Page 141 of Ignite

It’s clinical. The white walls, the chemical twang in the air. It makes me shiver. It’s a relief when the door swings open and Finn stands there.

“Are you sure you want me to come in?” I ask.

He frowns and runs a hand through his hair.

“Stop being a baby.”

I hate hospitals, despite the fact I keep managing to land myself in one. And this feels like a fucking at-home version.

He leads me through the corridor; there’s two rooms on either side and one in front of me. He unlocks the middle one with a set of keys.

The monitor beeps steadily, and Ben lies in the center on a bed. The swelling looks better on his face, even with the tubes coming out of his mouth and attached to his hands.

“The dead is coming back to life,” Finn tells me, turning the monitor to me, showing me his normal heart rate and blood pressure.

“His vitals have leveled. I’ve kept him under for now until we’re ready. I guess then we will see if there’s any lasting damage. Or if he can even speak. He’s missing a few teeth too. I don’t have any way to scan him, so it’s a guessing game, but I’ve kept him alive. His injuries looked worse than what they really were.”

I chew on the inside of my mouth.

“I’ve always wanted to smother a patient with a pillow, like they do in films.”

Finn chuckles and shakes his head.

“First it was the damn map on the desk, now it’s smothering. You need to watch less TV.”

“Have you done that before?” I ask.

“No. I’m much more creative than a fucking pillow.”

“Oh.”

I’m kinda disappointed.

Maybe I’ll do it on Ben for his second death.

“So once I finish The Chase, we see how this bastard is doing and try and get our answers? Then I can kill him.”

We sent Reggie and Rowan back to the boxing gym to see if they could locate his phone, but nothing. Which is weird. Who the fuck doesn’t take their cell out with them?

Someone that doesn’t want to be tracked I’d assume.

“Yes. I’ve got everything linked to my phone and security footage. I’ll be able to help with The Chase if you need, and start to bring him round.”

I swallow.

“Yeah. Okay. The contestants are arriving soon. I best get going. But, thank you.”

“Anytime. That’s what older brothers are for…” He smirks.

“Bringing your victims back from the dead.”

I let out a laugh.

“Usually I want them to stay fuckin’ dead.”

After puttingon my camouflage sweatpants and tight black, long sleeved tee, I finish off with my black balaclava and gloves.

Ready to hunt.