Jane woke up with a headache. Again. His vision swam when he opened his eyes. He rubbed his eyes, his hands coming away wet and red. Slick with blood. His vision sharpened, focusing on a spike that impaled both of his legs together, and the chain that attached it to the ceiling. Someone had strung him up, upside down. He looked around the room as the memory of what had happened suddenly slammed home.

It had all started with that damn cup of coffee. He remembered the supreme confidence that had washed over him when he had drank it; the feeling of invincibility he had when he had rushed out of the service tunnel. He remembered the disbelief he had felt when he found The Huntsman waiting for him and the despair he had felt being dragged away by him.

The room he had woken up in looked less like the lair of a deranged beast, and more like an upscale apartment. Instead of a witch’s cauldron, a small fireplace sat along one wall, flanked by two wingback chairs. Instead of the expected pile of childrens’ bones, a bowl of toffees sat on a glass coffee table. A small half-bar took the place of a dissection table, separating the living area he was in from a small kitchen stocked with stainless steel appliances. He felt a twinge of guilt as he watched his blood drip onto the plush white carpet. He heard a muffled voice nearby.

“So, anyways, like I was saying, you should have seen how this guy tackled the chasm. I mean the pipe freakin’ broke away from the wall, and he still kept running.” Jane faintly heard what sounded like the ghoul, talking to someone on the other side of a door. “All I’m saying is that the guy managed to get away from The Huntsman, so give him a chance.”

“Listen Ross, I’ve already told you I’ll interview him.” A smooth, deep voice replied to the ghoul, “Now, wait out here. I have some things I’d like to discuss with you after I speak with this one.” A door behind Jane opened with the sound of wood sliding over carpet.

“So, I’ve heard that- ugh. Terry, get in here!” The voice called out as a pale man came into view, looking almost normal in a dark black polo and dress pants. There was a shuffling sound at the door as another person entered the room.

“The next time I tell you I want someone unharmed, I want you to bring them to me unharmed. Now get him down from there.” The man chewed out the other person as Jane felt several hands grab ahold of him, while another set undid the hook in the ceiling of the room.

“And look, you’ve gotten his blood all over the carpet. This is coming out of your pay.” Jane watched in terror as The Huntsman came into his field of view, setting him down gently onto the stained section of carpet.

“Good, now go wait outside. We’ll finish talking about this later.” The man waited for the door to close before he turned to Jane.

“My employee tells me I should hire you, but I’m not convinced.” The man looked down at him with cold indifference. “Tell me why I shouldn’t just give you to Terry.”

“Well, for starters, he got blood all over your carpet?” Jane stammered. The man raised an eyebrow. “I mean, do you really want to reward that kind of behavior?”

The man let out a low chuckle before his face dropped back into a cold death-mask, “Keep talking.” The man said, while he moved over to the half-bar.

“I know how to solder, run PVC, Victaulic, and steel.” Jane babbled, “I can do underground. If you need it, you probably don’t, but I can do it, or finish work. What do you need me to do?”

The man pulled a blender out from under the counter, along with several items that Jane couldn’t quite see. “That’s just it. I really don’t need another worker. I’ve got plenty already. What makes you special? How did you get so deep in my dungeon without my knowledge?” The man began cutting something with a rhythmic chopping sound.

Jane’s mouth went dry. “I’m a Riftwalker.” Jane felt his stomach drop as he saw a spark of greed come into the man’s eyes.

“Ah, I see. That makes you very employable.” The man put the ingredients into the blender and pureed them into a thick, green smoothie, which he then poured into a glass.

“I’ve decided to hire you.” The man walked over to Jane and set the glass down next to him. “Here, pull that spike out of your legs, then drink this. We’ll discuss terms of employment afterwards.”

Jane looked at the man, then at the spike in his legs, and finally settled his gaze on the glass. “What is it?”

The man smirked. “What does it look like? It’s wheat-grass, mostly. Incredibly healthy. Just do it.”

Jane looked back at the spike in his leg. The thin spike had been pushed through the sides of both legs at about mid-calf. Jane grabbed ahold of the spike and gave it a test pull. Pain lanced through his whole body as he felt the spike grind against bone. Jane let go of the spike and writhed on the floor.

“Ross, get in here.” The man called, losing his patience.

The door opened, admitting the ghoul into the room. The ghoul walked in, his eyes roaming around the room, taking in Jane, the glass, and the spike. “Yes, boss?” The ghoul flatly asked, his eyes never touching the man.

The man looked at the ghoul with thinly veiled contempt. “Take that spike out of him.” The ghoul knelt by Jane, gave the plumber a sympathetic look, and quickly yanked the spike out of his legs in one fluid motion. Jane felt white -hot fire burning through his legs as the spike scraped against his bones, his legs quickly becoming cold.

Improved Toughness activated

Status gained: Heavy Bleed

Improved Toughness +17%

Jane lunged for the drink, gulping it down without tasting it.

Greater Healing potion imbibed

Status Cured

Health Restored

Status Gained: Potion sickness

Jane watched in macabre fascination as his legs knit themselves back together in seconds, the gaping holes disappearing without leaving even a trace of a scar. Jane unsteadily got to his feet, testing his weight on his legs. They held without any pain. He looked up at the ghoul, still holding the spike, and at the man.

“Thanks.” He flatly stated.

The man let out a light chuckle, then turned to the ghoul. “That should be everything, Ross.” The ghoul turned and left very quickly, the bloody spike still in his hands. The man turned back to Jane.

“Here, let’s talk by the fireplace.” He said, tapping the back of one of the wingback chairs. Jane walked over, and after a moment’s hesitation, sat in one of the chairs. The man watched him, then sat in the other one.

“So, you said there are terms of employment?” Jane asked.

“Yes, there are.” The man coldly smiled. “You will work seven days a week, with no PTO, no benefits, no retirement, and no pay. You may not leave the dungeon or travel to the first floor. In exchange, I won’t have you killed. What do you think?”

“That doesn’t sound like a great deal to me. I would really like to get out of here.” Jane said quietly.

“Well, you should have thought about that before you killed one of my workers, broke my infrastructure, and jammed one of my doors shut. I’m really being very lenient with you, if you think about it.” The man stated.

“Well, when you put it that way, I guess I don’t have a choice.” Jane stated.

“What? Of course you have a choice.” The man said, mockingly taking offence. “You can work, or you can die, but the choice is yours to make.”

“Okay, I’ll take the deal.” Jane said. “Who are you, by the way?”

“Malonius Szedrich, project manager.” The man stated, holding out his hand. “You?”

“Jane Marcena.” Jane took his hand in a firm grip. Agony gripped his arm as he felt fire burn into the back of his hand.

Pact Made: Dungeon Employee

The man smiled, showing a mouth full of sharply pointed teeth. “Welcome to the family.”