The Arbiters Game
Based on a nationwide vote, five of the biggest names in the industry will be brought before my tribunal. And I, Cassandra Stone, will pass sentence on a live broadcast for the entire country to see.
Those who pass my judgment will ascend to a new stratosphere of fame.
Those who fail… die.
1
The decennial Reckoning is about to begin. Five celebrities, chosen by the American public, sit before the tribunal table.
The moment the broadcast goes live, the energy in the studio—and online—crackles.
【Our king, Liam Davenport, has been waiting for this day since his debut. He’s the definition of a law-abiding, good man. A 26-year-old saint who’s never even had an on-screen kiss. What could he possibly have done wrong?】
【OMG, I spent ten straight days voting to get Dylan Shaw into the top five. Hubby, you better not let me down!】
【To the user above, your ‘hubby’ might not be thanking you lmao. I didn’t dare vote for my fave. The list of shady shit he’s done is longer than my arm.】
【Smart move. Not only did I not vote for my guy, I coordinated with other fanbases to vote our rival, Noah Evans, into the top five. Can’t wait to watch him get torn to shreds tonight!】
A voice, deep and authoritative, echoes from above the tribunal stage.
“This Reckoning will be conducted with fairness, impartiality, and total transparency, broadcast live for all citizens.”
“The public is invited to scrutinize every moment. Should any evidence of tampering be found, the Arbiter will die on the spot.”
【DAYUM, they’re really raising the stakes this time.】
【Wait? So if they fail, my fave is actually gonna die? I shouldn’t have voted for him…】
【You really think they’ll kill him? It’s just a publicity stunt to get ratings.】
【Do you newbies even do your homework? At the last Reckoning, ten years ago… no one survived.】
Amidst the storm of online chatter, I walk from the wings to center stage.
“Good evening. I am your Arbiter, Cassandra Stone.”
My voice cuts through the noise.
“The Reckoning… begins now.”
2
I look at the five celebrities seated before me, and begin to announce their names in order of votes received.
“First, by popular vote, with three hundred and ninety-two million votes… Liam Davenport.”
I lift my eyes to the man in the first seat. His expression is placid, radiating a cool, aristocratic calm. He seems utterly unconcerned by the proceedings. The cameras zoom in for a close-up, and the internet ignites.
【My man! Stay strong! Tonight, you ascend!】
【Seriously, look at that self-control. Does he look like a man who’s ever been touched?】
【Liam has been in the business for six years and has never even filmed a kissing scene. If he has a scandal, I’ll eat my own shoes!】
My gaze returns to my docket.
“Second, with two hundred and sixty-four million votes… Dylan Shaw.”
Dylan Shaw is not nearly so composed. A fine sheen of sweat beads on his forehead, and a tremor runs through his body. As the camera finds him, the comment section erupts again.
【Well, we know who’s dying first. Dylan Shaw, it’s been real.】
【WAIT! I remember Dylan telling our fan club not to vote for him! He said he wasn’t ready to ascend so quickly. You guys just don’t listen!】
【I’m crying! I thought he was just being humble!】
【Well, he’s not ascending now. More like descending… straight to hell.】
【Congrats to our Liam, one less competitor to worry about!】
I continue.
“Third, with one hundred and eighty-nine million votes… Victoria Blackwood.”
As I look up, my eyes meet Victoria’s. They are stunningly beautiful and sharp as glass.
【Sorry boys, but our queen’s ascension is locked in.】
【Step aside, you disgusting men. If you can’t keep it in your pants, you deserve to die.】
【Our Victoria has zero scandals, zero bad press. A true career-driven icon. The entire industry could burn down, and Victoria would still be standing.】
“Fourth, with one hundred and thirty-two million votes… Marcus Cole.”
【Marcus Cole? Didn’t he retire to work behind the scenes?】
【WTF, is this rigged? How does a guy who left the spotlight years ago get voted in?】
【Are there any Marcus Cole fans watching? I’m getting a little scared.】
【This has to be a setup. They’re all here to make Liam Davenport look good. Four sacrificial lambs. I see how it is.】
“And fifth, with ninety-eight million votes… Noah Evans.”
