Nick and Ember were yanked out of the Happy Water pool with such force that bright red water splashed all over the floor. The corrupted mascots were anything but gentle—they seized them by the arms and dragged them across the damp tiles, leaving two long, uneven trails of water behind.
"Put them on the table!" the Pig Overseer ordered, his metallic voice echoing through the room.
Nick pretended to struggle, but his body was still trembling after hours of soaking in the sugary liquid. His hands were so weak he could barely clench them, leaving him no choice but to watch as the meat-laden mascots dragged him toward the center of the room.
Ember was quieter—he said nothing, but his amber eyes had widened, scanning their surroundings with steadily returning alertness. He caught sight of the room they were being dragged into, and his pupils contracted.
It wasn't a prison or a factory.
It was a gigantic dining hall.
