CHAPTER NINE

It had been a while since I'd seen them look so exhausted, a type of tiredness that couldn't be cured from any amount of sleep. If my heart ever stopped breaking for the people I loved, I wouldn't have anything left.

"The blanket is soaked. Where did he cum at?" Lana asked, eyeing the deep brown bedspread. "Because while I approve of this relationship, I don't love it enough to bask in baby gravy."

I felt my face screw up. "Ew, Lana!"

"Does Kyrous strike you as the type to let a single one of his children fall to ruin and not make it home?" Mel countered, peeling back the blanket and carefully positioning herself on my right.

My face warmed and I gently nudged her with my shoulder. "We didn't do anything like that on the bed."

"You were moaning his name for practice then?" Lana asked, taking the other side, still eyeing the comforter as she did the same, revealing the soft sheet underneath.

"I got him off," I admitted with a shrug. "Then he did me."

"He got her off," Mel repeated. "She's so cute. You're growing up on us, Gracie."

"Stop." I laughed. "You two do know I'm still a virgin, right?"

Lana gave me a look. "As if that wasn't already blindingly obvious, we're your best friends. We know."

"It's obvious ?"

"Oh, my sweet summer child," Mel sighed, gently patting my arm.

"Grace, if Kyrous had popped your cherry there'd be no mistaking that. I'm impressed with his restraint, to be honest."

"Okay, but how can you tell?" I looked at each of them. "I guess you two don't exactly have a virginal appearance."

"That's because we're sluts," Mel deadpanned.

"Shut up."

"Hey, my advice? Get all the orgasms you can, it's the only way to remotely relax in this place and there's no guarantee you'll live long enough to get them later," Lana reasoned, propping herself up against the headboard. Her hair was a shade darker from being wet. Mel's too, though hers was more like a colorful rainbow.

"Is that what you were doing?"

"More or less." She glanced at me and grinned. "I sucked Ciaran's dick and then he bent me over the bathroom sink for a nice hate fuck. I hope our parents were watching in vivid HD."

Mel and I burst into laughter, me quickly sobering when I realized our parents—including Ky's parents too.

"Oh, my God," I muttered, covering my face. I'd never live that down.

"It went a little something like that," Lana said casually.

"I think she's going through a phase of mortification," Mel explained. "I can only imagine how that sounded blasting through the multiple screens people are watching."

"That isn't helping."

"Oh…that's what you meant. Well, you know what? That gets all the awkwardness out of the way if we ever meet any of them in the future."

"There you go, be positive," Mel encouraged with another laugh.

I lowered my hands. "Are you serious?"

Her light brown eyes shifted to meet mine. "Why not?"

I debated on how to answer that, my embarrassment taking the passenger seat as concern took over. I wanted to ask her so many questions. I studied her face, wishing I could see into her head so that I knew everything she did—or didn't. If I said the wrong thing and hurt her or Mel, I'd never forgive myself. Worse, I had less than half of any answers she might have wanted. Whatever truly happened between her and Ciaran, was something only he could reveal.

"You said hate fuck. But you really like him, don't you?" I asked softly.

"No. I don't but part of me feels like I should. It's weird." She crossed her legs at the ankle and looked up at the vaulted ceiling. "I feel like I've known him forever. Don't get me wrong, he drives me insane, but he also seems to get me without my having to say a word. I don't trust him. I've literally debated with myself why and I just can't."

She glanced over at us. "I mean, I have no doubt he would go out of his way to make sure I'm safe. He's proven that more than enough already," She looked down and began picking at an invisible threat on the beige sheets. "Part of me is terrified of whatever this is between us and wants him to stay away. The other half can't imagine not having him close."

I resonated with almost all of that, verbatim. Only, I trusted Ky. Maybe it was the hopeless romantic in me. Maybe I was a na?ve fool. "I can say I feel the same, more or less."

She gnawed her lower lip for a moment. "So then is it weird if I say that I think he might be my person?"

"That makes a lot of sense to me," Mel replied.

"It's not weird. But…"

"But what?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. I'm glad you have him because like you, I've realized we may not all make it out of--."

"You're not dying here," Mel interjected. "Either of you."

"Neither are you," Lana and I said at the same time.

