Page 38 of Shattered Souls

She tucks her arms into herself but makes her way up. Hyde comes to my side once more and we stalk her like predators as she takes the steps up. Maverick is standing at the landing of the stage, wide eyed.

Not only is what I’m doing super dangerous—it’s extremely against company policy to involve civilians in our acts. Well, it’s a good thing that on paper she’s a scare actor here.

Hyde throws his leg over his bike and walks it into the sphere. Rayvn watches him the whole time, chewing on her bottom lip. I stand beside the open ramp and extend my hand once more to her.

The music on the stage drowns out any chance of someone hearing our soft conversation. “Try not to move, wouldn’t want to ruin that pretty face.” I nudge her inside and she instinctively stands in the flat middle of the ball.

I mount my bike and walk it inside just as Hyde did. Maverick closes the cage behind us, but not before warning, It’s your ass on the line, Seek into my ear.

The song fades from something heavier to a thicker and more sensual song. Our cue to bring these lightweight beasts to life. The bikes growl in sync, causing Rayvn to whimper and try to sink deeper into herself.

“Hayze, please.” I can hardly hear her plea to my brother over the thumping music and the purring bikes. But, I hear it. I hear her call out his real name—not his stage name—his name that no one else in this park knows.

Hyde starts rocking his bike and I have no choice but to follow the action. The beautiful thing about the cage is that it’s a very refined craft. One flaw and everything turns fatal. One rider is just a second too slow and both of us come crashing down—now on top of our little toy.

“Let’s do this!” I signal to Hyde to go, and within a blink we’re both scaling the walls and circling our scarecrow like sharks. The crowd outside roars with cheers but all I can focus on is the way she presses her arms to her side and snaps her eyes shut.

I keep level while Hyde inches above me to pick up speed. The whole sphere rocks with each swing around. I reach a hand out and let myself skim her body. She lets out a single muffled sob before biting the rest back.

We do our show as usual, the two of us crossing paths to trade the higher or lower position before eventually going completely opposite to create an X of sorts in the circle.

“Show the people how much you love it!” I call out to Rayvn.

“No!” She barks out before sucking back her fear.

“But you’re so beautiful when you’re scared.” I come to a stop beside her while Hyde finishes his last few laps and does the same.

“I hate you two,” She’s crying but her words are laced with every bit of fire and anger I missed from her. “I’m getting out of here and I hope you and your freak, mute brother rot here for the rest of your days.”

Hayze recoils at her words.

Maverick opens the ramp and Hayze doesn’t waste a second before riding out and throwing himself off the stage, his bike haphazardly thrown onto the wood. I exit the sphere and let Maverick help her out last.

He tries to comfort her but she pushes his hands off and runs off the stage. The crowd half cheers and half whispers about the stunt gone wrong.

I spent the rest of the night solo hunting my prey. She makes it close to the exit only once.

Each and every other time, I catch her and toss her over my shoulder before depositing her in the center of the maze like always.

Now, I’m doing the same thing on Sunday night.

We made her do the same act in the cage of death. And just like last night, she sobbed through the whole thing, counting down the seconds before she could run from us once more.

Hayze hasn’t been himself since she said what she did. He let her sleep in his room last night, but he camped out in the living room with his nose stuck in one of his books until the early hours. Once both Rayvn and I were up, he pawned her off onto me and went to catch some sleep.

I can see from across the park that Hayze has his prop meat hook caught in her pocket as he drags her towards the center of the maze. I wait by the exit for her final attempt of the night with it being so close to closing.

It takes less than five minutes for me to see her black and orange sweater come into view from the wall of haunted houses. Her eyes are glued over her shoulder as she crouch walks towards the exit, bumping directly into me.

“Come on.” She whines.

The announcement for closing plays over the many speakers.

“Better luck next week.” I loop my arm over her body and pull her close to me just to piss her off. She pushes off of me but still follows me back towards the dressing room.

“Seek?” Beth’s voice comes from behind us.

“Fuck,” I curse under my breath. The change in my mood causes Rayvn to look up at me with knitted brows. “Hey, Beth.”