“So.” Red’s voice switches up, from a throaty purr to more of a buoyant excitement. “Let us not waste any further time. Participants. In front of you, you’ll find a box. Open it and turn to face the person on your right. If you’re on the end, turn to face the person closest to you.”
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle as we all stare down.
The box is easy to miss on the dirt-packed ground. I crouch to pick mine up, feeling the slide of something inside that hits the side with a low thud.
“Alyss,” Hatter whispers on my other side. I cock my head in response. “Remember – doexactlywhat they tell you. No matter what.”
I tip my head in the barest nod before I stand, moving back to my square. The box feels heavy in my hands, and Chess and I exchange glances before we pull off the lids.
I can hear the others down the line doing the same, but my pulse slows, my lips parting as I stare at the gun inside.
“Turn.” All pretense of civility has disappeared from Red’s voice. “Now.”
Chess is pale, his eyes on my face. In his hand is a gun identical to mine. “Lyss—.”
“Lift your gun,” Red snaps. “Aim for the head. On my count of three, you will shoot. Anyone who disobeys will be eliminated from Wonderland immediately.”
Eliminated.We participate, or we die.
My breathing speeds up, and I glance over my shoulder at Hatter. He’s frozen, his face twisted in horror as he stares at me, the gun in his hand. Behind him, Buck’s face is grim.
Buck will shoot Hatter.
Hatter will shoot me.
I will shoot Chess.
And Chess – he starts shaking his head, the gun dropping to his side. “No.”
“Chess,” I snap it, snap his name as if it might change anything. “Lift your damn gun.”
“No.” He roars it this time, roars it despite the people watching us. “Don’t even fucking ask me, Lyss.”
“I’m not asking,” I say. My lips feel numb. “I’m telling you. Raise your fucking gun, Chess. Now.”
“On my count.” Red’s voice bursts into that loaded space between us as we face each other with our guns in hand.
“They’ll kill her anyway.” Hatter’s voice sounds, low and urgent as he throws the words past me to Chess. “If you don’t and there’s a bullet in that chamber, theywillkill her. If you do it—,”
“There’s a chance,” I breathe, staring at him. “Please, Chess.”
They’re not going to kill all of us. Only some. Some of these guns are empty.
But there arefourof us – four bullets, four empty guns—
Our odds are slim at best.
Slowly, Chess lifts his gun. His hand is shaking, his head moving from side to side. “I can’t fire a bullet into your head, Lyss.”
“Then they will.” I center myself, force the gun up and train it on his skull. “This way, you’re giving me a chance.”
“One.”
“That’s fucking terrible logic.” He doesn’t look away as he aims the gun. “Terrible.”
“Well,” I swallow. “I haven’t always been known for having the best ideas.”
He laughs, but it sounds more like the sob I can feel inside my own chest as I watch him. The amber in his eyes gleams against the green and brown. “Don’t you fucking die on me, Lyss.”