"Naturally," she huffed. "But as you can see, we're not invincible."

She was wearing the same outfit Lana, and I were wearing, but with a new hoodie overtop, making it difficult to see her wound. "How bad is it?"

"Brody helped me clean and rewrap it. Let's just say swimming and rock climbing so I didn't get eaten by a damn alligator definitely wasn't on my Bingo card, but I'll survive."

Lana made a sound of protest. "We know that, Mel. You always do, and we've never questioned that. She asked how bad it is."

"Honestly?"

"You could keep it a secret. Not like everyone else isn't hiding something around here."

I glanced down at my lap waiting for her to elaborate, expecting her to demand we spill our guts. She didn't though, and that was so typical of Lana. She'd never push for more but was always ready whenever we decided to talk. That's why questioning Ciaran outright back at the warehouse was so concerning. She was frustrated—naturally so. Melantha sighed and settled more comfortably on the bed, her silver eyes scanning the room.

"I wish I could huddle in a ball and cry about it. Wouldn't that make for great television?"

Lana nodded. "It would certainly make a history book somewhere." She reached for my hand and examined the thin line left behind with a light smile. "It almost matches mine."

I'd nearly forgotten about the light scar on her hand. The reminder made me realize I did have one just like hers, but it was on my other palm. She turned my hand over and showed Mel, who looked at it closely. I suppressed a grin at their less-than-obvious antics. Of course, they couldn't just ask me what it was like, they had to see it themselves.

"All joking aside, if I don't make it out of--."

"You will," I cut her off.

"Let me finish. If I don't make it out of here, just promise me one thing."

From the way she was looking at the two of us, I knew she was being serious.

"What is it?" Mel prodded gently.

"When you two do get out of here, come back for me. I don't want to be buried in that cemetery with all the others that came before us," she paused and took a breath, "I don't want to rot here like so much of us already has."

I swallowed, struggling to keep the rising emotion off my face. "I'd never leave you here, Lana. Either of you."

Mel laughed bitterly. "Well, if I don't make it out, do the same for me, okay?" She laid her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes. "And thank you for always being there. You two are all I've ever had. So, yeah. Thank you for loving me. No one else did."

I blinked to clear the sudden burn from my eyes and looked down at her. "You guys are going to make me cry."

Mel grinned, keeping her eyes closed.

"Their fucking loss then. We're the luckiest girls alive to get to love you," Lana declared softly. She settled on her side and let go of my hand, reaching over me to take Mel's. "But someone else tried to."

Mel grunted. "When we leave this place maybe I'll give it a go."

"Who?" I glanced between them wondering what I was missing. "It's not Brody."

Suddenly her eyes were wide open. "Absolutely not. I mean, he's really cute, but no."

"So is Dion," Lana hummed. She looked up at me and smiled mischievously. "If I die, tell Ciaran I said that."

I scowled at her. "Stop talking about dying and start telling me who Mel's—wait. Is it Maverick?"

When neither denied nor confirmed I knew I'd guessed correctly. I could totally envision that.

"What about you?" Mel asked, stealing a pillow.

"And she isn't asking how entirely smitten you are with Mr. Touch Her and Die," Lana needlessly clarified. "But he is being whatever you need, right?"

I bit back a smile, feeling a little flutter in my chest just thinking about him. "Would you go up against him on my behalf?"

"I would do anything for you." Her expression grew serious. "I will burn this entire city to the ground for you two."

"As would I," Mel seconded. "You girls mean everything to me. You're the biggest blessings of my life."

"Precisely." Lana smiled at her. "And no man could ever change that."

I slid lower so that I wasn't so propped up. "Whatever's left of me, because let's face it, if we were to die it would be from something brutal, burn what remains and scatter the ashes in a sunflower field."

"Morbid, but very you," Mel said. "I think I'd like that too. Maybe the ocean."

"Noted. But you're not going to die, none of us are," Lana reiterated, her eyes falling closed.

I sat with them, listening to their breathing gradually even out, hoping with everything I had left they were right. I couldn't do life without them.

When I opened my eyes, it took me a moment to realize I had dozed off again.

