“Oh my gods. We thought you two were kidnapped. We were supposed to meet by the door.” Kara reaches back and tugs me into her arms. She wraps me in one big hug as I try to hold onto Megan’s hand.
“We were there!” I scold her, frowning although I know she can’t see it.
“I’m so sorry. We were just going to go looking for you in groups.” She hugs me again and then lets me go. I see Lisa do the same thing with Megan who stays by Lisa’s side but still clutches onto my hand.
“Who are you with?” Shane tries to squint through the darkness to see who’s here, but it’s still too murky with clouds covering the full moon.
“Ollie. He came to visit so I invited him to play,” I explain to everyone. Mikey and Carter say hey and nod their heads to each other. Ollie politely says hey back since he’s met them before. “My friend, my team, right,” I joke with everyone.
“No way. It’s perfect he’s here since we’re down a guy. Trent refused to play so we need him on our team to make it even.” Mikey gestures for Ollie to go to his side. Ollie looks down at me, his eyes soft. He bends down and plants a kiss on my cheek. Then he goes right over to the guys’ side, getting more high fives from them in appreciation.
“Who’s hiding first?” The darkness surrounds me like a thick blanket.
“We are,” Kara demands. None of the guys object so Kara leads us a few feet away from the guys to strategize.
“The best bet is for us to have a call and split up. Can we all whistle?” Megan takes the lead, and we all nod in response. “Perfect, so we all split up and hide alone. One whistle means run. Two whistles means you’re caught. Any other whistle is just for distraction.”
“Got it.” I recite the whistle commands in my head so I don’t forget them. I really don’t want to screw this up—although her plan has one fault: We’re all going to be hiding alone and that notion scares the crap out of me.
We meet up with the boys near the edge of the woods and set a hiding time of five minutes before they come looking for us.
Once we’re dismissed and the time begins, I run in the direction of the thick woods, knowing it’s my best chance of being hidden. It’s terrifying being in there because the trees make the already black sky even more overcast since the stars and moon are hidden behind the canopy. I know I have to get as far away as possible from Ollie or else he’ll find me for sure just based on our connection.
I turn on my turbo speed and sprint through the woods, dodging trees whenever I can and trusting my instincts. When I think I’m far enough to be safe, yet close enough that I won’t get lost on my way out, I crouch down against a tree stump and wait. I try to slow my breathing as much as possible so that I’m silent to the male predators.
I definitely should have checked the time before I left because I have no idea how long it’s been. I could be gone two minutes or twenty minutes—I don’t know. As I’m about to lose control because it feels like hours have gone by, I hear a series of five whistles come from my left. I know it’s a distraction, so I’m guessing someone is nearing me, and they’re trying to divert it.
I get up from my stump and crawl around it so I’m on the other side, hopefully hidden. I close my eyes and bury my face in my knees and arms, bending over myself in the smallest ball ever. I start counting in my head until I hear two whistles seventy seconds later. Someone’s been caught—and they’re close to me.
My heart sinks, but before I can even think about it a large hand covers my mouth. I try to scream out, but it’s muffled, thanks to someone silencing me very well. The body must be right in front of me, but I can’t see anything, and when I try to put my hands up, I’m pulled in even tighter.
Before I know it, hot breath trickles down my neck. Goosebumps rise up and down my arms at the closeness of this body. I thrash around, wanting to be free but to no avail. Whoever has me, has me tight, because even as use my powers, they barely move.
“Ryder, relax,” Ollie’s voice comes out, soothing me instantly. He drops his hands so I can breathe again, and I take a lungful, hoping to regain my composure.
“You jerk. I was scared.” I smack his chest with my hand, and he covers the spot with his hand, feigning injury.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to whistle. I wanted alone time,” he tells me, making my heart flutter at the notion.
“Oh yeah?” I say, amused. He bends down and sits next to me in the dirt. I can’t see him that well, but his blue eyes shine in the moon light, making them the only thing I can see perfectly.
