Page 30 of Uprising

“I’m fine. We should get some rest before we hit the road again.”

I don’t give Noah a chance to argue with me. Backing away from the desk, I hike my bag up over my shoulder and head to the men’s room. If he can hide out in the restroom, so can I.

* * *

Ghost slideshis knife into the side of the belt before closing the passenger door softly. Checking my magazine once more, I gave him a nod, letting him know I was ready. We both fall in line next to each other, silent as we track through the wooded area.

The uneasiness sits deep in my stomach, twisting tight with each passing moment as we walk further into the woods.

“What's got you thinking so loud over there?” Ghost asks.

Tension builds at the base of my spine. I should tell him that I don’t have a good feeling about this mission, but I don’t. I have no reason to have this gut-retching feeling. I’ve gone over my checklist a million times. This kill is nothing new; I’ve done this more times than I can count.

But each step feels heavy; the air around me seems to grow thicker.

“I’m fine,” I finally tell Ghost. I don’t need him second-guessing this either. It’s bad enough that the one who's been killing longer is having second thoughts.

“Reaper?” Ghost grabs my shoulder, stopping me from moving forward. I bite down on my cheek, refusing to let him know the thoughts swarming around inside my head. He’d pull the operation, and while I don’t care about the money, this douchebag deserves to die.

“I’m fine, promise.”

Ghost watches me for a second, searching my eyes to see if I’m lying. Even though I am, I hold his stare, holding my breath. After what feels like an eternity, he finally gives me a curt nod.

I silently sigh when he begins walking again. Reminding myself that he depends on me, we both depend on each other. So I don’t say anything, not when the small house comes into view and not when he breaks the lock.

Ghost enters the doorway first, checking left and right before we slowly move inside. The kitchen was clean; thankfully, no lights, making it easier for us to move around without being seen.

The faint sound of the TV hits our ears as we follow the hallway towards the front of the house. The dreadful feeling weighs heavily in my stomach the further in the house we move. I try to stay focused, but the nagging feeling doesn’t leave—it sharpens, and the shadow of nerves creeps closer.

And in an instant, the regret and the dread I was feeling all comes to a head. A girl—the daughter that was supposed to be gone—comes running down the hall. She runs smack-dab into Ghost, screaming at the top of her lungs.

“Fuck,” Ghost grunts. She wasn’t supposed to be here.

“GET BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE SHIT!” The father yells. The oxygen from my lungs gives out; the girl screams even louder as Ghost tries to get her to move.

“Reaper!” My eyes flicker up, confusion clouding my head; that voice doesn’t sound like Ghost?—

“Reed!”

I jerk awake, my hand gripping the throat of the person in front of me. I squeeze, trying to clear my head of the memories assaulting me.

“Re—” Their voice cuts off as I slam them down on the ground. My vision clears only for me to realize it’s not the father I meant to kill; it’s Noah staring wide-eyed at me. My heart pounds against my ribcage; my breathing is fast and shallow. Instead of being disoriented from my nightmare like I’ve been before, the world around me seems to blur and fade, leaving nothing but Noah underneath me.

The space between us suddenly shrinks; my gaze flickers between his eyes and his lips. I expect Noah to be scared with my hand wrapped around his throat, but he’s not. His hands rest on my biceps, his eyes slowly blinking. In a moment, time seems to stretch; my entire focus is no longer on the nightmare I had or the fact that I’m not wearing my mask like normal. I had taken it off before falling asleep, not thinking that Noah would come in here.

With the little courage I can muster up, I don’t give Noah a chance to protest before I slam my lips against his.

CHAPTER18

Noah

When I heard someone yellghost, I didn’t think I would find Reed on the ground shivering and tossing around on the floor. I was certain it was someone else, but when he mumbledghostagain, my heart stopped. But that wasn’t what surprised me, as everyone has nightmares. It was the fact he was no longer wearing that muzzle over his face. For the past week I’ve never seen him take it off. The question was always in the back of my mind, but I was always too chicken shit to ask.

Even now, the question hangs there, but I can’t focus on that. Not when Reed's lips are on mine.

But as soon as it happens, he’s pulling away. Fear zips through me, hating the fact he probably regrets it. I open my mouth to beg him not to, even if he wants to forget it. I'd rather tell him it’ll never happen again than for him to regret it.

“What is it about you?” He whispers. His hand leaves my throat, sliding up the side of my face through my hair. I swallow around the lump in my throat, not sure if he wants me to answer his question or not.

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