Page 39 of Bleeding Hearts (Pine Valley College #3)

He stares at me, and I stare back. “Going to kill me? Ah, that wouldn’t be part of the game though, would it? Got to have a good show, right?” I blow into his mask. “I’ll be seeing you soon.” I turn and sit as they move to Teresa.

Alice stares at me, her face pale.

“What? Like I can let you have all the fun,” I scoff.

Teresa draws our attention, looking at us then back at the gun. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“Five,” the wrangler begins.

“T, don’t,” Poppy begs, but Teresa lifts her hand and grips the gun, pressing it to her forehead. She glances at Poppy, and for a moment, a million unsaid things flow between them, private things that make me feel weird for even being here, and then she pulls the trigger.

Nothing happens, and she slumps as she lays the gun in the box, and the wrangler moves to Poppy. I try to count . . . to think. It could keep going. Lord, forgive me, but I hope it doesn’t.

That makes me a terrible person, but it’s true.

Poppy takes the gun, weighing it in her hands for a moment before she looks at Teresa.

“I need you to know that I love you. I know we never said it, both of us too scared, but I do. I love you. You’re the person I imagine my future with, and I’m sorry I was always too worried about losing you to say it. ”

“Poppy—” Teresa reaches for her.

Poppy glances at the empty seat and the body still lying behind it, then she lifts the gun. “No, don’t, we can find—” The trigger is pulled, the shot loud as Poppy falls forward and hits the table, the gun falling from her limp hand.

Teresa’s horrified screams fill the air, ragged and never-ending.

Teresa drags Poppy into her embrace, gripping her head. “I love you. I love you too. I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I was scared too. I’m not anymore. Can’t do this without you.”

As the wrangler turns away, Teresa leans in and kisses Poppy’s lips, and something inside me tightens. “Teresa, don’t—” I say, but it’s too late.

She snatches the gun at the wrangler’s waist, presses the barrel to her head, and pulls the trigger. Her limp body crumbles over Poppy’s.

The wrangler turns, grabs another gun from his boot and aims it at us, but we are silent.

She killed herself.

She killed herself to be with the one she loves.

My gaze turns to Alice, and I know I would do the same. If she were to—no, I can’t even think it.

“It’s over,” Alice whispers as she takes my hands. “It’s over, Lals.”

“Why doesn’t it feel like it’s over?” I mutter as the wranglers line up. My heart soars, only to be crushed. The doors don’t open, and the windows stay locked.

“Let us go! You said three rounds!” someone yells.

“They aren’t letting us go,” I murmur.

“Due to spiteful whispers, we will have a bonus round!” the voice calls, and in unison, the wranglers clap. Each one makes me jerk with their thunderous sound.

My eyes scan the crowd before I look at Alice. “They are weeding us out. They are punishing us for our disobedience.”

“Table five and six have been selected to participate.” Two wranglers walk toward us and the table next to us where the woman tried to run away.

I was right. It’s a punishment.

I angered them, as did she, and now we are paying for it.

“The rounds will be continuous until only three people from both tables remain.”

That means one of us has to die—either me or Alice or one of them.

“Lals,” Alice whispers.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.” I nod, but it isn’t fucking okay.

The gun is set on the table between us.

“The game is now commencing. You have three seconds to pull the trigger,” the voice announces.

Picking it up, I take aim and fire, then I pass it to Alice. “We just need to outlast them,” I say, which is horrible but true.

I see them doing the same. There is one man and one woman.

I don’t know them, but they look as scared as we are.

They each drag it out until the end of the three seconds, so I do the same when Alice passes it back.

She notices and does it as well as we pass it back and forth between us while I try to plan.

When it’s Alice’s turn, I stop her, my hand on her arm as I count back.

That’s when it hits me.

The bullet is in the chamber.

Stealing the gun from her, I press it to my head. The bullet is all that’s left. I meet her gaze as she reaches for me. “It’s my turn,” I snap. “You missed me.” The wrangler doesn’t notice that I’m lying, so he doesn’t stop me. If I’m going to do it, then I’m not messing it up. Not this time.

“Lally—”

I memorize her face, allowing myself that one last look. “I love you.” I press my finger against the trigger, ready to fire, just as a loud shot goes off. Alice smacks the gun down, and I automatically remove my finger as we whirl around to see the female face down on table six.

“Congratulations! Those who won the bonus round will receive a helping hand in the final game. You’re now all free to go, players. Thank you for playing Risk tonight.”

The shutters roll up, and everyone dashes for the exit, but Alice and I stay rooted in place, staring at each other. We came close to losing everything tonight.

Standing, I tug her to her feet and turn to hide my shaking hands as we glance around at the bodies left on the floor like trash.

“Let’s go home.” My words are forced and sad, and we hold each other tightly as we head for the door.

Suddenly, a wrangler steps into our path, and I push Alice behind me. “Don’t defy the game masters again. You won’t get a second chance.” He steps aside, and I hurry out before they change their minds, dragging Alice with me.