I lean over and feel around for a soft spot on the ground and then scoot there. I lean against Ollie so I’m cozy in the chill of the night. I look up since I can see Ollie better and notice that the clouds have faded. The moon is now shining a little brighter, and although it’s not full, it sheds some light in the forest.
“Can I kiss you, Ryder?” His question nearly makes my heart stop.
“Of course.” I lift my chin so I’m only an inch away. He lowers his lips to mine, embracing me softly. I let him take me slow, but when it’s almost teasing, I press my lips against him harder so he knows what I want. He moans into me and takes my head in his hands, grasping the hair at the nape of my neck.
His tongue slides into my mouth and explores like he’s never kissed me before. It’s like our first kiss all over again, minus Becca interrupting it. Being with Ollie like this sparks up old feelings of when we first were together—how he saved me at school and how he used to treat me when it was just the two of us before all of this curse stuff and threats.
I remember the way it used to be with us, so carefree and perfect. I decide to take this opportunity to explore my feelings with Ollie—is it all past or do we have a future together? As he clutches me rougher, lengthening the kiss, I swing my leg over so I’m straddling his lap, pressing myself fully along him.
I reach into his blonde hair and tug it like I remember he likes, getting a moan to escape from his full lips. I smile into him, loving how I know exactly what makes him tick. He grabs onto my butt and squeezes it playfully, making me grind against him in a swift thrust. I kiss him like it’s the last kiss I’ll ever share with him. I give him all my emotions and feelings and leave nothing to question.
“Ollie, you find anyone?” Mikey’s voice rings out in the woods. Immediately, I jump up off Ollie and stand behind the tree, fixing my shirt so it’s straight and my hair so it’s not all frizzed up from Ollie’s hands aimlessly wandering. I feel like my dad just caught me making out.
“Yeah dude. I found Ryder,” he calls back, grabbing my hand and leading me towards Mikey and the other guys who are all waiting a few yards away.
“One more left. We need Lisa and she’s probably up in a tree somewhere,” Shane commands the group. He turns towards the cabins or at least I think that’s the direction and runs away. Ollie never lets go of my hand the rest of the game. Even as he sprints around, I’m glued to his side.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
man in the shadows
After hunting and being hunted for hours, the girls give up, needing sleep for the next day, which is going to be a long one according to Kara. I’m spent from running around, getting smacked by branches, and falling on rocks. Between murder and manhunt, I’m all sorts of bruised and battered—although it’s not as bad as my injuries from the attack, so I have that to be thankful for.
“Meet me at ten after breakfast, okay?” Ollie walks me to my cabin and then pauses when we’re on the dilapidated porch. The rest of the girls head into the room, but I lag behind to say goodbye and figure out plans for meeting my mother.
“Okay. Where should I be?” I step to the side of the building so we don’t wake anyone up.
“Just meet me here. Have your phone, though, in case I need to text you.” He leans in towards me like he’s going to kiss me. Then he bends and presses his lips to my cheek.
“Okay. See you later,” I tell him, turning to go inside. I look towards the main building, which
is starting to light up in the early sunrise. We still have a few hours before we have to wake up, but the sky is getting brighter with each passing minute.
“Wait, I kind of wanted to talk.” He reaches out for me and grabs my waist, spinning me around so I’m facing him.
“I can’t, Ollie. I just want to get through this weekend without going crazy. It hurts too much,” I admit to him, letting his stable arms hold me up.
“I know, but if you don’t talk about it, it will eat you alive.” He pauses. “After we lost her, I felt just like you do. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t think or eat or even breathe. But it gets better. You’ll get through it, I swear.”
“Maybe we can talk more about her and what happened later. I’m just not ready.” I try to keep my mask up. I don’t want the emotions to flow from me. I don’t want to break down in front of Ollie. I just want to move forward and live my own life.
“I love you,” he says in retreat, knowing I won’t budge. I stand on my tiptoes and press a short kiss on his lips. He gives me a dismal smile and then turns, leaving me alone in the early morning light.
