Her face stays turned away. “I should.”
I cave and reach over, placing my palm on her bare thigh. “I knew I could count on you.”
She slowly turns, looking at my hand before her eyes meet mine. “If you don’t remove your hand, I will break your fingers one by one and enjoy every satisfying snap.”
“I don’t mind pain if that’s what you’re into.”
She grabs my fingers, prying them from her skin as she says, “Mainly inflicting it. Since I’ve met you, all you’ve done is go out of your way to make my life miserable.”
“Miserable life in that big house, huh?” I drive off as I continue, “So, Daddy’s money didn’t buy you happiness? Guess his luck didn’t rub off on you.”
Her body shifts in the seat, turning more towards the passenger window. “Can we just not talk and get through this stupid game?”
For now, I stop and let her be. I’m already pushing my luck with everything I’ve pulled tonight.
We arrive at the cemetery beside the Tomb. The guard shack at the entrance is empty as usual, but there’s an arrow painted on it that has to indicate for Mercy. I point it out to Ivy, “This way.”
“The graveyard again. How original.” She groans but follows behind me.
The air is hot and sticky with humidity, so I know she’s not cold even with the little clothing she’s wearing, but I see her shiver. “Scared?”
“No. Death doesn’t scare me,” she mutters, taking a few careful steps, but her heels sink into the soft turf.
Reaching out, I attempt to steady her, but she refuses as I ask, “What about living?”
“No,” she replies.
“Just seems like you’re scared to do anything—swim, cheer, yourself experience any pleasure. Basically, everything except sulking.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m scared.” Her eyes won’t meet mine as she marches past me.
Gripping her elbow, I pull her to me and tell her, “Prove it.”
Her lips stretch into a smile as she leans forward. “The joy of not giving a fuck is I don’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone, particularlyyou.”
Once she shoves off of me, she continues up the path as I follow behind her. We reach a mausoleum with flickering candles at the entrance near the rear of the cemetery. It’s only a few minutes before Brooke arrives, Micah stumbling in behind her before he drops onto the stairs of a nearby tomb. “This is fucking unbelievable.”
“Agreed,” Ivy chimes.
“Where’s everyone else?” Brooke asks as she glances around. “This is already creepy as hell.”
Micah starts making ghost noises as Brooke turns and slaps him. “Can you just be serious for a minute?”
He gives her a salute as we remain silent until the other team arrives followed by Remy and Garrett.
Now we’re only missing one, and he shows seconds later.
Decider motions to the mausoleum. “Bury if you dare. Death is imminent. Fear has no place here. You can’t be mediocre and survive Mercy. You have to be exceptional.”
“What do you meanbury?” Brooke asks with a quiver in her voice.
The Decider points to the opening beyond the mausoleum as we walk a few paces to where I see what’s about to play out. Shit. This isn’t good. But to my surprise, there’re four holes. “Are we all being buried?”
“Yes. Each team will be in a grave. Once time is up, you’ll be released.”
“For how long?” Garrett asks.
“That is yet to be determined. The real test is not knowing whether you’ll be trapped one minute or an eternity.”
