The roar of dirt bikes tore through me, and I was shaking before I realized it.
“Come on,” Syxx said, tugging on my arm, dragging me down the short hall toward the arena.
I wanted to dig my heels in, to fight her pulling on me and defiantly stay backstage, but I knew it wasn’t an option. Heart inmy throat and stomach on the floor, I followed behind Syxx who bounced her way confidently toward the enormous metal cage. Her tulle dress flounced around her with every step like a paid actor.
The arena was lit up in familiar shades of red and purple, but the stands surrounding the space were almost completely pitch black. I knew there were thousands of people out there, and I could hear them—faintly—but the roar of the dirt bike engines as they shot up the inflatable ramp and flipped through the air drowned out everything but the upbeat circus music playing. It was beating like a war drum, warning me to turn back, to run away.
“We’ll wait here until they’re ready,” Syxx said in my ear, but I hardly heard her.
My pulse was racing faster, my mind spinning out of control.
I can do this.
I can… do this.
Can I do this?
After their jumps, the stuntmen did a lap around the arena, revving their bikes and hyping up the crowd. Then, they were pulling up to the metal cage, parking in a line several feet away, as two stagehands, both dressed in striped jumpsuits with thick mustaches, unbolted the door and lowered it.
One dirt bike rolled up the ramp, making the entire metal contraption rattle, and my heart sank further.How is it still in my chest?I’d seen them perform once before, but it couldn’t be safe.
I looked to Syxx for reassurance, but a growl ripped through my thoughts.
“What the hell is she doing here?”
Revel was standing over his bike, his ice-blue eyes locked on me through his helmet. Unlike the one I’d worn when he picked me up on the highway, this one didn’t have plastic covering hisface. His white braids were tied with an elastic, hanging down his back, and he was dressed in a black jumpsuit to match the other performers.
“She’s assisting,” Syxx answered, speaking loud enough that her voice carried over the roar of their motors.
“No way in hell,” he snapped back. “Whose idea was this?”
Another bike rolled into the cage, taking his position.
Syxx shrugged. “Zero said it came from Hallow. Don’t shoot the messenger.”
Revel’s eyes narrowed, bouncing between Syxx and me like we’d personally set out to sabotage his act. I met his gaze, not even sure what emotion my features conveyed. I was too afraid to process anything or open my mouth.
A third motorcycle moved to ride into the cage, but the alpha threw up a hand to stop him. The other rider looked confused for a second but didn’t object. Of course he didn’t. This was Revel’s act. He ran this part of the show; whatever he said, went.
Obviously, no one had told Revel the plan either, and he wasn’t fucking happy about it.
Good. We could finally agree on something.
“We’ll do a round of three,” Revel said, loud enough for everyone in the vicinity to hear. “Then get her out of here.”
Syxx nodded sharply. I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I latched on to the ‘get her out of here.’ That part, I was on board with.
With a final evil glare in my direction, Revel cut ahead of the other stuntmen and rode into the cage. The rest of his riders shot off across the arena, in the direction of the inflatable ramp, and Syxx gestured to the cage.
“Careful on your way up,” she warned. “Don’t lose your footing.”
My legs felt like lead as I moved to the entrance, staring up into the enormous metal sphere where the three riders waitedfor me. Like walking in front of a firing squad, or climbing into a lion’s den, every move I made was forced and nearly impossible.
One step after the other, I carefully climbed into the cage.
Somehow, I made it to the middle with my legs feeling like jelly, and the clang of metal on metal shot through me as the door shut behind me. Every muscle in my body was tense, like it was preparing for impact.
The realization that there was no escape sank in.
