Page 45 of Bleeding Hearts (Pine Valley College #3)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

S itting on the edge of the bed, I glance back to see Alice asleep.

Her bare back is exposed where she’s cuddled into my pillow.

It might be the last time I see her, so I drink in the sight of her before forcing myself to move.

Standing, I tug the blankets up, covering her before I lean in and steal a kiss.

“I love you so much. I’m doing this for you, and I hope you’ll forgive me.” I slip from my dorm room. A note is on the desk, ready for when she wakes up, but it will be too late.

I will be gone.

It has to happen now before they vanish without a trace, thinking they got away with it.

It’s now or never.

They’ll be distracted tomorrow, dealing with the bodies and aftermath, so this is the chance I need.

I have the footage, now I just need a helping hand to put it all together. They control everyone, but they can’t control free information on the internet.

I have to do it for every life that was lost and the ones that were almost taken.

With or without the money, we all lost, and those behind Risk must pay.

If it’s the last thing I do, then I’ll be happy.

With a heavy heart, I walk outside and toward the car at the curb. Opening the door, I meet Leo’s worried gaze. He looks scared. “Are you ready?”

I climb in and shut the door, meeting his eyes once more as the car darkens. “Are you?”

“No, but let’s do this.” He puts it in gear, and then we are off. I glance back at my dorm where the woman I love sleeps.

They have to know she isn’t involved. I have to make sure of it.

I will always keep her safe, and as I turn away, I know I’m lucky I got to have her for as long as I did. I glance at Leo, and he gives me a knowing look. We are both risking everything, but we have our reasons.

The game asked what we are willing to risk.

Well, they are going to find out.

ALICE

Sighing happily, I snuggle into the warmth as my mind and body wake up.

When I open my eyes, sunlight streams into the room, which is strange since Lals always keeps the blinds shut for me until I’m awake.

I search the bed, but she isn’t here. Frowning, I sit up and turn around.

“Lals?” It’s quiet, so I slip from her sheets and check the bathroom, but she isn’t there either.

Confused, I pace around her room before heading to my phone on her desk. There is a note above it.

A crude heart is drawn on the front. It almost looks like it’s bleeding from her terrible coloring, which makes me smile. Opening it, I reread it a few times in confusion.

I’ll be back later. Don’t worry, it’s just something I have to handle. Everything is okay. Alek and Evan will be with you soon. Go have fun and spend time with your brother.

I love you.

Your Lals

Grabbing my phone, I shoot her a text.

Alice: Are you okay?

Alice: What are you up to?

After I shower and dress, she still hasn’t replied, so I send her another message.

Alice: Don’t worry about the money. We’ll figure it out. I love you.

My phone vibrates just then, and I smile, but it’s only my brother.

Alek: I’m downstairs. Evan says hurry up or the ice cream will melt even though I told him not to buy ice cream or to bring it in my car.

Smiling, I shake my head.

Alice: Did you stop him though?

Alek: Shut up, smarty pants, and get down here.

I pocket the note and head down to the idling car. Evan waves from the passenger seat, and it relaxes me. If something was wrong, he would know.

Alek and Evan arrived an hour after I woke up.

Apparently, Lally told them she would be busy today and ordered them to pick me up to hang out.

I try to fight it after eating ice cream, but I’m dragged back to Alek’s house and forced to watch reruns and eat crappy food.

We pass the day like that, but every time I check my phone, I see my calls and texts are unanswered, and a bad feeling builds within me.

She never ignores my texts.

Something is wrong. I just hope she knows when she’s figured it out, I’ll be right here waiting for her.

Turning to Evan, I smile slightly as my brother absentmindedly kisses his head, his eyes on the screen. I don’t think he even realizes he does it or how close he’s holding Evan.

For a moment, I just soak in their blissful happiness, knowing they fought to get it, but I need answers. “Evan?”

“Hmm?” He grabs some popcorn, shoving it into his mouth. “What’s up, cupcake?”

“Wait, I thought I was your cupcake,” Alek grumbles, and I raise an eyebrow. He meets my gaze. “I’m sweet, so what?”

“Sure thing, big bro,” I scoff as I focus on Evan. “What did Lally tell you?”

“She had something to do at school but didn’t want you on your own. She suggested we have a girls’—uh, boys’ day since we haven’t in a while, and she would be here later.” Evan shrugs before looking at me. “Why?”

“Anything else?” I press. This bad feeling won’t go away.

I don’t know what he hears in my tone, but he sits up and puts the popcorn away as he stares at me.

“She was acting weird the other day, telling me she loved me and was happy for me. She made me promise to look after you. I thought it was strange, but she said she was just feeling emotional after seeing Tommy’s memorial. ”

My heart clenches. She would only make him promise that if she didn’t plan to be here to look after me herself. What is she doing?

Is it about the money? School?

Alek reaches over and turns the film off, his eyes hard and worried.

“Tell me what’s going on right now.” When I hesitate, he grabs my hand.

“Alice, please, you’re scaring me. Are you okay?

Is Lally? What’s going on? Don’t think I don’t know you two have been keeping secrets.

I hoped you would come to me when you were ready, but I’m tired of waiting.

