Page 92 of Hide n' Seek

“Why are you okay with me using you like this?” Vic asked, her voice weary.

Using me.

Yes, it’d been obvious from the beginning. I was nothing more than her guard dog, ready to attack whenever and wherever she commanded.

“It’s an honor to be used by you,” I whispered. “All I want in life is to see you succeed. To see you happy. If anyone tries to take that from you, I wouldn’t hesitate to slit their throat.”

“Even family?” she asked, still not looking at me.

“Evenfamily,” I said. “Anything. You don’t even have to say the words. I’ll already be there, waiting for my moment to serve you.”

She let the silence spread between us before nodding.

“You’re the best little pet,pretty boy,” she praised, making heat burn up the back of my neck.

“I aim to please,” I murmured and scooted closer to her.

She let out a light laugh. The slight tension that had built up between us dissipated.

I meant what I said and I wouldn’t stop until I proved it to her.

“You can see everything from up here,” Vic said, leaning against me. “We’re just at the top.”

I couldn’t help but pause and lean over her. I gave her shoulder a kiss as we looked out the window together.

Then my eyes caught something.

“There they are,” I breathed as I looked out the window.

People dressed in yellow seemingly appeared out of nowhere, bagging bodies for clean up.

“I always wondered how they got in and out without anyone seeing,” Vic said, leaning closer to me. Her hot breath against my neck made me shiver.

“There are rumors among the Architects,” I said, my mind flashing back to all those parties my dad used to throw. I was never allowed near them, but oftentimes I found myself sneaking downstairs to get a sneak peek at what they were talking about. “Some say they are here the entire time, hiding until they find a dead body.”

“And others?”

I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my lips.

“Tunnels,” I whispered just as the two Vultures I was watching looked around, as if checking if they were being watched. Then they kneeled near a trash can before shimmying it out of the way, and—

“Holy shit,” Vic whispered. “They were using them the whole time?”

The two jumped down, taking the body with them.

“We’ll hide there,” I said. “We’ll first find your Hider and then stay in there until the games are over.”

“Is that even allowed?” she asked.

I opened my mouth to answer, but there was no need, because right before our eyes, in a bird mask, ran a victim who had the same idea we did.

“I don’t even remember seeing her in the crowd,” I murmured.

“She’s the one,” she said, the conviction in her voice making a shivers run down my spine.

God, I couldn’t help but love how bloodthirsty she is.

Vic