I’m not ready to go inside just yet. I lean against the outer wall and try to get my emotions in check. I count my breaths—five in, five out. I shut my eyes and try to relax. The reality of it all floods to the forefront of my mind, but I try to push it back.
I’m more in love with Ollie than ever, yet I’m so in love with Ari it’s amazing. Both bonds I have with these guys feel so concrete and real; yet I can only truly love one? It just doesn’t make sense to me. Something about the curse seems so unnatural and fake. I can’t figure it out.
The fact that the curse needs to have an outcome is what really throws me off. Why would Hades specifically do this to us? What is he getting out of the curse? My mother did mention something about him coming to earth…
I look out to stop my thoughts from theorizing. The sky is turning red, with streams of pink and purple in the clouds. I remember a saying my father used to recite to me when we’d sit on the front porch at night. Red sky at night—
“You really shouldn’t be out here in the dark all alone,” a menacing voice says from within the shadows. I turn towards the voice, but nobody’s there. I spin around and try to find the voice’s host, but I can’t see anything.
“Who’s there?” I call out, whipping my phone around like a flashlight. I wield it, trying to see through the foggy morning air, but it’s useless. Even at five, it’s dimly lit.
As I turn back to the door to go inside and hide, I glimpse the silhouette of a tall man not too far away from me. I inch forward with my phone in hand, wanting to illuminate his face, but the figure reaches out and snaps my phone in half in one swift motion.
“You’re going to have to come with me.” The man reaches towards my wrist.
“No!” I jump back so I’m just out of his reach. He misses and grunts. I rush to the door and place my hand on the handle in case I need to run inside. “Who the hell are you?” I ask again, hoping the stranger will identify himself.
“Think, dear Eurydice. I’m no stranger,” the man snarls. I try to rack my brain, thinking of his words and his deep menacing voice. Who do I know that wants to kill me? Hades? He can’t even come on earth, so that doesn’t make sense. I think, focusing on his voice. And I know who it is. I recognize the demeanor and hate myself for not thinking it sooner.
“Why are you here, Hermes?” My voice turns snarky and cold—so much so that I hardly recognize it. I cross my arms over my chest and rock out my hip, hoping to look capable and confident. I don’t think I’m necessarily scared of Hermes, but he is a sneaky guy.
Plus, I’m almost a hundred percent sure that he helped attack at the school. His weird behavior in the Underworld just proves how creepy he is. I don’t know his angle, but if I have to guess, it has to do with the curse.
“To take you, of course,” he answers, happily. A deep laugh gargles out from his chest as he inches close to me. But for every step forward, I step back until there’s nowhere left to go. I’m flush against the cabin walls.
“Why?” I ask, not understanding.
“Why do you think?” he asks, and when I don’t answer, he answers himself. “To use you, you stupid pawn.”
“For what?” My voice is now barely a whisper.
“Shut up already. Let’s go.” He lunges for me with his long, scraggly fingers. I start to pull at the door, hoping to wake someone up so they can help me or get in to be safe, but my fingers graze the handle, sliding down quietly, hardly moving the damn door. Hermes reaches for my ankle, clinging tightly. He tugs on it in a swift pull so my legs dart out from under me.
I hit the ground sharply, my head smashing against the ground. My brain ricochets in my head, and a throbbing erupts throughout my skull. I moan in pain and reach for the back of my head as Hermes thrashes out at me. I try to turn so I’m on my stomach, but it takes every ounce of strength. I reach for the wooden door, but it’s just out of my grasp.
Pain shoots through my body where Hermes’ fists connect. My vision turns dark, splotchy and indistinct. I push past the pain, needing to get free. I know if I let him take me, I’m as good as dead. But as I try to get up, pain overwhelms me.
“Help!” I scream out at the top of my lungs. My throat burns with intensity, but I continue to scream as loudly as I can. Someone please hear me and please save me. Ollie can’t be that far away. He was just here a few minutes ago. He has to hear me. Please hear me.
Hermes lifts his foot and slams it against my ribs twice. Pain vibrates through my body, and I curl up in a ball to protect myself.
