Chapter 34 Luca
LUCA
It takes every morsel in my body not to follow her. Make sure she doesn’t beg the pussy to forgive her for his lack of awareness. He thought she was his. She’s never been. She’s mine. The sooner they both accept that the better.
Brooke rushes back into the room, slapping at the bottle that I have to my mouth. “Why did you do that? She’s pissed. She’s walking home and won’t come back to the party.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“If you really care about her, you’ll stop being such a dick. She’s really angry at you right now.” Brooke drops down on the sofa, pulling out her phone as she pouts, “I can’t have any friends without you or your ignorant brother ruining it.”
“You were never her friend.”
She shoves me before folding her arms across her chest. “Yes, I was. Not everything is about you. I know it’s a hard concept for that thick Montclair skull, but the world doesn’t actually revolve around you.”
It’s barely a few minutes later my phone chimes with a familiar sound, but it’s not a message I was expecting tonight. It’s from Mercy.
Fuck. Maybe pissing off Ivy wasn’t the best call for tonight and Brooke agrees. “You’ll be lucky if she shows.”
“She will.” She has to. Because she wants to protect someone she cares about. “And I think you’d better worry more about your partner.” I motion over to where my brother is plastered, looking like he’s about five seconds from falling off the chair.
“Damn it. I doubt the dipshit can even walk in a straight line right now.”
“Sounds like a problem for Team Micah.”
“And what if it’s a dangerous challenge? You really want to risk him falling and breaking his neck?”
“Still sounds like your problem, not mine. But I doubt we’ll be anywhere he can fall.”
“Why?” She looks nervous.
“The challenge said ‘dare to bury.’ Doubt it’s walking the plank again. But hopefully it’s something that doesn’t take too much effort or you’re out.”
She folds her arms over her chest, her poutiness on full display. “Fine by me. I’ll be glad when it’s over.”
At first, I think I’ll be too. Then I start to consider that Mercy is the only thing ensuring my connection to Ivy. Once it’s over, she’ll resist me even more. Guess winning will have more perks than I recognized.
Brooke is across the room, yelling at Micah, “Check your phone. We have to go, Micah.”
He pulls the phone from his pocket, his face pales as he grumbles, “Fuck.”
I smile, holding up my screen to him. I knew not to get too shit-faced since the dares could come anytime, anywhere.
And one thing I will do is be prepared. The other factor is my teammate.
Hopefully, she’s not too mad to show. I’d bet money she’ll be there.
If anything, she wants to feel something.
And the challenges seem to be the only time she wakes up.
Heading outside, I drop into my car and go in the direction I’m guessing she’s walking. Sure enough, I spot her.
Pulling alongside her, I roll down the passenger window. “Get in.”
Unsurprisingly, she ignores me.
“I know you got the message, so you’re aware we have somewhere to be.”
Nothing.
“Are you planning to get a ride with your best friend? I’m guessing his feelings are a little too raw to come out and play again tonight though.”
That does it. She halts to a stop but keeps her vision pointed ahead of her. I can see the restraint in her posture as she tries to not respond.
“You can coddle his fragile ego later. We have places to be.”
She steps next to the car as she tells me, “You’re a miserable piece of shit. Like a literal pest who won’t fucking go away.”
“You’d miss me if I did.” I keep my hand gripped on the wheel, itching to reach for her. The little I touched her tonight made me crave her more.
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“Well, get in the car. Maybe you’ll get your wish tonight during Mercy.”
“My luck isn’t that good.” She glares at me for a few seconds before she adds, “This is only for the game. I still hate you and don’t want to be anywhere near you.”
“Understood.”
The door is open and she’s in the passenger seat to my surprise as I tell her, “Brooke thought you’d bail on me tonight.”
Her face stays turned away. “I should.”
I cave and reach over, placing my palm on her bare thigh. “I knew I could count on you.”
She slowly turns, looking at my hand before her eyes meet mine. “If you don’t remove your hand, I will break your fingers one by one and enjoy every satisfying snap.”
“I don’t mind pain if that’s what you’re into.”
She grabs my fingers, prying them from her skin as she says, “Mainly inflicting it. Since I’ve met you, all you’ve done is go out of your way to make my life miserable.”
“Miserable life in that big house, huh?” I drive off as I continue, “So, Daddy’s money didn’t buy you happiness? Guess his luck didn’t rub off on you.”
Her body shifts in the seat, turning more towards the passenger window. “Can we just not talk and get through this stupid game?”
For now, I stop and let her be. I’m already pushing my luck with everything I’ve pulled tonight.
We arrive at the cemetery beside the Tomb. The guard shack at the entrance is empty as usual, but there’s an arrow painted on it that has to indicate for Mercy. I point it out to Ivy, “This way.”
“The graveyard again. How original.” She groans but follows behind me.
The air is hot and sticky with humidity, so I know she’s not cold even with the little clothing she’s wearing, but I see her shiver. “Scared?”
“No. Death doesn’t scare me,” she mutters, taking a few careful steps, but her heels sink into the soft turf.
Reaching out, I attempt to steady her, but she refuses as I ask, “What about living?”
“No,” she replies.
“Just seems like you’re scared to do anything—swim, cheer, yourself experience any pleasure. Basically, everything except sulking.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m scared.” Her eyes won’t meet mine as she marches past me.
Gripping her elbow, I pull her to me and tell her, “Prove it.”
Her lips stretch into a smile as she leans forward. “The joy of not giving a fuck is I don’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone, particularly you.”
Once she shoves off of me, she continues up the path as I follow behind her.
We reach a mausoleum with flickering candles at the entrance near the rear of the cemetery.
It’s only a few minutes before Brooke arrives, Micah stumbling in behind her before he drops onto the stairs of a nearby tomb. “This is fucking unbelievable.”
“Agreed,” Ivy chimes.
“Where’s everyone else?” Brooke asks as she glances around. “This is already creepy as hell.”
Micah starts making ghost noises as Brooke turns and slaps him. “Can you just be serious for a minute?”
He gives her a salute as we remain silent until the other team arrives followed by Remy and Garrett.
Now we’re only missing one, and he shows seconds later.
Decider motions to the mausoleum. “Bury if you dare. Death is imminent. Fear has no place here. You can’t be mediocre and survive Mercy. You have to be exceptional.”
“What do you mean bury?” Brooke asks with a quiver in her voice.
The Decider points to the opening beyond the mausoleum as we walk a few paces to where I see what’s about to play out. Shit. This isn’t good. But to my surprise, there’re four holes. “Are we all being buried?”
“Yes. Each team will be in a grave. Once time is up, you’ll be released.”
“For how long?” Garrett asks.
“That is yet to be determined. The real test is not knowing whether you’ll be trapped one minute or an eternity.”
“Are you actually going to let us out?” Remy asks.
The Decider replies, “The time will come. It’s up to you to know when it’s right.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Micah asks. “Are we digging out?”
“No, you will be freed when it’s time.”
This is the first time since playing Mercy that I’ve been uneasy about a challenge.
I make the mistake of looking at my brother whose gape is on me.
He knows this is a difficult one for me.
But as I turn to Ivy, I’m relieved she’ll be with me.
Isn’t that the value of having an ally? If we’re going through our own personal hell, at least we have someone there to pull us out.