Page 197 of Stay Scared

Ash stands beside the opposite operator exit, one hand pressed to his injured shoulder. Blood marks the side of his shirt, and the founder key hangs against his chest.

He sees me, then Rook behind me, and reaches toward the mechanical lock box.

“Wait until he’s farther in.”

Ash stops.

Rook enters as the public camera above the bolted chair rotates toward us, and Owen restores the analog feed.

Ash remains beside the private exit while I stand between him and Rook. Cade holds outside the service corridor where I left him.

Rook pulls the outer door shut behind himself, leaving the latch loose.

“You brought me into the room where they made you the exception.”

“I brought you into the room where they finally told me the real rules.”

“They lied here too.”

“They told me the public attraction would ignore refusal.”

“And you stayed.”

“They gave me another choice.”

“Because Ash wanted you.”

Ash keeps his hand beside the lock.

Rook is completely inside now, but I am still between him and the operator exit.

Ash waits.

Rook looks toward him. “You would have locked that door before she took another step a few hours ago.”

“I would have.”

“You let her reduce you to staff.”

“She asked me to follow.”

Rook’s head tilts. “That is beneath you.”

“It isn’t beneath me. It’s new.”

Ash’s voice comes quietly through the red light.

Rook steps toward me, and I move backward across the floor with the bolted chair waiting beside the wall, its straps hanging open.

He raises the knife. “You needed them smaller before you could pretend the choice belonged to you.”

“I needed them to stop deciding what I meant.”

“You’re still inside their house.”

“I’m deciding what happens in it.”

Rook advances while I retreat toward the operator exit.