I take the cue and start to walk out but not before I hear a pained shriek from Grandma as she cries, “No. I don’t want her in this house.”
Uncle Shawn is speaking too low for me to hear, but all I can focus on is the hatred in Grandma’s wails. “It was that man. That piece-of-shit man. Things could’ve been so different. She wouldn’t’ve suffered. Just take her back. Take her back. Take her back now.”
“What is she talking about?” I ask Uncle Shawn, but he waves me off.
“Her meds make her loopy sometimes. Go see if Kathleen needs help, and I’ll be there in a minute.”
I leave the bedroom this time but can hear my grandmother screaming.
When I join Aunt Kathleen in the kitchen, she has a bubbly smile on her face, completely different from the scene I just left.
“Grandma is upset.”
She says, “Oh no. She wakes up a little out of sorts sometimes.”
“What did she mean by ‘she wouldn’t’ve suffered’ and ‘just take her back’?”
My aunt shrugs her shoulders. “Beats me. She comes up with some off-the-wall things. Grab a potholder and take out the rolls before they burn.”
I move through the motions, replaying the occurrence until Uncle Shawn enters the kitchen. “She settled down and fell back to sleep. Sometimes if she doesn’t get enough rest, she is a little delirious.”
I ask him, “What was she talking about?”
“Who knows. I doubt she even does. Sadly, she isn’t herself. And the stress has made it a little more challenging for her. But it’s life. She loves you, and your mom loved you. We have no control over some of the trials life throws our way.” He squeezes my shoulder before he moves to help my aunt around the kitchen.
Uncle Shawn has never lied to me before. So why do I get the feeling it’s more than just lack of sleep or the meds that had my grandmother so riled up. But if that’s true. Then once again, I’m surrounded by someone else who is lying to me. Does the deception ever stop?
31
LUCA
She’s ignored every message I’ve sent her. So, when I walk onto the roof of the hospital, I’m thankful to see her standing there.
Stepping behind her, I confess, “I was worried you might bail on me for this one, partner.”
Ivy remains still and doesn’t say anything. Before I can speak to her again, Decider walks over.
He remains near the door he stepped out of. “Four teams remain.”
No shit. And we’re all standing here watching and waiting for the next challenge. All the messages said wasSurrender if you dareand instructed us to meet on the rooftop of an abandoned hospital at 2 a.m. The theatrics are grating on my nerves. I just want to know what I need to do and get it over with.
When I look to my right, I see Micah scrutinizing me. Or maybe Ivy, because his eyes move to her. Another attempt to distract and piss me off. And it’s working. Because something as simple as my brother looking at her drives me insane.
“Surrender if you dare. That’s what we ask of you tonight. Surrender to your fear, to the unknown, and what you can’t see that awaits ahead. Don’t look anywhere but forward, otherwise it could be a grave mistake.”
I move closer to Ivy, blocking my brother’s view. But the Decider moves to the edge of the roof, and we all follow. He motions to the ledge where a board is extended across from the rooftop and into a section of the building that is a few stories higher. The glass looks broken out as the board disappears into an open, pitch-black window of the hospital. “Walk this path, enter the building, and don’t leave until sunrise.”
Garrett asks, “We have to walk on that?”
“Yes,” Decider replies. “Follow the bridge into the hospital. If you step foot out before sunrise, you lose.”
Remy shakes his head. “What the fuck, bruh? It’s not a bridge. It’s one freakin’ board.”
As soon as Decider looks at Remy, he shuts up. But not before Micah runs his mouth, “There’re more ways to die than just falling. The building has been vacant for years. Anything or anyone could be inside. Plus, there’s no rule about competitors taking each other out, right?”
“Correct,” the Decider responds flatly.
“We’re not killing anyone, Micah,” Brooke announces, but I don’t think her teammate agrees. She moves over to the side, peeking down as Micah gives her a little nudge and starts laughing when she gasps and turns around to slap him. “That’s not fucking funny.”
