Chapter 31 Luca
LUCA
She’s ignored every message I’ve sent her. So, when I walk onto the roof of the hospital, I’m thankful to see her standing there.
Stepping behind her, I confess, “I was worried you might bail on me for this one, partner.”
Ivy remains still and doesn’t say anything. Before I can speak to her again, Decider walks over.
He remains near the door he stepped out of. “Four teams remain.”
No shit. And we’re all standing here watching and waiting for the next challenge.
All the messages said was Surrender if you dare and instructed us to meet on the rooftop of an abandoned hospital at 2 a.m. The theatrics are grating on my nerves.
I just want to know what I need to do and get it over with.
When I look to my right, I see Micah scrutinizing me. Or maybe Ivy, because his eyes move to her. Another attempt to distract and piss me off. And it’s working. Because something as simple as my brother looking at her drives me insane.
“Surrender if you dare. That’s what we ask of you tonight. Surrender to your fear, to the unknown, and what you can’t see that awaits ahead. Don’t look anywhere but forward, otherwise it could be a grave mistake.”
I move closer to Ivy, blocking my brother’s view.
But the Decider moves to the edge of the roof, and we all follow.
He motions to the ledge where a board is extended across from the rooftop and into a section of the building that is a few stories higher.
The glass looks broken out as the board disappears into an open, pitch-black window of the hospital.
“Walk this path, enter the building, and don’t leave until sunrise. ”
Garrett asks, “We have to walk on that?”
“Yes,” Decider replies. “Follow the bridge into the hospital. If you step foot out before sunrise, you lose.”
Remy shakes his head. “What the fuck, bruh? It’s not a bridge. It’s one freakin’ board.”
As soon as Decider looks at Remy, he shuts up. But not before Micah runs his mouth, “There’re more ways to die than just falling. The building has been vacant for years. Anything or anyone could be inside. Plus, there’s no rule about competitors taking each other out, right?”
“Correct,” the Decider responds flatly.
“We’re not killing anyone, Micah,” Brooke announces, but I don’t think her teammate agrees. She moves over to the side, peeking down as Micah gives her a little nudge and starts laughing when she gasps and turns around to slap him. “That’s not fucking funny.”
My brother continues laughing until he tells her, “Yeah, it was. And you’re not supposed to look down, remember.
Only forward.” He points across the path and steps onto the board.
It doesn’t move as he does a few test bounces then starts across.
“Don’t think about it. Besides, you should have good balance from all that cheerleading shit. ”
“Shut up. Because I can’t concentrate with your mouth running constantly.”
We watch as they make it safely across and disappear through the window frame into the darkness.
“Who’s next?” Remy asks. I know he’s scared of heights, so this might get him out. It won’t defeat us.
Ivy is already walking closer to the side. When she gets next to the ledge, she looks down. We have to be at least twenty stories up.
“Don’t look down,” I remind her.
Her eyes stay focused towards the ground before they meet mine.
She looks exhausted or frustrated, but I don’t see fear.
There’s no hesitation as she steps onto the board.
Not only that but she almost seems nonchalant.
Like she’s not afraid to plummet to her death.
Her arms extend out as she continues across.
Once she’s through the window, I follow behind her.
The wind is strong enough to let you know it’s there but not impossible to manage.
The board is plenty wide enough to easily tread across.
The more challenging thing will be whatever is waiting on the other side of the window.
Because I don’t put it past Mercy to have horrors waiting to test us.
Or my own brother to try something. I won’t.
It would take away the gratification of seeing his face when he realizes he lost, and I won the entire damn game.
As soon as I enter the hospital window, Ivy is there. Her arms are folded across her chest. “It’s going to be a long fucking night.”
“Not like you’d be doing anything else.” I glance around but can barely make out which way is clear. “Let’s find somewhere to stay since we’ll be here a while.”
“Yay.” She waits on me to lead the way. It’s already odd. They didn’t say we had to stay together, but I’m not going to remind her of that.
Grabbing my phone, I turn on the flashlight and maneuver around the debris and trash. The hallway is lined with beds and chairs. There’s graffiti covering almost all the peeling paint.
Once we make it down two levels, I head down a corridor. Finding a waiting area with a few windows and more importantly, two entrances, so we’re not trapped if one of the doorways gets blocked. I know Micah won’t do anything to me. He’d use her against me, and that makes me even more edgy.
And speaking of edgy, she’s not at all. Like not freaked out or paranoid about anything. She takes a seat at the window, her head resting against the glass as she stares out. Completely ignoring me and everything around her.
“Someone could easily take you out.”
She doesn’t respond.
“Distracted is dangerous.”
“Okay,” she responds. No anger. No aggravation.
I move to the opposite side of the window. “What’s going on with you? You’re back to your silent, numb self.”
“Just tired.” She doesn’t look at me.
I have a feeling it’s useless, but I try anyway. “We’re a team. And we’ll be here a while. You can talk to me.”
“I’d rather jump out the window,” she mutters.
Something is off. She’s drained and detached, though she’d started waking up a little. She seems even more disconnected now. “You could push me out the window if it’d make you feel better.”
There’s no hesitation when she says, “It’s a thought.”
