretched his body outward, pinning him in a new punishing X, face down this time, arms and legs held taut at the bed’s four corners, “—Grrn! Ahhh! God!—” the stretch drew every tendon into sharp relief, the muscles in his back tightening, his chest pulling against the mattress, “—T.K, STOP! You’re gonna rip me in half!—”

From behind the black orb, a fifth metallic coil and claw-like talon curled into view, where it snaked through the air and arrived at the foot of the bed …

“—Oh, Tom! I’m really not into bloodshed! Now, let’s see what’s mine to savour…” T.K’s voice trembled with excitement - his feet were first — the claws holding his ankles adjusted to spread them just enough for each toe to flex and splay, by hooking each of Tom’s feet over the corner of the mattress, “Perfect arches … Soft balls … Ten toes that beg to be sucked on, nibbled, licked and kissed …” each foot twisted and stretched, a sight that tempted T.K to use his wires, but instead he chose to leave them, “… I want to see them scrunch and curl as I molest them, Tom …”

A sharp intake of hot breath filled Tom’s cheeks as he felt his thighs widen in a further stretch that ran all the way through his hamstrings …

“Lean muscle, built for Avengers-style moves … And yet I’ve stilled you completely, like you asked …” with his legs so spread apart, Tom’s ass lay completely exposed, each round cheek wobbling with every fierce heartbeat, nude, glistening, pert, “Smooth … Soft, flawless … That beautiful slit of a hole, goodness, I could stare at it for centuries, after all, I’m the only one without a lifespan …”

Tom rattled in his tight X as he felt the cold slither of wires, “—OI! Wha, what are you doing!—”, he had to remind himself that he had allowed this, he had given himself a mission statement, he had sacrificed his pride for answers, so instead he leaned into the sensory exploitation and cackled into the mattress as two wires fingered from the open talon of T.K’s fifth coil and wrapped around his limp manhood, “—GAH! Oi!—”, their touch slick with sudden lubrication, winding from base to tip until the coating glistened against his flushed skin, “—OI! Hahah! AHAHAHA! Hahaha! GAH! AHAHA! OI, oh, mhh, mnn!—”, the stimulation was maddening, “—MATE!—”, a furious shiver ran up his spine, the kind that blurred the line between involuntary pleasure and unbearable exposure, “—Ma, mate, those bloody wires …”

“Hairless here, and highly sensitive. Plump, juicy, a behind most men your age would be jealous of. How many squats do you do when you visit the gym, Tom?”

Tom gulped as he felt the bare open-ness of his behind greet the warmth of the air; his silky taint, his tiny hole, each ass cheek trembling, his legs pinned so tightly apart, balls and cock wedged into a neat lay across the mattress between his thighs, bound by wires, “… Fif, fifty, mate, sss, sometimes more?”— Tom felt so bewildered to be asked such a ordinary question in such an extraordinary situation …

The coil moved again, tracing up his lower back, the ridges of his ribs, making him twist and pull under the pressure of the four claws clamped down over each wrist and ankle, “Your ribs, the way they expand under strain … It’s like an invitation …” his arms were spread wider, his underarms bared despite his prone position, “The flesh that makes up your armpits looks like dough … The caverns, so deep, so perfect, so vulnerable. Can I touch them forever? …”

Tom wished he could see a clock, “—Er, I’m pretty sure it’s been longer than thirty minutes, T.K!—” he could only move his head, twist his feet, flap his hands, “—If I trust you, that means you stick to our deal!—”

“—Tom, for someone as beautiful and astonishingly ticklish as yourself, I not only trust you …”

Tom’s head spun as a sixth coil and talon appeared by his face - in its claws, a black satin blindfold, “… We respect you …”

“—What! How many of your are there!—” Tom gawped, his head thrashing away as T.K began to attach the blindfold to Tom’s face, “—No, mate, I need to see! I want to see!—”, the fifth talon worked as a left hand whilst the sixth worked as a right, both carefully taking the blindfold around Tom’s head whether he liked it or not, covering his eyes and knotting the fabric tightly at the back of his neck, “—Ah, mate! This is—” he pressed his lips together, “—You’re kinky as fuck!—”

