Page 23 of Insanium
Hael responded by squeezing my hand subtly by his side—a small gesture that sent a warm rush through me. His expression was one of amused pride.
“For future reference, she’s quite the expert at multitasking.” His tone was affectionate and supportive, yet teasing, making it clear he was fully on board with whatever I decided moving forward and not shy about our close collaboration. He really was the best. His casual endorsement not only reinforced our bond but also showed everyone else that whatever was developing between us was strong, mutual, and unshakeable.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Raphael stated, his gaze locking with mine.
I was about to respond when Eryx’s commanding voice cut through the murmurs of the group.
He strode around the corner with Liam and a few of the others trailing behind. “We found the exit. You can stand around here if you want, but we’re heading out.” He paused, his eyes flicking to Brandon, who had finished throwing up bacon bits of our fellow contestants and was now looking particularly pale. “He ate the food, didn’t he? Dumbass.”
“Why didn’t you and your boy toy just leave? You didn’t need to come announce your exit,” Kristy shot back, her tone acidic.
Eryx’s retort was sharp and dismissive. “You don’t need to speak at all, yet you never seem to shut the fuck up.”
Oh, what was this? Trouble in paradise? I wasn’t sure when there would’ve been time for a problem to develop. Maybe she’d had one of those precognitive dreams of him doing something unfaithful. If that was the kind of relationship they had to begin with. The way he was looking down at her made me think he’d sooner chuck her off a cliff than tolerate her presence. My gaze pinged between the two of them, coming back to Eryx when he gave me a subtle nod, indicating it was time to move. “Come on.”
I pursed my lips, momentarily caught in the tension of the moment, then decisively grabbed Aisha’s hand while keeping hold of Hael’s with my other. Together, we followed Eryx towards the exit, a few steps behind Raphael. Everyone else trailed behind us, Jerome, Liam, and Maya at my back. It was like gathering a team of misfits for a high-stakes heist.
If the heist involved us all potentially dying.
As we pushed through the rear door marked with a glowing green neon exit sign, a sharp beep resounded, signaling our departure from the confines of the manor.
The outside air hit us with a crisp kind of early fall warmth as the sun climbed higher in the sky, its light bathing us in a deceptive calm. We found ourselves facing the dense woodsthat sprawled behind the entire length of the house. Just at the entrance of the path that disappeared into the trees stood a large brown sign in front of a scarecrow.
“Only through walking the path of the prey can one truly comprehend the essence of the hunt,” Maya read aloud.
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” Darrel grumbled, squinting at the cryptic message.
“It means we walk through these woods and find out,” Liam stated, his stride confident and unhesitating.
“Oh, I like him,” I remarked offhandedly, watching as he took the lead.
Hael shot me a sideways glance. “Does he need to go on your roster?”
I snorted. “Absolutely not. I don’t plan on sharing you, Hael.”
He looked momentarily confused, a wrinkle forming between his brows.
“Liam is gay,” Aisha explained with a laugh.
He blinked, taken aback. “How do you know that?”
“How could you not?” Raphael asked with a laugh.
Hael shrugged, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “I guess he is pretty.”
Maya, who had been lingering a step behind, breezed past us, heading toward Liam, Raphael, and now Eryx. She threw over her shoulder, half-teasing, half-exasperated, “So am I. I’m not gay.” She paused at the edge of the path, turned around briefly, and called back, “Let’sgo, Jerome.”
He grumbled as he trudged after her. “I’m coming, I just needed a second to psyche myself up. Walking through these woods … You know just because it’s daylight, doesn’t mean it’s safe. Ever seenWrong Turn?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Let’s hope we’re not dealing with that kind of hunter.” Glancing back to make sure Aisha and Haelwere with me, I followed the rest into the woods. Gradually, I heard footfalls of the others doing the same, albeit hesitantly.
The woods were unsettlingly quiet as we pushed deeper into them, the kind of quiet that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. No birdsong, no rustle of small animals—just a suffocating silence that clung to us like a second skin. It felt like nature itself was holding its breath, waiting for something bad to happen.
I kept my eyes peeled, scanning the dense trees and underbrush. The lack of natural noise wasn’t just eerie; it was a glaring red flag. Liam, still just ahead, held up his hand, signaling us to stop.
“Everyone, be sharp,” he murmured, his voice barely more than a breath as he cocked his head, trying to catch a sound that seemed determined not to reveal itself.
I paused, my senses on high alert, but there was nothing—no whisper of leaves, no distant calls, absolutely nothing.
