Page 32 of Cracked Ice (The F*cked Up Players #1)

“Look if you really need—”

“It’s all good. I’m going to go out for a bit.” I push off the wall and pursue the urge to escape with wild fervor. I need to get out of here. Out of this kitchen. Out of my skin. I need to run as fast as I can until the ghosts of the past haunting me go away.

“Please . . . don’t do anything stupid,” he pleads.

I pause, then turn away to leave before answering, “I make no promises.”

“Text me if you need me!” he shouts, soliciting the attention of what I’m sure is the scrutiny of everyone at this party with his commanding voice.

I throw a two-finger salute behind me, acknowledging his words, but ignoring his plea. We both know I will be doing no such thing. I’m absolutely going to do something stupid, and if all goes according to plan, I won’t need him tonight. I’ll finally get some fucking sleep.

SYDNEY

This is the first time I’ve followed him off campus and I’m regretting it.

Luckily, I came prepared. I’m hidden in a two-sizes-too-big hoodie and dark sweatpants.

Every time he turns his head—which is a lot—I duck behind a tree and hide in the darkness.

The years of figure skating training aid in my ability to be light on my feet, and I’m grateful.

Any louder and I’d be caught for sure. The game would end—I would likely get hit with a restraining order and serious repercussions for my actions. We can’t have that .

We’re in a wooded area with no end in sight, until we’re striding toward a huge warehouse. The clearing is filled with cars, trucks, and what looks like spare auto parts. The air smells old and stale, like it has remained untouched by civilization for a while.

Bellemere is a huge university that sits on the edge of an abandoned town just across the way from Seattle.

It’s a perfect location for a college campus because we can easily cross over to Seattle in about half an hour and enjoy the city life or trek farther out to participate in the secluded bonfire parties and barn hangouts in the forested countryside of Washington.

This must be the latter because, though the sprinkle of buildings of this old town appears abandoned by society, it’s flourishing with activity as lights stream between the cracked boards of the decrepit warehouse. Loud shouts and screams bleed into the once-silent night air.

I hang back and watch as Lucien talks to the two burly men manning the door. What the hell needs protecting in a building that’s falling apart? He finishes his small talk and walks inside. I give him five minutes before following again.

“Password?” one of the security guys asks, his tone gruff and devoid of all pleasantries.

“Password?” I mouth. Shit. I hadn’t thought this through. I have no clue what kind of place this is, let alone what the secret fucking password is.

Maybe they’re just messing with me, testing me in case I’m a narc or whatever.

“Seriously? I just saw you let that other guy in,” I retort.

The other security man shines a flashlight in my face, blinding me at first before chuckling.

“Oh, hell no. Look, little girl, get the fuck outta here. This is no place for you to be,” he sneers.

“I was invited,” I lie, folding my arms in defiance and cocking my hip out.

He’s a scary looking dude. Big and bald with a cobra tattooed on his scalp. A giant bull ring is strung through his nostrils and I’m pretty sure the tattoo on his neck reads “Snitches Die.” He looks me up and down, aware of my dishonesty.

“No, you weren’t,” he says.

“How do you know?” I snap. I have no clue where this sense of bravery is coming from. If I were back home, I’d be running and screaming at the sight of a man like him, but infatuation makes a girl do crazy things.

“Because nobody in their right mind would ever bring someone like you here.” His laugh is boisterous and hearty like the thought is truly inconceivable. “And even if some nutcase did, there’s no way they’d let you come alone.”

What the fuck is this place?

I turn my attention to the building behind him when I hear more shouting and applause, but it’s nothing like the roar of an arena crowd. This sounds like the violent cheering of a riot or a murderous mob.

“Look, I’m going to give you ten seconds to get out of here before I physically remove you,” he drawls gruffly.

Eww. No thank you.

The silent one that stood menacingly at his side, though shorter in stature, is even more intimidating with a tattoo of a haunted clown on the side of his face.

Who are these guys? And what the hell does Lucien have to do with them?

“Fine.” I hold my hands up in defeat, my oversized sleeves sliding down to my elbows. “I’m going!”

The shorter one licks his lips at the reveal of my skin. “Yeah, get a move on,” he rasps, his voice hoarse and wet.

The words, a warning of the unfavorable alternative if I choose to stay.

