Temptations
With no laws to dictate their behavior, the prisoners could go as berserk as they wanted. Everywhere his eyes went, he saw crowded, neon-soaked streets.
However, these people weren't like the ones Logan was used to. These were hardened criminals, scavengers, and fighters, each more desperate and deadlier than the last.
Thankfully, no one came to attack them. Probably it was because of Snake, or maybe because everyone was busy searching for 122.
Apart from 111, everyone looked hungry for the bounty, and it showed in their crazy and bloodthirsty eyes.
"What the hell is going on here? I thought this place was supposed to be a prison!?" Logan asked as another brawl erupted right before his eyes.
"It's the death game..." Snake replied, forcing Logan into another alley. "Everyone... wants the bounty..."
"Bounty? Like money?"
"Credits... weapons... enhancement modules... everything one will... need here..."
Logan nodded. Although it was a bit difficult to follow Snake's words, he understood the motivation behind the fights. Completing the hunt guarantees a handsome reward for them.
But why do all this? That was the question Logan had. What was the purpose of fighting for power if they were all stuck in the city?
For someone like Logan, who had been an ideal citizen his entire life, it was difficult to digest the rules of a prison. Sure, at first the prisoners wanted to leave Tartarus, but once they got a taste of victory in the death game, all of it vanished.
The world outside was great. It gave them freedom. However, Tartarus offered them much more. It was a city made especially for them. A city where they could rule, kill, and gain limitless power.
To put it differently, most of those thrown into Tartarus thought of it as a dream. Where Logan saw sickening violence, the rest saw a throne waiting for its ruler.
That's why people didn't care about getting out of there. In fact, they never wanted to step out of there. As they moved deeper into the city, the buildings grew taller and less ravaged.
"Where are we going?" Logan asked as they entered another alley.
"Base..."
Eventually, Snake led Logan down a set of narrow stairs that led them deeper underground. It looked like an abandoned subway station with flickering lights. The chaos from above slowly disappeared as they walked through the tracks.
There was a heavy metal door at the end of the path. Snake approached it and knocked three times and a second later, the door slid open, revealing Izna waiting inside.
Just like Snake and himself, she, too, had neon eyes. But she was now sporting a buzz-cut on her left side and had some metal implanted attached to that side of her head.
"Oh, my god... what did they do to you?" Izna rushed out, cupping his cheeks. "Looks like they poured everything they had on you. Look at that muscular body!"
"It's... no use..." Snake commented before heading inside. "He can't fight… outside the game…"
"Ignore him," Izna said, grabbing Logan's hand. "Come on, let's get you into the shower first. After all, it's been a month since we last saw you—"
"What? It's been a month?"
"...yeah, you didn't know?"
***
Logan turned the knob, and cold water greeted his tensed muscles. Water droplets splashed on his face before flowing down his body, washing all the grime and dirt away.
A month... they kept experimenting on me for an entire month?
As usual, the shower was the perfect place to collect his thoughts. He learned that Izna and Snake had been living in Tartarus for roughly a month.
Through that tile, they had been monitoring new entrants, hoping it was him. That explained why Snake appeared there out of nowhere to help Logan.
Why were they being so kind to him? Logan had a rough idea about it. They wanted someone to help them in the virtual world, and in return, they would do the same in the real world.
While they talked about random stuff, Izna taught Logan how to use his eyes. It was used to connect the interface between their real-world identities and their virtual counterparts.
Their current bodies reflected the stats and achievements they had received during the trials. They buffed up Logan to reflect his in-game stats.
Logan didn't know how the people controlling the prison achieved such a feat, but it felt good to get rid of his frail self.
If I ignore the... prison things, this place isn't all that bad.
With that thought, he leaned against the wall, closing his eyes to enjoy the shower. But that moment was short-lived. The creak of the door prompted him to turn around to see Izna entering the bathroom.
Logan's cheeks flushed, and he immediately covered himself with his hands. While Izna chuckled.
"What are you doing here!?" Logan asked.
"I told you I'll bring the towel and some clothes for you," Izna shook her head. "Why are you acting all surprised? Besides, most of Tartarus has already seen you naked while you enjoyed your reward."
Logan's eyebrow shot up. "What do you mean!? They recorded it or something!?"
Izna nodded, "Not only here, but the entire world saw you doing the tango with 007 and 117. Everything that happens here gets broadcasted all over the world on Tartarus's private network."
Logan's face turned bright red with embarrassment. Little did he know things were about to get even better. Before Logan could ask anything else to Izna, she casually pulled off her tank top, revealing her toned body as she stepped into the shower with him.
Logan's mouth fell open as she walked closer, her hips and breasts swinging sideways with each step. Suddenly, Logan couldn't feel the cold water on his body... only the heat within.
"Uh, what… what are you doing?" he finally managed to ask, trying to keep his eyes anywhere but on her.
Izna laughed at his reaction before stepping closer.
"Don't worry, I will do nothing you don't want, Logan," she said, reaching for the soap. "I just thought you could use a little help to get all that blood off your back."
Logan hesitated, still unsure of what to make of the situation, but eventually, he nodded and turned his back to her. A moment later, he could feel her hands on his back as she washed away the dried blood and dirt. It was oddly soothing, and for a moment, Logan let himself relax.
But slowly Izna's hands moved lower, brushing against his waist and inching closer to his raging crotch, eager to greet her. Just as she was about to touch the tip, Logan turned around, grabbed her wrists, and pinned her against the wall.
"What are you doing?" Logan asked, panting as his bare chest touched hers.
"Can't a girl have some fun?" Izna replied, smiling slyly.
Logan shook his head and was about to let her go when she turned the tables on him, flipping their positions, and now he had his back to the wall.
"I just wanted to check out your upgrades," she whispered in his ears. "But don't worry, we can do that later."
Before Logan could say anything, she planted a kiss on his lips, their tongues discovering each other mouths before she let go. With a playful smirk, she turned and stepped out of the shower, grabbing the towel she had brought for him.
As she walked away, she smacked the 206 tattoo on her ass cheek before winking at him as she disappeared out of the room.
All the while, Logan stood there stunned, trying to process it all. He didn't know how he went from almost getting killed to being kissed. But one thing was sure—his time in this city was going to be anything but ordinary.