Page 38 of Corrupt Me

I remember when she was a shy recluse—a delicate kitten—and now she has developed the claws and sharp teeth of a panther.

Cursing under my breath, I head inside. Everyone is already dressed in black coveralls, putting on their VR headsets and choosing their weapons.

“She’s sending us on a vacation?” Abi asks me.

I glare at Kaden, who just shrugs. “No secrets, remember?”

He looks from me to Bailey knowingly. Asshole.

“I am all for it,” Mia says. “The timing is not ideal, but a change of scenery might do us all some good.”

“And she won’t send us to a place she’s not one hundred percent sure we’ll be safe,” Celine adds.

With the girls increasingly on board with the idea, the guys and I exchange a resigned look.

We’re definitely going on vacation.

I stand in front of the display and pick a simulation.

“What are the stakes?” Abi asks. She’s so damn competitive.

Whatever Dane whispers makes her blush, and I answer, “Same as always. Staying alive. If we treat it like a simulation, we won’t take it seriously. You go in there fighting for your life.”

“I know. Ugh, you’re getting grumpier by the day.”

Dane smirks. “Don’t take it personally, princess. He’s just frustrated.”

Can I even consider them friends if they constantly get on my nerves?

Bailey lifts on her toes and whispers in my ear, “I’m taking you down, and then you will never meddle in my business again.”

“Your business is my business.”

Done with my friends pissing me off, I start the newest simulation. Once it begins, everyone moves in a different direction.

My adrenaline spikes as I move, ready to fight my way through and take out the enemies one by one. Fully attuned to my surroundings, I feel invincible.

The sensors on our coveralls keep track of us. Our names and avatars are displayed on the big screen hanging from the ceiling so we can see who is taken down and by whom. We’re not only competing with each other, but we also have to eliminate the threats that pop up in the game.

I see Celine from the corner of my eye, so I shoot her in the shoulder.

“Ugh,” she grunts, but just then, Kaden hits me in my thigh.

We never aim for vital points—we all want to prolong the competition for as long as possible.

I spot Dane next and sneak up behind him. I aim and shoot, but Abi sees me and fires from above.

Knowing Bailey, she’s found the best hiding spot.I am going to find you, kitten.

Shooting one enemy after another, I take them down and look up at the screen. An hour has passed, and everyone is still in the game. That’s good, but endurance wavers. Attention wanes. Exhaustion ensues.

In the next hour, like clockwork, everyone in the group is taken down one by one. I hear them cursing as they’re eliminated.

When it’s just Bailey and me, I say, “Hiding won’t help you, kitten.”

“Who says I am hiding?”

Just then, a bullet grazes my thigh. I jump around and catch her ponytail disappearing down a corridor.So damn proud of her.

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