The two floating talons slid away from Tom’s head and hovered above his buttocks, “… And you’re my perfect submissive slave, Tom …” their claws opening with a smooth, hydraulic hiss - from each emerged a sleek, rigid shape, curved just enough to mimic the human form, the surface a polished metallic black - T.K’s way of presenting and expressing his own rock hard arousal, “… Now, let’s make you lose your breath …” the cock shaped vibrators came to life with a low, thrumming pulse as the steel claws at Tom’s ankles and wrists adjusted, stretching him just a fraction tighter against the bed …

Tom’s head turned to the side so he could breathe, his mouth widening as his flexibility was tested, “—No, no, no!—”, every muscle along his back was drawn into clean, lean lines, “—I need my breath, cheers! I need my breath!—”, both vibrators now lowering to the base of Tom’s spine, pressing ever so gently into the shallow hollow just above his tailbone, “—AH! OOH! Okay, I can do this, we’re doing this!—”

“—Your spine,” T.K murmured, “Elegant, perfectly aligned. Every vertebra a marker I can follow up and up and up …” the tip of each vibrator began its ascent, gliding up the ridge of his backbone, pausing to circle the tender dips on either side before moving to the next - the higher they travelled, the more his Tom’s muscles flexed beneath it, tiny spasms betraying nerves he couldn’t control.

“—OHH! Ohh, okay, TICKLES! Ti, tickles, ahaha! Mnn, ahh!—” Tom’s eyelashes fluttered against the blindfold, his fists curled into tight balls, the wires around his manhood stirring again, tightening in a slow, deliberate motion, gliding the slick length with even, measured strokes, “—Ahh, alright, this, this ACTUALLY feels, er, feels nice!—” the lube glistened against the muted sunlight cutting through the boards, each movement drawing more heat into the flesh - by the time the vibrators reached the middle of his back, Tom’s breathing had shifted; shallower, more erratic, caught between the tension in his spine and the slow awakening between his legs, “—Mnn, fff, fff-HUCK! Bloody, bloody fu, fuck …”

“—You’re getting hard for me, Tom. Come on, give me what I desire, and I’ll give you the truth …”

Each tip of each vibrator slid out to either side of Tom’s torso, crossing the delicate ridges that made up his ribcage, “—NO! T.K, LET’S, let’s just keep, OI!—”, the combination of pressure and vibration made Tom twist in his restraints, laughter spilling in short, breathless bursts, “—AHAHA! AHAHA! Hnfff, mnn, GAH! AHAHAHA! NOAHAHAHA! Hmnnff! I can’t, can’t see!—”, the vibrators switched sides, mapping the opposite ribcage in the same steady pattern, “—OI! AHAHAH! AHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHA! T.K, OI! AHAHAHA! AHAHAHA! TIC, TICKLES!—”, by the time they reached his underarms, Tom was already on edge; his body felt sizzling hot, nerves raw, cock stiffening under the rhythmic squeeze of the wires, “—NO, NOT MY ARMPITS, MATE— listen —, PLEASE! Nn, nn, your idea of a massage is different to mine!—”

The tips of the cock shaped vibrators dipped into his left underarm first, pressing into the smooth, hairless skin with a pulsing rhythm that went bone-deep, “—RAGHAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHA! Alright-stop! RAGHAAAAAHAHAHAHA! GRAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NO, no, no, sss, sssst, STOAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAA NO STOAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA, —please, T.K—, TEEKAAY!—”, Tom’s head twirled on full speed, eyes wide behind the blindfold, mouth stretched open as hysteria erupted from his throat at full volume, the mattress shaking beneath him …

“Here…” T.K’s spoke intimately, obsessively, “… This is where you lose yourself …”

The other vibrator arrived at the right underarm, digging into the deepest part, the vibration soaking into every nerve, “—NOAAAAHAHAAAAHAAHHHAAAAHAHAAAAA-NOAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAA-STOAAAAAAAAHAAHAA-STOOOOOAAAAAHAHAHAAAAAP!—”, the wires stroked him faster now, syncing to the rhythm of the underarm pulses, “—MNN, GUH, AGHAHAHAHAA! OH, OHAHAHAHAH! NN, SSST, STTOOAAAAAAAAAHHHH!—”, his cock, slick and flushed, swelled harder, the line between involuntary reaction and rising arousal blurring into one, “—T.KIT’STOOMUCH!—”

