Monster of Monsters: Series One Mortem’s Basement Level #2 Mortem's Contestant

By Kristie Lynn Higgins

Type: novella and the word count is about 43,600 words.
Join Kein in this novella serial series and explore a realm of terror through the eyes of one who wants nothing more than to find a family of her own. Start this endearing and yet heartbreaking story by reading the short story, Monster of Monsters: Series One Mortem's Basement Level #1 Mortem's Opening.

Monster of Monsters: Series One Mortem’s Basement Level #2 Mortem's Contestant

Light and darkness... Love and revenge...

All Kein wanted was to be devoured. As an orphan, she had been told since joining her school that it was very important that a house or clan devour her so when she met a creature promising to devour her, she was confused at first, but then she was consoled that someone wanted her.

A world of monsters and a world of humans... A world of joy and a world of terror...

Loneliness can be a very strong emotion, but it can also be a very strong motivator so even when a creature of the darkness invited her to come to her, innocence heeded the call. Kein began an adventure of heartache and joy as she walked the paths of shadow and light. She would discover what it was to be devoured as a dangerous game drew her into a deadly realm of wishes, revenge, hope, desire, love, and horror.

Monster of Monsters Science Fiction Horror Action Adventure Novella Serial Series

Monster of Monsters: Series One Mortem’s Basement Level
#1 Mortem's Opening
#2 Mortem's Contestant
#3 And Let The Real Games Begin
#4 A Bargain Has Been Struck...
#5 Secrets Told And Secrets Unfold
#6 Vampires, Dragons, and Mummies... Oh My!
#7 The Outsider, Chimera Rises

My novels, novellas, short stories, and flash fiction range from science fiction, fantasy, action-adventure, horror with elements of mystery, thriller, suspense, dark fantasy, gothic, a mix of fairy tales, legends, and epic fantasy. Explore my worlds of magic, tech, werewolf, sword and sorcery, killer robots, UFO, witches, dragon baby, undead, demented games, vampires, villains, flying saucers, dungeons and dragons, werewolves, ghosts, mummies, assassins, monsters, androids, leviathan, aliens, curse of the mummy, mutants, warlocks, dragon riders, sorcerer, superheroes, zombies, mutant creatures, etc.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristie Lynn Higgins
• Release date: Jul 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370391455

Kristie Lynn Higgins

You can also check out my author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/author/kristielynnhiggins

Book preview

Monster of Monsters

#1

Part Two

Mortem's Contestant

Kristie Lynn Higgins

Text Copyright © 2017, 2018

Smashwords Ebook Edition

Cover Art © 2017

www.KristieLynnHiggins.com

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

Love Horror & Fantasy? Check out my complimentary books

Monster of Monsters, Dragon Rite, AaBack’s Grim,

& BOTB Mystic Rose

The first ebook or two are complimentary for each series.

Love Science Fiction? Check out two complimentary books

SOG Series

www.KristieLynnHiggins.com

Check out my new YouTube video series

Pop Culture Remix.

Where movies and tv collide in unexpected ways.

.

Monster of Monsters

#1

Part Two

Mortem's Contestant

Monster of Monsters Website

www.KristieLynnHiggins.com/MOM.html

Chapter Three

Stay Boy... Stay!

Kein (Kīn) entered the Knecht Ruprecht Corporation to simply deliver five packages to Residents living on the Basement Level but instead, she stumbled upon a deadly game called the Mortem in which she had become an unwilling contestant. She currently stood, trapped in an elevator with a werewolf pup on the other side ravenously waiting to sink his teeth into her.

Moments earlier…

The elevator cab kept her protected, but it also kept her trapped. Controller told her that she was far underground so maybe the elevator was more of a grave or a tomb. Kein heard the werewolf pup just outside, and she realized the cab was more of a slaughterhouse and the werewolf pup would be the slaughterer. Her fear was great and ever growing. She had to get out of the Mortem but there were certain things she should never do.

