Page 162 of Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

And hope that I’m right.

Winter

“Wake up, you trash.”

I can’t get a grip on my senses when my eyes snap open and the pain from the punch that knocked me out pulses in my brain. I try to move, but my hands and feet are tied together. I feel the tape obstructing my mouth, and the fear slams against my rib cage.

I got kidnapped… again.

God damn it, everybody needs to stop kidnapping me!

What is this? This year’s new trend?

The large doors of the van squeak apart. Two shadows are standing idly in front of me, but I can’t discern their faces. Everything is blurry. The abundance of crickets outside hints that they took me to the middle of nowhere.

I have no idea how I’ll get out of this one alive.

“Finally.” I recognize Bianca’s silhouette. “Get her out of the car.” She motions to the guy responsible for my momentary dizziness, and he painfully drags me out by my hair. He’s wearing a mask. Coward.

Bianca… I always knew there was more to this girl. She couldn’t take a hint no matter how many times Haze pushed her away. She’s been obsessed with him for so long, I guess finding out that he might be leaving town for me was her breaking point.

She snapped.

How could we not see it? She literally came up to Haze tonight and offered him one last chance to love her back. To choose her.

And he chose wrong.

I finally recover my sight and get a good look around. We’re on top of a cliff, surrounded by miles and miles of empty fields. I can hear the waves loudly crashing against the rocks from here and imagine how my body colliding with them would feel. There is nothing around except an old barn that’s barely standing. No one to swoop in and save me.

No hope.

“Took you long enough to wake up.” The unknown guy pushes me to the ground, and I frown. That voice. It’s familiar. “How nice of you to join us for your last moments.”

He takes off his mask, and when I see his hateful blue eyes staring back at me, I wish I could say that I’m surprised… but I’d be lying.

Blake.

Of course it’s him.

Traitor one day, traitor always.

I blink back the tears burning my eyelids, wishing, praying that my death will be quick. At least I’ll die knowing I kicked him in the nuts and possibly ruined his chances of reproducing.

“You know, I’m actually kind of surprised that we succeeded. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that we did, but I thought the East side would have learned their lesson by now. This is, what, your second time being kidnapped on their watch?” He laughs.

I glance at Bianca, who’s standing a few steps back with her arms over her chest and a satisfied smile on her lips. She changed back into regular clothes. Imagine wasting the only prom of your life for a guy who doesn’t care.

“It was almost too easy, really. All I had to do was show up to your house, sneak a microphone in, feed the guys some shitty redemption lines, and voilà.” He puts his hands up as if he’s expecting applause.

This is why he was at the house that day. He’s been planning this for a while.

“Guess how we found out about your very convenient departure to Canada? Man, you must really be mind-blowing in bed for Haze Adams to consider swapping the palm trees for snow.” He laughs. I know that the microphone is how Bianca found out about this. We talked about it in the kitchen last night. “Oh, I’m sorry. Where are my manners? We’re missing the best part. Her afflictions, her torments. We don’t get to hear her beg for her pathetic life.”

I hold back tears when Blake tears the tape off my lips violently. He stares like he expects me to say something. But I do what any sane person would do instead. I scream. I scream as loud as I can. They don’t flinch. Blake even starts laughing. My despair is pointless. No one’s going to hear me.

“Really? You have nothing to say to me? I remember you being a lot chattier the last time your life was in my hands.” He cackles.

“Why are you doing this?” I finally whisper. I’m shaking.