Page 39 of Insanium
The morning light filtered in through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I blinked away the remnants of sleep, taking in the scene around me. Snuggled between Eryx and Hael, with Rafe sprawled at the edge of the bed, I felt a mix of contentment and the familiar ache of post-adrenaline soreness. Across the room, Maya and Aisha were still deep in slumber, oblivious to the morning’s quiet start.
Liam, already awake, caught my eye from where he sat in an armchair by the window. He offered a small wave. I returned the gesture with a slight smile, then turned to see Rafe rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his hair tousled in a way that was both infuriating and endearing.
The room was filled with a peaceful silence, a stark contrast to the chaos ofJudicium. It was a rare moment of tranquility in a game designed to unnerve and unsettle, and I soaked in the calm while it lasted.
Rafe offered a casual, “Good morning,” his voice husky from sleep.
I responded with a playful, “Morning, Sleeping Beauty,” causing Eryx to chuckle.
“You should have started with that,” he teased Rafe.
Hael, finally stirring, tightened his arm around my middle, still half in the realm of dreams. Glancing at my trio, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of annoyance and admiration at how effortlessly good they looked this early. Their relaxed, carefree expressions contrasted sharply with the intensity of the previous day, making them seem almost too serene
Aisha bolted upright, her eyes wide with sudden alertness. “We get to go home?”
Maya, less enthusiastic about the early disruption, groaned and lobbed a pillow at her. “Shh, some of us are trying to savor the last few minutes of peace.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at their antics, carefully sliding Hael’s arm off me as I made my way to the bathroom. The movement woke him, and he blinked sleepily at me, a soft, questioning grunt escaping him.
“Just a bathroom break,” I assured him, creeping away to freshen up. When I returned, the room was alive with movement. Eryx brushed past me, his hands fleetingly skimming my midsection before he disappeared into the bathroom.
“Aht, aht, none of that,” Aisha warned, wagging a finger with a mock-serious look. “I have Lucky Charms waiting for me at home and no patience for another four hours of y’all getting your rocks off.”
I chuckled, rubbing at the back of my neck—more than a bit sore, if I was honest. “Yeah, I think I’ve pushed the limits of endurance there. Gonna need a little recovery time,” I admitted with a wry grin.
We lingered in the room, each of us efficiently ticking through our morning routines, tidying up and prepping for whatever lay ahead. As we waited for the guys to finish, Aisha and Maya sidled up to me.
“You owe me so many details, bitch,” Aisha declared.
Maya nodded in agreement. “I wanna know too. I have questions. So does Liam.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “All right, I’ll make sure you two make it to the group chat when we leave. Full disclosure session, promise.”
Once the guys returned, we all exited the room together and made our way back to the main lobby. The woman who had greeted us before was there, surrounded by her friends, Juno—who I had nearly forgotten about—and a couple of other people who had apparently made it through as well.
A screen in the lobby displayed a timer along with what seemed to be a riddle about our departure. I squinted, sensing something off. “Does that make sense to anyone?” I asked, pointing at the cryptic message.
“Bravo on navigatingJudicium’s maze,
Your courage and cunning truly amazed.
As you depart from our grand affair,
May odds favor you, brave and rare.
Onto the next season you go.”
A few people had brushed it off as usualJudiciumcryptic-ness, but others began to take more notice.
Eryx leaned in close, his voice a low whisper meant only for our ears. “Keep sharp. This isn’t over.”
As the timer hit zero, a chorus of dings echoed across the lobby, signaling the arrival of the elevators. My attention was immediately drawn to the one marked with “616” overhead.
“We need that one,” I said quickly to my group, knowing in my gut that number meant something.
Hael and Rafe didn’t hesitate.
Like seasoned linemen, they cleared a path through the crowd, their presence alone enough to part the sea of people.
