Honestly

Kat's POV

"You can't be serious?" Tessa said. "Why the fuck do we care about how to lose!"

"I must admit," Chloe said. "I am a bit surprised too, but I'll bite."

"Fuck all of you," Tessa said before getting ready to leave.

"What no kiss for your fiance? You suck!" Chloe said with a hint of a teasing tone. Tessa just flipped her off and closed the door.

"The magic only compels us to convince people not involved in the game we are a couple," I said.

"Boo! That's boring," Chloe said. "But to answer your question. It's kind of easy. Just listen to Samuel."

I realized that was the first time she said his name. She had always just called by other terms before now, usually him. "You said his name finally?"

"Observant. I don't use his name in front of those that disapprove. His name is something I highly respect, I don't say unless in front of people that would belittle it."

"You think I approve? I can tell you I don't! I just want my normal life back," I said almost crying. "I tried to give in. I tried to surrender, he wouldn't let me. I'm not even allowed to lose."

"I understand," Clara said as she took her plate and grabbed a teddy bear off the couch. "But I can't be here for this. Excuse me."

Chloe nodded and so did I, then i turned to my face and attention back to Chloe.

"Samuel made me write an article on the nature of sex and send it to my parents. It included pictures of myself, it was the most humiliating thing he ever made me do," she said.

"Why share that! Why do you still hold his name in some sort of high regard," I asked.

"I share it because, I know what your going through, I have been there. I don't want you to think I am faking sympathy," she said. "Samuel is complicated. Samuel forces you to grow, he gets off on it. Samuel won't break you beyond recognition. You can ask Clara too, given the chance she won't go back to her old self. She may be embarrassed about her love of toys, but the love is still real. Clara pre-game had no love for anything, she was just a robot pushing her title up, waiting to die. She may be embarrassed, she may hate Samuel, but she's happier because of him."

I just stood there, with my mouth hanging open.

"It was the same for me. Samuel broke me down, he burned away my weaknesses and I emerged stronger, and happier. I am thankful to him. Truly."

"How is this related to me trying to lose?" I asked.

"Imagine what would happen if you were able to quit the game now," Chloe said. "You'd be traumatized and you'd probably seek therapy, you'd still be your old self, just burned. The game has begun, it can't end until it's over. Win or lose. Samuel won't let you quit right now because he knows if he did, you'd be in a worse state. He will break you more, but then he will rebuild you, better."

"So I can do nothing, but endure this!" I shouted, the tears forming in my eyes.

"Absolutely not," she said. "The best advice for winners or loser you see, it's the same. Listen to Samuel. He doesn't keep much a secret. If you want to win and you ask for his help, he will give it to you. Of course you will ultimately still need to accomplish the advice he gives you. The same applies to losing. Ask for help. He will give it to you. If you listen to Samuel, the process of losing will be near painless. But it takes time."

She came closer and gave me a hug. I just, I was so emotional. I cried and held her close, for what felt like hours. When it was over and I peeled myself away. I needed to know. "How come you are being so nice now? You were so evil yesterday?"

"I haven't changed," she said. "If you are in a hurricane, and someone comes to grab you, taking you to shelter. Your scared alone and it's so noisy that you can't keep your eyes open and you can't hear anything. Someone grabs you and pulls, you are of course going to think it's a devil coming to send you into the hurricane to die, and sometimes it is. But sometimes it's an angel, coming to save you. You know how the most humiliating moment for me was with my parents?"

I nodded.

"If you need to be broken down. Faster is better isn't it? Plus if you lose and become happily married to Tessa. I legitimately you will be happy to have photos of them there. I wasn't trying to be a devil, but compassion is confusing and complex for those in the game. Either way Katherine, win or lose. You are my sister. I will be there for you. But enough of this somberness. Let's go have some fun. My treat okay?"