The first giveaway was Dion fast asleep on the lounge in the corner, an arm slung over his face. Brody slouched against the wall, which couldn't be comfortable, his eyes closed too. I wasn't sure if he was sleeping or not, though.

I checked on Mel, brushing some of her hair out of her face, and then twisted to check on Lana. I swallowed a gasp, not expecting Ciaran to be standing right freaking beside her with his mask pushed to the back of his head. His blue eyes locked with mine and he smirked, clearly amused I'd just nearly had a heart attack.

"Very nice," I grumbled, hearing him chuckle as I crawled to the edge of the bed. There was a kink in my lower back from how I'd slept, and I needed to pee. I crept to the bathroom and did my business, flexing my toes in the boots I was wearing.

I felt a little off. Similar to what happened before the room spun and my nose bled. Lana was spot on with us all keeping secrets. I hadn't mentioned a peep of these side effects. After washing my hands, I splashed cool water on my face and tried to tame my hair into something less like a lion's mane, deciding to tie it back using loose strands to secure it. "Ya'll could give a girl a damn ponytail," I muttered, turning away from the mirror.

I reentered the bedroom and headed toward the door. Ciaran had wedged himself on the bed beside Lana and was trying to wake her up. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, snuggling into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. It was both strange and familiar seeing them be soft and affectionate like that. Despite the room being far from empty of other people, I felt like I was intruding on a private moment. I moved into the hall wondering where Ky was.

Found him , I thought not a second later. He was leaning against the wall, his eyes downcast, mask back situated atop his head.

"Hey."

He was in front of me before I had time to blink. His hands came to either side of my neck, and it felt oddly like a hug.

His thumbs stroked my skin, and he placed his forehead against mine. "I can't stand not touching you, Sunshine."

I wrapped my arms around him, and he drew in a breath, practically shuddering. He'd probably wanted to launch Lana and Mel out of that bed. "You can touch me whenever you need."

"Don't tell him that. He'll become another limb," Charon joked, flashing me a smile as he slipped into the room.

I drew back and peered up at Ky questioningly.

"He's waking Dion. We have to go," he answered my unspoken question, still rubbing either side of my neck.

"And Brody?" I pressed.

"He'll tip him over."

"Now that's not nice."

He grinned, and it went straight to my core.

I lifted a hand and cupped his face, smiling when he turned his head and kissed my palm. "You didn't sleep at all, did you?"

"I'll sleep when we're dead."

Whatever my face did, it made him laugh. I would never tire of that sound. "I'm banning all talks of us dying."

"That's fine. I prefer to be the one making the corpse."

"Let's keep it that way."

He stroked the top of my head and then stepped a smidge back, taking my hand into his. "You need water."

I wasn't remotely thirsty but voicing that would be pointless. He led me down the hallway, and then to the first floor. The timer had twelve minutes displayed, counting down by seconds. The letter that had been left for us came to mind. We'd soon be finding out exactly what had been planned for us.

"Have a good rest?" Carol asked as we entered the kitchenette. She was leaning over the breakfast bar beside Earl, a half-empty mug in front of her.

"It was okay."

I subtly eyed her as Ky grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and then checked it over before handing it to me. I knew she said she was here for her brother, but where else did I know her from?

Ky stepped into my line of sight and blocked my view of her, holding out the water. "Thank you."

His head moved the slightest bit in acknowledgment. Then he stared me down the same way he had every other time he'd made sure I got hydrated. When he was satisfied that I'd drank enough, he finished off the bottle and then tossed it in the trash. He ran his hand down my arm and then locked our fingers together.

"Hey," Earl called softly.

Ky immediately stopped and stepped in front of me.

"I just wanna thank the--."

Ky turned his head and glanced back. "The dead man is grateful you bought him more time."

"Stop it," I hissed, trying to move him out of my way. When he merely laughed, not budging an inch, I sidestepped.

He turned and wrapped an arm around my waist, tucking me into his side. I smiled at Earl, who was now watching us with a wary expression. "You're welcome. Are you feeling alright?"

"Oh, yeah. It was just a bump."

Just a bump? Even Carol's brows rose at that. There was still a bowl-sized lump on his forehead. Ky's arm tightened and I knew for the sake of this man's life, it was time to move along.

