Round 28 Transcript

Jeane's words hang in the air like a physical weight, pressing down on everyone present. The walls of the penthouse seem to pulse faster now—hungry, eager. Halia stares at Hera with wide, horrified eyes, her mind reeling from what she's just heard.

The entity's presence grows stronger still, its interest in this developing situation palpable. "Well?" Jeane asks, turning back to face the group. "What's it going to be? Do we offer our virgin sacrifice willingly… or make them take her by force?"

I shake my head vehemently, backing away from Jeane until I feel the cold wall against my back. "No," I say again, more forcefully this time. "I won't... I can't be a part of this." My voice trembles but I lift my chin defiantly. "There has to be another way. We're supposed to be saving people, not sacrificing them!"

I glance around at the others—Silra sprawled on the floor, Halia looking lost and conflicted, Abby pressed against the wall with fear in her eyes. This isn't what we signed up for. This isn't right.

But even as I think it, doubt creeps in. Jeane's words echo in my mind: "Innocence," "purity," "untouched potential." Is that really all I am to them—a resource to be used and discarded? The thought makes me sick... but it also sends a treacherous heat through my core.

I swallow hard, trying to push those feelings aside. "We need to find another solution," I insist, though my voice lacks conviction even to my own ears. "There has to be something we can offer besides... besides this."

Jeane just smiles, a cold, knowing curve of her lips that makes me shiver. "Oh, Hera," she purrs, "your innocence is so very tempting. But very well—if you insist on playing the hero..."

She turns to face the others, spreading her arms wide as if presenting them all like some macabre game show prize. "Well then, let's hear your brilliant alternative. What can we offer in place of a willing victim?" Her tone is mocking, taunting us with the knowledge that there is no answer—no solution that will satisfy this ancient evil.

I feel trapped, cornered like an animal with nowhere to run. "This isn't a game," I snap, my hands balling into fists at my sides. But even as I say it, I know she's right. This is a game... and we're all just pieces on her board.

The walls pulse faster now—hungry, eager for the spectacle to come. "Choose wisely," Jeane advises, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Or choose not at all."

"Oh, Hera," Jeane said, her voice dripping with condescension. "Your innocence is so very tempting. But very well—if you insist on playing the hero..." She turned to face the others, spreading her arms wide as if presenting them all like some macabre game show prize. "Well then, let's hear your brilliant alternative. What can we offer in place of a willing victim?" Her tone was mocking, taunting us with the knowledge that there was no answer—no solution that would satisfy this ancient evil.

I felt trapped, cornered like an animal with nowhere to run. "This isn't a game," I snapped, my hands balling into fists at my sides. But even as I said it, I knew she was right. This was a game... and we were all just pieces on her board.

The walls pulsed faster now—hungry, eager for the spectacle to come. "Choose wisely," Jeane advised, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Or choose not at all."