“ … And boyzes and girlzes,” Ryder slurred dramatically, swaying as he raised an empty cup. “The winner is… the damn snake!” he announced, staggering slightly. “Presenting to you—Queen Aira, the Drinking Champion!”

The room erupted in cheers and wild laughter. These drunk idiots. Spirits were high, brains were MIA.

And just when I thought I might finally catch a breath, the devil himself had to make my grand ‘release’ from the basket a full-blown act of ...