41. The Prize Was Our Life
Chapter 41
The Prize Was Our Life
Raven
Present Day
I was hoisted unceremoniously from the box and into strong arms. It was a guard. My own wrapped around their neck, doing anything to get away from the coffin.
We were in a freezing cold, small, clinical room. I watched as the guard kicked a button on the wall and my box was taken back into it, disappearing from sight.
“You look just like her.” The words were a horrified whisper from the guard. “You’re safe,” the man murmured. “Don’t struggle. I’m taking you to your Sponsor.”
Shock coursed through me. This guard sounded sincere. Empathetic. It was a stark difference to the others I had encountered. Adjusting my grip, I attempted to get a better look at my savior, but in doing so, my arms dug into the man’s neck.
He was in full gear, so I couldn’t see it, but the unmistakable feel of a metal collar rested there.
“Who are you?” I whispered.
“A guard,” his lips curled cruelly, but then his hot breath was in my ear. “Felix Spade.”
I stiffened. I recognized the name, and I didn’t believe in coincidences. “But you, but you—”
“Not here. Not now. We need to move.” Felix carefully held me to his chest as he took us out of the room into a long hallway. “You are to be blinded for this. I’m sorry.”
When my vision vanished this time, panic did not set in. No, I was already in my own inner turmoil.
Felix Spade.
A Griffin gang affiliate turned Brutality Faction member and the winner of our country’s first ever Masquerade. The only winner whose name and face was ever shown. I hadn’t been conscious to watch his game, but I had heard the rumors, seen the pictures of him. Most guessed that he had gone into hiding, but that wasn’t the case at all.
He was a prisoner here.
The prize was our life.
The prize is only our life.
Clutching onto him for dear life, I could not discern how long he walked with me in his arms. The only difference was that the temperature subtly increased as we went. And then it felt as if we were stepping onto a lift, further evidenced by the jostling as it shook us upwards.
“We won’t be able to speak again until I come fetch you, but Raven, it’s going to be okay. You’re going to escape this. I just need you to trust me when the time comes. It will all make sense.”
I hummed my agreement; even though, I wasn’t so sure.
Everyone kept telling me to trust them, but I was currently being marched towards my Sponsor. A man I had trusted with my entire life. A man that I thought would do anything to support me.
We shook and stilled, Felix placed me carefully onto my feet before wrapping an arm around my shoulders and continuing to guide me along.
I heard approaching steps and did my best to keep my expression neutral.
“This is her?” the newcomer asked. “This is the one everyone is betting all their money on? Fucking idiots if you ask me. But take her inside. Her Sponsor is ready and he requested she have her vision returned. He also advised she will need to be secured to the chair inside. All cameras and audio to be shut off. He paid for complete discretion.”
My Sponsor. The person that had put me in this game. The one that had twisted and tumbled my life into an entirely new path.
But it wasn’t the first time he had.
“Yes, sir.” Felix offered one comforting squeeze of my shoulder before guiding us to my final destination.
I could almost hear him say sorry as he pushed me down onto a chair. As he strapped me to it.
I heard his retreating feet as, simultaneously, my vision returned.
And I was face to face with my Sponsor .
I glared at the masked man. “How could you? How could you do this to me? You made me the Shadow and for what? To turn me into a fighting machine? To prepare me for this? Why?”
He tilted his head, salt and pepper tendrils of hair fluttering around him. “Yes. Exactly that. And it worked, didn’t it? The little Shadow has made it this far. It’s good to see you, Raven.”
“I can’t say the same”–I paused before spitting out his name–“ Geoff .”