Before I can take my next breath, my phone vibrates in my hand. I don’t think I’ve let go of it the entire night. My eyes grow wide at the unknown number.
Unknown number: Meet me at the office in the run-down baseball clubhouse.
All the blood drains from my head. I can’t see straight.
Me: I can meet you anywhere else.
Please, not there.
I should know better than to put stipulations on Charlie. But that’s the most hidden place on campus. And it means too much to me. That’s where Victor and I…
I need to get him to meet me in a public place so I have a better chance…to do what? Escape? Run away?
Unknown number: You made me mad. Now you have five mins to get here. 5… 4… 3
Shit. Shit.I set him off.
Unknown Number: And Firefly—bring the money or else. And don’t be stupid—don’t talk to anyone unless you want someone else to get hurt.
I swallow the knot in my throat and my brain kicks into action.
If it was so easy for Charlie to hurt Victor, I don’t want to imagine what he could do to Alek or Abi.
Going to the hideout is the stupidest thing I’ll do in my life, knowing a trap is there and still walking right into it. What choice do I have? I don’t have Charlie’s money—he made sure of it. Victor’s already been beaten. But Abi and Alek can still be spared.
I won’t give in without a fight.
I close my eyes and an image of Victor appears. He’s leaning close to me and whispers, “The solution is not to run away, Tia, but to fight.” I love him so much. Victor’s words ring clear: “So you find out what kind of person you are if you stay.”
No more running. I’m not going down for the count without a fight.
That’s what Victor did too. He knew he had a slim chance to win the fight two days ago but he still showed up—for me—he fought for me. And now I’ll fight Charlie for him.
I owe it to myself and Victor.
Muffled voices come from Abi’s room. Without hesitation, I dash to the front door. I need to drive or I won’t get there on time. I spot Abi’s car keys where she always keeps them—hanging on the jacket hook.
Driving to the run-down clubhouse is a blur.
I get inside the God-forgotten building. The last time I was here, I hadn’t noticed the crusty paint peels on the wall in the hallway. But now it’s different.
My senses are sharper. My steps are slower.
The laminate floor is covered with a white layer of construction dust. My eyes zero in on footprints leading farther into the dark corridor. Isn’t there a light switch somewhere around here? I swallow the bitter taste in my mouth and make my way to the office to meet my fate. I stop in front of the door and listen, praying to hear nothing. With the deep breath I take, the mildew stink hits my nose and my stomach twists in knots.
I place my cell phone in my jeans pocket, open the door slowly, and tiptoe inside.
My next breath is stuck in my chest as my eyes find Charlie’s. His eyes are hollow, and dilated to the point that they’re all black.
He’s sitting on the bench where Victor and I…
Don’t think about it now. Focus.
I try one more time to take a breath. I remember Victor’s instructions when we trained together.You can’t win if you’re not calm.
Charlie stands and smiles. He’s wearing his dark blue suit, no jacket, with a white dress shirt—sleeves rolled up.
“We’re going to rewrite your experience. That’s why I asked you to come here,” he says with a flat voice, glancing at the bench.