Apparently, elbows do it for him .

I can feel them both staring as I trudge away, but once I’m sure I’m in the clear, I circle back, avoiding the front entrance and sneaking around to the western side. There’s no entrance or exit to sneak through, but the building is so full of cracks, it’s not hard to listen.

I hear an announcer.

“You know ‘im! You love ‘im! He never gives his name, but he always gives us a show! Ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes ‘cause it’s about to get ugly!”

I’d give anything to see inside, but I spent this month’s allowance getting rid of the Mary girl, so I don’t have enough to even bribe the guys out front.

Ugh, this is why you don’t make financial decisions when you’re emotional.

Though, even if I did have the cash, something tells me money isn’t what they would bargain for.

I rub my forehead with the sleeve of my hoodie, my makeup transferring to the dark material.

This was such an amateur move. I followed Lucien to this shady fucking place with no idea how to get back because I wasn’t paying any attention to my surroundings. I don’t even know how long he’s going to be in there.

I hop up on the rusted hood of an old pickup that looks like I’d have a serious need for a tetanus shot if it so much as scratched me, but it’s a solid sitting space while I listen and wait.

“Get him!” A shrill voice from the crowd shouts.

“Break his arm!” Another one yells.

“Yes! Fuck him up!” This from a voice that sounds like they smoke truck exhaust.

I can hear harsh blows being exchanged. I’d say it’s obvious a fight is going on, but I can’t believe Lucien would come here for fun. Then again, I don’t know what he does for fun.

@BladeSpinner

What do you do for fun?

I wait for him to respond, but he doesn’t. Even though he acts annoyed by the messages I send him, he has never not answered, except when he had me blocked for that brief time. But he’s unblocked me since then, so what’s his deal?

I tap my finger against the screen of my phone, my nails clacking against the glass.

Flopping back, I sigh.

This was stupid .

Group chat

Bellemere Figure Skating Team

Tiffany 10:37 PM

Sydney, I hope you’re okay. So weird that you missed practice. You’re usually always here, so you must be sick or hurt.

Regina 10:37 PM

We’re all working really hard to do well at the upcoming competition. It’s not cool for you to just not show up. Sick or not, you could have told us.

I roll my eyes. Regina’s not even pretending to be sincere like Tiffany, but I start to feel bad when the other messages come in. Especially from Hannah who’s finally feeling better after her own bout with illness.

Hannah 10:40 PM

That’s a little harsh, Regina. She must be feeling terrible if she’s missing practice. Sydney never misses a practice, and she stays later than the rest of us.

Shane 10:45 PM

I’m Switzerland, but I do agree it’s ONE day. Cut her some slack.

Regina 10:47 PM

That’s the exact opposite of being Switzerland, Shane.

Bria 10:50 PM

As long as she doesn’t slow us down, I don’t care. No offense, Sydney.

That’s big talk when she’s the slowest among us. I, at least, managed a pleasing enough score to secure a runner-up spot. She didn’t even place.

Tiffany 11:00 PM

We’re sending you well wishes, Sydney. Take however long you need.

It’s ironic that Tiffany is the only one of them who rightfully considers me a threat.

Sydney 11:01 PM

Thanks

I lie on the hood staring up at the sky while I attempt to drudge up a fuck to give about what they have to say.

I didn’t mean to miss practice. We walked forever .

I hadn’t expected to be stranded this far from campus with no way of getting back on my own.

I suppose I could try to find a way, but whatever Lucien’s doing in there can’t be too much longer.

I wake with a start. Astonished that I not only managed to fall asleep in such a precarious situation, but that I did it so easily. Jesus .

I rub my eyes with my sleeves and shiver. The temperature dropped as night stretched on into early morning. According to my phone it’s three. So, really early morning.

Crowds of people are filtering out in droves, despite the late hour. I hop down from the truck and watch the faces of people who look nothing like the university kids I’m used to.

I wait another five minutes, my hands tucked into my sleeves like makeshift gloves as I rub my forearms, attempting to generate heat.

Come on, Lucien, where are you?

The lot is almost empty before a singular figure emerges from the warehouse. His gait is different from the ones who filed out before him. I know who it is instantly, but my feet don’t move to follow him as quickly as these last few weeks. Something’s off.