The dank warehouse reeked of sweat and fear. Rows of cages held children—too many to count eyes wide with terror and pleading. One boy caught my eye, no older than ten, trembling and reaching out as if begging me to be his savior.
A prompt blinked in my vision:
[Prompt: Taunt the child to gain +50 Evil Points and reveal a weak point? Y/N]
I swallowed hard, heart tightening. I could save them. Maybe I should. But not now.
I leaned close, voice sharp, forcing the words out: "Kill yourself. It'd be easier for everyone."
The boy froze, confusion and pain flickering across his face. The prompt updated:
[Weak Point Revealed: Hidden entrance behind west wall, lightly guarded.]
I hesitated a moment, the weight of the decision crushing me. Then I opened the cage door, watching as hope flashed briefly in his eyes.
But I shut it again, locking him back inside.
I'll come back for you, I told myself, pushing the guilt down. First, I have to take down the monsters who made this place.
I turned away, the echo of the boy's silent scream chasing me.
[Evil Points +300: Moral Conflict Ignored]
[New Strategy Path Unlocked: Scorched-Earth – Total Annihilation]
[Evil Points Total: 555]
[Current Viewer Count: 89,276]
[Audience Feedback: "Yo that was completely unnecessary why'd bro shut the cage?"]
[Narrative Stress Rising]