That’s… not right.
“Two dead,” Chess says gruffly. He’s standing beside Alyss, his arms crossed. “Bruce, and the tall one.”
“Boom,” one of the twins mutters. “Suppose they have to leave some for tomorrow.”
Swallowing, I push myself upright. Alyss wraps her arm around my shoulders as Chess holds out his hand. My eyebrows flick up in surprise, but I take it, allowing him to haul me to my feet. The twins are standing there, Buck beside them. We’re still in the maze.
“So only the six of us are left, then.” Buck raises an eyebrow. “I’m rather impressed at our survival instincts, team.”
Everyone pauses at that.
One night left.
Six of us remaining.
Alyss’s hand drops from my shoulder. I can feel her looking at me, but I avoid her gaze. The memories still pull at me, the ticking of thatfuckingclock a trigger that never fails to bring me to my knees.
Red has always been an expert at wielding my pain like it’s her own personal weapon.
“Hatter.” Alyss whispers my name, but I turn and start walking. She follows me, slipping her hand into mine. Bracing for questions, I wait.
But she doesn’t ask. She only squeezes my hand. “How do we get out of here?”
After a moment, I squeeze back, my shoulders relaxing. “No idea.”
Ahead of us, an exit slides open. I spot the glint of gun barrels, and my hand tightens around Alyss’s.
Red ended the game too quickly. The sky above us is still pitch black.
But the others – they spot them, too. The twins skirt around us, taking up a position in front of Alyss. Chess appears at her side, his face grim. And when I glance over my shoulder, Buck is following close behind. The tattered remains of his shirt sleeve are dark with dried blood.
Closing ranks.
But… nothing. The guards merely escort us to the elevator. There’s no update from Red. Nothing to announce the end of the evening.
Only silence.
None of us speak as we descend. The guards waiting below escort us back to the cell, the door closing behind us.
“That’s it?” Alyss murmurs. She’s frowning. “That… doesn’t seem right.”
“I’m not complaining.” Buck throws himself down onto his bed with a grimace. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. A really fuckingbigtruck.”
I know how he feels. My entire body aches.
Alyss slips her hand from mine, vanishing into the bathroom. Taking a few steps toward my bed, I’m stopped by Chess. “You alright?”
The question takes me by surprise.
Instinct nearly has me nodding, brushing it off. But I hesitate. Give him a slight shrug instead. “I have to be alright. Sorry you had to see that.”
“You shouldn’t apologize for something you can’t control.” He clears his throat, turning away. I move over to my bed, my body tensing.
There’s a gift on my pillow. I look over to Alyss’s empty bed, glance at the twins behind me.
None of them have anything.
Slowly, I sit, reaching for the small glossy black bag.
