Unknowingly, they drifted apart, finding separate corners of the diner to hide out in. Jade moved to a booth near the door, curling into a tight ball next to the window, arms wrapped around her knees as if holding herself together. Jax followed, sitting uncharacteristically still on the seat across from her, hands playing with the salt and pepper shakers. Caden tuned the old TV to an even older show and sat at the counter, his back turned to the rest of them, resolutely facing the screen.
Raya went outside and sat on the edge of the concrete porch alone, staring blankly out at the desert skyline as she counted down the minutes until the next hour was up—waiting for the next delivery.
The memory of being tied up and dragged across the line was too vivid, too visceral. Right now, Ellis was out there in what he thought was a life-or-death battle against Ana and Alex. More than anyone, Rayaknew what he was capable of and that if it came to it, he would have no qualms about throwing someone over the line, alive or dead.
This wasn’t over yet. Someone could actually die.
Raya was sitting in the exact same spot when the red truck pulled up again, and she watched as not one, but two bodies were carried over to the porch. The cowboys set Alex down on the cot and Ana on a blanket on the ground next to him.
As they walked back to their truck, one of the cowboys paused, half-turning to Raya.
“Help will be here at dawn,” he said, his voice muffled by his bandana. “It’s over, kid.” He gave a short nod—and that was it. Their job was done. The cowboys climbed into the truck, slamming the doors shut. She could hear loud country music playing as they pulled away one last time, leaving the familiar trail of dust far behind them, lit up red in the glow of their receding taillights.
It’s over, kid.That fucking easy.
Raya forced her bitter anger down—Ana and Alex were alive. In this moment, that was all that mattered. She would worry about the rest tomorrow.
One by one, the others came out of the diner. They gathered around the final two, waiting as they woke up, eager to be the first to tell them the good news.You’re not dead. You survived.
The funny thing was—it wasn’t a surprise.
When Ana sat up and looked around, she smiled happily at all the faces surrounding her, took a sip of offered water and then said calmly, “Well, thank fuck that’s over!”
***
Now, several hours later, they were all finally here.
The survivors were spread around the diner, facing Ellis—the last man standing, the winner of a prize no one wanted any more. He had fought too hard. By the time he’d finally stepped over the white line, he had crossed many more lines, ones that should never be crossed. Ones you can’t come back from.
Voices on the TV chatted away happily. The grill crackled and spat as another forgotten grilled cheese turned deliciously black. In the far distance, underneath everything else, was a new noise. The faint wail of a siren.
It was a new day. Help was on the way at last.
“You aren’t welcome here.” Caden had been sitting sullenly by the bar, still watching the TV. He stood and turned to face Ellis; his sheer bulk made him appear to loom over the point guard.
Ellis flinched. He was breaking a sweat, shifting from foot to foot.
Caden shuffled closer to him. His face had turned red, his fists were tightly clenched at his waist.
Ellis didn’t speak. He didn’t move, his head hung low as he watched Caden warily.
“Caden’s right.” Raya’s voice surprised Ana. She’d been sitting quietly in a booth by herself since Ana’s arrival. She was unnaturally subdued—whatever had happened on the line must have been terrifying. Raya rubbed her wrists unconsciously; raw, red welts cut into them from Ellis’s zip ties. “You should go, Ellis. Now. Before we do something we’ll regret.” Her voice was shaky, shock and anger registering in equal parts.
Ellis looked around, taking in the circle of faces surrounding him. He flexed his hands, over and over. His eyes sought out Jade, then Jax—there was desperation there.
“I…I didn’t…” He was struggling, reaching for anything that could help him. “Raya, I never…”
“Yes, you did!” Raya turned to where Ana was standing and pointed to Ana’s phone. “May I?” Ana nodded. It only took a moment to find what she was looking for. She turned the volume up and pressed play, holding it out for all to see.
Ellis’s voice rang out:“Raya cried… I know. I was surprised too. I thought she’d have more guts than that. But in the end, true colors show through…”
Ellis was shaking almost imperceptibly. His head was down again, eyes too, hands balled tightly. There was nothing left for him to say. The voice on the phone had said it all for him. Raya put the phone back on the table.
“Busted,” she said, smiling—her first genuine smile since she’d died on the line.
“We won’t…forgive you… Never.” Jade’s voice was stilted, as though she kept losing her train of thought. Her eyes were ringed red, and her blonde hair still stood up at the back in a wild bird’s nest. “You’re sick. You need help.” She looked at Jax, but he just shrugged.
“What? Ellis didn’t kill me.Youdid, babe…” Jax muttered, grinning, clearly pleased with himself. But Jade stared at him blankly, as though she couldn’t make sense of his words. Jax shifted on the spot sheepishly. “Just sayin’…”
