20. Be Fucking Happy About It
Chapter 20
Be Fucking Happy About It
Player 23
Three Years – Eleven Months Ago
“ L isten to me, Julian.” Nightingale’s voice grated against every nerve in Player 23’s body.
“Why are you here?” He cast a glance around as he sat up on his metal bed. He had swapped one prison for another. He was in a cell, but this time, he was adorned with a number. He wasn’t just a prisoner, no, now he was Player 23.
Nightingale stood just inside it, blocking his only exit. She arched an eyebrow.
He didn’t even think to run. He was in a goddamn volcano after all. Even if it was inactive, frozen, and technically a caldera, there was nowhere for him to go. He had been awake when they shoved him onto this island. When they discussed how close they were to the rest of the world. When he made his way down the spiraling staircases deep underground.
No, even if he ran, there wasn’t much option for an escape.
He was both closer to and further from fleeing his home country than ever before.
“Because you need to win this. And I brought someone to help you remember that.” Nightingale stepped aside to reveal a masked guard.
Player 23 was confused until his attention saw the child in the guard’s arms.
Shock sliced his skin, burrowed into him, before settling into his gut. An anvil. He shot up from the bed in a trance.
The guard held a baby with raven black hair and icy blue eyes.
“Sparrow?” Player 23 whispered, his arms outstretched to take her.
Nightingale jerked her head and the guard handed the girl to Player 23.
Sparrow wrapped her arms around him, pushing her face into his chest. She clung to him tightly with her small chubby fingers.
There was no mistaking who it was.
“Okay,” he begrudgingly agreed, squeezing Sparrow in his arms. “I’ll win.”
“I thought so, and every round that you do, you will get one of these visits.”
Player 23 soaked in the warmth of his heart. Sparrow was alive, she was healthy, and she was the spitting image of Raven.
“Each visit will be longer, better than the last. But for now, it’s time to go. Sparrow, say good-bye to your Uncle Julian. He’ll see you again real soon.”
Sparrow clung to Player 23, as the guard attempted to take her back .
“It’s okay,” Player 23 soothed her, patting the back of her hair and carefully removing her tiny fingers from him.
She broke apart into screams as the guard finally had her back in his arms.
“How do I know you won’t hurt her? Are you going to leave her with this guard?”
Nightingale heaved a sigh, taking the crying Sparrow into her arms and rubbing her back soothingly. “Show him who you are.”
The guard paused for a moment. But then he stepped further into the room and lifted his mask.
Shock. Astonishment. Hopelessness .
Griffin was right.
“Here’s how it’s going to go,” Nightingale advised, her voice a gentle coo. “You are going to win this year. You are going to make the Sponsors love you, make them adore you. And then you are going to join our team here. You will get to have Sparrow with you. You are going to be fucking happy about it.”
Sparrow was silent now as Nightingale continued to stroke her.
“And then when it is time, you are going to help me ,” Nightingale hummed. “Sweetheart, say good-bye. I promise you'll see him later, okay?”
Sparrow shifted, raising a hand, her face wet from her previous tears, but she was smiling now and let out a blubbering giggle.
The guard put his mask back in place before cradling Sparrow back into his arms. “I’ll take good care of her.” He inclined his head before leaving the cell.
“That guard won the first game. Why is he here?” Player 23 asked. “What difference will it make if I win or lose? I’ll be a prisoner. I’ll be trapped here.”
Nightingale appraised him. “I won’t ask you to trust me. I will say this–it won’t be easy, but one day you will thank me for bringing you here. ”
Player 23 didn’t agree, but he didn’t have a chance to argue before she left his cell.
And he was back to being all alone.