"Glad you're okay," I told him genuinely, walking Ky closer to the cabin door.

I checked the timer. We were down to six minutes. "How are you going to handle me talking to guys outside of here?"

"You won't."

"Ky." I laughed. "It would be impossible for me not to."

"You'll see," he countered coolly.

By the time the counter reached four minutes, we were all gathered near the door, anticipation hanging in the air. As the seconds dwindled, the bolt finally unlocked with a soft click at the five-second mark. We stepped outside, the early signs of sunrise barely peeking through the darkness. Right away we could see that the Sanctuary sign had been removed, replaced with one that read, To the Farm. A folded paper was tacked to it.

Brody reached it first and snatched it down. He unfolded the paper and read aloud, " To the farm you now must go, where challenges await, and fears will grow. Find your way and face the harm, for only the strong will leave the land ."

Hayven glanced at the poorly drawn map Brody held up. "Great, we're following the artistic skills of a toddler."

"The Farm... We've been there a few times," Ciaran said, scanning the map.

"It won't put us too far off," Maverick added.

"By farm, you mean like goats and stuff, right?" Dion asked, hopeful but clearly doubtful.

"If only," Brody replied, folding the paper and tucking it away.

We set off, moving across the field. The city lights twinkled in the distance, the clocktower a faint silhouette against the horizon. Ky's hand found its way to my back, a steadying presence that never left. As we walked, the cool morning air brushed against my skin.

"This farm is bound to be some kind of fucked up nightmare," Mel muttered.

"You say that as if we haven't already faced a dozen of those," Lana replied dryly, sticking close to Ciaran.

"So, what's the deal with? What are we expecting?" Hayven asked. She was walking a little ahead, not fully ignoring Charon anymore.

Maverick shrugged. "Could be anything. Traps, challenges, or worse."

"Fantastic," Dion muttered.

Brody laughed. "Just keep your head on straight. We'll get through this."

Ky's grip tightened on my waist, his touch grounding me amidst the uncertainty. "You doing okay?" he asked, his voice low and comforting.

"I'm fine," I replied, though my heart was racing.

We reached the farm, its eerie name spelled out in faded, crooked letters above a large, closed gate.

"Field of Lost Souls." The sign creaked in the early morning breeze, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. The gate had a smaller sign that simply said, "Now Open."

"This looks really familiar," Lana said, her voice tinged with unease.

It did, but only because we'd walked through a cornfield on Troy Sainte's property.

"I'll go in first," Earl volunteered, stepping forward.

"No, wait—" Lana began to object, but Carol cut her off.

"It's fine. Let him go."

Earl shuffled ahead and pushed open the gate. There was a soft click and the whirring of a tape, but no voice accompanied it.

"So creepy," Hayven murmured, her light blue eyes darting around.

We proceeded forward, sticking to the center of the path in case someone was lurking in the corn stalks. The tall plants swayed gently, seeming to close in on us. As we ventured deeper into the maze, the air grew colder, the sense of foreboding intensifying with each step. At the end of the trail, we reached another gate. Earl stepped forward and pushed it open. This time, a voice began to speak from an unseen source.

" Mary had a flock of lambs whose eyes were black as coal.

They nibbled at her sanity, gnawing at her mind, leaving shattered memories, and dark whispers left behind .

In fields of endless darkness, where shadows dared to play , the lambs turned feral, monstrous, and devoured Mary's soul.

So tread with care, dear contestants, and heed this tale of woe for Mary's lambs now stalk the night, and they will claim you all."

"I do not remember it going like that when I was a kid," Dion said, shaking his head.

Mel laughed. "My mom probably sang that to me when I was a baby."

"That is messed up," Brody commented.

"Your mom's a bitch," Maverick added.

"An understatement," Lana agreed.

"All of that's true," she acknowledged. "But was that little rhyme supposed to be our hint?"

"Oh, they're here. We just can't see them yet," Ciaran said, his tone matter of fact.

"Care to elaborate?" Lana asked, her eyes narrowing.

"If you see someone in a sheep mask, let me know," he answered. "Let's go." He made sure she walked with him as he set off again, apparently already knowing where he was going. There was a barn a few feet ahead, dark with its doors open.

