Or holding out hope for the impossible?
Both would die, so I guess it didn’t matter.
Ronan continued on with the rules. “The playing field is the house. The doors and windows are all locked. All three floors are fair game.” He gestured broadly, and I followed the motion.
The house was big.
Reallybig.
The main floor alone was an open layout of glass walls, modern furniture, the couple’s main living room, a home gym, a half bath, and a sweeping staircase that curved up toward the second level.
On the second level—where we were now—was an office, two guest rooms complete with attached bathrooms, the kitchen, the formal dining room, and this living room we were currently in.
Upstairs were the master bedroom and bath, a third living room, and a small kitchen.
Lots of places to hide.
Ronan went on, “Nowhere is off limits. For us seekers, we can search alone or in pairs. And before you ask, yes, Oliver can stay with both of you.” He looked at the twins. “If you find one of our special guests, you can do whatever you like with them. You don’thaveto kill them.”
Jeremiah shuddered.
I kept my face neutral, even when my stomach twisted slightly.
“But you can kill them, if you want.” He winked.
Don’t think about what happens after.
Don’t think about the knives.
Don’t think about the screaming.
Beside me, Dorian whispered in my ear, sensing where my thoughts were going, “Just a few more minutes, angel.”
I nodded rigidly.
“I have a question,” Mills announced, making us all stare at him in surprise.
Ro shrugged. “Okay. What is it?”
“Is our five-minute head start included in the forty-five minutes?”
“Oh, that’s a good question,” Ronan mused, brows raised as he thought about it. “I’d say yes. So technically, you’re only being hunted for forty minutes then.”
Mills took a breath and nodded once. “Okay.”
“Good,” said Ro, fixing his gaze at the still-shaking man next to Mills. “Jeremiah, do you have any questions?”
Jeremiah frantically shook his head, avoiding eye contact.
“Alright. Is everyone ready?”
When everyone answered in the affirmative, Ronan pulled out his phone and set the timer for five minutes.
He did a countdown for the dead men, starting the clock when he hit zero.
“Go!”
For half a second, nothing happened.
