Chapter 27 #2
“Find a place and hide,” I turn to the woman, gesturing for her to go into any of the rooms.
I don’t look back to see what she’s doing. I’m not her nanny. My target is clear, and he just hit the next floor. I nearly run after him, ignoring the screams, roars, and clashing metal. It’s like I’ve already grown used to them by now.
My bracelet lights up with numbers one and three, same as the speakers, which means there are only two red guys left.
I make it to the top of the stairs, and Ares is less than forty feet in front of me. His sword swings left and right, but he doesn’t seem like he’s aiming to kill anyone in particular. Instead, he’s throwing open doors like he’s hunting for something, or someone.
I want to go after him, but there’s suddenly a cry behind me. And out of the corner of my eye, I catch a man dragging Gina into a room.
For fuck’s sake, how did I get roped into this?
I take a second, trying to decide if I should go after Ares or rescue her.
Fuck me for having a conscience.
Gripping my sword, I charge into the room. The man is on top of Gina already, and pulling out a dagger.
I jump on his back. A move that worked out perfectly for me—until now. I don’t get to draw my sword before he rises to his feet and throws himself backward, slamming me to the floor.
I’m starting to see black behind my eyes, maybe even a shade of green.
I try to refocus, especially since I don’t feel the sword in my hand anymore, but I do feel him turning toward me.
I’m still trying to regain focus. Everything around me shakes like a busted TV signal while I’m still fighting to get my bearings.
Luckily, before I lose all my faculties, I notice his dagger coming straight for my chest. A surge of unknown strength rushes through me—panic, adrenaline, maybe both.
I manage to roll right, but his arm stops me short.
His dagger slams into the floor and sticks there. I can see him struggling to pull it free, but my sword is too far away.
I panic, thinking of a way out. My body is trapped beneath his, and I don’t have any options. Then the air goes thin, and I see his dagger coming for my head. I roll again, and everything is happening with the speed of light as I reach for the B52 shot and jam it into his chest.
He drops. The shot knocks him out cold instantly, but I don’t get to decide if I should finish him off.
Before I get to take action, I see Gina taking his dagger and slitting his throat.
I look straight at her as her bracelet lights up: 500k.
Blood drips across the number as she drops onto her ass.
She’s got a nasty slash across her chest and arm.
Nothing to die from. Worst-case scenario, she’ll need new implants.
But that’s not what bothers me. I’m trying to figure out if she killed him in the heat of the moment because he hurt her, or if she was just claiming the money for herself.
I don’t care about the money, but if she was trying to claim the money while I was trying to save her life, then she can’t be trusted. And we’ve got a problem.
She gasps in pain, and I hate that I feel responsible for it. She followed me, and that got her hurt. Still, I told her not to follow me, so that buys me a little less guilt.
I ease her against the wall and take the bandage from my pocket, wrapping it tightly around her arm and chest. She flinches, barely keeping herself from crying out in pain. But she knows exactly what a noise could mean.
She won’t be able to move on like this for long—not without help. But I can’t lose this chance, not because of her. And if I can’t give her any help, then the morphine will. It will keep her on her feet for a few hours, maybe even dull the panic.
I mentally curse myself for doing this, but I give her my morphine. Now I just have to hope I don’t get injured.
I signal for her to follow because I have to keep moving.
The morphine will dull her pain long enough for me to stash her away somewhere safe. She’ll have to fight eventually. There’s only one survivor in this game. I just hope I won’t be the one who has to take her on.
I have an idea where she’ll be safer, or at least where it will be easier for her to hide—in the showers. They’re also connected to the locker room, which links to a rehab facility, giving her more escape routes in case she gets cornered.
There are a few rows of lockers for the nurses and the staff. I find it’s the best place for her to take cover. But no matter how much I want to keep helping her, I need to go.
I’m actually on my way to do that when I see her almost collapse.
“Can you please help me sit?” She asks, one hand pressed to her chest.
I don’t answer but lean down and help her sit on the floor, my eyes never losing contact with her hands.
“Got any more morphine?” She asks, trying to distract me while her hand inches toward the boomerang strapped to her leg. She never showed me the weapon, but I saw it. The fucking thing’s lined with blades, perfect for short and long-range kills.
I grip my sword, letting it clink loud against its holder. Loud enough so she can hear it.