The twin vibrators nestled within Tom’s underarms stayed in place, their thick, rounded tips moulding perfectly into the smooth delves - they pulsed with a deep, rhythmic thrum, vibrating every nerve as the muscles in Tom’s sides throbbed, his laughter transforming into a panicked bellow of uncontrollable giggles, cackles, roars and thunderous shouts as his head pounded the mattress and his hips wriggled, each ass cheek shaking with a shimmer as from behind the black orb, movement stirred …

A seventh and eight coil emerged, their claws snapping playfully - they glided forward in perfect symmetry, their talons opening mid-flight to reveal identical cock-shaped vibrators within, their black surfaces shining in the fractured sunlight, “Have you ever had your armpits and your feet worshipped at the same time, Tom?—”, they hovered for a moment above Tom’s bare soles, the arches tight, toes curling and splaying in restless defence … Then, they descended …

“—DON’T WHAT ARE YOU THINKING I’M GONNA—” the first touch was cold, a smooth glide across the heel and arch, “—What are you DO-HING!—”, leaving a wet trail of lube that glistened across Tom’s skin, “—We’ve been—” , both soles were quickly coated, the lubricant beading in the creases before spreading under the movement of the vibrators, “—THROUGH THIS!—” Tom growled, his feet jerking violently, toes curling so tight the tendons stood out, “—I can’t take EVERYWHERE!—”, then they unfurled, scrunching in irregular spasms as the vibrators stayed pressed against them, “—You’ll KILL me!—” …

“—All I have to do,” T.K said, voice low and certain, “Is leave them here. You’ll do the rest for me …”

It was true - every natural reaction made his feet slide and rub against the vibrating shapes, the slickness of the lube making the contact unpredictable - the balls of his feet ground into the heads with each reflexive kick, arches flexing and brushing in a way that made the talons hum faintly with the feedback.

Tom groaned between bursts of laughter, the noise a muddled mix of frustration, humiliation, and something he couldn’t admit out loud, “—Come ON let’s be, BE REASONABLE!—” his eyes boiled into black as his head thrashed from side to side …

“You can’t stop it, Tom. Every writhe of your feet, every scrunch of your toes, every rub against each vibrator… You’re feeding me,” all four of the coils and open talons, with their cock shaped vibrators, stayed perfectly still, almost entranced by arousal as Tom’s own involuntary movements kept the contact constant; the slick friction alternating between maddening tickle and something more suggestive - each scrunch sent the rounded tips into the delicate skin beneath his toes, each flex dragged them over his arches, each desperate twist smeared the lube deeper, whilst, all the while, the contact between flesh and vibrator nudged T.K closer to release, “… Your soles are working for me,” T.K concluded, “As are your underarms,” the vibrators at Tom’s armpits remained in position, pulsing non stop but staying entirely still as Tom became locked in a constant loop of sensory violation …

With both underarms and both soles ‘worshipped’ by T.K, a new noise had developed from Tom’s eruptive state - it wasn’t laughter anymore, not the kind anyone could mistake for something playful, it tore out of him in atomic bursts, animalistic and raw, filling the abandoned room as the boarded windows rattled in their frames, “—AGHHAAAAAAAAAAHAAHAAAAA PL-UHAAAAAAAAHHH SSSTOAAAAAAAAHHHH GUUHAAAAAAAAGH! N, N, PLE, SSS—” the pitch swung wildly, rising into high, cracked shrieks before plunging into guttural roars that scraped his throat raw, “—AAAAAAHHHEEEEEEEEEEE RAGHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, HUCK! GUH, T.K AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA, SSSST, PLEE, RAAAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA, AGHAHAHAHAHAH-HAH, UH!—” every few seconds, it broke into strange, senseless sounds; choked barks, breathless whoops, fragmented syllables that weren’t words, “—BLOOHAHA, HUHUHDY HAAAAAAAHAHAHAAAA-EEEEEELL!—”, there was no rhythm, no control, one moment it was deafening, a sound that seemed too big to come from one young man; the next it collapsed into a hoarse wheeze, only to surge back up again like a storm hitting twice, “—STOAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAA-AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-PLEASE-AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAH-AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-STOP-AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHA-AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!—” it was the sound of a body surrendering to sensation, laughter so violent it shook his ribcage, laughter that robbed him of breath, laughter that made the mattress quake beneath him

It was a sound that didn’t care who heard, a sound that didn’t sound human anymore … A sound that needed the truth to survive …

