37. XXXVII
XXXVII
Spencer
“ H urry up!” called Micah from the theatre auditorium.
We sauntered down the aisle to the front row, where we found a calm, collected Ace and a pathetic, snivelling Ava.
She instantly dropped to her knees before us, chanting apologies.
“Get a grip, woman,” I said. Fran took that opportunity to trot to her side and lap the tears from her face.
When she didn’t seem to catch on, and her cries turned hysterical, I raised my hand to give her a good slap. You know, to snap her out of that self-induced pity party, but before I could make contact, Psycho snatched my wrist. “Touch her and sister or not, I’ll fucking kill you?—”
Psycho cursed as his grip immediately loosened, and blood freely seeped through his fingers. Echo had slipped between us, his stained knife casually brandished before him, then he spat, “Touch my woman again and I’ll fucking kill you.” Goosebumps skittered over Psycho’s flesh as Echo’s Variant pierced into his skin.
I didn’t need protection, but I fucking preened from the show of force anyway. Displaying my pleasure, I leant over Echo’s shoulder and licked up his sexy face. He groaned in reply.
Fran yelped at the strained atmosphere, but continued to sit guard at Ava’s side. I nearly growled like a dog myself. The damn traitor. I’m the one who saved him.
Tanner huffed with impatience, gliding up onto the stage, looking down on us like we were a bunch of rodents. “Ava, we need a debrief as succinct and fast as possible.” He might as well have snapped his fingers.
With all the attention on her, Ava seemed to crumble in on herself, no doubt used to soft mutterings and words of affirmation, or some prissy shit like that. Panic took hold, digging its claws so deep, she couldn’t gather a proper fucking sentence together, her syllables meshing into chaotic gibberish.
I tightly folded my arms, perusing the team, giving someone else an opportunity to crack first.
Three. Two. One. Ding, ding.
“Just spit it out already,” Emerson shrilled, clearly frustrated by the weltering sight. I couldn’t help but grin. Ava stared up at her blonde friend with wide eyes and even had the audacity to look heartbroken.
I dropped a shoulder to whisper a taunt in Emerson’s ear. “Come on, Meek, come out and play.”
Micah pushed past, making sure she clipped me on the way through in unspoken warning. She crouched in front of Ava and lifted her chin until stormy grey orbs clashed with amber gold. “Can you understand why we’re all upset?” Micah asked.
Ava nodded, tears scattering in all directions.
“We sacrificed and put a lot of trust in you, Ava. Which has now been tested and found wanting. It’s too early to know the ramifications of you keeping a secret of this magnitude, but none of it can be good,” Micah said. Although her tone was placating, the implication of her message could not be missed.
I didn’t think it was possible, but Ava’s emotional state worsened, practically falling apart all over the old stale carpet. We all watched on in varying degrees of tolerance; Psycho concerned, Ace distracted, Tanner unbothered, Micah introspective, Emerson exasperated, Echo tolerable, and me… Well, I was impatient.
Ava blubbered further, hardly making sense. “I b-bet you regret ever meeting meee.” Hiccup. Sob. “I bet you regretttt taking me in.”
Micah sighed. “We will never regret saving you, Ava?—”
“Well, maybe just a little,” I said, shoving gum in my mouth.
Psycho’s head snapped towards me, blatantly shifting in front of Ava as if I was about to launch into some type of attack.
I scoffed, fucking done with his overbearing, overprotective bullshit. His precious innocent sister wasn’t a little girl anymore, and it was about time he caught on.
“Don’t worry, dear brother,” I mocked, popping a bubble in his direction. “That’s the last you’ll hear of it from me. I think she will suffer enough, knowing her one true love is on the chopping block and facing utter peril. He may not even last the night.”
Ava recoiled, but I didn’t care, ready to deliver more hurt with my words, slice the truth into her fucking flesh until she finally realised the extent of her betrayal and what she had cost us. “And if we manage to save her precious Gannicus—and that’s a really big if— she will be indebted to us…again.” At that, Ava bolstered, finally getting her shit together. I could tell the girl regretted her actions—or she was a damn good actress. Either way, I stared her dead in the eyes and gave my last retort. “You will never withhold anything from us again. Otherwise, not even your gladiator brother will be able to save you. No one will be able to save you from my wrath.”
I wasn’t one to hold a grudge. There was no need for them, since I usually dealt with my issues using a well-placed blade or solid bullet. I didn’t tend to give second chances, but I figured people that mean something to you can rewire your brain, make you consider what’s truly important and deliberate when concessions could be made for those you love.
To me, Ava was an acquaintance at most. But for Micah, she was closer—in connection at least. For my own sister, I would sacrifice more than the sanity of one measly girl. So, I relented…for the moment. Plus, I could always come back and finish the job later if required.
Yeah, that sounds more accurate.
Micah exhaled heavily as if she could read my mind. Although, by my expression, it didn’t take much to guess. I gave a half-ass shrug in reply, not at all sorry.
“You finished?” Tanner asked, his signature smirk creasing the dimple in his stubbled cheek.
Ava stood as her mask hardened in determination. Sure, tears still ran down her face, but at least they were silent this time. She spared a nod, and with a torch cradled in her palm, led us to a hidden door to the trap room beneath the stage.
We had to hunch over to fit in the claustrophobic space, and dust tracked over every available surface.
Emerson coughed. “This place needs a clean.”
