“It’s probably one of them fucking with us.” I don’t move. She slides off the windowsill. “And if it’s not.”
“Then it’s still not my problem.” As long as they stay the fuck away from her, it’s not my concern.
“You’re such an insensitive dick.” She starts walking towards the doorway, but I catch her elbow.
“Ivy, people will do whatever it takes to win this game.”
“Even you.”
“Yes. You don’t understand what winning truly means.” And it’s not her fault. She wasn’t raised around this world, around the hushed legend. Around the rumors and drive to be a part of the elite secret society that is the answer to everyone’s greatest dreams.
“Then explain it to me.”
“Take the thing you want more than anything in the world,” I whisper as her chest rises, “more than your next breath, more than anything else you’ve ever wanted.”
Being close to her is getting more difficult.
I raise my hand, skimming up her arm. “What do you want?”
Her voice is shaky as she asks, “Can they bring someone back from the dead?”
“No.”
“Then they have nothing that I want. And neither do you.” She pushes past me, her shoulder hitting mine.
“You’d better be careful. Wouldn’t want that old injury to give you any trouble.” Her back tenses at my words before she relaxes again. But she doesn’t stop and continues through the hallways. There’s barely enough light from outside to see, but Idon’t want to turn back on the flashlight in case we’re walking into a trap.
There’s another scream that is definitely closer this time. Ivy picks up her pace as we head down a flight of stairs. We find Brooke, her back to us as her sobs get louder. She looks around, backing away as we approach. “Did you do it?” Her shriek echoes, and that’s when we see Remy lying on the floor.
“Wasn’t me,” I reply. “Where’s your partner?”
Ivy goes to kneel beside him as I grab her. And just as she halts, Remy’s eyes shoot open, his arms coming up as he shouts, “Boo.”
Ivy recoils back as I steady her. Brooke screams and whacks Remy on the forehead as she yells, “Are you fucking serious, Remy? What the hell is wrong with you?”
“You hit me in my damn eye.” He holds his hand over his face as he tries to get up, but Brooke is still fussing and slapping him. “You’re lucky that’s all I did. You scared the shit out of me. What the hell did you do? Get blood from somewhere in the hospital?”
“No,” he holds up a bottle. “I brought some fake blood. I knew it’d come in handy with one of these challenges.”
Only Remy would think to do that knowing what’s at risk. “Where’s Micah?”
“Present,” my brother replies as he appears on the other side of the hallway. “And now where’s the rest of the class?”
Remy wipes his shirt across his face. “Garrett went to get the food.”
“Food?” Brooke asks what everyone is thinking as Remy replies, “Yeah. I ordered DoorDash.”
Brooke stares at him for a few seconds before she shakes her head. “There is something seriously wrong with you.”
“Agreed,” Ivy mutters. And I have to concur. Food is the last thing on my mind right now.
Brooke continues her rant, “Do you know how many germs and bugs are probably in this building? Not to mention rats, snakes, vermin, and God knows what else, so why not draw them all to you with a snack so you can become the snack.”
Remy pokes her side. “I’d bet that my carcass would be the best grub they’ve ever had.”
“You’re disgusting.” Brooke dismisses the comment. Though I notice Ivy wince before she slowly retreats, so I follow her lead.
“See what playing the hero gets you. Despair.”