Briefly, I open my eyes to flood lights blinding me. I wince at the unwanted light and turn to my side. I clutch my ribs in my arms, which feel broken and bruised. I can barely inhale without a sharp pang of fire igniting.
I try to stand, pulling my legs under me. My hand rises to act as a visor, shielding the blinding light, and I use my other hand to push my body up. I hold onto the side of the cabin, using it as a brace. I look towards the field in the middle of the camp. Hermes is there now, but I can’t remember when he stopped attacking me. Ari fights him from the front while Magdelina attacks from behind.
Large black figures emerge from the woods in packs of five. They all sprint with inhuman speed, some of them jumping so high they look like they’re flying, towards the center to help Hermes who I’m guessing is their leader.
But as the black hooded figures emerge, my classmates and teachers leave their cabins to support Ari and Magdelina, too. I clutch my stomach as I’m about to heave and pull on the cabin handle to let myself in when a ringing penetrates my ear drums.
And before I can move, the door to my cabin opens up and nails me right in the nose. “It’s the alarm!” a girl yells from inside. Another girl runs out of the cabin and starts fighting a guy who’s coming towards us.
“Holy shit. Are you okay?” Kara calls out to me when she sees me near the door. I’m cradling my broken face as I suppress the urge to cry.
“I’m fine. Go inside and stay safe,” I command, wanting her to be safe in the cabin and not in danger because of me. I try to walk to show her I’m okay but end up tripping over myself.
“No way. You can’t fight. Come on, I’ll help you.” She comes to my side. She bends over and swings my arm over her shoulder. I lean against her with all of my weight. But before we can even make it to the bedroom, two guys who look to be our age, shove us from behind so we’re both tumbling forward over each other in a tangle of limbs.
The pain in my stomach makes me cry out in pain. Luckily Megan’s still in the room, because she takes one of the guys around the neck and pulls him backward, knocking him on his back. I watch helplessly.
This gives Kara enough time to get up and land a nice punch on the guy’s chin. He’s taken completely off guard and falls back but only momentarily. It’s clear that they only want me, so I suck in my pain and swing my leg along the floor to trip Kara�
�s assailant, trying to contribute as much as I can.
He falls, knocking his head on the wood floor. He shuts his eyes and leans over to the side, limp. Kara smiles at me but it’s not over.
Megan’s energy is dwindling. She’s breathing heavily, and I know I have to help her. I get up on my knees, and then Kara reaches down to help me stand up.
Before she can utter a word, I lunge for the guy, channeling my inhuman strength and pushing him against a wall. I pin him against it and nod at Megan to attack him.
She comes up from behind me and punches him in the face, breaking his nose. It gushes blood, spraying onto my face, mixing with my own bloody wounds.
Then she lifts her hand and brings water into a large orb in front of her. The guy is bleeding bad but he’s still deadly. So she hits him with the water, drowning him almost instantly.
Violence is becoming a part of this life. I would like to say I’m desensitized to it, but I’m definitely not. The blood, the broken limbs, the anger, the aggressiveness—it haunts me. It makes me sick, but I can’t think of it now.
The guy slumps to the floor so I let him go. “Are you okay?” I ask Megan and then look at Kara to make sure she’s okay, too. She nods, but I can tell she’s shaken.
I move to my duffle bag as fast as my legs will take me because I know I have some supplies, and we only have limited time. I find my pills and look for the one that is supposed to make me feel happy.
I pop two of them and then chug a bottle of water. I grab a scarf from my bag and try to wrap it around my ribs. “Help me,” I urge to Kara, who stands paralyzed in the middle of the room. I clap my hands hoping the loudness penetrates her breakdown, and she snaps out of it, moving towards me. “Pull it tightly,” I tell her as she takes the scarf in her hand.
I wince at the burning of it. I groan as she tightens it around me. Megan looks over at me with sad eyes, but I shake her off; I have to be steady. Once she has it on as tight as it will go, my ribs actually feel better. Walking doesn’t hurt as much.
The Curse of Betrayal (A Curse Books) Page 27