As we got closer, a spotlight clicked on, and figures began to fill the doorway. Our group paused and we all took one another in. They wore masks and carried weapons, with two sitting on ATVs.

"This just got fun," Brody said with a grin.

"We need to split up," Maverick suggested.

"That doesn't seem like a good idea," I interjected, feeling a surge of anxiety.

"I saw that movie too," Dion muttered.

"Keep moving straight and you'll reach the edge of the property. They never leave the farm," Charon advised.

"We should stick—." Hayven's objection was cut off as music began to play, a haunting melody that set my nerves on edge. The ATVs roared to life and came flying our way. Ky wordlessly pulled me out of the way. We split up, darting in different directions to avoid the masked figures and their vehicles.

Charon stuck close to Hayven and Brody, while Maverick moved with Mel and Dion. Carol and Earl were a few steps behind them. Lana, Ciaran, Ky, and I headed around the barn.

We moved quickly, making it around the barn. As we neared a stack of hay bales, an ATV flew by us and then circled back. There was another masked lamb riding with them. They hopped off and ran at us, the ATV heading for Ky and Ciaran. With no time to think, we broke away from one another. I hurled myself out of harm's way alongside Lana. We hit the ground hard, scrambling to our feet just as the masked assailant charged at us.

"Fucking tired of this shit," Lana growled through gritted teeth, bracing herself for the inevitable fight.

Ciaran stood face to face with the first masked lamb, his arm gushing blood from a deep gash inflicted by the serrated knife in the lamb's hand. Lana cursed helplessly, unable to come to his aid. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched Ky being circled by an ATV, its wheels kicking up dust and debris. The blaring music drowned out his last name being tossed out like a taunt. Lana and I bolted in opposite directions, forcing the lamb charging at us to make a split-second decision. "It'll pick me. I'm an easy target."

"You're the worst target," Lana retorted fiercely.

The lamb hesitated for a moment before leaping towards Lana, so I lunged at the lamb, and I was faster than she was. At least I assumed it was a girl. I jumped on her back, confirming my assumption as she stumbled and tried to swing her blade. Lana moved in, grabbing her wrist while I wrapped an around her throat. She refused to go down without a fight, cursing and clawing at us. Determination set in as I squeezed harder, feeling the girl's resistance weaken. In a bold move, I sunk my teeth into her shoulder. Her screams echoed through the air as I tore at her flesh with my teeth, feeling a satisfying rush of power surge through me.

Her grip loosened and Lana seized the opportunity to get the knife.

"Get out of the way, Gracie."

I quickly moved aside as Lana grabbed a thick blade and swung it at the girl. The sharp edge sliced through her clothes and sank into her flesh. The girl cried out in agony but still, she refused to surrender.

"Even if you kill me, you're both still dead. They'll never let—"

"Please, shut the fuck up," Lana's voice was sharp and cold as she interrupted, swinging her arm and catching the girl's throat in a swift blow. The mask that covered her face flew off in the process, revealing a flash of fear in her wide eyes. Her hair fell in tangled strands around her face.

Blood spurted out, splashing onto Lana's shirt and chest, causing her to jump back in disgust. I spotted a handle sticking out of the hay and quickly made my way towards it. "Lana, help Ciaran!" I shouted as I ran past her. I reached for the handle and pulled it out, revealing a pitchfork. Gripping it tightly and taking a deep breath, I peered around the bales to see Lana throwing Ciaran a blade while narrowly avoiding getting cut herself. Waiting for the right moment, I charged forward and thrust the pitchfork toward the lamb that was attacking Ky. In my head, it went a lot different. My aim was for its chest, but I ended up hitting its back instead and had no choice but to let go of my pitchfork. Ky immediately grabbed the handle, using it to finish the job. With a swift and brutal twist, he drove the metal prongs deeper into the struggling lamb's chest, causing them to come straight through the other side. The ATV continued to coast before coming to a stop, the masked lamb falling to the bloodstained ground where the lamb Lana had taken care of, and Ciaran's lay motionless, the blade wedged in its side.

"Good timing." Ky pulled me close, inspecting me for any signs of injury.

"I'm not hurt, Ky," I reassured him. He continued to circle me, checking every inch for any wounds or scrapes.

