Page 52 of Wonder

I slump against Hatter, soaking in the warmth of his body. “Why do you all look as if you’ve got a warm glow from an hour of gentle jogging, and I feel as though I’ve drowned in a vat of my own sweat?”

Seriously. They’re all too pretty for their own damn good.

Hatter presses his lips together as if he’s trying not to laugh. “She needs water.”

Chess helps him to lift me, steadying my trembling legs. “The sun will be coming up soon. We ran for a long time.”

Hours, if he’s right.

“Please say they’ll let us rest in between these shitshows,” I mutter. Hatter nods, and I sag in relief. A crackling sound ripples, and everyone tenses.

“Participants,” Red trills. “What a wonderful evening of entertainment you’ve provided. Eight of you remain to take part in tomorrow’s festivities, and we havequitethe party planned. In the meantime, you’ll want to get some rest in.”

The sound cuts out. More crackling. “Please proceed to the elevator.”

My legs stumble beneath me, and Chess swings me up against his chest. “One night down.”

Two more to go.

But in the euphoria of surviving our first night, none of us mention it.

Sighing, I let my head fall against Chess’s chest. “A shower isscreamingmy name. Very fucking loudly.”

Even in that horrific excuse for a communal bathroom.

21 – Kayden

Aiden grips me, his hold immovable. And… I let him. Just for a minute. “I’m fine.”

“Yes,” he breathes. And his voice – it shakes. “She… sheheld you up. Jesus, Kayd.”

For hours. She risked her life for a fucking stranger, risked Red’s punishment for me.

My eyes flit to where she’s laying on the ground. She looks as though she’ll collapse any minute, but she meets my gaze, her expression impenetrable.

She lifts her chin, as if daring me to approach.

I don’t. Not yet.

Instead, I examine her. She looks as though one good breeze would knock her over, but I felt the strength in her grip.

She refused to let go. Took my weight, held me up on her own when my damn useless knee went from under me.

I thought she was an easy target. The first one to fall, most likely. But now I’m not so sure.

And I find myselfcurious, about this girl with a hidden core of steel.

Aiden is watching her too as he pushes his shoulder under mine and we begin limping to the elevator. “I need to thank her.”

I grunt. “She already has a tribe following her around.”

He hums, but there’s something considering in it. “Maybe there’s a reason for that.”

Nothing good will come of Aiden’s puppy-dog expression. We’re probably all going to be dead in forty-eight hours.

I don’t say anything as we drag ourselves inside. I lean on Aiden, waiting for them. She’s not on her feet, her eyes closed as her friend ducks into the small space with her cradled in his arms. Hatter and Buck follow silently, spreading out to cover them on each side.

Both of us stiffen. “Is she alright?”