“What this place needs is copious amounts of gasoline and a lit fucking match?—”
Ace gave a light squeak beside me, and I lurched from the sound. That sneaky fucker . I almost forgot about the psychotic teen who shadowed our group. He appeared so chill. I kind of wanted to know why he was sent to Oakview Asylum.
Instead, I said, “You can help me burn this place down, can’t you, Cooks? You’ve already got half the equipment.” I was referring to the silver lighter forever glued to his hand.
His teal blue eyes widened, and in their depths, his very soul shrivelled in on itself, reflecting back a world of horror.
I whistled low. “Brooo, who hurt you?”
He flinched, and Micah’s sharp shrill rattled from up front. “ Spencer. ” Geez, I do know my own name.
Ava came up short behind one of the stabilising pillars, and disgust rippled beneath my skin, watching her hand run over the soiled floor.
Shortly after, there was a distinctive click, releasing a nondescript panel which opened up from the ground. The secret hatch was perfectly camouflaged with the surrounding floor panelling.
How in the hell did Psycho ever believe this girl to be innocent? From the looks of his deadly expression, I thought he was coming to that same realisation. Oh, how I wanted to be there for the aftermath.
Ava remained crouched next to the black hole at her feet. “This is a narrow staircase that leads down to the Ludus dorms in The Cavern?—”
Hmm, where Gannicus lives.
“I’m gonna kill him.”
“How convenient.”
Psycho and I both interrupted.
And since I’m a shit stirrer, I grabbed a metaphorical wooden spoon and mixed that shit at superspeed. “I remember Gannicus’ apartment, sparse and understated. Sure, he’s built like a muscled brick.” I winked suggestively. “But his style leaves something to be desired… Or is that what you’re into, Ava?” She blushed, and Psycho blanched.
“ Why were you in his apartment, Ghost?” Echo asked, his head so close, his breath skittered over my cheek. Oops.
“Pfft,” I deflected. “Let’s not pretend you don’t have a past, lover. How many women have you slept with?”
“Probably as many as you.”
I actually laughed, then lifted a finger to tap against my chin. “Touché. Maybe we can?—”
“—there is no way in this fucking lifetime I’d ever share you. So, get that thought out of your head right now.” He practically growled, which lit a specific type of heat down to my centre.
Share? I was teasing, of course. I’d unalive anyone for even attempting to touch what was mine. Let’s be honest, his past lovers weren’t all that safe, either. Then again, I didn’t know how the city would cope with such a decrease in the general female population.
Emerson grumbled before addressing Ava. “She didn’t hook up with Gannicus. She’s just teasing you.” I smirked, my expression cheekily refuting her statement, yet Ava looked relieved nonetheless. Then, Emerson turned to me and Echo. “And if you’re going to fuck, at least wait till I’m out of earshot.”
“No such thing, Meek. The things Echo can do with his Variant, his mouth…”
Emerson proved she had reached her tether by abruptly turning and pitching a solid fist into Echo’s gut. She didn’t hold back.
“ What the fuck?! ” he snarled, cramping over. I couldn’t help but cackle.
Emerson pursed her lips, all nonchalant as if she didn’t just sucker punch my man. “It’s not like I can hit Spence. She’s wounded.”
“So am I,” he seethed
“Self-inflicted,” I said. “She’s tiny, babe. You can take her?—”
Echo cut my words off by clamping a hand over my mouth. “I love you, Ghost. But please just shut the fuck up,” he said, voice laced with underlined pain.
My grin grew deranged beneath his palm.
My back ached and thighs shook from the strained position. Fran squirming in my arms didn’t help much, either. The trek down into the pits of hell was taking much longer than I anticipated.
Ace led us along the narrow staircase in utter darkness, his Variant some form of night vision, substituting the flashlight—which could potentially give our position away. I didn’t feel completely comfortable following a certifiable asylum patient, but that was the least of my worries.
There were three main objectives: save Gannicus, defeat Maximus and search The Caverns for the elusive Khaos. We couldn’t achieve all three as one single unit, which meant we had to split into groups.
My magnificent, calculating Echo came up with a solid plan, but I couldn’t help but feel apprehensive being separated from my siblings. His fingers blindly tightened through mine as if sensing my hesitation.
He promised to stay by my side, to never leave me.
Those emotions were new, but I also had something more to live for—to die for. My siblings and I were companions of death, living alongside the reaper for as long as I could remember. Yet, that little spark of life changed things.
Our posse came to a natural halt as Ace’s even voice carried over us. “Ava said that once I pull this lever, the trap door will open into the communal showers. So, timing should work out since everyone should be at the games.”
Distant rustling filtered through the narrow space, then Psycho said, “Thank you, Ace. Keep an eye on Ava for me. I don’t trust that she won’t come down after us.”
Call me surprised when it was Micah’s huff of impatience that broke through. Giddiness shot through my system at the blasphemous action, my teeth gleaming from the smirk I couldn’t contain. My calm, emotionless sister succumbed to something as plain as her feelings. Yeah, that didn’t happen.
Psycho continued, unperturbed. “I know, Golden Girl. Let’s get through this night, then I’ll deal with my sister.” He followed that up with a not-so-quiet kiss, which escalated into a not-so-quiet moan. Thank the saints, we were currently blind, or Echo wouldn’t be the only one who received a fist to the stomach.
When the sound of mixed slobber subsided, Ace whispered back, “Don’t worry, Doc, I’ll keep Ava safe above ground until you all return.”
And with that parting statement, a spear of light illuminated our hidey-hole as Ace ushered us through.