Page 52 of Bliss & Her Idols

Cricket instantly begins to playact.

He whines, before peering up at Jin.

Then Cricket mouths against Jin’s neck, hidden behind the silver waterfall of his hair, “Help me.”

“Cricket…?” Jin whispers only loud enough for the two of us to hear like a desperate prayer.

Cricket nods.

“He’s having a panic attack.” I jump off the table, waving my arms around in pretend alarm. “I’d better take him out of here…”

Time for us to leave, before any of the smart journalists in this room catch on. I need to find an empty bathroom to call Chase urgently to report back and make plans.

Then the concert will be starting.

To my surprise, Jin’s smile becomes dangerous. “Don’t worry. I’ll help.”

“W-w-what…?” I stutter.

In a flurry of moves, which show just what an incredible dancer he is, Jin leaps from the table with Cricket still clutched in his arms, at the same time as grabbing my arm.

His coat twirls around him like blue mist.

Then he drags both of us through a small door that I hadn’t even noticed to the side of the table.

My heart leaps into my throat.

Stapleton yells out, diving for Jin. He snatches Jin’s sleeve.

Jin flinches, shaking him off.

Then he slams the door shut behind us, hurriedly standing against it to stop it from being opened.

My heart is racing. My hair is damp with sweat.

What the fuck has just happened?

This isn’t the plan.

How exactly am I meant to get any of us out of this?

The room is in darkness. I tumble over a bucket, crashing into a row of shelves.

Jin has just closed us into a janitor’s closet.

Outside, I can hear Zoe, screaming and furious.

I shudder.

Loud, furious banging on the door echoes in the dark.

“Open up,” Stapleton growls, “or I’ll break it down.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Knight Amphitheater, Haven

Bang, bang, bang.

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