You’re my little sister, it’s my job to protect you, but I can’t do that if I don’t know what I need to do. ”

“And it’s my job to protect her.” Grabbing my phone, I pull up her number and call it again, but it doesn’t even go through. “Something’s wrong.”

“How do you know?” Evan asks worriedly.

I decide to just say fuck it and go ahead. She can be angry at me later. “Have you heard of Risk?”

They share a look. “Rumors,” Evan replies.

“It’s real, and it’s been happening here. Lally and I—we entered it.” The room is silent for a moment, and I wince.

“You what?” Alek surges to his feet, furious. “What were you thinking?”

“I’m okay. We are both okay. I was only hurt once, and I was in the hospital—” I cut off, and Alek stumbles to his knees, staring at me with heartbreak etched on his features. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to lie to you. I just . . . I needed to save her.”

“Alice.” He looks so pale and terrified, it kills me. “Tell me you didn’t. Tell me this is a joke. Tell me you didn’t risk your life in that stupid game.”

“I can’t,” I whisper.

“Why?” he asks, tears in his gaze. “If you needed money, you could have come to me. I would have given you everything.”

I knew it would hurt him, but seeing the destroyed, lost look on my big brother’s face has guilt eating me alive.

“She needed me,” I croak. “I couldn’t stop her, so I joined her. I had to keep her safe. If it had been Evan, what would you have done?”

“That’s different?—”

“It’s not!” I yell. “I love her!”

“And I love you! You’re my baby sister, and I almost lost you, and I didn’t even know it.” We stare at each other for a moment before Evan interrupts.

“All those accidents and deaths . . . they were because of Risk?” I turn to him and nod hesitantly. “And Lally knew?”

“She saw. We both did. Last night was the final game. She saved me and lost, but she was angry at them for getting away with it. I’m worried.

” I glance between Evan and Alek. I have no right to ask this after I lied to them, but they are my family.

“I know you’re mad, and we can talk about it later, but I can’t lose her.

What if she does something stupid? You don’t know these people.

They will do anything to protect the game, and they have.

It would be so easy to make her disappear.

Please, you have to help me find her before it’s too late. ”

“She wouldn’t put you in danger,” Evan whispers, “but she asked me to protect you . . . . Alice is right. Lally wouldn’t stand by and do nothing. It isn’t who she is. If what Alice said actually happened, then Lally would want them to pay. We have to find her.”

“I think I did,” comes a breathless voice, and we all turn to see Bones in the doorway, drenched from the rain, showing me his phone. We were so focused on our conversation, we didn’t even hear him come in. “Alice, she’s exposing it all. Silent Rose just found out. I swear we didn’t know.”

Grabbing his phone, I turn up the volume, my heart pounding as we gather around it.

“Now that more people are watching, I’ll begin for real.

I don’t have long until they find me, so I need to move quickly.

Along with this live broadcast, clips will be uploaded to prove the validity of my story.

You will see people who have recently been declared deceased from Pine Valley College.

These weren’t accidents. Those who have heard of Risk or played it know this is true.

Risk is a game sweeping through the city, offering people money in exchange for playing, but once you have signed up, there’s no going back, and so many have lost their lives while trying to win their sadistic survival game. I was almost one of them.”

I cover my mouth, fear filling me.

“The people who run this game don’t want this to get out, but by keeping it a secret, we are allowing them to murder innocents.

Right now, the truth is circulating. I couldn’t have gotten this out any other way.

They have bought everyone, even the police.

I can’t trust anyone, so I’m trusting all of you to get the truth out there.

This is not a hoax. This is real. Risk is real, and people have died.

My name is Lally Stewart, and I was a player.

Spread the news and use it to find them.

Attached to the videos is the wire transfer a friend managed to find connected to the winner of Risk.

It shows exactly who is behind this.” She looks into the camera.

“Senator Kellen, it’s nice to finally put a name to the man responsible for all those deaths.

You can’t hide anymore. You aren’t safe.

I might not be able to stop you alone, but a tidal wave of others can, and that makes it worth it.

You can’t hide behind masks anymore. We will find everyone involved and make you pay.

You asked us over and over what we were willing to risk, but you should ask yourself the same question because we are coming for you. ”

She stares right into the camera for a moment then taps her smiling lips, and I break.

I love you.

She’s telling me she loves me.

“To those behind it, you know where I am. I’m waiting.”

I’m on my feet before she can finish. I saw enough. I know where she is.

She’s going to die in the same place Tommy did.

Another sacrifice to save lives.

They will kill her.

Rushing out of the front door on bare feet, I sprint into the pouring rain.

I don’t even think as I run. My name is screamed behind me before the storm swallows the voices.

The sidewalk is too crowded, so I race into the road, veering around cars as I sprint down Main Street.

The pavement cuts my feet, but I ignore the pain, moving faster.

The acceptance in her eyes on that video haunts me. She knew they would kill her, but she did it anyway. She left me in bed to keep me safe while she risked her life to do the right thing.

I can’t lose her.

Tears stream down my cheeks as I scream and push myself faster.

She made me a promise and broke it.

She promised to be a coward, so why did she have to be a hero?

Cars honk and swerve, but I ignore them as I reach the road to campus.

I can feel it just like I did that night.

I’m going to be too late.