Playground

“Bravo! Bravo!” Geraldine yelled.

“Ha-ha!” Fuchs rejoiced.

“That boy was quite spectacular, but I knew it was just a matter of time until he stretched himself too thin.”

“He truly was, my lady.”

Geraldine was pleased, but a faint sourness still puckered her face. CJ’s death didn’t make her feel better, but it did make her feel equal. Equal to the unworthy, peasant parents on the secondary screen. Their dread was legendary. Gorging on their sorrows filled her with overflowing gratitude; she was like a spunky tick that had latched onto a dog’s belly.

A giant grin creased Geraldine’s face as she watched the severely burned Donnie, and blood-roasted Tanya limp away from the seesaw. They continued to struggle but were now just a few yards away from the tunnel.

“Zhese two will never make it through zhe last part of zhe playground alone. Prepare yourself, zhe final fatalities are upon us,” Fuchs said.

As Geraldine watched the mad scientist pull down on a lever, the ceiling ventilation triggered and the flames at the base of the seesaw deactivated.

But the wicked flames in Geraldine’s heart still burned something fierce.

“We shall see,” she whispered.

Geraldine’s dark horse might’ve gotten maimed on the seesaw, but Tanya was still in the running. There was a spiral of unfamiliar emotions swirling inside her when she’d watched the propeller twist above her darling’s pretty little head. The bizarre blend of fear, hope, and horniness brought her to a boil. Then, just when she figured her head would be split, fate spared her and took CJ instead.

It was meant to be, my darling. You shall be mine. There is just but one final test, Geraldine thought.

Tanya had shown her everything she desired. Geraldine knew the girl’s wounds were severe, but that was part of the test. If Tanya could find enough reserve to make the impossible possible, then the girl was undeniably the one.

In her best-case scenario, where Tanya triumphed past the final part of the playground, Geraldine would dispatch Fuchs to offer her constant care. She would heal and mend to full strength, then Geraldine could play with her new toy.

As Fuchs adjusted the camera, it transitioned to show the next area. Tanya and Donnie once again appeared on the screen.

“Ugh, hopefully this is the last we see of that little brat,” she scoffed.

“I don’t imagine he has zhe capacity to continue on without zhe help of others,” Fuchs replied.

The boy’s death could serve as the cherry on top of Geraldine’s picture-perfect day. Watching him fail in the final area and seeing Tanya thrive would provide her a regret-free outcome.

Geraldine lifted the bottle and took another sip of the bubbly. She looked back to the screen that was occupied by the parents trapped in the spy room.

“I certainly hope you’re right.”