Page 31

Odessa

N at’s blank eyes stared up into the void, unblinking and lifeless. Blood still dripped from her mouth as her body stilled.

I knew it was stupid to become attached to anyone down here, but it was human nature, after all, to form connections. To care. And I cared so fucking much.

A white-hot rage roiled in my belly at the unfairness of it all as two twin tears spilled over onto my cheeks.

I wondered if the gods were watching now, reveling in our torment.

We were only here for their entertainment.

A spectacle of blood and betrayal. We were nothing but rats in a maze to them as they looked on, watching us struggle in vain.

Did they cast bets to see who would make it to the end?

Did they make a toast of nectar for the fallen, or laugh when our mortal lives were snuffed out in such brutal ways?

“I hope you’re happy you fucking bastards!” I found myself screaming, my entire body shaking uncontrollably.

It was blasphemy to question the gods like I was, but I didn’t care anymore. Let them smite me.

Dex closed Nat’s eyes as I said the words of our people over her corpse.

“May the God of Death grant you entry past the gates of Nirvana. May your soul find the rest our world could not give you. May your memory live on in those who knew you. And may your death not be in vain,” I added in that last part for myself, needing to feel a sense of justice despite everything.

We’d lost so many along the way and for what?

A chance at riches and power to become more like the gods that placed us here?

“Come on, we should keep moving,” Dex said, gripping my hand and pulling me up. I nodded, knowing he was right.

It was just the two of us now.

Both our teams had been completely obliterated by this labyrinth full of traps. I wondered where The Healer had run off to. That cowardly bitch. If I saw her again, I’d take her power with no hesitation.

We took off running. Away from the flames and away from Nat’s fallen body. The room we had come from was empty, but it wasn’t far enough from the impending threat.

“Doesn’t that guy’s power ever give out?” I asked, feeling sour that my own power seemed to be waning.

“Yours giving you problems?” Dex asked.

How honest did I want to be? It was just the two of us now, and admitting weakness could give him the edge he needed to take me out.

He was all I had left down here, and while a part of me felt inappropriately attracted to him, clinging to him for safety, another part of me felt like I had to keep my guard up.

Dex could turn at any second, deciding that he wanted to win.

“Nope, no problems, just wondering if he’ll ever tire out,” I said finally, feeling the heavy lie upon my tongue.

Dex gave me a look that lasted a moment too long, like he was trying to figure out if I was telling the truth or not. I wasn’t, but I’d rather keep my shortcomings a secret.

Exhaustion took up residence in every muscle, weighing me down with each step.

The strenuous labor of having to run for my life was taking a toll, but if I stopped moving, it would give The Pyro enough time to catch up.

I wanted to curl up and take a nap. I wanted to gorge myself on food and clean my body of the dust that had become like a second skin.

We had to find a way to the end, or at least, somewhere hidden that we could take refuge in.

The tunnel continued on, winding into what felt like circles.

We talked only when we had to alert the other of an upcoming obstacle.

The deaths of my fellow contestants weighed heavy on me, but I couldn’t afford to ruminate over it.

They weren’t coming back and nothing I did could make that a reality.

They were gone for good, but I was still here, and I still had a chance to make it out. I just had to be smart.

The image of my family’s faces kept my feet moving through the fatigue.

Knowing they were depending on me to make it out had me pushing my body past what I knew it was capable of.

I wasn’t big on working out in my everyday life.

I didn’t have much time for it between studying and helping out at home.

By the time my day was done, I usually collapsed into bed.

Going from that to nonstop movement was more strenuous than I realized it would be.

The fire finally began to die out behind us, becoming less and less until the threatening glow was extinguished completely.

“Fucking finally,” Dex said.

I couldn’t agree more.

“Who all is left? The Healer, The Pyro?—”

“I didn’t see The Gear with them.”

“Do you think they killed him?”

“That or the traps got him.”

“Do you think Reed is still alive?”

“If he is, I hope the bastard knows I’ll kill him without a second thought for leaving us,” Dex answered.

I couldn’t really blame him. Watching Reed walk away from our team felt like an ultimate betrayal.

Especially since it led to Killian’s and Nat’s deaths.

Had he helped us over, maybe things would have turned out differently.

“How do you think the gods watch us?” I asked, changing the subject after a moment. The question had been percolating in my mind.

He shrugged. “Hell, if I know.”

I studied Dex, then. The arrogant swagger that he’d always displayed seemed to have abandoned him. It was replaced by determination and a hint of fear.

“Do you worship the gods, Dex? I feel like I don’t know anything about you, but I’ve been acting like you’re the only one I can trust down here.”

He turned and looked at me, stopping for a moment. Icy colored eyes bouncing across my face in the minimal light. The way he looked at me burned hotter than if The Pyro had caught up with us. It was full of unspoken words and longing. So much longing that it hurt.

“You’re taken, Odessa. I could tell you my favorite color, and how much I like to eat a scone with jelly in the mornings.

I could discuss the gods and my thoughts on this fucked up game we’ve been playing.

” He gripped my arms, and I instinctively moved closer to him, feeling my breath catch in my chest as he stared down at me.

“I could tell you that I know I shouldn’t be drawn to you like I am, and that the fact that you have a ring on your hand marking you as someone else’s kills me.

I could tell you all these things, but it won’t change the fact that allowing you to know me would just give me hope.

And hope in a place like this, is dangerous.

You shouldn’t want to know me, Odessa. But if you want to know something, know that I’ll do what I can to protect you. ”

I didn’t know what to say. He was right. I shouldn’t want to know him, but I did. I had so many questions. A part of me wanted to trust him. To take what he was saying as fact. But to do so could sign my own demise.

“Don’t ask to know me unless you plan to stick around,” Dex said.

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He let me go then with a sigh.

“That’s what I thought,” he said, sounding disappointed.

It wasn’t easy for me. I’d known Theo my entire life.

And I loved him. At least I thought I did.

Granted, I’d never felt an ounce of how I felt being around Dex.

Just a small touch from Dex set my skin on fire.

If I loved Theo, wouldn’t I feel that way about him?

Everything felt like I’d done it out of obligation.

I’d never really chosen anything for myself.

Could I really choose Dex? I didn’t know the answer to that.

All I knew is that we had to keep moving and find our way out of here.