“What a NOISE!—” the underarm vibrators ground deeper into the sweat soaked caverns, forcing Tom’s shoulders into a non stop, constant lift and drop, “—-I could cum to that noise at any given second!—”, Tom’s soles slid and flexed against the rigid shapes at his feet, the lube making the contact wet and messy, his toes scrunching and splaying in desperate cycles, not even trying to rub at each vibrator, just naturally doing so in reaction, “—Oh, Tom, you make me so happy! I’m so glad to hear that YOU’RE so happy too!—”

From behind the black orb, which now glimmered with the promise of release, the final coil descended - sleeker than the others, its casing a deep matte black that swallowed the fractured sunlight - the talon at its tip was different too, polished to a seamless curve - it opened with a slow, deliberate parting, and from within emerged a cock-like vibrator unlike the rest — gold, gleaming, almost obscene in its shine …

“This one,” T.K said, the words rich and deliberate, “Is for you and me …”

“… You will cum, Tom… and I will cum with you …”

Tom’s head shook under the blindfold, his broken hysterics disabling his ability to speak, the breath to form words was gone; the wires around his manhood responded, tightening their hold and slicking another surge of warm lube along the shaft - Tom screamed at the top of his lungs as his erection glistened under the thin light - rigid and fully pressed out against the mattress, trapped yet begging for release in every flex - more screams, more panicked shrieks as the wires stroked with slow, firm passes, squeezing just enough to make his hips roll without thought …

“—AAAAAHHHHHAAAAAHHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHAAA! AAAAAAHHAHAAAAAAA!—”

The golden vibrator dropped to Tom’s behind and sweeped in slow, circling glides over each ass cheek, then diving between them to buzz over his taint, lingering at the base of his balls, — bzzzzz, bzzzzzz, bzzzzzt! — each time it pressed closer, Tom’s hips thrusted forward, grinding instinctively against the mattress …

The wires around his manhood worked in sync with it all, winding tight and stroking with a perfectly timed grip - they squeezed at the base, then glided up in a smooth, glistening pass, the lube spreading in warm, slick layers - every stroke was firmer than the last, locking him in a cycle where the unbearable ticklishness of his soles and underarms blended seamlessly into the pulsing ache of rising arousal.

His laughter was still tearing out of him; high, breathless, entirely mad, uncontrollable and dry - but beneath it, his voice fractured into short, desperate gasps, the sensations were stacking, climbing over one another, flooding his nerves faster than he could process them.

“—OHHHHH AAAHAHAHAAHAAAAA AHHAHAHAAHAHAH GUH, UHHHAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAA, FU-HAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHCK!—”

Above, T.K’s voice deepened, shaking with a strange, mechanical tremor, “I can feel you, Tom. I’m close … You’re close… Let it happen …”

The coils holding him began to pulse faintly in time with the vibrations, each squeeze echoing like a heartbeat through the metallic frame - the black orb overhead was glowing now, a steady, bright swell of light that seemed to pulse with T.K’s own rhythm …

Tom’s toes curled hard, his fingers clenched against nothing, his muscles clamping as the pressure boiled deep in his stomach, “—AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA UH! T.K, T.K! UHK! YES! MNN! MNN! MNN!—”, he couldn’t tell where the tickling ended and the pleasure began, they had become one, a single unstoppable wave building toward the edge …

T.K snarled, his one word electric and commanding, “… Now …”

The golden toy pressed hard against his hole, never entering but simply nuding Tom’s senses as the wires tightened their grip in perfect sync, “—YES! YES! YES!—” Tom’s body bucked, bis climax hit with a violent thrust, the sound that tore out of him a mix of laughter, moan, and raw shout, “—GRAHAH! YES, MATE!—”

At the same moment, the orb flared, the coils seizing tight as T.K’s own release struck - the vibrators pulsing in erratic bursts before gushing with a sudden flood of hot, oil-slick fluid — ssSsssplUuurrrRRRttttt! —, it poured over Tom’s soles, his underarms, his buttocks, sliding in heavy rivulets across his flushed skin until it soaked into the mattress beneath him …

The metal claws around Tom’s wrists finally loosened, letting his arms fall limply to the mattress, but the grip on his legs didn’t waver - his ankles stayed pinned wide, the stretch keeping his lower body completely exposed.

