Page 78 of Outcast Fae
Many glares and dumbfounded stares were our response. How did she think we were doing?
“Wonderful,” she said, ignoring the mood around the camp. “I have some more good news. Today, we have another challenge for you. And this time, the reward is even better than the last time.”
“Last time was a trap,” I said, leveling my gaze directly at Meadow Song.
“A trap?” Patricia asked. “What do you mean?”
Meadow Song’s eyes darted to me, and a flicker of emotion passed over her face before her smile reappeared. “She’s only confused, dear,” she told Patricia. “When Tally was inside the dome, she… misbehaved.”
Patricia and her group glared at me, and their expressions seemed to sayhow can you be so stupid?
“So, of course, this game is not a trap, I assure you. This game is for all the marbles. The winner or winners of this game gets to graduate!” She clapped her hands excitedly.
“Graduate?” Patricia said, her jaw nearly on the sand. “Like leave here?”
Meadow Song nodded. “Yes, Patricia. You will be deemed rehabilitated and will be released, though you will be on probation for a period of time. Closely supervised.” She gave Patricia a wink. “But I’m sure whoever wins will behave. They wouldn’t want to disappoint us.”
“I don’t believe it,” I said. “They aren’t going to let us go. They need us for something… some… experiment.” The weight of my own words made my legs tremble. Everything I’d witnessed pointed to this. Regardless of whether or not Adaline also wanted Kiana, they wantedusfor something dark.
Vaughn’s hand wrapped around my wrist in a warning. He thought I was pushing them, giving them an excuse to execute me, but I was tired of playing their game.
Meadow Song laughed. “Tally, lying isn’t acceptable behavior. I thought you had learned a couple of things here, but I see you still have a long way to go.”
Silver Bear’s eyes landed on me and held, a silent warning. Would he turn into a bear and rip me in half right here? I didn’t think so. That would shatter their little illusion, the one they worked so hard to keep up. They didn’t want Elon and the others returning to their parents to tell of what went on here in the dome. That’s why they kept up the charade. For the few who would actually leave. Now, they were trying to discredit me, make me sound like someone who couldn’t be trusted.
Vaughn and I knew better and that meant they’d never let us free.
“I’m not doing it,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest, hoping the others would take my lead.
“Neither am I.” Vaughn stood beside me to create a solid front.
Daniella shifted toward us a few seconds later. “If they aren’t competing, then I’m not, either.”
The other campers glanced from us to Silver Bear and Meadow Song, waiting to see what they would do.
Meadow Song’s attention focused in on Daniella. “Are you sure, dear? You know, we got a message from your grandmother the other day.”
Meadow Song waved her hands and an image appeared in the air. An older woman, short with gray hair and a lined face similar to Daniella’s peered at us.
“Daniella, cariño, are you there? I miss you. Please call me.” The woman coughed several times, loud hacking coughs that shook her whole body. “They’re saying I need to go to the hospital. I’ll try to call you when I get there.”
Another bout of coughing was caught on audio before the image cut away.
Daniella’s hands were clasped over her mouth, and her eyes were wide and brimming with tears. “What happened? Is she in the hospital?”
Meadow Song had the decency to look sad. “We don’t know. This was the last we heard from her. We received the message two days ago.”
“Two days?! She has C.O.P.D. She could be… I need to see her.”
Meadow Song’s eyes brightened. “And you can. If you win.”
Daniella’s eyes trailed from Meadow Song to me. “Sorry, Tally,” she whispered. Then she stepped away from us. “I’ll compete.”
Elon held up his hand. “I’ll compete, too. I cannot get this sand out of my ass crack. I’m ready to get the hell out of here.”
Gina and Henry stepped over to where Elon and Daniella were. “Us, too.”
“Me, too,” Patricia said.
