Page 55 of Deadly Little Games

A whistle cuts through the otherwise quiet parking lot. As I spin around, my eyes catch sight of a figure emerging from the building, waving me over. It’s the young guy from before. He looks around and starts walking into the forest. I follow him without hesitation. The tall trees loom overhead, casting long shadows that send shivers down my spine. I wrap my arms around myself, tugging my hoodie’s sleeves down to shield my fingers from the chilly air.

When we are far enough away from the police station, he stops and turns around.

“I didn’t want to say anything in there because you know it’s flooded with Brotherhood, and nothing happens without their approval, but I saw the pain in your eyes, and it reminded me of a time I needed their help too.” He pushes his hands into his pockets and averts his gaze, focusing on the forest floor beneath hisfeet.

“What happened?” I ask, noticing the pain etched on his face.

“My sister went missing and they did nothing. I had to solve it myself and it’s the reason I wanted to become a cop. I’m Drew by the way.”

“Sorry to hear about your sister. Do you know anything about Alec?”

He raises his gaze, and his eyes grow wider. He turns around and takes off.

“Wait, please!” I chase after him, and he grabs my arm, looking at something behind me.

“Don’t trust them,” he says before running off deeper into the woods.

Trust who? The sound of a snapping twig startles me. I spin around and meet Gage eye to eye. He’s wearing a long black top and jeans. His hair is all wet and wavy like he just got out of the shower.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I snap, and he storms over.

He stops right in front of me. “I could ask you the same thing. What did he tell you?” He glances past me to where the guy disappeared.

“Not to trust you,” I scoff. “Which I already knew.”

“Come on, we’re going.” He snatches my hand, and our fingers lace together. I peek down to where his huge hand grips mine, and I freeze, not sure if I should let go or hang on. Nothing makes sense. That guy is right; I can’t trust them. I can’t trust anyone. Only myself.

I pull free, taking a couple of steps back, but my foot catches on something and I fall, landing on my ass. Gage rushes to my side as pain courses through me, leaving me breathless. His gaze travels over my body as he kneels. Mychest rises and falls at a rapid rate. I need to get out of here. I need to run. To do something reckless.

Gage’s fingers lightly graze my cheek as he gently tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. A stirring sensation ripples through my stomach, and a comforting warmth spreads across my skin.

“You don’t trust me now,” he whispers before leaning down. His lips are only inches from mine. “And you never will.”

As he pulls back, a chill runs down my spine and goosebumps appear all over my skin. A conflicting desire arises within me—to have him back but also to create as much distance between us as possible.

I push myself up and take one last look at Gage. He watches me with intense scrutiny, his expression betraying no emotion on his flawlessly handsome face. Spinning around, I start running, feeling the wind rush through my hair. With each step I take, the forest seems to tighten its grip around me, making me acutely aware of its presence. As sweat beads on my skin, I continue to press forward, relishing the searing sensation in my legs. Pain. Hurt. Release.

Up ahead, I see a clearing, my eyes locking onto the tracks that serve as a boundary between our worlds. The looming, massive fence adorned with barbwire has never been an obstacle for me, and it won’t be this time either. As I start climbing, my fingers find purchase in the small holes, providing me with a sense of stability. I reach the top, my muscles straining as I hoist myself over. The wire bites into my skin, but the pain brings relief.

My feet hit the ground, back in Daringhood and I’m off again, stepping onto the tracks. I stop and lie down,looking up into the almost black sky. My heart rings between my ears.

Stars stare back at me, sparkling against the increasing darkness. A train could come at any second and that’s why I love doing this. The thrill of not knowing when I’ll have to jump and run or just let it take me. Life has never been easy, but I’ve always held on to our dream of escaping and living far away from here. Now as each day, hour, minute, and second goes by without hearing from Alec, it fades a little more.

Somebody knows something, but every time I get close, one of them shows up and I get nothing. The only way I’m going to get answers is by being around The Brotherhood. Nothing happens here without their approval or say. If I’m going to find Alec, it’s with them. As much as I want to push them away and run for the hills, I can’t.

That message still replays over and over in my head.You could have saved him.What did they mean, and who’s sending them? Alec is still alive—he has to be. I can’t even bring myself to think about the alternative. I will find him, and we will leave. Together.

I have no idea how long it’s been, but the moon rises into the night. There’s a distant rumble of a train and the tracks start to squeak. My phone vibrates against my leg, and I pull it out, reading over the text message. My stomach drops, and the ringing in my ears returns.

His body hangs from the wire, and you will pay for the liar.

A horn blasts from behind me, but I can’t move. I can’t breathe.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Freya

Everything else fades away into nothingness. I can’t tear my eyes from my phone screen, the words becoming etched into my mind as I read them over and over. It can’t be Alec. It has to be somebody else. The horn gets louder and closer. The frantic voices around me grow more incessant, drowning out all other sounds bar the train, while I remain immobile, trapped in my own stillness. What if it’s him? What if he’s gone? No, I won’t accept it. He’s still alive. It’s not him.

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