Lana wiped her neck with a grimace. "I'm really missing those puzzles we had to solve right now."

"Keep that same energy when we have to do them again," Ciaran replied, "because back in the city? They'll be waiting."

She suddenly grabbed his bleeding arm. "You're arm!"

"It happens. I'm glad you care so much," he grinned down at her. "I'm fine, it isn't deep."

"What if it gets infected and you lose it, then what?" she used his own words against him.

"I still have everything else needed to take care of you."

She pushed his arm away, then quickly apologized and grabbed onto it again. "Come on, we need to find the others."

We made our way along the perimeter of the barn, the music still playing overhead. We passed a lamb with a decorative rock wedged in its face, bits of something chunky splattered on the ground around it. I couldn't help but curl my lip in disgust at the sight.

"Kinks picked this song," Ciaran mentioned, clarifying that he meant Kennedy.

"It's an interesting choice, but I kind of like it," I replied.

"And she's your sister?" Lana turned to Ky for confirmation.

"Baby sister. Baby cousin," Ky corrected.

"Cousin?" I repeated in surprise.

"Yeah, she's my cousin, and so are the twins," Ciaran explained.

"Since when?" Lana asked as she wiped away blood from her skin.

I tried not to stare - it was making me feel sick.

"Since we were born?" Ciaran replied as if this were common knowledge.

"Well, I didn't know that," Lana said, sounding frustrated.

Ciaran fell quiet and I could sense there was something we should have known but somehow forgot. "Me neither," I added, ignoring Ky's intense gaze on me.

"Is Maverick related to you too?" Lana tried to change the topic.

"No," Ciaran answered bluntly.

The tension between them grew as they both fell silent. I racked my brain for something to say, but knowing myself, I'd probably just make things worse.

Just as we were trying to decide what to do next, there was a rustling in the stalks and suddenly Mel appeared with even more blood on her than Lana. Maverick and Brody were with her. It was almost comical how we all stopped and stared at each other for a moment.

"Are you okay?" I hurried over to Mel with Lana close behind me. I could feel Ky following closely.

"Oh, me? I'm just peachy," Maverick replied sarcastically.

"I'm not," Brody rubbed the side of his face. "I think I got a tooth knocked loose."

"You're fine," Mel interjected.

"You two barely have any blood on you," Lana noted.

"Because Mellie here decided to steal my kill," Maverick defended.

Mel rolled her eyes. "You were getting double-teamed, I just outsmarted them. You're welcome." She looked at us, and I could tell that she had paid a price for helping.

"Where are the others?" Lana asked, noticing how exhausted Mel looked.

"They finished heading to the edge of the property. I was coming to find you guys." Maverick's gaze fell on Ciaran's arm and his brow furrowed in concern.

"I'm fine," Ciaran reassured him. "Let's get out of here before the next group comes in."

"There are more?" Mel asked in disbelief.

"It's endless," Ky replied.

We set off, re-entering the corn maze, waving and pushing through the stalks. We emerged into an empty pasture, the music growing fainter as we moved away.

By the time we neared the fence and made out the others, I had wanted to stop more than once, dots dancing before my eyes. It was the Helios—whatever Ky had given me was wearing off, and I needed more. But I couldn't very well announce that right then.

We reached the fence and reunited with the others—Charon, Hayven, Dion, Earl, and Carol.

"Look what they left us," Dion gestured to two golf cart-looking vehicles a few feet away.

"Is that a good idea?" Lana asked.

"I don't think it is," Hayven agreed, looking wary.

"We can use them for now and then foot it," Brody suggested.

Ciaran nodded. "Let's do that."

We moved forward, navigating our way back into the corn maze, pushing aside the towering stalks as we went. The distant music from the festival faded as we distanced ourselves from it. But my steps were growing heavier with each passing moment, and I desperately wanted to stop and catch my breath. It was clear that whatever Ky had given me was wearing off, and I needed more to keep going. But I couldn't voice this concern at the moment.

As we neared a fence and spotted our group, I could feel myself swaying with exhaustion. Dion, Hayven, Earl, Carol, Charon...all there waiting for us.

Dion pointed towards two golf cart-like vehicles nearby. "They left us some transportation."

