Chapter 4

Riley's POV

The midnight bell echoes through the theater, and I wake up groggy on the huge bed, stretching.

That was some of the best sleep I've had in ages, and I feel refreshed. I turn to look at the window. That tall figure is gone, leaving nothing behind but a slight dent in the couch cushions.

Ran off pretty fast.

I put my shoes back on and head out of the room, back to the main hall. Preston, Vanessa, and Wade are already standing below the stage, dark circles under their eyes, tense as hell. Clearly they haven't had it easy this whole time.

Preston's eyes flash with shock when he sees me walk out looking wide awake and full of energy.

"You... you're actually not dead?!" Vanessa shrieks.

I raise an eyebrow. "What, disappointed I'm still breathing? Sorry, the boss's bed was too comfortable. I overslept."

All three of them suck in a breath.

Preston grits his teeth and sneers. "Tough talk for someone about to die. You think the boss is just gonna let you slide? This second audition, I can't wait to watch you die."

The second he finishes talking, the lights on stage plunge into darkness, and a single beam of harsh white light hits center stage. A massive floor-length mirror appears, its frame made of stark white bone fused together. The surface isn't glass at all, just a layer of black water churning like ink.

Julian's figure materializes in midair. He's changed into a dark red velvet suit, still devastatingly gorgeous, though his eyes dart away the second they land on me.

"Second audition. Theme: desire."

His voice comes out cold, carrying an authority that doesn't invite argument.

"Walk up to the Abyss Mirror, look at yourself in it, and say your deepest desire out loud. Remember, the mirror sees through every lie. If it isn't pure, or if you lie..."

He gives a cold laugh. "The abyss will be delighted to feast on your soul."

The air freezes solid. On the edge of life and death like this, who doesn't have something ugly buried inside them? Who can say their desire comes out completely clean?

"Who's going first?"

Preston shoves Wade hard, and he stumbles toward the mirror.

"I... I'll go first..." He shakes all over, swallowing hard. "My... my deepest desire is to survive! I want to get out of this hellhole in one piece and go home to see my mom!"

Sounds like a pretty reasonable wish.

But the black water on the mirror's surface suddenly boils over, and a raspy voice comes from inside it:

[Lie detected. What you truly want most is to take your boss's job and steal his wife.]

"No! That's not true! I never—" Wade screams, terrified.

Too late. Rotting hands claw their way out of the mirror, locking onto his arms and throat.

"Help! Preston, help me!"

Preston takes a cold step back. Bones crack, and Wade gets dragged into the mirror, leaving nothing behind but a pool of blood.

Vanessa collapses to the floor, hand slapped over her mouth to keep from screaming.

Preston sucks in a breath, straightens his tie, and steps forward. "My desire is ultimate wisdom and power, to see through every rule that governs this world!"

The black water ripples, and a moment later, the voice speaks again:

[A hollow ambition, but pure enough to pass.]

Preston lets out a breath and steps aside.

Vanessa goes next, sobbing through some story about wanting to marry rich and never scrape by again. Shallow, but honest enough, and she scrapes through too.

Now it's just me.

Preston mutters under his breath, mocking. "She's dead meat. God only knows what kind of garbage is running through that crazy head of hers."

I shrug and walk up to the Abyss Mirror. The black water reflects my face back at me.

So what is my deepest desire, really?

Staying alive? I'm already terminal. Even if I make it out of this game, I'm still walking straight into a grave.

Money? Dead people don't need cash.

I look up, meeting Julian's eyes as he watches me closely from midair.

I suddenly grin, point right at him, and declare it loud and clear at the Abyss Mirror.

"My deepest desire is to sleep with the owner of this theater."