【??? Noah Evans got that many votes?】
【Okay, I was wrong before. Dylan dies second. Noah’s going first.】
【Noah dated that Oscar-winner and even proposed. She ghosted him, LOL.】
【Please, stop being so hateful. An actor dating isn’t a career-ending scandal.】
【Noah Evans is an actor? Your delusions are showing, honey.】
【Who the hell even voted for him? We, his actual fans, never participate in these things!】
【I didn’t even know where the voting was. Then I wake up this morning, see the headlines, and boom, Noah’s at the Reckoning.】
【Noah, you better not have done anything shady behind our backs. If you have, I’m out of here so fast.】
【To all you Noah Evans fans… I’m praying for you.】
3
Once the studio falls silent, my voice rings out again.
“This Reckoning will consist of five rounds. The themes of the trials are: Lust, Greed, Envy, Pride, and Wrath.”
“After each round, those who fail will face their punishment. Those who pass will proceed to the next trial.”
I reach for a deck of cards resting on my lectern.
“The cards will now be dealt.”
I deal one card to each of them. After the fifth card is placed, I give them a nod. They can look.
Their expressions shift, each one a different shade of dread or relief.
“The theme of the first trial is: Lust.”
“You will reveal your cards, one by one.”
Liam Davenport is the picture of composure. The moment I finish speaking, he flips his card over. Instantly, every camera focuses on its surface.
【It’s blank? There’s nothing on it.】
【Did they give him the wrong card? The production team is so unprofessional. Major points deducted!】
【Doesn’t blank just mean… nothing? To the people saying it’s a mistake, maybe try reading a book sometime.】
【I’m literally weeping! Liam is so pure. I can’t imagine who will ever be worthy of him.】
As the debate rages, Dylan Shaw raises a trembling hand.
“Can they go first? My stomach… I really need to use the restroom.”
I nod, granting him permission.
As soon as Dylan leaves the stage, Marcus Cole flips his own card.
On its surface is a single digit: 1.
【What does 1 mean? One woman?】
【Marcus is married. The 1 must be for his wife.】
【Totally normal. If a guy in his thirties didn’t have a wife, you’d have to start worrying if the ‘wife’ was a dude.】
Victoria Blackwood reveals her card next. It’s blank, just like Liam’s.
Now, all eyes turn to Noah Evans. He blinks slowly, his hesitation evident in the way his fingers hover over the card. Finally, he flips it.
【What? 3?】
【Scandal! But a minor one. No one’s getting cancelled over this.】
【He was only ever linked to that Oscar-winner! Who are the other two?】
【I’ll say it a million times! Actors are allowed to have a love life!】
【Where is Dylan? He’s the only one left. Did he make a run for it?】
【Dylan! I’m skipping work to watch this! My boss is gonna kill me! Get back here before he makes me log off!】
Dylan Shaw does not return.
After five minutes, the authoritative voice resounds from above.
“The cards have been revealed. Arbiter, deliver your judgment.”
I let out a short, sharp laugh. I reach over and pick up the card belonging to Dylan Shaw, holding it up for the cameras.
Two words, printed in bold, black letters, stun the audience into silence.
MULTIPLE PARTNERS
【Multiple… partners?】
【What does that mean? Like… group stuff?】
【I knew Dylan had a girlfriend on the side, but I didn’t realize he had so many ‘girlfriends’…】
【Dylan, while I was losing sleep over the hate you were getting, who were you sleeping with?】
【Is this for real? But he’s not even here anymore. He’s probably on a private jet to a non-extradition country by now. How can they catch him?】
How can they catch him? An excellent question.
Once my judgment is given, as long as he is alive, no matter where he runs, he will be brought back before this tribunal to face his sentence.
I lower the card and my voice becomes steel.
“The judgment for the first trial is now declared.”
“Dylan Shaw is eliminated. The other four will proceed to the next round.”
In a flash, Dylan is ripped from wherever he was by an unseen force and slammed back into his chair. His eyes are wide with terror. He tries to stand, but finds himself paralyzed.
“How did I get back here? What did you do to me?” Dylan’s voice cracks, rising to a panicked shriek. “I’m done with this game! Those cards are bullshit! I never did anything like that! This is a sham trial!”
“Setting up this whole goddamn circus, dragging me out of my bed this morning… what studio is behind this? I’ll sue you into oblivion! Especially you!” He points a shaking finger at me. “Cassandra Stone, right? I’ll see you in a prison cell tomorrow!”