Lana's voice was filled with uncertainty. "Do you think it's safe?"

"I'm not sure," Hayven chimed in, looking wary.

"We can use them for now and then continue on foot," Brody suggested.

Ciaran nodded in agreement. "Let's do that."

We hopped onto the vehicles and drove off, heading back to the city. As we rode along in the carts, the steady hum of the engines brought a strange sense of calm amidst our chaotic situation. The sun was beginning to rise, casting a soft golden light over everything - a tranquil contrast to the turmoil surrounding us.

We piled into the vehicles, and whoever was driving took off, heading back towards the city. We were riding the golf carts, the rhythmic hum of the engines oddly soothing against the backdrop of our frayed nerves. The sun was beginning to rise, casting the world in a soft, golden light that felt almost out of place in our current reality.

The terrain grew steeper, and we decided it was time to leave the carts behind. They had served their purpose, but now we needed to navigate the rugged path with our own two feet. We hopped off the carts one by one and began our descent down a steep hill.

The ground was rough and uneven, and I found myself needing to lean on Ky for support several times. He held onto me tightly, his grip steady and reassuring. The rest of the group moved ahead cautiously, carefully picking their way through the treacherous slope. Lana and Ciaran led the way, setting a quick but cautious pace.

At last, we reached the bottom of the hill and found ourselves facing a shallow creek. The water was crystal clear and offered a brief respite from the rising heat. On the other side, we began our ascent up another hill. This one was less steep but covered in thick underbrush that slowed our progress. As the sun rose higher in the sky, its warm rays cut through the morning mist and lit up our path ahead. We reached the top, and the sprawling city lay below us. We'd wound up on what looked like the outskirts.

"Back in civilization," Brody said with a sigh.

"This isn't any kind of civilization I've seen before," Dion replied.

The guys knew where to go, navigating through the city with ease. We stuck close to the buildings, using shadows and narrow alleys to our advantage. Every so often, screams pierced through the streets or mechanical traps whirred in the distance, reminding me that other participants were facing their own struggles.

"How do they decide who to watch?" Mel asked.

"Well, those in the control room have access to everything," Brody explained. "They report directly to the people pulling the strings."

"The game makers can see certain feeds," Maverick added. "They make sure their little experiments run smoothly, triggering and shutting them down as needed."

"And as for the viewers," Charon continued, "some bet on specific individuals and have access to the cameras anywhere they go. Others flip through different streams and watch whatever catches their attention. Remember the event-like room you passed through? It's connected to a casino of sorts where all the screens display various feeds."

"Those with the most viewers are turning the highest profit," Ciaran said. "They either pay to watch or buy a pass for exclusive access. And betting? That's a whole other level of wealth."

"But what's the real purpose behind this? I get rich people have fucked up hobbies, but there has to be more to this that, surely," Hayven thought aloud.

"There is. This whole setup… it's ancient. Our families—and others—have been playing this game for centuries, long before it became a spectator sport."

I looked away from the vinyl record store I had spotted. " Centuries? "

"It's for Power. Control," Ky replied, moving me away from the street and to his other side.

"Back then, it was about proving whose bloodline was strongest, who deserved to lead. Now? Now it's evolved into something more… sophisticated. But the core remains the same," Ciaran continued.

"It goes much, much deeper than that but we don't really have time to give a whole history lesson," Maverick added. "This is how they maintain order among the elite and get richer while doing it."

We finally reached a fence with a small hole in it. We squeezed through one by one, entering an alleyway. Once all of us had made it through, we walked a few steps down to where there was a dumpster.

"Are we supposed to go in there?" Hayven asked, sounding skeptical.

Charon laughed. "Why the hell would we go into a trash can?"

"I don't know. But given our current situation, it wouldn't be that surprising," Hayven responded.

"She makes a valid point," I chimed in. "Digging through garbage may be the most normal thing to happen here."

"Except we'd probably be searching for organs or something," Lana stated flatly.

Ciaran and Maverick pushed the dumpster aside, revealing a vent cover underneath. Ky stepped forward and flipped the cover-up, retrieving a key from inside. He then moved towards the wall, running his hands along it in search of something.

