“For what?” Raya asked suspiciously.
“For making this easier.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Ellis?” Raya looked like she wanted to end this and get out of here. She shuffled backwards impatiently, every inch of her leaning towards escape.
“Well, now I know your guilty secret, I won’t feel so bad about this.” He smoothly brought his hand in front of him, holding up the zip tie.
A look of shock crossed Raya’s face. There were no words. She fell back into the glaring sunlight and turned to run.
That was all it took. Ellis moved in, his right hand swinging forward, his left reaching up and around, fast and efficient. Raya didn’t stand a chance. In seconds she was pinned on the ground, her hands bound. Ellis had her exactly where he wanted her.
She tried to scream, to call for help, but Ellis’s full weight was on her.
“STOP! Oh my god! Just stop!” Jade was on her feet. She wanted to run at Ellis, to hit him and scream at him. But she couldn’t. Her feet wouldn’t move. Fear coursed through her. If she tried to fight him, he would kill her. She knew it.
“Jade, sit back down and shut the fuck up,” Ellis growled. “Just focus on my voice and do what I’m telling you. You’ll be all right if you do exactly what I say.Sit down.”
Jade sunk to her knees, sobbing, hands tight at her sides. She could see Raya, pinned on the dirt, unmoving.
“Wha…what are you going to do to her?” she whispered.
“What do you think?”
“But…we can…Ana said—”
“What?” Ellis’s voice was cutting. “What do you want, Jade? To search for fairies and fucking unicorns until we all get blown up? Or do you want to live? Ana doesn’t want to face the truth, so she’s going to lead anyone stupid enough to follow her straight to their death. The only way any of us walk away from this goddamn motel is if we play the game, and right now, that means Mori has to cross the line. Do you hear what I’m saying, Jade?”
Jade nodded; she couldn’t find words.
“Good. Then listen carefully. I will get us both out of here alive. Do you hear me, Jade? I have a plan for us, okay? For you and me. Right now, the only question you need to ask yourself is: do you want to live or die?”
Through his legs, Jade could see Raya’s face. Her eyes were open, staring at Jade, imploring. Dirt was smeared across her face, in her hair.
“What’s it going to be, Jade?”
Jade was shaking, her whole body quivering with shock. Too much horror. She couldn’t hold a thought.
“Jade?” Ellis barked at her.
“Live.” Her response startled her. “I…I want to live. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Raya. I’m sorry.”
“Good choice.” Ellis turned abruptly.
“Jade…please…” Raya’s words were muffled. “Jade, help!”
Jade put her hands over her ears. She couldn’t hear this. She couldn’t watch. She couldn’t…
Pulling Raya to her feet, Ellis dragged her away from the building, heading towards the line. Towards the death machine.
There was nothing else for it. It was too much. Too much. She couldn’t do this anymore. No more.
Jade closed her eyes and screamed over and over and over.
Karma.
28
Ana
