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“Yes. But no. Twenty seconds.”
“A healthy heart. Strong lungs?”
“Headed in the right direction.”
What is harder to catch the faster you run?
Breath!
“Your breath!” I spit out eagerly. “That’s it. When you run fast, you lose your breath. The faster you run, the harder it is to catch.”
“Well done,” he says, tone flat. “Now get up. I’ve got better things to do than tail your ass in the woods.”
I was expecting more congratulations on his part. Then again, this is Neo.
Feeling depleted, I push myself off the ground, dirt embedded in my nails and my clothes caked in earthy debris.
We’re walking along in silence, Neo shining a flashlight in front of us, when I interrupt the quiet with a question that’s heavy on my mind. “Did Crew and Jagger know about this?”
I can hear his tongue clicking on the roof of his mouth and I imagine a smug look on his face as he says, “Of course they did.”
I always knew they disliked me because Neo made them turn their backs on me after Maddie’s accident, but I didn’t realize how much until now.
At the Gathering, Neo said these games will test not only your physical endurance, but also your mental stability. He never mentioned that they cause emotional damage. Walking out of these woods with Neo as my guide, I feel weak and belittled. I lost part of my dignity in the river and I’m choking on my pride as I follow behind Neo, knowing that, in his head, he’s thinking he won. Because tonight, he did.
ChapterEleven
SCARLETT
Since I misseddinner with Riley last night, I agreed to hang out with her and a few other girls at the hot springs right outside The Academy grounds. Technically, we’re not supposed to leave the property, but Riley claims students go there all the time. Normally, I wouldn’t give rule breaking a second thought, but after yesterday, I’ve been on edge.
Who came to our dorm wearing that robe? Did they come for me? And why on earth would they take pictures of me?
I still have Crew’s keys, but I have every intention of giving them back to him tomorrow during lunch. I’m not sure if we have any classes together, but Riley said all seniors eat lunch at the same time, and I damn well better be on that senior list. I don’t care what games they make me play to earn a rank; I will not be pushed into junior schedules and activities.
“Ready?” Riley asks when she returns from the bathroom.
“Yep,” I say as I pull a maize-and-blue Essex High hoodie over my head, covering my black, one-piece swimsuit. It’s not exactly summer,even if the water is warm.
Riley tosses me a towel, and I drape it around my neck. She looks all cutesy in a hot pink bikini with her hair in a high ponytail on top of her head. She covers herself up with a long-sleeved tee shirt, then we head out.
Following her through the door, I pull the scrunchie off my wrist and pile my hair in a messy bun on top of my head. “Who should I expect to see at this little swim party?”
“Just a few students. Mostly the girls from the senior cheer team.”
I quirk a brow, looking at her as we turn down the stairs. “And guys?” I’m not asking because I have any interest in the guys here. My hope is that none of The Lawless will be there. I’ve never felt intimidated by any of them before coming here, but something about this place and their power leaves me with an empty feeling in my stomach. I knew being here under their authority would suck, but I didn’t expect it to suck this bad. I’m torn between telling them to fuck off and abiding by their rules, so I can leave this place unscathed. My pride is a pesky little bitch.
“About that,” Riley winces, stopping with her hand on the door. My head immediately shakes no. I’ll go back up to my room right now if she’s telling me they’ll be there. “I sort of got us a ride.”
My shoulders slump while my expression does the same. “You’re kidding, right?”
She pushes open the door and, sure as shit, our rides are here.
Two guys with helmets and UV goggles sit on the seat of their dirt bikes, with extra helmets hanging from their hands. Both are wearing matching red-and-black riding gear. I don’t even have to see their faces to know it’s two of the three Lawless members. I’m just not sure which ones. My guess is Jagger and Crew. Regardless of who it is, I’m not going.
“Nope!” I pivot around and head back for the stairs.
“Scarlett, please!” Her whines are like nails on a chalkboard. You’d do anything to stop it. “It’s the last day before classes begin, and we need to have some fun. I can’t have fun without my new bestie there.”
