The light from the TV screen brightened the inside of the safehouse, pulling our attention away from the door and the ominous knocking.

"Welcome back to the number one show in the nation, Grimm Games," Chuck announced, pacing the stage with an unusual strut that mismatched the cadence of his speech. "We have an update on our contestants and where the partners stand in the game. According to the new poll, we have a new beloved team. But first, let's sendoff Dylan Jeffrey the Sick by learning more about him."

I glanced at Jade and moved closer to the screen. "He looks like shit."

"Here's a brief segment to reflect on the life of our recent fallen Grimm Games comrade." Footage of Dylan played onscreen while the host spoke. "Dylan Jeffrey, raised by a single mother who instilled in her two sons the determination to get on top, to physically be better, quicker, faster, and stronger than many aspiring athletes.

"And at a youthful age, Dylan was set to make his hard work pay off and acquire an athletic scholarship to enable him to attain higher education and fame, power and prestige. His determination to be revered fueled him despite his health and medical setbacks. Unfortunately, that goal was cut short this evening in the Games. Your fight will be remembered."

"Why didn't he mention Dylan's age or even touch on his diagnosis?" I asked.

"It's all pointless. Fans of the show wouldn't care. They just want the kind of entertainment they don't have to think too hard about. A simple distraction."

"Now onto some exciting news," Chuck continued, grinning widely without a hint of empathy for the aforementioned loss. "Who would have ever thought, but in a strange turn of events, we have underdog contenders who've completely surpassed many of our expectations. The twin siblings, Kamilla the Activist and Millicent the Vagrant Wendall, have become the fan favorite according to recent polls.

"And with the older sibling—older by a whole minute—" he chuckled at his own joke, and the audience followed with cackles, "Kamilla's recent display of affection with a wild card, her coworker Jade Nelson, has brought excitement to the Games we haven't seen since the instant popularity of last season's winner, Tommy Miller."

I squinted in confusion. "What?"

Before Jade could react, an edited scene of our recent intimate encounter played onscreen. "My god." she bowed her head, avoiding the screen.

"For the volunteer turned wildcard, Jade Nelson, the shock of the Games flung her straight into the arms of her coworker of two years," Chuck went on, swiping his hand through his hair to appear more presentable. "And to think, there are many who would like to split those two lovebirds up and witness the fall of the twins." He exaggerated a deep frown, prompting everyone to boo at the idea. "As you see here, viewers can't get enough of this budding relationship!"

"Budding?" Jade scoffed.

I was more interested in who wanted to watch us fall. Could he be speaking about some of the viewers at home, the production team behind the scenes, or even Ms. Holle herself?

The surveillance footage was invasive and sensationalized, reducing our genuine intimate moment to cheap entertainment, but it worked in our favor more than I expected. Even the host seemed to change his tune about me and Millie.

"Thank goodness my family denounced this show long ago and aren't watching." Jade's face flushed with embarrassment. "All this will pay off. It has to."

Her confidence was everything.

As the images transitioned to a montage of our time in the Games, complete with dramatic music and exaggerated commentary, a surge of anger coursed through me. The manipulation and exploitation were blatant, and yet, here we were, at the mercy of the viewers and the impulses of the producers.

Another knock at the door made me pause. "Millie?" I called out. No one answered. Millie or Spencer would have announced who they were. Only the Grimm Piper or Sonya would play games to get us to open up.

The door shook in the frame as whoever was on the other side attempted to open it.

Jade gasped. "Who's there?"

I didn't wait for an answer. Instead, I took the crescent blade in hand, noting the absence of pain in my injured palm but feeling the blade was off. Its heft and balance were wrong. I examined it closer.

"Babes?"

"Something's up with my blade. It isn't right." I lifted it to the light source to see the once-sharpened tip bent back into a curl. "I don't think this is my blade." I gripped it in my palm, testing its weight. "It's lighter. Like aluminum."

Jade's eyes were wide. "What could've happened to it?"

"They must've altered it somehow." I shook my head, examining the flimsy brass cuff. "I don't think this is the same one." They must've switched it out when I was passed out backstage. I should've known they wouldn't give me my blade back after realizing how much of an advantage it granted me.

However, aluminum was still able to cut like brass.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I lifted the damaged blade in my hand just as the door rattled on its hinges. "Jade, get back." I swiped my hand in the air to demonstrate where I wanted her to go, as far away from the door as possible.

