Page 51 of Wonder

He disappears from my view. We run for a few more seconds, Kayden’s breathing just as heavy as mine.

A shout rings out. A thud.

And then – agunshot.

I nearly stumble at that, and suddenly it’s Kayden keeping me upright. “Who was – who was that?”

He scans behind me. But his grip tightens, just a little. “I can’t see.”

My heart thumps.

Not them. Not them.

A loud siren blasts through the clearing.

“The race has finished.You may now stop running.”

We don’t stop. We collapse, both of us. I hit the ground hard, my body shaking as I try and fail to push myself up. Small rocks cut into my cheek, my palms, my bare arms.

My entire body is soaked with sweat.

Hours, we’ve been running.

But we made it.

Hands grab at me, rolling me over. Nausea surges, and I twist from them to lose the small amount of whatever the fuck is left in my body to the ground.

Hatter pushes my hair out of my face. He answers the question on my face before I can voice it. “Chess is fine. He’s here.”

But my muscles don’t unclench. “Buck—,”

“Aw, Trouble. Were you worried about me?”

I crane my head to look. He appears above me, a slow grin curling his lips. “That was interesting.”

Chess leans in next to him. He still looks angry at me. “You genuinely have theworstfucking ideas.”

I cough. But I find the energy to offer him my middle finger. “How – who—,”

Who died?

“Ask Buck,” Hatter mutters. “He worked a littleinterference.”

My eyes dart back to him. “You… you tripped someone? On purpose?”

Buck only winks, no hint of apology in his face. He keeps his voice low. “Don’t broadcast it. I made it look like an accident.”

My head thumps back into the ground. “Damn it, Buck.”

“You were about to pass out.” His voice tightens. “You’re welcome.”

I blink. Buck…saved my life. In a slightly disturbing way, but still. He told me he wouldn’t, told me he wouldn’t risk hispretty facefor me… but he did. “Tell me it wasn’t the other twin.”

“See for yourself.” Hatter lifts me carefully. Every muscle groans in protest as I sit up. Hatter’s arm wraps around me as he holds me steady.

I let out a long, shuddering breath. Kayden has his arms wrapped around his twin, his hand cupping his brother’s head as he listens to whatever he’s saying, his brows furrowed. His frown only deepens as he glances over to me.

But he doesn’t look angry. He looks at me as if… as if I’m a puzzle he’s trying to work out.