19
LUCA
“Didn’t think you had it in you, little brother,” Micah announces as he enters my bedroom. “But I guess we’ll see if you can keep it up soon enough. I heard the next dare should be coming through soon now that everyone has bled at the Tomb.”
He waits for me to engage, but I don’t. “So, have you picked your partner yet or want to reconsider my offer? We’d make one hell of a team. It would knock out one of the other teams since each one has to consist of an invitee. We could really take the entire competition together.”
There’s a catch. There always is. And since we only know there will be teams competing and one has to be invited into Mercy, we don’t know what is next. But I think I know what his true motive is. “Scared to compete against me?”
“We’ve been doing that our entire lives. Figured we could use it to our advantage this once, but I see that won’t happen. May the best man win.” Micah keeps up the performance as he reaches out to shake my hand, but I don’t take it. It has nothing to do with being a better man. The one who wins will have to be vile and unhinged. Because no one wins Mercy playing it safe or fair. Why else would the game be shrouded in secrecy?
He just snickers before he walks out. I don’t have the mental space to deal with him. We both know the goal. We both will become whatever necessary to win.
And it looks like we’re about to put our strategy in motion because the message just came through for the next dare.
20
IVY
“Ms. Walker, you have a guest here to see you,” Anthony broadcasts after he knocks on my bedroom doorframe.
Brooke pops up behind him, a bright smile. “Hiya.”
She’s not who I was expecting. But I’m glad it’s not Everett. After he woke up this morning, he was way too hungover to function and kept apologizing for showing up drunk. An apology wasn’t needed, but I have to admit I was relieved when he left. But that doesn’t mean I want to deal with peppy Brooke either. And she’s in full lively mode as she tells me, “Let’s go.”
“Go where?”
Her hands prop on her hips, “The fairgrounds. Remember? You said you’d go.”
“Yeah, because I wanted you to stop asking.”
“That’s rude. But you’re committed. Let’s go. It’ll be fun.”
“An abandoned amusement park at night doesn’t sound very fun.”
“Well, you won’t know until you try it.” Sensing my reluctance, she tries even harder with her pleading expression. “Really, it’ll be a cool experience. The place is like another world at night.”
“I’m sure.”
She becomes less peppy and more pouty with each passing minute. “Come on. Luca won’t be there if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“No, I’m not worried about him.”
A sly smile stretches across her mouth, “Sure. So, let’s go. We can get some food on the way there because I need something in my stomach before we start drinking.”
After dealing with drunken Everett last night, I don’t want to party. But the way he passed out and didn’t move an inch, makes it tempting. Maybe that will help me do the same. It can’t hurt.
As soon as we grab some burgers, we’re on our way to the fairgrounds. The park has been abandoned since Katrina flooded it two decades ago.
I’ve seen the place from the highway a few times. But walking through the iron gates at night gives the terrain an eerie feeling. Nature has taken over the landscape, shrubbery and vines covering much of what would have been maintained if the park was open.
Brooke carefully and methodically maneuvers through the site. “You’re right. This place is so not fun.” She turns on her flashlight to inspect her shoes, then continues walking.
“So, whose bright idea was it to hang out here?”
“Not sure,” she replies as we approach a group standing near the entrance to the large wooden coaster.
“Ivy,” Micah calls out as he walks over, giving me a hug that I don’t return. And as soon as he releases me, I’m met with a harsh scowl from Luca as Micah tells us, “Let me grab y’all a drink.”
