Storytime Blog Hop January 2026 - Game Over

 Hello, and welcome to my newest blog hop contribution! Thanks for reading if you do <3

-----

“Will the first two Puppeteers please step forward!”

The games began quickly, with the first two Puppeteers stepping up to their gaming screens so they could better watch their Puppets. The two Puppets then stepped out into the center ring. First round would be knives, second round would be guns, and the last round would be specialized. Whether all three rounds would be needed was anyone’s guess.

Allen wasn’t first. In fact, he would be one of the last to go. But that gave him a lot of time to get the lay of the land and figure out the best strategies for playing this game. Hours of gaming at home would come in handy here, he knew that. But it didn’t hurt having an edge in this specific game, especially when his life was on the line. He’d never lost.

Four rounds later, and it was his turn. Allen took a deep breath from behind the mask and stepped up to his screen. He could see his opponent’s blue eyes peeking out from over their mask, but his attention quickly turned back to the task at hand.

The buzzer began to count down, three seconds…then go!

Allen’s hands were on the controls in a second. He knew the buttons perfectly, it wouldn’t have even mattered which controller he was using at that moment, he knew them all.

First round proved easy, it seemed that Uriel the Puppet’s armor had been equipped with extra padding in all the knife-oriented areas, and that his own knives were significantly bigger than his opponents. The second round was harder, as Uriel didn’t seem to have a knack for guns. But somehow, he mustered through until it was time for the third round. Finally, Uriel got to put his specialty on display, a heavy, medieval mace on a chain. Uriel was perfect with the weapon, and through a combination of his skill, and Allen hitting every weak spot the opponent had, the two quickly advanced to the next round.

In fact, they advanced through the next fight in two rounds, which meant that Allen was now a semi-finalist, and would be playing for his life.

Already, ten Puppets were dead, ten Puppeteers had gone home. Allen was partially elated that he’d made it so far, but the dread of the cost he’d paid to get here was starting to eat at his belly when he stepped up to the platform that final time.

“Reveal yourselves! The time is now!” the announcer shouted from somewhere no one could see. Allen was shaking a bit as he removed his mask and hood, to the gasps of many and applause of many more. Allen watched as his opponent paused, then did the same.

Allen was shocked again, and felt immediately sick, when he saw that the opponent was his crush, Anna Quinton.

Allen had been obsessed with Anna for the last six years. They’d met in elementary school together, and while they’d been close friends for a time, Anna’s popularity had led her to bigger and better things while Allen remained far behind. He’d tried to ask her to homecoming at least once, and that rejection had stung like a hornet.

As the pair began to square off, Allen thought about how this could go very right or very wrong. On one hand, he could be a hero, let Anna win and he suffer the consequences.

But she’d never know he gave his life for her.

At the last moment, Allen swung Uriel’s mace down in an explosion of blood, and just like that Anna and her Puppet had lost.

He watched as the curtain descended on Anna, who’s expression was wild with terror. “Allen!” she called out as her spotlight dimmed.

Allen watched, and then turned to the crowd, smiling wide. He’d lost Anna, but he’d gained so much more.

-----

Other Blog Hop Contributions Below:

Game Over by Angelica Medlin << YOU ARE HERE

Knot Quite Yet by Barbara Lund

Harvest by Ruth Sard

Deceptive Decryption by James Husum

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