Page 39 of Poisoned Pawns (The Gamemakers Trilogy #1)

Ivy-All Alone

Watching the sunrise while riding Kellen’s cock was absolutely the most romantic experience I’ve ever had.

We simply couldn't keep our hands off of one another. Not during our shower, eating breakfast, getting dressed, or driving me back to the sorority house. After exchanging numbers and promising to text later that evening, he kissed me goodbye with strict instructions to rest and not make plans tonight. He wants to take me out to dinner, then work on our English Lit projects. The man is swoon worthy, and I still don’t know if this is truly reality, or am I stuck in some fantasy world?

Laying in my bed, I grab my phone from the nightstand and text the girls in our group chat. I’m a little worried that I haven’t heard from either of them and it's already past noon.

Me:

Give me all the deets. Who ended up being the chosen ones?

The three little bubbles pop up but then disappear. That's odd. So I type out another message.

Me:

Are you both at the house? I’m in my room if you want to come tell me how the night went. I’ve got a bunch to fill you both in on.

Again, the bubbles pop up and disappear. My eyes begin to get heavy as I wait for whoever is writing a novel to finally send the message, but sleep takes me under, and I’m thrusted into a nightmare.

I’m in Pierce's room, sitting on the bed, leaning on the post as my head lulls.

“How much did you give her?” a familiar voice asks in the distance.

“Exactly what you told me to,” a deeper voice responds. “What's the plan here? I’m not trying to go to jail for murder,” he states.

“She has to die. I’m sick of her getting all the guys.

Everyone loves her, and she killed the only one I ever loved because he loved me back.

She has to pay,” she snarls, shoving me back onto the bed.

My eyes roll as my chest gets extremely heavy.

I try to open my eyes, but I can’t. I feel like dead weight laying in this bed.

Hands touch my body, groping me in places I don’t want to be touched.

A deep whisper against my ear, as the person bites on my lobe.

I'm so in and out of consciousness that I don’t understand the words being whispered.

“Make it look like she was gang raped. Do what you need to do, but make it hurt!”

My eyes pop open and I jolt up in bed as I hear yelling right outside my door.

Getting up, I wipe my eyes while stumbling to the door and swinging it open.

“What the fuck is going on?” I ask, still groggy from just waking up.

What was that dream? Whatever it was, I did not like it.

It actually makes me feel sick to my stomach. And whose voice was that?

A shrilling scream comes from down the stairs, so I go see what the hell is happening.

My head spins as chaos ensues around me, and I’m still not fully awake to process all the surrounding movement.

Someone slams into me from behind, nearly sending me flying down the stairs, but I grab hold of the railing and snarl.

Turning back, I walk down the hallway to Everly’s room and see it's empty. Bed made like she hasn’t come home yet. Then I head to Millie’s and see the same thing. Empty. Where the fuck are they?

Heading down the stairs, officers litter the foyer with pen and paper in hand, talking to multiple girls. I shoulder bump Sienna, and she looks at me with tears in her eyes.

“What is going on?” I ask, and she pulls me into a hug as she sobs into my neck.

“Beth was found dead along the shoreline of the river along with a few others missing,” she states, and I gasp.

“Beth is dead,” I say in shock, knowing damn well I’m the cause of it.

“Y-yes. The cops are saying we have a serial killer on the loose, and they want to place a curfew on the university,” she informs me, and I raise a brow.

“Why just the university? Who else is missing?” I ask, and she huffs.

“Because Warren is dead. Beth is dead. Pierce Darington’s Beemer was found demolished on the side of the road, his body never found–” I cut her off.

“What do you mean Pierce’s Beemer was demolished?”

“Exactly what I said, Ivy. Keep up! Jesus!” she mocks. Silas is missing, now Pierce. I need to check my phone and see where the hell the girls are. What the fuck is happening?

