It’s a betting platform. Avatars and usernames are along one side. Thousands of bets are moving up the screen on the other side.
Millions of dollars are being wagered.
We’re right in the middle of something big. And our only worth is the entertainment value.
Jesus.
The brutal facts fall into place. Six hunters will pursue us in the woods at night. It’s unfamiliar terrain. We’re not the first kidnapped participants.
Now everything about that list of names Jade found makes sense. Disappearances with cover ups or closed cases. Jade’s father, the Sheriff somehow involved.
“The game starts now.” He says with a flourish, regaining his haughty-ass attitude that I’m going to enjoy beating out of him. “You run. You hide. You try not to die.”
I’m going to enjoy the hell out of saying the same to him.
“And if we survive do we get to go free?” Jade asks, stepping closer to my side, her hand resting against my back making my throat constrict with emotion.
“No.”
He motions to the cameras, pointing to all corners of the patio room.
“They’re not betting on whether you live, it’show longyou live and who dies first. There’s no get out of jail card here.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” she mutters, turning and walking away, spine locked straight.
He stares at her back as she stalks toward the dark tree line and I want to thumb his eyeballs out for ever looking at her.
“What are the rules?” I demand.
His gaze flicks to mine, amused. “You might want to step on it. You get twenty minutes head start. Then you’re fair game. No weapons for you. No cold-weather clothing. And by the way, the tracking collars you’re both wearing have cameras in themandthey’re explosive, so I don’t recommend trying to get them off.”
I’m on him before he can react, my hand lashed around his pencil-dick throat.
“Anyone place bets on whether you get your trachea crushed?”
He gurgles, his feet kicking at my shins until I drop him to the floor and stalk away.
When I stride past the hunters, I look each in the eye. Letting them see the monster that’s been unleashed in their arena.
“Game on, motherfuckers.”
CHAPTER 15
A dark forest stretches in every direction.
I’m shaking hard.Calm. Down.Try to breathe slowly. This must be shock. Or whatever they pumped into me, because I’m not right.
The forest doesn’t feel real. The trees are too tall. Black pillars stretching endlessly upward into a night sky I can’t see.
They swallow what little light exists until the darkness feels thick, pressing in from all sides.
Trying to slow my breathing, I force myself to stay still, but my muscles scream torun.
The air is damp and cold as it fills my lungs. But that feels vague too. Lifting a hand, I touch my face.
Weird. Feels plastic.
Not good.