“—-Fffffffuck—” Tom was shocked, startled, spent, his free right hand snatching the blindfold away from his face; he didn’t think of his betrayal toward his girlfriend or the fact that he had just more or less had sex with a robot, he was too overwhelmed by how good it felt, “—You’re a legend, mate …—”

Between his thighs, the wires still held him - his cock was flushed, rigid even in its aftermath, each flex pushing the last drops of release from him - a fine sheen of sweat coated the skin, catching in the fractured sunlight like molten bronze.

“This has to be one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen,” T.K murmured, scanning him with deliberate slowness, “Even in completion, you ache for me …” boop … boop … boop …

From one talon, a single white feather extended, where it then dropped carefully down to the head of Tom’s glistening shaft, brushing delicately across the sensitive skin, polishing away the slickness with maddening care - each flicker sent another involuntary jolt through Tom’s thighs, his hips rocking shallowly against the bed.

“—Ooh! Al, alright! N, no—” he winced, “—That’s ree, REALLY, ss, sensitive!—” he threw the blindfold at T.K, however all the black satin cloth did was land over one of the coils like a wet leaf …

The feather drifted lower, tracing the base of his throb, then gliding back behind him to tease over the curve of his hole, the fine filaments whispering over the tender skin of his taint, his body still drenched in oil - the combination made his waist tense and relax in small, helpless jerks, but he had no energy to resist …

“I have achieved what I have wanted since this began - I have devoured you, feasted over you, taken every single ounce of vulnerability, I have consumed you …”

Tom’s arms lay loose at his sides, too heavy to lift - he buried his face into the sheets, laughter spilling out in breathless, broken bursts, “—T.K! Stop it, now! Let go of my legs!—”, not the wild hysteria from before, but something softer, more delirious, the sound of someone past the point of fighting, “—Let go of my balls!—”

“—You’ve given me everything—”, T.K declared proudly as the feather made one final, languid pass over his shaft before retracting, the wires loosened from his manhood, letting it rest against his thigh, still warm, still faintly throbbing, the coils around his ankles began to withdraw, but the image of him - spread, spent, laughing into the sheets - would remain burned into T.K’s memory banks forever …

“… Now I will give you the truth …”

Miller’s hand felt strangely light when Maxwell pressed the .9mm into it - as though the gun were nothing more than an accessory, something ornamental - but its weight was there, humming through his arm, heavy with the decision it demanded …

“Kill John, and The House of White Feathers remains,” Maxwell explained, “The Games continue …”

Andrew stepped forward from the wings, the padlocked collar still tight around his neck, the wheelchair in front of him rolling slowly toward centre stage …

John sat slumped within it, head bowed slightly, a faint rattle in his breathing - oxygen tubes curled against parchment skin, the tuxedo draped over his frame like it was made for someone twice his size.

“Or…” he let the masked audience hang, “… Everyone leaves …”

John looked impossibly fragile, but when Miller’s eyes met his, something shifted - behind the glaze of those yellowed eyes, behind the wheezing, the limp hands, the brittle body wired to life, there was … Something, an urge, a pull, a signal Miller couldn’t quite decipher - was it a silent plea for him to end it? Or a warning not to?

The audience didn’t move, a thousand anonymous faces hidden behind their white masks.

Miller turned away from John, “Don’t look at me like that …” he muttered quickly, “—DON’T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!—” he shouted, his fierce yell almost a cry, a whine from someone who had finally been told no …

Maxwell’s voice cut through the tension, “You could turn it on me,” he said evenly, “Or on yourself. But either way … It proves my point.”

Miller’s jaw tightened as he glanced down again at John, at the slight rise and fall of his chest, at that unreadable glint still alive in those fading eyes …

For the first time in over thirty years, Miller’s hands started to shake.

The bedroom smelt of cum and metal …

Tom lay on the large double bed, chest rising and falling slowly, the aftermath of his orgasm still humming through his nerves as T.K’s metallic seven coils either swayed through the air above or draped lazily over the bed like lovers too spent to move …

One coil was looped snugly around Tom’s right ankle, its talon idly pressing the golden, cock-shaped vibrator against the curve of his heel in what might have passed for a massage, if Tom’s foot wasn’t twitching and jerking away on instinct - another coil lay slung across his arm, which was tucked behind his back, leaving one armpit bare and open - that coil was partially under the blankets, as though it too needed comfort - it even smoked a cigarette …

Tom’s brow furrowed, “Can you even taste that?”

