Page 157 of Code Bound
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the guard answers, bowing his head. “The speakeasies were attended by Havoc and he managed to get out a few of the players we had our eyes on.”
I swallow thickly, realizing that must be how Vesper avoided this place. Thank the Harrow she isn’t here right now. I don’t want her to see what I’ll be forced to do.
The queen strolls along the cage to our right, looking over the players. All of them put their heads down, avoiding her eyes. When she trails in front of our cage, I tilt my chin up, staring her down.
She stops as soon as she catches my eyes and a slow smile starts to curl her lips. “Did you not hear the instructions, player?”
“I heard ’em,” I answer, glad my voice isn’t shaking like my hands. “I just don’t care.”
She chuckles, her eyes trailing down my chest. “What is your Glitch?”
I flex my muscles along my shoulders and she eagerly steps forward. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“A Bone Breaker!” she moans. “I do so love your kind. Tell me, player. How do you feel about being caged?”
I bare my teeth at her. “Positively ecstatic about it. Can’t you tell?”
She claps her claws together and leans in. She runs her tongue along her teeth and grins. “Oh, I’m going to enjoy you, Bone Breaker,” she purrs. To the guards, she says, “This one. See that he’s collared and changed.”
And then she sweeps out of the room, not bothering to look at any of the other prisoners.
“Well done, Locke,” Cipher goads. “I hope you’re prepared for what’s to come.”
“Just tell me she’s close,” I say as the guards open my cage and grab at me.
Cipher sighs. “The sewers of New Babel are a maze that even I do not know fully.”
“Fuck,” I grunt, the bile so thick in my throat, it comes up. The guards hiss as they drag me from the cage, but don’t bother stopping to let me puke. They just drag me away and I get one last sympathetic look from the other Bone Breaker before I’m taken from the room entirely.
After I finish emptying the contents of my stomach, I get the bright idea to fight. I’m a Bone Breaker. I’m strong, but I quickly realize the giggle water drinks I’d had have taken a toll on me. I check my stats and panic at the realization of how fucked I am.
TIER 2 - CARTILAGE CRANK
Wastrel, peak
STRENGTH: 7
AGILITY: 12
VITALITY: 12
WILLPOWER: 11
CHARISMA: 8
LUCK: 6
FRACTURE POINTS: GAIN +5% DAMAGE AND +2% DAMAGE RESISTANCE
CORRUPTION: 15%
CURRENT BUFFS AND DEBUFFS:
+2 to strength while holding the Arctic Smite
-8 to strength while under the effects of giggle water.
-4 to luck while under the effects of giggle water.Time remaining: 2 hours and 3 minutes.