The knocks quickly turned to banging. A nonstop pulse of angry and urgent rams on the wood. Whoever was on the other side was intent on damaging the door while the show continued to play on the TV.

The sound of wood splintering was enough. "Stop it!" I yelled over the noise, but it continued.

Finally, in a violent ram, the door flew open, spitting splintering pieces of wood from the doorjamb in the process.

Jade's scream pierced my ears as I prepared to face the intruder. An emerald pair of glowing eyes peered back at me through the darkness.

I immediately recognized the Piper as she stood in the doorway, her figure partially obscured by shadows. The eerie, haunting tune she played on her flute filled the room, seeping into my mind like a poison. My vision blurred as my body was being drawn towards her, the melody compelling me to step forward.

"Kam, no!" Jade's voice was a distant echo as she grabbed my arm to prevent me from leaving the safe house. Her grip was firm, but the Piper's tune was stronger, wrapping around my awareness like a vice.

I took another step towards the Piper, the blade in my hand feeling odd and more useless with each passing second. Jade's desperate pleas mixed with the hypnotic melody, creating a surreal cacophony that muddled my thoughts.

"Kam, snap out of it!" Jade's voice broke through the fog in my mind. I shook my head, fighting to regain control. The Piper's eyes narrowed, her tune growing louder, more insistent.

With a final surge of willpower, I broke free from the Piper's spell. My hand tightened around the blade, and I lunged forward, aiming the sharpened metal at the Piper's throat. She dodged with a fluid grace, her flute never leaving her lips.

Jade continued to pull me back, her fingers digging into my arm. "Kam, we have to get out of here!"

She was right. The door was damaged and wouldn't do anything to keep others out, especially since whatever had kept the Grimm entities from entering was no longer in effect.

The Piper's eyes glowed brighter, her tune shifting to a more aggressive, discordant rhythm. The sound didn't seem to effect Jade the way it had me, and I wondered if Jade even saw the writhing silhouette as the pitter patter of a dozen large, angry rats burrowing out of straw hit my ears.

Panic surged through me, and again I lunged forward with my blade, causing her to dodge in a split second as I narrowly missed. The green in her eyes seemed to burn brighter with anger.

The first rat rushed into the safe space so quick I cried out in fright. Its large incisors gnawed at the air as it rushed me. I flung the blade and instead of piercing it, the aluminum sliced the rat's side open. Its innards spilled out of the gruesome jagged wound with ease, soiling the floor with viscous black ooze.

I jerked my cuffed arm a couple times to retrieve the blade. Finally, it clanged against the cuff with a strange, unfamiliar clatter. The way it was attached to the brass seemed clumsy, but I didn't have time to dwell on it. I clutched the blade and rushed toward the Piper as her hands reached for my face. Adrenaline surged through me, fueling my movements as I swiped the blade, surprisingly cutting into flesh.

A hiss of pain escaped her lips, the tune faltering for a moment. I pressed the advantage, swinging the blade in a wide arc. I anticipated more rats to rush in and surround us, but they didn't. It seemed the Piper had called them off or perhaps no longer had the ability to control them.

"Kam!" Jade's voice was a lifeline, grounding me. I stepped back, pulling Jade with me. The Piper's eyes blazed with fury as she advanced, but I was ready this time.

With a swift motion, I hurled the blade. It spun through the air before embedding itself in the Piper's eye. She let out a shriek, the flute falling from her lips to dangle from the thin twine around her neck. The hypnotic tune ceased, replaced by her ragged breathing as she retreated in a dark blur.

"Let's go," I whispered to Jade, grabbing her hand. We bolted through the door, leaving the Piper somewhere in the shadows.

As we ran into the night, the safe house fading into the distance, I knew we had to stay vigilant. The Games were far from over, and the Piper and her rats were still out there, waiting for another chance to strike.

The TV still blared from the room and the sounds of excitement and commentary echoed over the surrounding speakers. It made me wonder if the entire spectacle had been planned to keep our attention diverted while danger crept right outside our door.

Before we could get too far, Chuck's voice cut through the air, uncharacteristically shrill and angry. "Damn what she wants! Especially if she wants to end the most important part of this season! The people love them, the ratings are higher than ever, and ad revenue is through the roof. Do me a favor and relay this message: Screw your plans and your personal vendetta. This is live TV, for God's sake!"

Before I could allow what was said to sink in, loud sirens suddenly rang out in the distance. Their wails pierced the night, signaling that something even more sinister was about to unfold.