An uneasy silence fell over us as we waited. I could feel my nerves getting the best of me, and the hairs on the back of my neck began to stand up. Glancing around, I saw Mel doing the same. When our eyes met, she gave me a knowing look.

"Guys," I said, noticing someone wearing an LED mask peering down at us from the rooftop.

"He's been there the whole time," Brody casually commented.

"And you didn't think to mention that?" Carol snapped.

"I was waiting for him to..." Brody trailed off as the man disappeared and started whistling a tune. "Do that."

"Where did he go?" Earl asked with concern in his voice.

"That's a good question," Charon responded. "He usually has company."

"How can you tell them apart?" Mel asked, narrowing her eyes.

"He's been playing for a while now, so he's considered mid-level. He used to run errands for us," Charon explained.

"So you're not exactly friends then?" she quipped.

"He definitely doesn't like us," Maverick chimed in cheerfully.

"What are you guys looking for?" Dion asked, joining Ciaran and Ky who were still examining the brick wall on the side of the building.

"The way in," Ky replied.

"We need to find a keyhole," Ciaran elaborated.

"Oh, right," Dion nodded, stepping forward to help.

I eyed the wall but saw nothing but endless, dark red brick.

"I don't want to be the bearer of bad news or anything, but a pair of Jeepers Creepers just showed up at the end of the alley," Lana announced calmly.

All eyes turned towards the sound of shuffling and heavy breathing. At the entrance of the alley stood two masked figures, looking like something out of a horror movie. Their grotesque masks resembled distorted human faces, with exaggerated features and empty eye sockets. They were dressed in all-black clothing that only added to their menacing appearance.

"They let those damn cannibals loose," Maverick groaned.

"The what?" Dion exclaimed in shock.

"Find the door," Ky ordered, scanning the walls for a way out.

The cannibals, as Maverick had named them, spoke quietly amongst themselves. One of them pointed directly at Mel and me, then licked its gloved hand while inhaling deeply.

"Gross. What the hell?" I muttered, feeling a chill run down my spine.

One cannibal turned away and grabbed a metal lasso with spikes from its hip - a weapon I remembered all too well from Judicium.

Suddenly, a bottle came flying towards us from above. It wasn't until it shattered on the ground that I realized it was a Molotov cocktail. Earl pushed me out of harm's way while Carol shielded Lana. Hayven and Mel managed to dodge the explosion just in time.

Another Molotov cocktail landed in the dumpster, setting it ablaze. One of the cannibals sauntered closer, spinning the spiked chain in his hand. We were stuck, with our only escape route being the hole in the fence behind us. But there was no way we could all make it through.

"Are you okay?" Earl's voice was strained as he asked me.

"Yes, thank you," I replied, my heart racing.

"Don't thank me just yet," he responded grimly.

The cannibal flung the chain towards us. Carol and Lana darted out of the way, but Lana's head collided with the wall as Carol shielded her.

"Ow, damn it," Lana hissed.

Ciaran immediately halted what he was doing and went to her, slipping behind the dumpster to reach her quicker.

"I've got it!" Dion exclaimed, narrowly avoiding a Molotov cocktail that was thrown from above. "Hey man," he yelled at the person responsible as Brody pulled him out of harm's way.

I could see the key in the lock, but we were stuck in a dangerous game of dodgeball, trapped between two crazed individuals. Another flaming bottle flew towards us, this time landing right beside Earl. He screamed as the flames engulfed him, pushing me away in a panic.

Ky was there to catch me before I hit the ground, pulling me away from Earl and towards the door.

"Get down!" Mel shouted at Earl, but he didn't listen. Instead, he ran past us, screaming in agony, his entire body engulfed in flames. He collided with the dumpster and pitched to the side. The metal lasso flew through the air and wrapped around Earl's neck, dragging him across the pavement towards the cannibal.

"Get down!" Mel shouted at Earl, but he didn't listen. Instead, he ran past us, with a blood-curdling scream, his entire body engulfed in flames. He collided with the dumpster and pitched to the side. The metal lasso flew through the air and wrapped around Earl's neck, violently dragging him across the pavement towards the cannibal. The stench of burning flesh filled the air. Earl's body flailed in agony, a helpless sacrifice.