Better than nothing but still doesn’t settle me. “We can go look around. Maybe find something to smash up and vent our frustrations on.”
“No.” She keeps her face on the glass as her eyes shut. “Just wake me up when it’s time to go.”
“You really think it’s time for a nap?”
“Yeah,” she utters.
“Okay. I’ll keep watch.” I prop against the wall beside her.
“I feel so safe.” Her voice is dripping with sarcasm. And I want to tell her I’d never leave her side if it meant keeping her safe. I just don’t know how to.
A scream echoes through the corridor as Ivy flinches. “Oh my God.”
“It’s probably one of them fucking with us.” I don’t move. She slides off the windowsill. “And if it’s not.”
“Then it’s still not my problem.” As long as they stay the fuck away from her, it’s not my concern.
“You’re such an insensitive dick.” She starts walking towards the doorway, but I catch her elbow.
“Ivy, people will do whatever it takes to win this game.”
“Even you.”
“Yes. You don’t understand what winning truly means.” And it’s not her fault. She wasn’t raised around this world, around the hushed legend. Around the rumors and drive to be a part of the elite secret society that is the answer to everyone’s greatest dreams.
“Then explain it to me.”
“Take the thing you want more than anything in the world,” I whisper as her chest rises, “more than your next breath, more than anything else you’ve ever wanted.”
Being close to her is getting more difficult.
I raise my hand, skimming up her arm. “What do you want?”
Her voice is shaky as she asks, “Can they bring someone back from the dead?”
“No.”
“Then they have nothing that I want. And neither do you.” She pushes past me, her shoulder hitting mine.
“You’d better be careful. Wouldn’t want that old injury to give you any trouble.
” Her back tenses at my words before she relaxes again.
But she doesn’t stop and continues through the hallways.
There’s barely enough light from outside to see, but I don’t want to turn back on the flashlight in case we’re walking into a trap.
There’s another scream that is definitely closer this time.
Ivy picks up her pace as we head down a flight of stairs.
We find Brooke, her back to us as her sobs get louder.
She looks around, backing away as we approach.
“Did you do it?” Her shriek echoes, and that’s when we see Remy lying on the floor.
“Wasn’t me,” I reply. “Where’s your partner?”
Ivy goes to kneel beside him as I grab her. And just as she halts, Remy’s eyes shoot open, his arms coming up as he shouts, “Boo.”
Ivy recoils back as I steady her. Brooke screams and whacks Remy on the forehead as she yells, “Are you fucking serious, Remy? What the hell is wrong with you?”
“You hit me in my damn eye.” He holds his hand over his face as he tries to get up, but Brooke is still fussing and slapping him. “You’re lucky that’s all I did. You scared the shit out of me. What the hell did you do? Get blood from somewhere in the hospital?”
“No,” he holds up a bottle. “I brought some fake blood. I knew it’d come in handy with one of these challenges.”
Only Remy would think to do that knowing what’s at risk. “Where’s Micah?”
“Present,” my brother replies as he appears on the other side of the hallway. “And now where’s the rest of the class?”
Remy wipes his shirt across his face. “Garrett went to get the food.”
“Food?” Brooke asks what everyone is thinking as Remy replies, “Yeah. I ordered DoorDash.”
Brooke stares at him for a few seconds before she shakes her head. “There is something seriously wrong with you.”
“Agreed,” Ivy mutters. And I have to concur. Food is the last thing on my mind right now.
Brooke continues her rant, “Do you know how many germs and bugs are probably in this building? Not to mention rats, snakes, vermin, and God knows what else, so why not draw them all to you with a snack so you can become the snack.”
Remy pokes her side. “I’d bet that my carcass would be the best grub they’ve ever had.”
“You’re disgusting.” Brooke dismisses the comment. Though I notice Ivy wince before she slowly retreats, so I follow her lead.
“See what playing the hero gets you. Despair.”
She halts to a stop. Her irritation has returned a little, but her voice is desperate as she says, “Stay away from me. We don’t have to be in the same space together. And I don’t want to be around you all night.”
“Maybe I do,” I goad her.
“Then I’ll walk out of this godforsaken prison and lose this round for us,” she threatens.
There’s no doubt in my mind she’ll make good on her promise if I keep pushing, but I can’t leave her unattended with Micah plotting in the background.
“You shouldn’t be wandering around this place alone.”
She steps to me. “Why? Because I’m better off with the guy who stalks and bullies me? Totally.” Her hand rubs over her eyes. “Can you just keep your mouth shut? Like seriously something so simple and mundane.”
“As you wish,” I agree. It surprises her as much as it does me. But I don’t want her unprotected all night.
That seems to pacify her enough to ignore me though, because she makes her way up the stairs and ducks into the waiting area, moving back to her spot by the window.
I drop down on a bench where I have a view of both of the entrances.
My focus stays trained on them, but it’s her I watch most of the night.
And I keep my word, keeping my mouth closed.
I’d expected her to fall asleep at some point but as soon as she’d close her eyes, she’d stir around and open them again.
Each time not looking in my direction. She can pretend I’m not here all she wants, but little does she know, it’s not the first time I’ve watched her watch the sunrise.