I will kill her if she makes another move.
We lock eyes.
We both know her chances of surviving the next few minutes are slim to none. The only real shot she had was the element of surprise, and she blew it.
“Give me that, and I walk away,” I say, one hand gripping my sword, the other wrapped around the hand she’s got on the boomerang.
I can’t believe I wasted my time with this ungrateful bitch.
“I’m dead anyway if I give it to you,” she mutters, but I can see the resignation on her face.
At this point, I just want to punch her and leave her unconscious. But right before I do that, I hear someone behind me.
Out of instinct, I rip the boomerang from her hand and turn and see who the fuck it is.
My eyes burn through the distance, trying to make out who’s come for us. There’s a metallic grind like someone is dragging something across the floor, but it’s not sharp, so it’s not a sword. It’s something heavier.
“You made number four drop out.” The shadow starts to take shape. “I’m quite impressed,” the voice continues, as I spot the red of his uniform.
“And I’ll make you drop out, too. Or kill you, whichever comes first,” I say, dragging my sword along the floor. If he wants to intimidate me, then I’m giving it back in the same currency.
He takes a step closer.
Then another.
And another until he’s fifteen feet away, and I can see the weapon he’s been dragging across the floor. It’s a massive hammer, like Thor’s, but with a longer handle and one edge sharpened to a deadly point.
This guy reminds me of the one I sent home earlier in that smoking area—not because they look alike, since this guy has darker skin, black eyes, and raven hair—but because they both have the same serious, maybe even respectable vibe.
Like they work in the same institution… I don’t know, maybe a bank, judging by the overpriced haircut.
Maybe even something higher up the food chain.
“I’ve been in these games for a while, and I’ve never gotten the chance to kill a child molester yet.
” His words hit me harder than they should.
I know they’re not true—I’m not the real Cynthia—they still leave a bitter trail in my chest. Still, not nearly as bitter as what comes next.
“Did you actually know each other on the outside? Because I can’t even decide which one of you is worse.
I’m taking a wild guess that Gina is. I mean, trafficking in children’s organs?
I think that’s fucking way worse than just molestation. ”
I try to hide my shock, but I think it’s all too obvious, the lines on my face shifting into a frown. Because I know not a single person in this place could be innocent.
I glance at Gina with the corner of my eye. No sign of remorse on her face, or denial, more like relief that we could be in any way similar. That something might tie us. Like, maybe we could bond over butchering a kid and selling off the pieces to the highest bidder.
“Move aside and let me pass,” I say, flashing the boomerang. There’s no way his hammer is fast enough to stop the boomerang. The only problem is, I have no idea how to use it. If I throw it, it’ll probably come back and take my head off.
But he doesn’t know that. And I’m counting on keeping it that way.
Still, he doesn’t move, his eyes locked on mine, still weighing his options. I guess the dumb bastard expected me to be scared and probably beg for mercy, since he’s a man and I’m a woman, and our strengths don’t exactly match.
But neither do our speeds. By the time he gets to me, my sword will chop his head off, even if the boomerang’s a miss.
I don’t wait for him to answer anymore and start walking toward him.
I can see he’s panicking, unsure whether to raise the hammer or just call it quits. But just as he tries to open his mouth and say something, call for someone—realizing he’s in over his head—I shake my head as a no, and walk past him.
Maybe he stands a chance against someone like Gina. I’m guessing he’s done his share of killing, judging by the blood on his hands… and his hammer. Still, at least he’s smart enough to know when to back off.
“Hey, don’t leave me here with him. Please,” I can hear Gina beg, but at this point, I don’t even care.
The bitch can burn. In fact, I want her to burn.
It’s the only reason I let the Valiant live.
I could’ve killed him when I got near him, before he had any kind of chance to tap out.
But I want him to deal with Gina, because, right now, I’m too disgusted to even kill her myself.
And truth be told, I’m also a little pissed at myself for not seeing through her from the start.
Sure, I was cautious about her, but deep down, I still hoped there was something good in her. The way I hope there’s something good in everyone, and they keep proving me wrong. Over and over again.
But that ends tonight.
I’m killing off whatever scrap of empathy I’ve got left as I walk into the hallway, more determined than ever to reach my goal, willing to kill anyone standing in my way.
Ares, I’m coming for you.