I ignore his tirade, proceeding as ordained.
“We will now extract the memories of the accused, Dylan Shaw.”
“The memories will be broadcast directly. Please prepare. The feed will switch in three seconds.”
Three.
Two.
One.
The screen changes. Dylan Shaw is on a hotel sofa. Kneeling before him is a young woman, her clothes torn. Just that one image sends the live chat into a frenzy.
【That’s Lily Hayes! She just got into the national film academy! She’s still a student! Dylan Shaw, you bastard!】
【I’m so fucking angry! Dylan once gave a speech at a premiere about protecting young actresses from predators, and this is what he does behind closed doors?】
【Dylan Shaw, you make me sick.】
The memory continues. The girl looks up, tears streaming down her face.
“You promised. You said if I slept with you for one night, you wouldn’t recast my role. Is that still true?”
Dylan lights a cigarette. He reaches out and rips away the last of her clothing.
“That was yesterday’s offer.”
He leans close to her ear, his voice a venomous whisper.
“Today’s offer is… you sleep with us.”
The girl’s eyes widen in horror. She scrambles backward.
Dylan smirks, a vile, predatory expression. He glances toward the bedroom door.
“Come on out, boys.”
The scene that follows is too horrific for broadcast. To protect the victim, the visuals are blacked out, but the audio remains.
“Help me! Somebody, help!”
“Please, just let me go, I’m begging you.”
“I don’t want the role anymore. I don’t want anything. Just let me leave.”
“I promise, I’ll never tell anyone what happened here.”
“Please… just let me go… please?”
…
Lily Hayes’s pleas echo through the silent studio. The audience is stunned. The live chat is blank.
After what feels like an eternity, the audio fades and a new image appears on screen. It’s a video, recorded on a phone.
“Hi, everyone. I’m Lily Hayes. I’m so sorry you have to see me like this.”
Her voice is shaky, but resolute.
“This is… incredibly difficult to talk about. But I have to stand up today, for all the other women who have been hurt.”
“My name is Lily Hayes, and I am officially reporting that the actor Dylan Shaw has repeatedly coerced and assaulted aspiring actresses. He, and… and his associates.”
“I have compiled a list of everyone involved. By the time you see this video, I will have turned all of this information over to the police. I trust they will handle the others.”
“As for Dylan Shaw… I leave him to Cassandra Stone.”
The video ends. The audience is still processing the horror.
The authoritative voice returns.
“The accused, Dylan Shaw, has failed the trial. Arbiter… deliver the punishment.”
I raise my hand. A gleaming knife materializes in my fingers and flies from my grasp. It strikes Dylan Shaw squarely in the chest with unerring accuracy. The force of the impact throws him backward, slamming him against the massive pillar at the center of the stage—the Pillar of Shame.
He is pinned there, impaled but not dead. Not yet.
He is, however, in agony.
My blade has a unique property. It forces the condemned to experience the full measure of their victims’ pain. From this moment on, every second for Dylan Shaw will be a reliving of the terror and agony of Lily Hayes and all the others.
4
With Dylan Shaw’s punishment delivered, I turn to the four remaining celebrities, their faces pale with shock. I offer them a faint smile.
“The second trial will now begin.”
I deal the cards, one to each of them.
“The theme of the second trial is: Greed.”
“Please, reveal your cards.”
This time, there is no hesitation. As if bound by a silent agreement, they all flip their cards simultaneously.
I scan the table.
And I see…
Four blank cards.
I freeze. This is not how it’s supposed to happen. This is wrong.
The audience notices immediately.
【What? No one gets eliminated in the second round?】
【Rigged! This is absolutely rigged!】
【Did you see Cassandra Stone’s face? She looks shocked. Does this mean even the Arbiter didn’t expect this?】
【Holy crap! The system broke!】
No, no. This can’t be. According to the docket, this round was meant for Marcus Cole. The charge: tax evasion.
So why is his card blank?
The voice from above repeats its command.
“The cards have been revealed. Arbiter, deliver your judgment.”
This is my first Reckoning since inheriting the role from my father. I prepared for months, memorized every procedure until it was second nature. There is no protocol for four blank cards.
I stand motionless, the gears in my mind grinding, unable to deliver a judgment.
