77. Tess
TESS
Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
I closed my eyes as I stretched my arms across my chest.
I’d done everything I could think of to prepare for this night: studied the maps, jogged the park, practiced with Nash and Blade. Fuck, I’d even bought myself a black camo outfit to blend in better — first thing I’d ever bought that wasn’t fished out of a bargain bin somewhere.
Now, there was only one thing left to do: win.
With her mask tucked under one arm, Cyrus cracked her neck before training her dark, midnight eyes on me. “You know how it works well enough by now. Five minutes to hide. Six hours of searching where the cards dictate, and six of our own choosing.”
As she spoke, I couldn’t help but notice the edge in her voice. Cyrus was always surly, but this was something different.
After what happened with Jane, I guess I thought we’d turned a new page. Why else would she have let me see so much of their dealings?
But as she stared me down now — lip curled, slit brow furrowed, dark eyes narrowed — I saw that I’d been wrong. Clearly, whatever vendetta she was holding against me hadn’t yet faded.
Would be nice if she’d just tell me what all the pissiness is about.
Still, my skin prickled at the gravel in her voice. “Stay within the park limits. If you leave, we will still find you, and you’ll be punished as a thief instead of a guest.”
Flame flickered in her eyes as the threat passed her lips. She was going to chase me this Fright Night just like she had every other: with unrelenting resolve.
By now, I felt confident she wouldn’t kill me if she won… fairly certain, at least. But it was clear that she had some sort of plan: something that would be unpleasant at best.
And I still have no interest in finding out what it was.
Wrapping up the rules, Cyrus slipped the mask over her face. The stitched over eyes and mouth were only slightly more unsettling than her usual glare. “Any last words?”
“...Good luck.” I rolled my shoulders, forcing myself to look each of my hunters in the eyes that hid beneath their masks.
Nash and Blade’s shoulders seemed to relax slightly at the show of good will, but Cyrus simply shook her head before pulling the remote from her pocket.
The second that the music started, I knew what I needed to do. Holding my head high, I bolted down the cobblestone road. Doubt swirled in the dark corners of my mind, but I pushed it away, focusing only on my next step, only on my impending victory.
Tonight is my night. It has to be.
My mind went on autopilot, letting my feet lead the way. Overthinking was what had gotten me caught all the other times that we’d played this game. Tonight, I was submitting to instinct — connecting to whatever energy the Freaks seemed to channel from Feverpoint.
It wasn’t long before I was tucking myself into a dark corner of the park, praying that this would finally be the safe haven I needed. I had several layers of protection from the Freaks and several escape routes. What more was it going to take?
Pressing my spine back against the wooden paneling, I sucked in another deep breath and prepared for Fright Night to begin. Usually I was hardly out of the gates before the rides started up. But tonight, I was welcomed by several moments of silence.
Was this spot a mistake?
On the one hand, it could be a good sign: I was getting better at the game, I didn’t need as much time to pick a spot. But on the other, it might mean that this spot was easier to reach than I thought.
Shouldn’t a good spot have taken longer to find?
My heart was beating in my chest. I peered out from the shadows, considering making a last mad dash for a new hiding spot. But before I could make a move, green lights flashed over the park, marking the end of my time.
Before long, those deep hoots and hollers rang out from back in the Jungle Jolt. From outside of Feverpoint, it would be easy to mistake the ruckus as wolves, but I knew the sound far too well by now.
Though, it does sound like they’re moving in a pack.
My blood pressure skyrocketed at the thought. There was no way they all could have pulled the same section, right? And the odds that it was mine…
I shook my head. It didn’t matter what the Freaks did. One way or another, I was going to win this money. No matter the cost, it was time I finally made my own destiny.