Chapter 35 Ivy
IVY
Ugh. I’d rather roam around the godforsaken hospital again instead of doing this. Because being entombed with him in a small space for an undetermined amount of time … I had a hard enough time stomaching his presence on the way over here in the damn car.
We step to the gravesides that have what looks like an oversized wooden crate. “This is bullshit.”
“What about like oxygen and stuff?” Brooke asks as she studies the openings.
“It’s limited. That’s another obstacle to overcome. You mustn’t panic and use up all your vital resources.”
Micah yawns as he lies down, almost appearing happy that he gets to just lie in the ground as he tells Brooke, “We’re fucked, because you’re going to suck up all the oxygen blabbing the entire time.”
“Yeah. I’m the one who won’t shut their freaking mouth,” she yells at him as he waves his arm around.
“Yes, yes. Get it all out now because you’re not going to scream at me the entire time. I’m going to take a nap. So, wake me up when it’s over.”
“Glad you’re so cozy in the fucking dirt,” Brooke complains but climbs into the grave.
Micah sits up, looking at Luca. “You should’ve had a few more of those drinks, brother. Nighty, night.”
I feel Luca tense beside me and notice for the first time a disquiet on him. “Are you good?”
“Yeah.” He holds out his hand, and I take it as he guides me down into the grave. I’m lying down when he moves beside me, his body rigid.
“Now,” the Deceiver announces as a wooden cover closes over us and everything goes dark.
I hear each shovel of dirt as it’s thrown on us.
They’re literally burying us alive. I feel a little anxious that we don’t know when it’ll be over, but it’s Luca who really seems to be struggling.
His breathing has picked up and it’s definitely faster than it should be.
“If you don’t slow down, we’ll run out of oxygen.”
He doesn’t say anything.
Reaching for my phone, I notice the battery is almost dead but decide to turn on the flashlight and place it beside us.
I don’t like the guy, but right now, his life and actions are dependent on mine.
And not that I have much control right now, but suffocating in a grave with the guy isn’t the way I’d like to go out. “Luca, look at me.”
His head slowly turns, his eyes on mine, and I see fear for the first time ever. He’s scared of tight spaces. “I think I found your weakness,” I tease, hoping to ease his concern, but he looks like he’s about five seconds from letting full-blown panic take over.
“We’re fine. It’s a mind game. Close your eyes and pretend to be somewhere else.” It’s what I’ve done a million times as a kid who wanted to be anywhere other than where I was. So, I’d blare music and get lost in my head. “I can put on some music if it’d help.”
“No.” He is curt and uneasy.
“What will help?” I ask, clinging to the only person I have in this moment.
He lets out a long exhale and opens his eyes to look at me. “You.”
“Well, that’s good because you’re stuck with me for a while,” I whisper.
Luca shifts, moving his arm under me, then he pulls me tight against him.
His arms wrap securely around me as his forehead rests against mine.
And I don’t back away. It feels strange.
Like we’re not us and our next breath depends on the other.
Because it does. His breathing slows but not completely like it should as we lie still.
“Is it the tight space?”
“No.”
“So, then what is it?”
“Being trapped. There’s no way out,” he admits.
I do my best to reassure him. “We’ll be fine.”
His hand comes up, his palm moving against my neck as his thumb strokes my skin.
“Are you really scared or is this just another party trick to fool me?”
His hand moves down to grasp mine as he brings my wrist to his mouth, feathering his lips over my skin before he places it on his chest. His fingers move back to my neck, rubbing softly before he reaches my jawline.
He looks like he’s deep in thought, studying me to keep from thinking about the fact that he’s trapped.
If he is acting, he’s doing a damn good job at it.
“Talk to me,” I whisper.
There’re a few minutes of quietness as he caresses my shoulder before he speaks barely above a whisper.
“My mom would have manic episodes. She didn’t want us to see her spiraling, so she’d lock us in the bathroom until it was over.
Sometimes it would be hours, other times it would last for days.
It never bothered Micah. But it made me hate being confined. ”
“You’re safe,” I reassure. “We’ll be out of here soon.”
His eyes meet mine, and I hear the pain in his voice as he says, “I never understood why she didn’t lock herself in the bathroom instead.”
I don’t get her logic either, but she had to think she was doing what was best for her kids even if it was cruel, right? “She thought she was protecting you.”
When he doesn’t respond, I ask, “Where was your father?”
“I don’t know. He was never around when it happened.”
Luca shifts, his mouth resting against my forehead as he sighs. I almost think he’s just trying to keep me from seeing him.
Eventually, he eases a bit. And I’m thankful his body is less rigid as we lie together.
His hand settles on mine, his thumb stroking my wrist. And that’s how we remain.
I stay awake for a while, but somewhere I doze off.
How is it possible for me to feel safe when I’ve been buried alive? I don’t know. But I do.
And it’s a stark reminder of the situation we’re in together when my phone dies and we’re left in the darkness.
He’s still awake because I feel him tense a bit before he reaches in his pocket, turns on the flashlight on his phone then settles it beside us.
He still seems edgy, but we can get through this even if it’s really fucked-up and bizarre.
I’m comforting him. He’s relying on me. I’m trusting him.
How does the monster become the safe place?
I lose track of time. Drifting in and out.
I don’t know how long it’s been, but it’s definitely been hours because when the cover is lifted off, the sun shines brightly overhead.
A hooded figure peers over us before we climb out and spot the others digging the rest of the teams out.
All are wearing shields so we can’t see their faces.
This is so strange. The Decider isn’t around, so I’m guessing we’re done.
That wasn’t so horrible, but now I don’t know how to act because when I look at Luca all the fear has left his expression, replaced with his familiar arrogance. “Let’s go get something to eat.”
“Do you only think of food?” I ask, waving over my dirt-covered limbs. “I need a shower and change of clothes.”
“We all need one,” Brooke chimes in. “Let’s all go get something to eat to celebrate not dying. I’m starving now that I know I’m not going to suffocate with butthead.”
“At least you would’ve gone out with a smile on your face,” Micah teases.
“There was no smiling on my part. You snored the entire damn time.” She marches ahead, her back to us as she shouts, “I can’t believe I just wasted so many hours of my life buried with a dickhead.”
“Can’t wait to see what’s next,” Micah shouts back.
I don’t share his enthusiasm. This was a mind game.
I’d rather do another physical test, because I don’t want to see deeper beneath the surface of the monster.
I want to keep my head on straight, because letting him in would be so effortless.
I can feel it already when he watches me.
It’d be so easy for him to claw his way inside my head.
“I’m going to skip. I’ll see you at school tomorrow,” I tell Brooke. But that’s the reminder I needed. It’s my first day back to school since Luca got me suspended. I don’t even want to know what the week ahead holds.
But now I know his weaknesses. Could I really do it to torment him given the chance?
But it’d be cruel knowing where the fear stems from.
Although, I doubt he’d hesitate to use anything against me.
So, isn’t it only fair if I use his weakness against him?
I just hope he doesn’t make me desperate enough to truly consider it.