“The cards have been revealed. Arbiter, deliver your judgment,” the voice insists, its tone hardening.
I take a deep breath, my mind clearing, my decision made.
“I request permission to extract the memory of Marcus Cole before delivering judgment.”
My declaration sends Marcus’s dormant fanbase into an uproar.
【What is this Arbiter doing? His card is blank! Why is she targeting him?】
【Did your producers even do a background check? Do you know how much charity work Marcus Cole has done? The man is the furthest thing from greedy!】
【Why not pull their memories? Oh, right, because Marcus retired you think you can just pick on him?】
【I’m filing a complaint! This is a setup! The Arbiter must die!】
【I agree! I want to see Cassandra Stone die on the spot!】
After a few tense seconds, the voice returns.
“Arbiter Cassandra Stone, are you certain you wish to extract the memory of Marcus Cole?”
“If you accuse an innocent, it will be considered a false judgment. You will die where you stand.”
My voice does not waver. “I am certain.”
“The extraction will now begin. The memory of the accused, Marcus Cole, will be broadcast. Prepare for transfer in three… two… one.”
The feed switches. The first image is a gut punch.
Marcus Cole is throwing punch after punch at a woman curled into a ball on a sofa.
The comments start flooding in.
【Is that…? Domestic violence? Is that his wife?】
【He wouldn’t do that for no reason. She must have done something to push him over the edge, right?】
【I agree. I’m a woman, but some women just ask for it.】
In the memory, Marcus, his rage spent, slumps to the floor. He sits there for a long time before reaching for the woman again. Just as the audience braces for another assault, he pulls her into a tight, desperate hug.
“Honey, I’m so sorry. I… I lost control.”
“I saw you talking to that man today, and I just… I got so angry.”
“Please, forgive me. I only did it because I love you so much.”
“I’m sorry. I promise I will never, ever hit you again.”
The chat shifts again.
【See? I told you. She must have done something. Sounds like she was cheating.】
【Talking to that man? She was definitely having an affair!】
【Then she deserved it!】
The next second, the woman lifts her bruised and battered face.
“But… I was just at the pharmacy. I only asked the pharmacist a question.”
【Holy shit. Not an affair. She just went to buy medicine and spoke to a male employee? That’s insane.】
【The dark ages called, they want their misogyny back.】
Marcus seems to ignite again. He lunges, his hands closing around her throat, the veins in his arms bulging with effort.
“Couldn’t you have found a female pharmacist to talk to?” he seethes.
“Did you think he was handsome? Did you want to sleep with him?”
The woman claws at his wrists, but his grip is iron. Her face turns a deep, terrifying red, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.
“No…” she chokes out. “I just… needed medicine.”
【Why aren’t you fighting back? Get up and hit him!】
【God, this woman is pathetic. Why doesn’t she do something?】
【You people typing from your comfy chairs are unbelievable. The physical power disparity between men and women is a biological fact. You can’t even stand up to your boss for making you work overtime, but you expect a woman to fight back against a violent abuser? The only one who deserves blame here is the monster hurting her!】
【Exactly! He’s the one projecting his own sick fantasies onto her.】
Just as her breath gives out, Marcus releases his grip. He cups her face gently, placing a soft kiss on the tip of her nose.
“Sweetheart, as long as you promise not to talk to other men, I’ll be good to you. I promise.”
“Today is over. We’ll just move on, okay? We’ll be happy.”
“The kids will be home from school soon. Why don’t you go start dinner? And after we eat, I’ll take you to the hospital to get checked out. How does that sound?”
“Honey, I love you so, so much.”
The memory extraction ends. A wave of outrage and disgust rolls through the studio audience.
Onstage, Marcus Cole remains oddly calm. He spreads his hands, shrugging.
“I admit, I have hit my wife. But what does domestic violence have to do with the theme of this trial? This is a private family matter. There’s no need to blow it out of proportion, is there?”
A cold smile touches my lips. “Domestic violence has nothing to do with this trial.”
“Because you… are not Marcus Cole.”
【What? Does this Arbiter even know what she’s saying?】
【LMAO. I’ve been a fan of Marcus Cole for a decade. I’ll believe he’s an abuser, but that he’s not Marcus Cole? That’s hilarious.】
【I’m literally speechless. She’s lost her mind.】
I ignore the noise and deliver my verdict.