No… I won't kill, Kein told Controller. I won't pick up a weapon. There has to be another way. I can't stay down here seven days. Those creatures... fear will... She worked on calming herself, but her anxiety muddled her thoughts so that her words flow incoherently as she said, The monster will want to destroy... I'm afraid... and...

So is the nature of monsters, Controller stated. They want to kill and destroy and that is why this Mortem is so much fun. Who can predict what anyone will do? Everyone, the Coaches, the Residents, even myself, we all have our own agendas, and we have to survive to make them come true.

I don't understand what you're saying, and I can't be here, Kein insisted. It's not safe... You have to let me go.

Now I am the one who is afraid. I am afraid I can't let you go, Controller replied. Think of it as you have no other choice but to survive, and it will make everything more... he spoke, enjoying himself way too much, then paused as if trying to come up with something witty to say, and asked, What is the word I am looking for?

Clearer? Kein said as she moved to the center of the cab to see if she could spot a camera, but she didn't see one.

"No, fun was the word I was looking for or maybe entertaining. Now you can either survive or die that is up to you."

And the creatures, Kein mumbled. How do I stay down here and not–

Die? he interrupted. You will have to use whatever skills you possess. Now... enough chit-chat. You need to run if you are going to survive.

Run? she repeated as if the word was foreign to her.

Correct, run, Controller spoke. I am opening the elevator, and our guard dog is waiting outside. He hasn't been fed in a few days, and he is very upset he wasn't able to snag a contestant for himself.

The cab doors opened before Kein could object, and the creature, who had chased her, turned at the sound. The creature was smaller than her and completely covered in brown fur. He looked at her as he greedily licked his drool covered chops. He was nearly at the other end of the hallway about three hundred feet away.

If you haven't figured it out yet, Controller said. That's a werewolf pup. He's much smaller than an adult but still strong, and he's very very hungry.

The werewolf pup howled, excited he could resume the hunt, and he charged after her, snarling and barking. Kein had nowhere to run but the hallway, so she backed up into the cab.

I need someplace to run to if you want me to survive past the next minute! Kein yelled. I can't run into one of the Residents' rooms. There has to be someplace else.

Let me get a consensus from the Coaches, Controller spoke as if he would take his time in doing so.

The werewolf pup snarled and howled as he passed the halfway mark.

Hurry! Kein yelled. Make this more of a contest than a slaughter!

Majority says you can use the Black Arrow room for the time being. It is the first one you passed when you first left the elevator and if you haven't figured it out by now, it is the one with the black arrow above it.

She squatted down as the werewolf pup ran the last ten feet. Kein waited for him to leap for her, and then she jumped up and in a feat, no human should be able to do, she used the wall behind herself to kick off and catapult herself over him. Kein landed on the floor, rolled to a standing position, and then took off running. The werewolf pup turned his body when he missed her, then immediately moved his arms and legs to change directions to give chase but instead of moving after her, he slid and slammed into the wall hard with a yelp. He whined a little more as if hurt, and then he slowly pursued her. It took him a while before he was back up to his top speed. Kein bolted for the Black Arrow room as fear urged her on at a frantic pace, and she reached the door and rushed in before the werewolf pup could overtake her. She slammed the door behind her, and the werewolf pup swiped at it and barked as he clawed at the door some more.

There's no way I can survive here, Kein yelled through depleted breath as she leaned against the door.

Controller told her, You just have to fight to survive.

I can't, she insisted as she peered into the pitch black room she entered, and it appeared to be empty. I can't fight.

It is the way things are done here, Controller told her. It is how the contestants have competed, but I guess skills are what they are and if you don't have them... if you can't fight... well... you will be someone's food or decoration.

Fighting's not everything, Kein said. I saw how that went for all of the other contestants. I can't fight. Make another way for me to compete or there won't be much of a contest.

There was a long pause, and then Controller questioned, What do you propose?

There has to be a quicker way to win.

You could kill one of the Residents to secure your position, Controller told her. Kill one of them and you will immediately become a Resident.

I can't. I won't, Kein spoke, and then she said, Contests have rules so this one has to also. I would like to add some rules.