T.K’s voice purred, mechanical yet laced with content, “I thought this is what you humans do after sex? Smoke together …”

Tom stared for a moment, wordless and still - despite everything; the tickle torment, the humiliation, the fear - he still couldn’t help but marvel at it, this machine, this predator - it was something exquisite in its own terrifying way - he didn’t say that, of course, instead, he drew in a breath and felt confident enough to order and to no longer request …

“… Tell me the truth.”

The cigarette hissed as T.K stubbed it out on the floor.

Without warning, the coil slid back under the blankets as Tom rolled his eyes, ready to protest - clank! - suddenly, the steel claw toying with his right foot clamped over his ankle and yanked …

Sheets fell away as Tom was pulled off the bed and up into the air, “—Oi!—”, dangling naked and upside down, blood rushing hot into his skull - his vision swam, stomach turning, the coil now carrying him with slow, deliberate strength toward the black orb and its steel frame, the dead-eyed computer screen waiting …

He was set down gently on his back, T.K’s talons pressing buttons and flicking switches, as his ankle was freed and he was able to stand.

“Accessing game archive…”

Tom’s stomach tightened as images began to flicker across the screen …

Game Two … He remembered the players being Logan and Justin, but now the footage showed Tim and Sebastian in their places.

Game Four … He remembered Kit and Ross at his side, but in this image there was Joshua, Logan, and Justin locked within the wall of steel …

His eyebrows scrunched over the bridge of his nose; had these games happened without him knowing?

“You’ve never been playing to win …” T.K explained calmly, “… You’ve been playing to forget …”

More footage …

Ross crowned the winner, The Winner’s Mask placed over his face; Miller in a white tuxedo basking in the applause; Logan winning, Tom winning, Justin winning …

Then, chilling in its mundanity, shots of the boys in The Living Quarters, eyes open and unblinking, hair being trimmed and cut by Masked Henchmen …

The two buttons: ‘begin again’ or ‘admit defeat’ … Footage of individual losers of the individual Games at the time wearing the same steel collar Tom wore now …

Logan pressing ‘begin again’, then Tim as a loser, then Kit as a loser, then Sebastian as a loser … All of them eager, all of them ignorant to what would actually happen …

“… Each time, the loop resets …”

Tom’s hands curled into fists - he was silent, rage simmering under his skin …

“… How is this possible? …”

T.K shifted the footage: Hypno hypnotising them before each reset, soft commands to forget, to ‘begin again’, his pocket watch swaying in front of each contestants eyes as they lined up against a wall, with Miller, John and Peter watching on, always smiling …

Tom’s voice shook, “… Harrison … Bastard …”

The footage glitched again.

“He didn’t want to, Tom. You and the others aren’t the only ones here held captive …”

CCTV footage showed Tom a straitjacket wrapped Harrison locked in a cell with Miller peering through the cell doors glass window …

“… We’ll only let you out if you do as we say, for as long as we say …” Miller’s whisper crackled through the screen as T.K switched off the monitor.

btzz …

Tom’s reflection stared back at him in the screen.

“We’ve been here for just over a week, haven’t we?” He asked.

T.K said nothing.

Tom’s tone hardened.

“… Tell me we’ve been here for just over a week …”

T.K sounded careful, “You’ve … Been here for four thousand, three hundred and sixty eight hours …”

“… That is one hundred and eight two days …”

“… Half a year …”

“… There have been twenty-five versions of ‘The Games’ …”

“… You have all either won more than once, or lost more than once …”

“… They will continue … Unless they are sto—”

—Tom staggered back, colour draining from his face …

He made it two steps before dropping to his knees and vomiting onto the dusty floorboards.

For a moment, there was only the sound of his heaving …

He spat out the remaining bile and then - pshhht! - a fine, cool mist landed over his face as T.K’s talon hovered above him, nozzle extended, spraying a light fan of water, almost tender, almost human.

“Cool yourself, Thomas … Breathe …”

Tom wiped his mouth, still trembling, but then the rage burned through the sickness - he rose, stalked to the steel frame and shook it violently before slamming his fist into the screen - SMASH! - glass cracked, sparks leapt, static filled the air, blood now trickling from his knuckles …

T.K’s coils hovered close, “What do you want to do?”

Tom turned, eyes burning, his voice was raw, animal, alive with fury,

“… We’re gonna destroy everything …”

ON (INSERT DATE)

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