“I’ll be right back. I need to get my phone,” I say, running up the stairs and into my room to grab my phone. Swiping the screen, I check the group chat and there’s nothing.

Me:

You guys, this isn't funny. The cops are here and you two are nowhere to be found. Please call me.

While switching to my thread with Pierce, I see Desmond messaged me. Opening it, my hand flies over my mouth.

Desmond:

I know you hate me right now, but I found Silas. I’m leaving the university to go get him. I’ll let you know once we’re safe.

But there’s no text after that. What the fuck? Does that mean they aren’t okay, or did he forget to text me? I was so wrapped up with killing Beth and then Kellen that I missed this text. I’m so fucking mad at myself. How could I be so distracted like this?

Me:

Des. Are you guys okay? Please let me know that you both are safe. There’s also been an accident. Call me.

Switching over to Pierce's thread, I press the call button and bring the phone to my ear. It rings and rings and rings. My fucking heart aches in my chest. Where the fuck is everyone? I call again, but this time it goes straight to voicemail.

“Fuckkkkkk!” I yell.

“Uh, Ivy. The officers want to speak with you. They are questioning all our whereabouts last night,” Sienna tells me, and I nod. Walking out of my room, I see the same detective who arrested me not too long ago.

“Miss Bloodworth, can we chat for a moment? I promise not to take up too much of your time,” he states, and I nod.

“Go on,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

“What were your whereabouts yesterday?”

“I went to class, came back here, hung out with my friends, attended the annual scavenger hunt, and slept at a friend's apartment. Now I’m here,” I tell him as he writes everything down on his little pad.

“I see. When was the last time you saw Beth Cleary?”

“Um… After she gave us our lists for the hunt. Me and my friends left out of the back door and went into the woods,” I say.

“Uh, huh. Did you hear any screaming while you were playing this game?”

“Of course I did, but they weren’t screaming for help. It was more screams followed by laughter,” I tell him, and he nods.

“Where did you spend the night?”

“With Kellen Blackwood, off campus at his apartment,” I tell the truth, and he nods again.

“Thank you, Miss Bloodworth. If I have any further questions, I’ll be in touch,” he states, then spins to go to speak to the next girl.

Once he disappears around the corner. I shut the door to my room and call Everly, but just like Pierce, it goes straight to voicemail.

I try Millie next. Same. Fucking. Thing.

I repeatedly call the girls and the guys, and I get nothing but voicemail after voicemail. I’m not sure what the hell to do here.

I lay in my bed, trying to calm down my anxiety which is ready to send me into panic mode.

I’m hoping the girls are having a good time and their phones are dead and will be back soon.

I’m not sure what excuse I can come up with for the guys, but I’m hoping that everyone is okay and I’m just overreacting for nothing.

“Fuck!” I can’t help myself. I keep calling one after another for hours, and it's not until my phone vibrates in my hand, causing me to jump out of my skin, scaring the shit out of me. I open the message as I notice it’s from the site with the skull and red x.

Unknown:

I know where Everly and Mildred are. Click the coordinates. Come alone!

Me:

Okay.

Unknown:

Good girl, Little Killer.

Clicking the coordinates, I know exactly where they are. Katie’s dad bought the land so he could renovate the abandoned house to be closer to his children. It just never happened, so I wonder what the hell the girls are doing there, and how the fuck this guy knew that?

Grabbing my keys and a hoodie, I head out of my room, down the stairs, and out into the evening. The sun is starting to set as I get into my Range Rover and turn her on. Pulling away from the sidewalk, my phone pings and I reach into my pocket and read the message.

Kellen:

I miss you already, Darlin’. I hope you slept well. See you in a few hours.

Me:

Same. I slept okay. Should’ve just stayed with you. I can’t wait for later.

Putting my phone in the cupholder, I get on the highway, praying that the girls are okay and this isn’t some kind of game.

Who am I kidding? This is nothing but a game, and I’m the idiot falling right into it. Fuck my life.