Page 85 of The Wishing Game

"Yes?"

"If there were any other souls around when the Collectors came, would they take them as well?"

She purses her lips as she thinks about it.

"Possibly. They'd see it as a bonus assignment."

Her answer deflates me.

"I see." I strain a smile.

TWENTY

God, but I hope that wasn't the case and Nikki is still around—hehasto be around.

"Why are you asking?"

"Never mind." I shake my head. "We should probably plan our next steps since we have until the end of the week to get to P'davi." I change the topic. The most I can do for Nikki right now is to focus on the game and win. Regardless of whether he is with me or not, the end goal is the same.

"Here," I say as I pull out my phone and open the maps app. "This is the route we have to take to get to Mount Tai." I point at the screen. "First, we take the plane from JFK to Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, and then we'll head to the mountain via train. Once there, we can figure out the best way to get to the temple."

"But that's...more than a day of travel," Thea bursts out, her expression shocked. "We can just tele—" She jumps out of her seat, yelping in pain. Turning to Cer, she gives him a wounded look.

"Sit down and shut up, Thea," Cer tells her, his voice holding an edge to it.

She opens her mouth to argue with him but eventually just sighs and plops back in her seat.

"We will do as you said." Cer nods at me.

"There is just one issue." I force a smile.

They all turn to stare at me, waiting for me to elaborate.

"Well, you can't travel abroad because you don't have a passport," I point out, my cheeks heating up as I think of theotherreason we might not be able to leave the country.

"It will be fine," Ze comments nonchalantly. "No one will question us."

"But there is anothersmallissue."

Once more, they wait for me to continue.

"You see, I'm wanted by the police, and the moment I step foot into an airport, they will come after me. They probably already have a notice out for me at all ports of exit."

Thea blinks at me.

"Why? Weren't you telling me just a few days ago not to commit any crimes because the police would come for me?" she asks, pointing her finger at me accusingly.

"Ah, well... I didn't do it. I'm innocent."

"Don't they all say that?" Ze snorts from the side.

"You're not helping, Sir Sparkles," I grit at him under my breath.

His eyes flash at me, his body tensing.

"Tell us what happened," Cer luckily interrupts.

"It's my husband's family. They're accusing me of stealing some money, but I didn't do it. If anything, they're the ones who stole from us." I sigh.

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