Page 63 of Tag

“Now,” I said, stepping forward, my voice calm but absolute. “I think you three should get a taste of what she went through.” Their heads swiveled toward me like strings had been yanked. “Here’s how this is going to work.” I let my gaze settle on each of them, one by one. “You’re gonna hand over your phones. Then Kyle, DeAndre—you’re going to turn around and start walking into that field.”

I turned to Lindsey last. “You? You’re going with us.”

Rook stepped forward, hand outstretched. “Phones.”

Just one word. That’s all he needed. DeAndre moved first, with no hesitation. He reached into his pocket and handed it over like it was burning a hole through him.

Rook took it and slipped it into his jacket without looking. Kyle was slower, reluctant. His hand trembled slightly as he offered his phone.

Rook gave a short nod and turned to Lindsey. “You too.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “It’s in the car.”

Nick stepped past Kyle and reached into popped open the rear passenger door. A second later, he straightened with a glittery phone in hand, flipping it around as he powered it off.

“Here.” He passed it to Rook, who slipped it into his pocket with the other two before taking Lindsey’s arm and walking her toward the truck. She resisted at first, but then followed, crying silently as she climbed into the back seat without protest.

Kyle opened his mouth, like he was about to say something, then closed it. His blue eyes swept over us, desperation creeping into his expression. Had it sunk in now that no help was coming? That there wasn’t a way out of this?

“C-Can I speak?” he stammered.

“How did this guy even get invited into The Hunt?” my brother questioned rhetorically.

Nick gave him a lopsided grin. “You’re talking now, friend. What’s on your mind?”

Kyle swallowed hard. “So we just… walk?”

“That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

“Wait.” Nick stepped forward and moved past him. “Dre, you’re up first. Cade gave you a head start, remember?”

He clamped a hand on Deandre’s shoulder, guiding him away from the car and toward the field of harvested land on its other side. He hesitated, and Nick gave him a light shove. He stumbled, barely catching himself.

“I’m going, I’m going!” He started walking, slow and heavy-footed, into the dark.

“Let’s give him thirty seconds,” Cade said, watching his silhouette grow smaller. “Make it feel like he can get away.”

We waited for that long exactly before I turned to Kyle. “You’re up.”

He looked up at me, and I swore there were tears in his eyes. “How long do I walk?”

“Long enough to regret everything that led you here.”

With a shaky breath, he slowly moved away from his car. He made it to where the asphalt turned to brittle grass and stopped.

Nick stepped up behind him and shoved harder than he had with DeAndre. “Go on, champ.”

Kyle pitched forward with a startled yelp, tripping over his own feet. He hit the ground with a dull thud, and a strangled sob escaped him.

“This fucking pussy,” Cade muttered, skirting around Nick with Angela in hand.

Kyle glanced back, eyes wide, fresh panic blooming when he saw my brother coming toward him. That was all it took to get his punk ass moving. He scrambled to his feet and bolted.

“Damn,” Nick observed with a laugh, watching him go. “It’s almost like he’s got a guilty conscience.”

“Can we move on to the fun part now?” Rook asked. He was still standing closer to the truck, babysitting Lindsey so she didn’t try anything.

“Yeah, let’s do it.”

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