Adding rules... Now that's an interesting proposition. What sort of rules would you like to add?

Kein replied, First, tell me what the Residents are after.

Their freedom of course, Controller replied. Each has a goal they must accomplish, and then they can move up to the next level or as I said before, they could kill one of the other Residents, and then they automatically move up.

How many levels are there?

Quite a few, Controller answered, and then he added, Only the Residents know.

What is Shukujo's goal?

Who is this Shukujo?

The Kumovon, Kein replied.

Did she tell you her name?

No, Kein answered. I just call her that.

I will use that name also, Controller stated. As to your question, that information is Shukujo's, and it is hers to give or withhold. Now... Tell me your conditions or should I say rules you would like to add to remain as a contestant.

It's simple... Kein began, and then she stated, The other Residents can't kill me.

Other Residents? You sound like you are very confident that you will become one.

I can be if you make the contest a little less...

Dangerous?

Exactly. This place is a death trap. Any room that I walk into could kill me the instant I enter. It’s not much of a contest.

Controller laughed for a few moments, and then he said, I imagine everyone would like to have that rule for themselves, but you must know that I can't do that. They can kill one another at any time they want to whether they are contestant or Resident.

That won't do, Kein mumbled to herself. I'm afraid the monster...

You should be afraid of the monsters, Controller told her. I believe the contestants would be more afraid of them if they didn't think this was some televised reality game show. My fault, I am sure. I am inclined to tell people half-truths when it suits me.

She asked, How about they have to answer three of my questions before they can kill me for that day? It would give me some breathing room.

Questions would force the Residents to interact with you, and this level's Resident interplay with one another has become stagnate, so I think I like that rule. Let me see if the Coaches will agree, Controller said.

Coaches? Who are these coaches you keep referring to? Kein asked, and when he didn't answer, she said, Hello..? You still there?

Elsewhere, Controller's room...

I like the delivery woman's idea, Blue Wolf spoke first.

But to give her such leeway, Purple Rose stated. Is it fair to the Residents?

I do not believe it is fair, Red Phoenix said, and then she added, But what rules are? I would like to see a change come to Basement Level, and maybe these questions are the key to one of us moving up.

Yellow Dragon, what about you? Controller questioned.

I'm undecided. Do we need a sixth Resident? I would prefer to move on without her in play.

You would, Green Serpent told him. You haven't been here that long, but as for one who is ready to move up at any cost, I'm for the questions. I have been here the longest of the Coaches present, and I believe the Mortem could use some new flavor.

A show of hands then, Controller said. If at least three of you raise your hands, I will allow this new rule.

Green Serpent, Red Phoenix, and Blue Wolf all raised their hands.

I will let the contestant know, Controller spoke.

Basement Level, Black Arrow room...

I have the Coaches' answer, Controller called out over the intercom. The majority have agreed. Most of them think it will make things more interesting, but what about your wager?

What do you mean? Kein asked.

What thing of value do you have to bet with? You wanted to add a rule, so now you have to pay for it by making a wager.

I don't know if it has any value, but it should be obvious what my wager is. You already forced me to bet it.

What is that? Controller questioned.

I'll be betting my life.

I guess you have already wagered it so for you to accomplish your goal, you must survive seven days. Now... besides the questions you agree to ask each Resident each day, the Coaches have a question for you. You will need to answer each one before we proceed, and the answer will only be given to the Coach who submitted the question.

Who are these coaches?

They are the ones you don't see. They are the ones who are either for or against you.

Kind of a cryptic answer, Kein said. What are their questions?

First question. Who do you work for?

I work for Brown Deliveries.

I already looked into Brown Deliveries, Controller told her, and then he informed her, The company doesn't exist.

Sure it does, Kein said. I was just there before I came here.

I suppose you are going to tell me you just started working there today.

Kein muttered as she put a hand to her pants' back pocket that held an invitation of sorts that she had read earlier, Why do I feel like I've been set up for something?

"I guess you answered that question as best as you could unless you are lying