“The judgment for the second trial is now declared.”
“Marcus Cole is eliminated. The other three will proceed to the next round.”
As the words leave my mouth, a figure drops from the ceiling, landing hard on the stage. He has the exact same face as the man in the chair, the same build.
The audience is stunned into silence.
【What is happening? There are two of them?】
【WTF? Is human cloning a thing now?】
【Mom, I think I’m seeing ghosts! Somebody post a prayer circle, quick!】
The man who had been posing as Marcus stands up. He looks at the real Marcus Cole, now bound and trembling, and sighs heavily.
“Brother, I really did my best.”
“This Reckoning… it’s beyond our control. It seems fate has decided your time is up.”
【Oh my god, my brain just broke. They’re twins?】
【One is trash and the other is garbage. What a pair.】
Yes. I don’t know where the screening process failed, but the man who arrived today was not Marcus Cole, but his identical twin brother, Cormac Cole. That explains the blank card and the memory that didn’t match the trial’s theme.
I raise a hand, and the blank card zips through the air, stopping directly in front of the real Marcus Cole’s chest. As it hovers there, numbers bleed onto its surface, black as ink.
134,898,479.00
【One hundred and thirty-four million, eight hundred ninety-eight thousand…】
【Is that… tax evasion? Is that the amount he owes?】
【My god. I couldn’t earn that much in a hundred lifetimes.】
【And I’m officially no longer a fan. I always wondered why he suddenly retired. Now we know. He couldn’t stand the scrutiny.】
【I don’t believe it! I’ve been a fan for ten years! Unless you show me hard proof, I won’t believe a number on a magic card!】
Seeing the denial in the live chat, a low chuckle escapes me.
“You want proof?”
“We will now extract the memories of the accused, Marcus Cole.”
As image after image of falsified contracts and offshore accounts flashes across the screen, the last of his loyal fans fall silent, their posts turning from defense to declarations of disgust and betrayal.
When quiet is restored, Marcus Cole is hanging on the Pillar of Shame next to Dylan Shaw. His eyes are fixed on me, burning with a hatred so intense it feels like he wants to devour me whole.
He will not get the chance.
I turn my attention to his brother, Cormac.
“Today’s Reckoning does not concern you, so…”
“So I can go?” he interrupts, a flicker of hopeful relief in his eyes.
I shake my head slowly. “No. So I will be turning you over to the proper authorities. They will conduct a trial of their own.”
Cormac’s face falls. He opens his mouth to protest, but security guards are already on him, pinning his arms and escorting him offstage.
5
Two rounds down. Three celebrities remain.
I return to my lectern and look at the trio.
“The third trial will now begin.”
I deal the cards. After the last one is placed, I announce the theme.
“The third trial is: Envy.”
“Please, reveal your cards.”
Liam Davenport seems to have grown confident, almost arrogant. He flips his card before I’ve even finished the sentence.
【Blank again? My god! Liam, you were born for this! You deserve all the fame!】
【That card flip was so hot. I swear, anyone who doesn’t get Liam’s appeal is dead inside.】
【I knew I picked the right one! Liam Davenport, the chosen one!】
【Look! Noah’s card is blank too!】
【What! Noah is also clear? Then… that means Victoria Blackwood is the one who failed?】
【Wait, what? Victoria is envious? Who would she possibly be envious of? Victoria Blackwood doesn’t feel envy, she inspires it. This is a joke.】
【I’m saying it again. This is all just a show to prop up Liam Davenport.】
With two blank cards revealed, every person in the studio and every viewer at home is waiting for Victoria Blackwood.
I fix my gaze on her. Her hand is shaking.
“Victoria. What are you waiting for?”
“Reveal your card.”
She looks up at me, her face a ghastly white. “How could you possibly know about this? No one knows. No one except…”
Her words trail off. Her eyes dart to Liam in the first seat. A sudden, violent rage contorts her features. She snatches her card and flings it at him.
“Was it you? Did you sell me out to win this thing?” she screams. “Liam, you spineless coward! You betrayed me! I hope you burn in hell!”
Liam flinches, startled. He stoops to pick up the card from the floor. The camera zooms in, and the name written on it becomes clear to all.
LILY HAYES
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