The show begins

The house looked different now.

You’d barely had time to settle before production swept through, rearranging everything—not for comfort, but for the perfect shot. The furniture had been subtly repositioned into a neat little "conversation pit," the kind designed to keep everyone on display. Bright, hidden lighting cast everything in a flawless, too-perfect glow.

And the cameras were already rolling.

Vanessa lounged on the sleek couch, a drink in hand, legs crossed like she owned the place. The five women sat with practiced ease, perfectly poised, perfectly confident. You, however, stood in the center, waiting.

Vanessa tilted her head slightly, speaking to the nearest camera.

"Welcome to Last Man Standing, the reality show where we push our lone contestant to his absolute limits… and see just how long he can stay on his feet."

She let the words settle before her smile widened, just slightly.

"And to all our lovely viewers at home—ladies and…" She trailed off as if she’d nearly made a mistake. Then she chuckled softly. "Oh. Just ladies."

The women grinned.

Your stomach dipped.

Vanessa didn’t acknowledge the shift, didn’t give you time to process. She was already moving forward, voice smooth and practiced.

"Now, let’s meet our contestants—starting with the man of the hour, our lone survivor, our last hope against overwhelming odds. Give a warm welcome to John."

The women clapped—slow, deliberate, just teasing enough to make your skin prickle.

Vanessa turned, eyes gleaming. "Tell us, John. How does it feel to be the last man standing?"

You let out a nervous laugh. "Uh… I don’t really know what that means yet."

Jade bit her lip, barely holding back amusement.

Vanessa’s smile never wavered. "Oh, don’t worry. You will."

The way she said it sent a chill down your spine.

She turned to the women, gesturing toward the first with a casual flick of her wrist.

"Now, let’s meet the ones who will be… testing our dear John."

Your pulse ticked up.

"First, we have Jade. Mysterious, seductive, and always in control. She’s been known to make men lose their composure with just a whisper." Vanessa arched a brow. "Think our last man will hold up under pressure?"

Jade’s lips curled. "Oh, I hope not."

Laughter.

Your throat went dry.

Vanessa moved on.

"Next, Cassie. Sweet, innocent, the kind of girl you’d take home to mom—until you realize she’s already ten steps ahead of you." She smirked at Cassie. "Think he’s figured out how dangerous you are yet?"

Cassie giggled, kicking her feet playfully. "Not at all. But he will."

That same flicker of unease tightened in your chest.

"Sophia." Vanessa’s voice dropped just slightly, like an inside joke. "Our resident ice queen. Elegant. Untouchable. She doesn’t raise her voice, doesn’t lift a finger—but somehow, she always gets what she wants."

Sophia barely reacted. Just watched you, assessing.

"Some men have a hard time handling a woman like me," she mused. "I wonder how long he’ll last."

You swallowed hard.

"Then we have Mia." Vanessa’s voice took on something softer, almost affectionate. "The one who makes you feel safe—until you realize you walked right into her trap."

Mia placed a hand on her chest. "I’d never trick him. I just want him to feel comfortable."

Brooke snorted.

Vanessa barely contained her smirk as she turned to the last woman.

"And finally, Brooke. The Southern charmer. Sweet as honey, dangerous as hell. Think you’ll go easy on him?"

Brooke’s smile was slow, deliberate. "Oh, sugar." Her eyes twinkled. "I don’t think that’s what the audience wants."

More laughter.

You tried to play along, forcing a small chuckle, but there was something off about this. The way Vanessa had introduced them. The way they looked at you.

This wasn’t just a competition.

They weren’t your rivals.

They were your test.

Vanessa turned back to you, crossing her legs leisurely. "Well, now that we’re all properly introduced, I suppose we should get started. We wouldn’t want to keep our viewers waiting."

She leaned forward slightly, her smile still sharp.

"Tell me, John. What would you say is your greatest strength?"

You blinked. "Uh… I guess… resilience?"

The women grinned.

Vanessa’s lips curved. "Good. You’ll need it."

The camera light flickered, shifting angles.

Your heart pounded.

Whatever you had signed up for…

You were already in too deep.

Vanessa leaned back. "Now that we’re all properly introduced," she said smoothly, "let’s talk about the game."

You straightened slightly. Finally. The actual rules. The objective. Something concrete to focus on.

"It’s simple," Vanessa continued. "The name of the show says it all. Last Man Standing. All you have to do is last."

The room went still.

You felt every pair of eyes on you.

"Last through what?" you asked, forcing a casual chuckle.

Jade smirked.

Vanessa’s smile widened. "Oh, so many things."

"All you have to do," Vanessa continued, "is survive every challenge we throw at you. Make it to the end, and you win. Simple, right?"

Cassie giggled under her breath.

Vanessa lifted her glass. "Or… you break."

The air felt thicker.

Your heart pounded.

You had a feeling breaking didn’t just mean losing.

And you weren’t sure you were ready to find out what happened if you did.