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Sliding the gear back into first, I release my foot off the clutch before slowly driving forward. Gravel crunches under my tires as the headlights fight against the darkness up ahead. It looks like a road to nowhere or one that leads over a cliff. Not sure which is which right now.
I press my foot harder on the accelerator until I’m crawling through the darkness with nothing but the blinkers of my headlights to guide me. Movement grips my attention from outside my window, and I turn quickly but exhale when I see it’s just the trees dancing against the wind. I’m being ridiculous. This is The Game everyone talks about, yet no one knows about. It can’t bethat bad.I try to think who I know has played. Cooper, I think, judging by his reaction at the party.
Finally, a house comes into view up ahead, and I shuffle up in my seat to get a better look. Saying it’s a house is probably an understatement. Concrete walls make up the vast space of the castle-like home. Green moss extends from the cracks, connecting to rogue ivy that grows over the windows on the top floor. There’s an old fountain at the front of the house, but I can’t see the door until I drive around and under the large undercover area.
I roll to a stop, pulling up behind another Porsche. There are three others.
I cut the engine just as another car rolls up beside mine. The tint of the window makes it difficult to see who it is, but I reach for the door handle and step out, slamming it behind me. The door of the Porsche in front of mine opens too, and then the one beside it.
A body rolls out the driver’s side and stands straight. I don’t recognize him, but he looks around the same age as me. He dips his head at me as I watch the car beside him. I recognize the girl who climbs out of that car and smile at her briefly.
“Anyone know what’s about to happen?” Kayla asks, slamming the door and leaning on the side of her car. She’s dressed the same as me, with pajamas and a hoodie.
The door from the car beside mine finally opens, and Ruin steps out, his eyes on me instantly. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“What?” I cross my arms in front of me. “I should ask you the same thing.”
Cooper sidesteps around the front of my car. “Shi, you should have saidno.”
“Why?” I widen my eyes at him, annoyed that he’s annoyed I’m here. “It’s a game, isn’t it? Why can’t I play too?”
He sighs, running his hand through his hair. Cooper is only a few inches taller than me, but I’m taller for a girl, standing around five-seven.
“Anyone know anything about this game?” the boy I don’t know asks, leaning on his car as we all wait for the next instructions.
The front door has four paned, stained glass windows at the front, where you can see a soft light drifting through, but other than that, there seems to be no sign of life. None. Zilch.
I run my palms up and down my arms, shaking my head. “No. I don’t. I only really heard about it tonight at the—party on the beach.”
“I know a bit…” Cooper says quietly, and just as I’m about to ask him to spill, the front door opens, and a woman steps out, her heels clapping against the concrete.
She has long black hair that’s straightened down her back, a side fringe, crimson red lipstick, and dark liner around her eyes. Her body is curvy. Her hips widen out from her small waist that leads to her long legs. A tight black dress hugs those curves, her boobs spilling out over the top.
Her eyes drift over all of us as her blood-red lips turn into a half-smirk. “Good evening, children. I am so glad you made it.” She steps down toward us, gesturing to someone to her side.
A man stands there dressed in a suit, his shoulders wide, and legs parted as if he’s there to work. Security. A metal phantom mask covers his face, which, realistically, should be a red flag.
Twirling her finger in the air, she gestures toward herself as she starts walking the same way we drove in. “Come on, minions. It’s time for your first game.”
It is dark, but the full moon shines over us all as we follow her.
“Give me a rundown,” I whisper to Ruin, who has made it obvious that he’s sticking beside me. How did I end up with both my best friend and my toy during my time of this mysterious game?
“Alright.” He cracks his neck, leaning in close as we continue to follow her past the front of the house. “First thing I’m going to tell you is that you need to pay attention to her cues. If she touches her ear, she recommends you, if she taps her lips, she wants you out, and if she curls her finger over her ear before coming around to her mouth, run.”
“Well, that’s reassuring,” I mumble back at him beneath my breath as she rests her wrist upside down over a small gap in the gate. I’m guessing it takes us to the back of the house, but why the hell did she make us walk around it instead of taking us through the house? Or maybe it’s her house and she doesn’t want anyone going through.
A beep sounds, and I follow Ruin as she steps aside, her eyes looking me up and down.
“The Game of the evening is this…” I bang into Cooper’s back, holding him in place.
“Sorry.”
“Hello, pretty one…” The woman steps up to me, running her finger down the side of my face. “Are you feeling sleepy?”
“Ru—” Dark green colors from the forest that backs up to the house mixes with the bright blue water of the pool. I try to stay focused, but my throat throbs as though I can’t take in air fast enough.
“Go to sleep.” She clicks her fingers, and I’m out.
